What's so great about snakes?

As an over decade long student of yoga, I found I have a preference for hot yoga. And I discovered I was able to experience my best practices when I was in a dark, heated space where I had nothing else to be concerned with other than matching my movements to my breath, tap into my strength, and sweat it out. Those who have experienced it, know that what follows is an inner peace like no other.

In my exploration of this idea, I came to the idea of a snake. These mystical reptiles who have the ability to shed their skin are revered in many cultures as a sign of transformation. But before they shed and grow, they often bask in a humid and warm environment which allows the old skin or shed to loosen from the fresh skin underneath. Once they are ready to remove the old skin, they emerge from the hide and if the humidity in the environment is correct, they are able to seamlessly remove the old skin in a roll all at once. However, even under the best conditions, the act of shedding the old skin takes quite a bit of effort on the snake. The snake must find a rough surfaces to rub against, and it takes a good deal of physical energy as they move around to continue to remove the old scales which feel uncomfortable as they no longer serve the animal. It can result in quite the funny looking dance. However, following a successful shed, the snake emerges from the process showcasing the fresh, glistening body it had underneath. To me, this is exactly how it feels to leave a hot yoga class.

You leave feeling transformed.

You leave feeling shiny.

You leave feeling renewed.

And where would a snake go to prepare for this process?

Perhaps you could find a snake about to shed in a cave or kandara (कन्दर).

This is one reason why Kandara’s mascot is a shadow of a snake.