Scales

Yoga practice on the mat is like scales in music. We Practice them until we get them right- the fingering, the sharps and flats, the phrasing. But a scale is not a piece of music, it is an exercise, even though it may be performed beautifully, artfully. It becomes art when used in context. A jazz player practices scales for hours a day, so when she hits the bandstand, music will flow. What makes Coltrane, Coltrane, or Ella, Ella, is the application of said scales.

In yoga, we may have the most awesome wheel pose or be able to hold our breath for minutes, but it's how we apply these skills and teachings to our daily life that makes it yoga.