Evolution of a Yogi: From Beginner to Teacher to Lifelong Student
Doing yoga at work vs. in the studio 2011
**As I prepare to teach my "Yoga for the Absolute Beginner" course at Clark College tomorrow, I find myself reflecting on my own yoga journey—how it began and the lessons that continue to guide me. Back in 2011, when I was starting the 200-HR Yoga Teacher Training at CorePower Yoga (Highlands) in Denver, I chose to do a book report on Darren Main's Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic.
Reading it again today, I’m struck by how relevant these early insights remain—not only in my personal practice but also in how I approach teaching yoga and living my life. Below is the book report I wrote over a decade ago, capturing the wisdom I was absorbing at the time and the foundations that still influence me today.**
Book Report: Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic by Darren Main
Written by Erika Levy
3/03/2011
From the moment I started reading Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic, I related to Darren Main’s story. I, too, felt torn between two worlds: technology and yoga. Having just left Los Angeles—a culture shock on its own—yoga helped me process the transition. An “Urban Mystic,” as Main describes, is someone with a deep desire to connect with Truth while living in the ‘real’ world. In LA, I felt unable to live my Truth. Main’s assertion that “applying the principles of yoga to the whole of life is the key to living as an urban mystic” felt like a lifeline. The book became an anchor text for my transformation, offering both a path forward and a path within.
Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic chronicles the history of yoga, explores various schools of practice, and weaves in Main’s personal experiences. One central message in the first half of the book is that yoga postures (asanas) are only a small part of the broader science of yoga. The asanas prepare the body to open to the Divine, but achieving enlightenment requires effort beyond physical practice.
The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit—a union not only between body and mind but also between soul and Spirit.
Main begins by discussing the concepts of the True Self (Atman) and the Ego. Atman translates to “spark of the divine” and represents our connection to the infinite, the universe, and each other. Hinduism’s emphasis on unity and oneness echoes in songs like “One Love” by Bob Marley or “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Conversely, the Ego is described as the “source of all suffering.” It clings to the material world and perpetuates illusions (maya) that separate us from our Supreme Self. Main suggests that overcoming the ego involves “letting go” through daily yoga practice, cultivating presence, and reconnecting with the Divine.
Main also introduces Kundalini energy—the life force flowing through thousands of pathways (nadis) in the body.
The seven primary energy centers, or chakras, align along the spine:
Muladhara: Base of the spine, linked to survival and basic instincts.
Svadhishthana: Below the navel, governing sexual and creative energies.
Manipura: Above the navel, the center of personal power and identity.
Anahata: The heart chakra, representing love, compassion, and forgiveness.
Vishuddha: At the throat, associated with communication and communion.
Ajna: Between the eyebrows, the seat of perception and intuition.
Sahasrara: At the crown of the head, symbolizing spiritual connection and enlightenment.
Main explains that enlightenment occurs when Kundalini energy flows freely through all the chakras and beyond.
Yoga extends to relationships as a spiritual practice. Karma yoga emphasizes selfless service (seva) and approaching relationships—whether with friends, family, or romantic partners—with love and non-attachment. Main discusses the challenges of letting go of childhood projections, relinquishing control as a parent, and maintaining a deeper spiritual connection in romantic relationships once the “puppy love” phase fades.
In part two, Main introduces the eight limbs of yoga as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, beginning with the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances):
Yamas (Restraints):
Ahimsa: Nonviolence, cultivating peace in thought and action.
Satya: Truthfulness, including honesty and living according to ultimate Truth.
Asteya: Non-stealing, letting go of scarcity mindsets.
Brahmacharya: Sexual moderation, using sexual energy mindfully for growth.
Aparigraha: Non-possessiveness, releasing greed and attachment.
Niyamas (Things to Cultivate):
Shauca: Purity, keeping the body and mind clean.
Samtosha: Contentment, living in the present moment.
Tapas: Austerity, embracing simplicity and avoiding overindulgence.
Svadhyaya: Self-study, including reflection and study of sacred texts.
Ishvarapranidhana: Surrender to the Divine, trusting a higher power to guide us.
These principles serve as lifelong tools for self-discovery, not rigid rules for spiritual advancement.
As someone working in digital marketing while striving to live a more connected and conscious life, I resonate deeply with Main’s description of modern spiritual seekers. Before moving to Denver, I believed I had everything I needed to be happy, yet still felt an intense longing. I was well connected socially, but disconnected from myself. I felt like I wasn’t fulfilling my higher purpose and making a difference. This book offered practical guidance on embracing a yogic path in the modern world, helping me understand the journey to happiness is an evolution.