SMALL BOOK PACKS A BIG PUNCH
I first read The Four Agreements over twenty years ago in a one full go on an airplane to some faraway destination. Like many people, I was drawn to its simplicity. Here was a small book with straightforward teachings that seemed both obvious and profound at the same time. Yet what struck me most was the idea that much of our experience is shaped by agreements we’ve unconsciously made—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
At the time, I was early in my own journey of healing, self-discovery, and spiritual practice. I understood the teachings intellectually, but I struggled to fully embody them. I wanted to be impeccable with my word. I wanted to stop taking things personally. I wanted to release assumptions and do my best. But wanting and living are often two different things.
Over the years, I returned to The Four Agreements many times. Each reading revealed something new. As my yoga and meditation practice deepened, I began to recognize that transformation rarely happens by simply adding new ideas to an already crowded mind. Real change requires creating space. It asks us to examine the beliefs, habits, stories, and conditioning that have quietly shaped our lives for years—sometimes decades.
Yoga taught me that letting go is every bit as important as learning something new. The practices of self-study, awareness, discernment, and surrender helped me see where my old agreements were limiting me and where they were in direct conflict with the life I wanted to create. Only then could I begin to replace them with agreements that were more aligned with truth, compassion, freedom, and authenticity.
Today, when I revisit The Four Agreements, I see its teachings woven throughout the wisdom traditions of yoga. The invitation to become aware of our thoughts, words, reactions, and assumptions echoes through the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Tantric teachings that have shaped my own path. These texts offer a framework for understanding the mind, cultivating discernment, and creating lasting change—not through force, but through practice, patience, and self-awareness.
This series is an opportunity to move beyond simply reading inspiring ideas and begin living them. Through yoga, meditation, breathwork, reflection, and discussion, we’ll explore each of the Four Agreements and how they can serve as practical tools for everyday life. Together, we’ll investigate the patterns that no longer serve us, cultivate greater awareness of the stories we tell ourselves, and create space for new possibilities to emerge.
Because ultimately, transformation isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about remembering who you are beneath the conditioning, expectations, and agreements you’ve outgrown. The Four Agreements offer a powerful roadmap for that journey.
Blessings,
Tanya
YOGA & THE FOUR AGREEMENTS WITH Tanya Boigenzahn ERYT500
When: Wednesdays | June 3-24, 2026
Time: 10:45-12pm
Level: All
Format: 4 week session
Suggested Reading: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz