During my travels over the last couple months I picked up a copy of Peppermint, an Australian magazine focused on style, sustainability and substance. It drew my eco-conscious fashionista and artista into its’ pages. One of the clinchers was an article about “Super Role-Model,” Seane Corne. I have never taken class from her, though I did met her briefly at a Yoga Journal Live! conference. We each had just finished teaching and were heading onto the next thing. It was brief with little time to get to know her. How I have gotten to know her best is by observing her multiple times in various Yoga venues. In this issue of Peppermint the author, Emily Lush, keyed in on Seane’s “two seemingly disparate interests in Yoga and social change” and “how these two strong aspects dovetail[ed]“ into Seane’s life’s work. In reading this description I gained clarity of my own path and what drew me to be interested in Seane (over countless other Rock Star Yoga Teachers) in large Yoga venues from Florida to Hawaii…our similarity of paths.
“My path has always been of service, engaging with the world, being part of a conversation of change…” It is as if she is describing my last almost thirty-five years of life. In reflection, I realize service has been part of my core values since very young. However, up until a couple decades ago, I would have labeled it as doing the right thing. The concept of ‘seva’ became a conscious choice over the last decade.
My growing up years took place in a Polish-German working class community in an outer town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When the factory whistle blew early (often before the sun rose) each morning I knew my grandpa Steve was hard at work in the big luminous building at the end of our road. When he returned home from the factory each afternoon, often exhausted from working the large machinery inside, if a neighbor happened to call on him for help the answer was always, “sure thing.” Even if he had just pulled a double shift. Helping others out wasn’t done for recognition or with the thought they will owe me when I need help. It was how we all made it through.
So when I serendipitously found myself in India studying Yoga; a life practice integrated into my every day life for fifteen years at that point; the pieces of my life were subtly merging. Contemplating the daily talks/teachings of the swami alongside my own life experiences offered further refinement of my life’s work to date. It also opened me to visions for the future. One morning the swami’s lecture spoke of Karma Yoga and the practice of being of service to others. We were encouraged to consider which marga/Yoga path to claim for our lives. At that moment choosing felt overwhelming. Many years later the realization came, the Karma path had really chosen me. Life definitely weaves different margas along the way, however the Karma path reamains the strongest and most present of them all. Before I even knew of Karmic acts of service I was visiting with elderly indivduals in nursing homes in middle school, tutoring Hmong refugees in high school, and witnessing the end of folk’s lives through hospice care after I skirted death myself. Since those early years a wide range of volunteer opportunities have filled my life with amazing encounters and learnings. Now I see my path quite clearly and pray for continued clarity in doing the right thing for the years to come.
I raise my tea cup to all those who allow seva to be a part of their life. Thank you for your efforts, your time and your love.