I'll say one thing, Kirk, about your habits with thoughts. I think you enjoy your thoughts more than most people. I think the thoughts that pop up for most are thoughts of anxiety and worry. For you, I think this statement would be mostly untrue.
Nonetheless, yoga for spirituality isn't so much about relaxing. . .so if you're looking for more spirituality through yoga, then yeah, I guess there'd be another reason for clearing your mind.
Oh, I have plent of anxiety thoughts, but a lot of fun ones that I try to cultivate as well.
My instructor is more about the physical than the karmic I think. He says though that a big part of control over the body is to then leave the mind free from distraction when sitting for prolonged periods.
Your instructor makes sense. I'm sure real good body control requires a lot of concentration.
Well, I've always taken that line of reasoning with a grain of salt. It seems like "practice in a really comfortable chair" might be an easier way of avoiding bodily distraction over prolonged periods.