When Purpose Becomes Devotion: What Yogic Teachings can Venezuela’s Beisbol Victory Teach Us?
- Francia Groman
- Apr 15
- 5 min read
Watching Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic filled my heart in a way that’s hard to describe—but as I always say to my students, I’ll try.
I’m a Venezuelan in the diaspora. I left as a little girl, and I haven’t been able to visit my family back home in over 17 years—I felt this victory in my soul. The pride wasn’t only about the win. It was the spirit of the team: the joy, the celebration, the smiles. In all of it, I saw my primos, my tíos, and my brothers.
Their joy was contagious. They celebrated every small win along the way with the kind of full-hearted enthusiasm that feels like a visit to grandma's house. The lightness, the warmth, the way of finding reason to celebrate with unbridled enthusiasm, is so deeply Venezuelan. It is a small part of the beauty of a people who have endured so much and still know how to sing, laugh, dance, and come together to the sound of the 'tambores'.
A Team Living Its Purpose
Watching the post-win interviews, I was struck by more than talent or strategy. A team guided by Omar Lopez, whose steady leadership, humility, and trust helped shape the spirit of this historic run, and whose vision was carried out through the unique gifts of a roster brimming with talented athletes.
Ezequiel Tovar anchored the team with quiet reliability and strength. Ronald Acuña Jr. - held the heart of the team in full view, carrying both leadership and love for our country. Eugenio Suárez - rose to the moment with a defining hit that felt divinely destined. Maikel Garcia offered steadiness and precision, showing how consistency can become its own kind of brilliance. Wilyer Abreu brought power and momentum, helping spark belief when it mattered most. Daniel Palencia - closed the door with fire, focus, and fearless trust. Just to mention a few greats among the many who made this victory possible, each offering his own unique gifts, and together creating something whole, something complete. Each player understood his role and offered it fully.
In the language of Vedanta, this is svadharma: the path of one’s own nature, the responsibility and offering that arise from who we truly are.
Not everyone is meant to lead in the same way. Not everyone is meant to shine in the same moment. But when each person gives what is theirs to give, something beautiful happens.
A team, a family, a community, a country, even humanity becomes whole.
The Wisdom of Svadharma
What makes svadharma so powerful? As the Bhagavad Gita teaches, “It is far better to perform one’s own duty, even if performed imperfectly, than to perform another’s duty well.” We are reminded that our work is not to imitate another person’s path, but to listen deeply enough to recognize our own. In a sport and a society that encourages comparison, competition and performance, there is something deeply liberating about succeeding while honoring the personal gifts we have been endowed with.
This victory on the field felt like a living example of this truth. Each player brought a different strength, and together those gifts became something greater than any one person could create alone. This is true in beisbol, as much as it is true in life.
Prayer, Gratitude, and Devotion
I found the humility and gratitude of the athletes deeply moving. In their prayers, their reverence, and the way they acknowledged a power greater than themselves, I was reminded of brahmacharya. This teaching is often understood too narrowly, but at its heart it points us toward a path of devotion, wise stewardship of our energy, and a life oriented toward what is sacred.
One line that stayed with me came from Eugenio Suárez: “La mesa está puesta, ahora es hora de comer.” In English, “The table is set; now it is time to eat.” What a powerful image. Preparations has been made. Blessings are served. Opportunity is before you. Now it is time to step forward fully, with gratitude, courage, presence and feast!
Everything Can Become an Offering
Everything we do can be done in the form of devotion, in service, and in love. The way we work, the way we care for family, the way we prepare a meal, the way we express ourselves, or we show up for our communities, our work, and our practice. All of it can become sacred when it is offered with sincerity, expecting nothing in return.
Yoga teaches us this again and again. We are not here to force ourselves into someone else’s shape. We are here to know ourselves more deeply, to honor our nature, and to offer our lives with steadiness and heart. When purpose becomes devotion, even ordinary actions begin to carry a quiet kind of holiness.
A Victory Bigger Than Beisbol
That is part of what made this victory feel so meaningful to me. It was not only about winning a championship. It was about witnessing purpose expressed through discipline, teamwork, humility, and joy. It was about seeing young men from humble beginnings, from small towns in a struggling country, rise to a moment that many can only dream of.
And now, for the first time ever, they sit as champions.
What a beautiful reminder that greatness can grow from humble soil. That devotion matters. That prayer matters. That joy matters. That when each of us offers our gifts with love, in the role that is truly ours, we participate in something far bigger than personal success.
Venezuela’s victory was a triumph on the field, absolutely. But it was also something more tender and enduring:
a celebration of resilience, of purpose, of collective heart, and of the sacred power of becoming fully ourselves.
Reflection
Where in your life are you being invited to trust your own nature, offer your gifts fully, and let your actions become an expression of love?
I would be honored to welcome you into practice, online or in person. Explore the schedule and find the offering that feels right for you at Ahimsa Wellness Yoga.
I'm also super excited for the Bali retreat which is beginning to take shape, and it would be such a blessing to share that journey with you. A beautiful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the rich culture of Bali while creating space to slow down, listen inward, and return more fully to ourselves. You can see our daily itinerary and learn more about the Bali retreat here:
Until we meet on the mat, and wherever you are on your journey, may you meet it with devotion, courage, and love, may your life itself become a prayer.
with love,
Francia
🇻🇪❤️🩹