Wonder is one of those words that fascinates me. It can hold the grandeur of awe and surprise or pirouette without warning into doubt and uncertainty. It is a paradox, much like the paradox of an aging-person’s yoga practice. Once the gloss of fancy poses has worn off, it’s hard to describe exactly what that is. I think of it as sitting with the mystery.

Optimism and yoga hinge on the idea that the potential for positive change is always possible. It's been a challenge to espouse optimism right now when so many systems, institutions and situations are going inexorably wrong. But I believe it is still possible to do so.