The Time for Yoga Is Now: How the First Yoga Sutra Can Shift Your Practice and Your Life
Discover the meaning of the first Yoga Sutra—Atha Yogānuśāsanam—and why the time to start or return to yoga is always now. Learn how this wisdom can help beginners and experienced yogis alike.
The Time for Yoga Is Now 🌼
Have you ever thought to yourself:
“I’ll start yoga when life slows down.”
“I need to be more flexible first.”
“I’ll get back on my mat when I feel more motivated.”
You’re not alone.
But according to the very first line of the Yoga Sutras, you don’t need to wait another moment.
Atha Yogānuśāsanam
Pronounced: “Ah-tah Yo-gah-nu-shah-suh-nuhm”
Translation: Now, the teachings of yoga begin.
Right from the start, this ancient text reminds us:
You are already ready to begin.
There is no perfect time, no perfect version of you that needs to appear first.
The time for yoga is always now.
Why We Wait to Begin
One of the most common ways we block ourselves from starting (or continuing) yoga is by creating conditions around when we think it’s “okay” to begin.
We tell ourselves:
I need to be stronger or more flexible.
I need to feel less anxious first.
I need to finish XYZ project before I can add yoga to my life.
I need to know more about yoga before I can practice.
I’ve been “off the mat” for a while, so now it feels hard to come back.
I don’t have time for a full practice today, so I’ll skip it entirely.
But all of these are just stories of the mind.
Yoga, at its core, is about connecting with yourself as you are right now—not waiting to be someone else first.
The First Step Is Showing Up
When we constantly think or plan to do something “later,” we’re actually creating more stress and turbulence in the mind.
Patanjali reminds us: the first step is simply showing up.
Not perfectly.
Not fully prepared.
Just here. Now.
Reflection Questions for Your Life
Here are some questions to help you bring this teaching into your own life:
✨ Is there somewhere in my life I have been procrastinating—waiting for perfect conditions before taking action?
✨ Am I placing expectations on myself that I must meet before I feel “worthy” of showing up?
✨ Where have I already practiced simply showing up, and what happened when I did?
✨ How can I shift my thinking this week and take the first step now? Whether it’s going to a yoga class, starting a creative project, or simply beginning to care for myself in a new way.
A Personal Reflection
For a long time, I let fear run my life.
When I started to show up—even with the fear still present—things began to shift.
I realized that waiting to feel “ready” was keeping me stuck. It was the act of showing up, exactly as I was, that opened the door to more peace, clarity, and joy.
This is a teaching I return to often—in yoga, in life, in business.
And I hope it inspires you to do the same.
An Invitation to You
If this teaching resonates with you, I invite you to create a gentle affirmation for yourself:
🕊️ “I release the need to be ready. I allow myself to begin now.”
🕊️ “I show up as I am, and that is enough.”
Where in your life are you ready to simply begin?
Whether it’s rolling out your yoga mat, booking your first class, or taking one small step toward a dream—remember, the time is now.
Atha Yogānuśāsanam.
Now, your practice begins.
✨ With love,
Stephanie
