I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer at the most important athletic event on the planet this summer. Our team of volunteers work on the VIP Protocol team at the London Olympics, looking after Olympic Officials, heads of state, royalty of various nations, presidents, Prime Ministers, and Officials for various sports organisations. We liaised with athletes and press with interpreters, and escorted some of the athletes to the podiums for medal presentations We were from all over the globe, and pulled together for the purpose of presenting the greatest show on earth, and for a combing intent of making it a wonderful, unforgettable experience for everyone we encountered. Our team member gathered, at their own expense, from China, Spain, USA, Portugal, Egypt, Italy, and various parts of the UK. As exciting, (and it was!) to be present at the Marathons, Road Cycling, Race Walking, and Cycle time trials, the thing that struck me most was this army of volunteers who worked to get the job of a great, global experience, rolled out for the world to share. It was an army. Seventy Thousand, (out of 250.000 that applied), the largest mobilised voluntary workforce organised since WWII, came together, regardless of race, heritage, or prestige of the job got it done brilliantly. I keep thinking of one smiling, happy volunteer with a giant sponge finger, pointing the way to the Olympic Stadium. Not exactly a status filled position, yet consistent in her friendliness. It was accomplished with pretty much ZERO moaning and groaning, jockeying for position, status battles, on the premise that we WANTED to do this. The results serve as a testament to this ideal.
What does this have to do with Yoga? BKS Iyengar, referred to as "The Michelangelo of Yoga" by
the BBC. "There is today in India yoga "Olympics" where yoga
practitioners can compete with one another. I do not decry this. In my
life, I have given many demonstrations around the world in an attempt
to popularise yoga. While this was yoga as an exhibition of art, the
essence of yoga is not about external display but internal cultivation.
Yoga is beautiful and divine.
Although the athletes competed with each other, the yoga practitioner competes and drives him/herself, for the goal of enlightenment. It is personal, but also, as Iyengar says, meant to be shared with the world. The competition is not external. The volunteers at the Olympics, in all their capacities, were doing so, for personal reasons, and hoping to bring this work to the world, without individual recognition. No one stood on a podium, no one received a medal, yet the effort put out was monumental. The Olympics could not have happened without this voluntary gesture. No glory, just a goal to make this a special event for others. (I must say we did enjoy the events, but also worked very hard and for long hours!) It was amazing and humbling to be part of this, and to watch it unfold in front of us. I salute the athletes who competed, the grace and goodwill among them was palatable. It shows how practise can bring an ordinary person to exceptional performance, though discipline, and bring a human being beyond it's previous limits. In yoga, we take this ideal on a personal, internal, journey, but it requires as much dedication and principled practise as any Olympic athlete.
It did warm my heart when the loudest applause at the Closing Ceremonies was for the volunteers. Honestly, it was a privilege. I continue to volunteer in other endeavours, and do recommend it to anyone who can. You will receive back much more than you give. The world needs you. You can change the world, collectively with other like minded individuals, and you can change one life for the better, which, also, changes the world.
Find a group, cause, or start one that you have a passion about, give of yourself and your unique gifts, and you will be amazed at how it will change the world around you, but more importantly, change and enhance your life. Namate'
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