Phone Book Yoga

A middle-aged, type-a, man decided one day, after noticing the beginnings of a spare tire around his middle, decided that it was time to get in shape.  Before he could do that, he thought "I'll have to touch my toes."  To do this, he decided he must find a yoga teacher.   

After some research he located a teacher.  (This was in the pre-internet days of sometime last century before there was a yoga studio on every corner)  The man, having little knowledge or understanding of yoga etiquette, barged into the studio and demanded the teacher teach him how to touch his toes. 
"Not today, maybe tomorrow" replied the teacher.
Dismayed, the man left and returned the next day.
Again, "Not today, maybe tomorrow." 
This continued for several more days, until the teacher finally changed his story.
"OK, OK, I'll teach you.  But not today.  Come back tomorrow at 3:00 PM with a New York City Phonebook."
(Again this was sometime last century when people actually had paper phonebooks.)

The man returned to the studio the next day promptly at three o'clock with his phonebook.  After several minutes, the teacher appeared.  He grabbed the phonebook from the man and threw it down at his feet.  The teacher then pointed at the man's hands waving them towards the phonebook.  Getting the idea the man bent forward, straining to get his hands to touch the book.  As soon as he reached the book, the teacher yelled. "Enough for today, come back tomorrow."

The next day, the man returned.  The teacher took the book, ripped out a page and threw it at the student's feet.

"See you tomorrow," said the teacher as the man lifted his hands from the phonebook.



Yoga Sutras 1:14
"Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness." (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda, pages 19-20)

What this means to me is that it is better to do something (even something seemingly small and inconsequential) regularly than to try and accomplish big things all at once.  Over time, you will acheve greater and more lasting results.


My sincerest apologies to whoever originated this story.   If I could remember where or from who I heard it, I would give full credit.