When people talk about taking yoga “off the mat,” they often mean volunteering, staying calm in traffic, or participating in groups like Off the Mat into the World. Those are good things. Still, living your yoga can show up in countless ways.
Last weekend, my wife and I drove up north in Minnesota for my cousin’s wedding on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes. Unexpectedly, it ended up being a beautiful setting to observe how my yoga practice held up outside of my daily life, while also celebrating two people whose love and joy filled every corner of the weekend.
Morning practice on the couch
The weekend started with a delightful dinner and talent show on Friday.
Then early Saturday morning I sat by myself, legs crossed on the couch in the resort, and settled into meditation. No mat, just some slightly awkward cushions and surrounded by water ski art (?) on the walls.
Sitting there during the “shoulder season” at a cozy resort turned into less of a deep meditation and more a practice of svadhyaya, self-study. My attention drifted to the schedule for the day that included tie-dye, photos, capture the flag, and, of course, the wedding and evening reception. I laughed at how easy it was to lose focus, even in this quiet, still place.
But my wandering mind didn’t bring me down. Rather, that morning I set a sankalpa, intention, to bring curiosity into each moment the rest of the weekend. I wondered, “What would it be like to live my yogic values at a wedding?”
Living yogic values at a wedding
A wedding can tempt every sense. Music, food, drinks, late nights. During the weekend, I felt grateful for the clarity that comes when I don’t drink. I also noticed how unpleasant my stomach can feel after too many scoops from the candy bar. Those kinds of moments offer lessons about tapas, steady effort, and santosha, contentment.
And then there was the ceremony. The bride’s and groom’s vows overflowed with personality and tenderness. Their words carried the kind of truth (satya) that yoga points us toward. The joy they shared with each other, and with all of us, offered its own teaching in santosha. Their love reminded me that contentment doesn’t mean settling, but recognizing the beauty right in front of us.
Conversations with family later in the weekend pulled me toward heavier themes. Some spoke about how politics has worn them down. I thought about the harm of letting bitterness settle in. Being surrounded by love that day reminded me why I keep a hopeful heart, returning regularly to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama. The world needs people who resist injustice. It also needs voices who can talk about what we stand for, not only what we stand against.
Dancing, ethics, and stereotypes
After the ceremony and dinner, the dance floor opened. I got a little silly and felt like a younger version of myself. The music, the laughter, and the playful energy created by the couple carried everyone into the night.
Later, when we were walking back to our car, a guy I didn’t recognize said, “You’ve got some sick dance moves. How’d you get your hips to move like that?” I told him I teach yoga. He grinned and said, “Oh, not fair.”
He probably wasn’t thinking about how I live the yamas and niyamas. He just saw someone relaxed enough to enjoy the music. Still, a steady practice shapes more than strength or flexibility. Non-stealing (asteya), truthfulness (satya), and moderation (brahmacharya) help the body let go of tension. That shows up on a dance floor as much as in a quiet pose.
What the weekend taught me
Taking yoga off the mat isn’t always heroic. It can mean noticing how foods land in your body, choosing to stay sober so presence feels clear, or offering patience when a relative rants about politics. It also means opening your heart when two people stand up and declare their love.
Our weekend at Camp Foley provided further evidence that ethics in yoga aren’t just ancient rules. They invite steady attention to each breath, each word, each scoop of candy. And they can shine just as brightly in moments of community and joy.
I feel grateful to the bride and groom for creating a weekend where practice, love, and celebration came together. Their vows, their vision, and the laughter they sparked gave me a fresh reminder that yoga keeps pointing us toward a lighter way to stand in the world.
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