India, homeland of the greatest yogis

India, Yoga's homeland

Obvious, isn't it? It is hardly a cliché: yoga is part of Indian culture.

From the foreigner tourists eager to stretch their pale bodies on Kerala beaches, to the urban middle aged professional trying to lower their stress level, to the greatest yoga gurus able to fast for hundreds of days and bend their bodies in the most unlikely poses, every yogi, whether they are experts or not, aim at reaching the famous nirvana.

And everyone is looking for an example to follow, a guide, a guru.

Dear reader, I will spare you the challenges of looking for the perfect yogi. I found it. You may not believe it, you may irritably roll your eyes, you may even laugh at me, but the truth is the truth. And haven't you learned that you should always look behind initial appearances? See? There you go.

After loads of research and endless hours of observation, I can guarantee you that you will not find a better yogi than the Indian stray dog. Yes, yes, you read it correctly.

OK, I admit: in the mammal category, the cow is also a great challenger, nonchalantly wandering on the busy streets of Indian cities. But to be fair, it is largely inherent to its quality of sacred animal: she is the queen of the road and every other moving vehicle or animal has to give way to her majesty. Sorry, but for me, it is cheating.

You still doubt my theory? No problem, I am more than happy to prove it to you.

Let us define what makes a great yogi.

First: Ability to master the intricate yoga poses. Well, easy: why do you think one of them was named after our hero? Yes, yes, you know what I am talking about: the famous downward facing dog!!!

Second: Developing a deep passion for chanting mantras in group. I discovered that one during the many times my son woke up in the early hours of the day. Have you never heard a pack of hounds barking and howling at 4am? It is not kneejerk animal behavior; it is a complex series of very powerful mantras, able to seduce all their other doggy friends.

Third: Be truly happy, despite all circumstances. It is true; it is not easy to be a stray dog. You don't have a home; you have to hunt for food everyday. But these yogi masters teach us a great lesson of life: they are always happy, rhythmically wagging their tails. Their faith in humanity is indestructible. They will always come to you, you stranger, with the affectionate hope that you will be a great companion.

Last and not least: Achieve nirvana. Have you observed a dog casually ying down on Bombay roads? It is perfectly still, nothing can disrupt its inner peace: not the busiest traffic of the world, nor the fierce honking of the angry taxi driver unsuccessfully trying to flush it out of the way, nor the scariest trucks. If you observe closer, the dog does not flicker. It looks dead and inarticulate for its body performs yet another supreme yoga pose.

That, my friend, is the last stage of nirvana that only a few creatures in this world are able to achieve.

The next time you see a stray dog, don't despite it. But watch. Watch and learn, my friend.