Before the sun’s up, my mat is down

5:15 a.m. Every weekday.
Inhale. Exhale.
Every breath with intention.

Saturday was hashtag#InternationalDayofYoga.
The realization made me smile — I guess I’ve been celebrating all year!

Yoga isn’t an escape.
It’s my operating system.

I’d been introduced to it before, but only on the surface.
Interesting, but not essential. Then came a series of catalysts:
New job. High stress. Young family. Tight hamstrings from squash.
So I stepped into a vinyasa class.

At first, it was just sweat and flexibility.
Then the breath took over.
The body followed.
The mind cleared.

Yoga became a steady practice during my early hedge fund days in New York City.
My journey started with vinyasa and Pilates.
I added Iyengar and Hatha. I experimented with Mysore.
Soon Yin and Nidra became regular parts of my practice.
Always deepening. Always evolving.
Layer by layer, breath by breath.

These days, my physical practice is mostly hot vinyasa —
sometimes with animal movement, mobility, and Pilates.
But always — breath-first.

It’s physical, yes — but the benefits are profound:
Greater energy. Expanded awareness. Clearer thought.
Faster resets after bad news and losing trades.

The practice grounds, aligns, and centers me.
Mind, body, spirit.
Family, work, sport.
One integrated being.
In flow. Realizing. Doing.

I introduced my daughter to yoga at age six, my son at age five —
and even though they don’t practice regularly today, the benefits have stuck.
They carry the calm, focus, and presence the practice teaches.

These days, my wife rolls out her mat even more often than I do.
It’s become the rhythm of our home.

Meditation became part of my life at 17 —
a quiet, consistent practice passed down by my mother.
Small deposits that still compound.

The real dividend?
Alignment.
When breath, movement, and focus line up — so does decision-making.
And that shows up in the portfolio long before it shows up in the P&L.

(Belated) Happy International Day of Yoga to everyone finding their edge, one breath at a time.

Namaste 🙏