can we call ourselves yogis?

“the yogi uses all his resources - physical, economic, mental or moral - to alleviate the pain and suffering of others. he shares his strength with the weak until they become strong. he shares his courage with those who are timid until they become brave by his example. he denies the maxim ‘survival of the fittest’, but makes the weak strong enough to survive. he comes as a shelter to one and all.“ —b.k.s. iyengar

i often think about being a yogi and what it means in the current world. can we even call ourselves yogis? and to what extent? is it subjective? do we just pick and choose what suits, avoiding deeper inquiry?

i asked chatgpt and it says: “to be a yogi traditionally means to be someone who is deeply committed to the path of yoga, not just as physical exercise, but as a holistic way of life. the term comes from sanskrit: yogi (masculine) or yogini (feminine), and it refers to a practitioner of yoga in its full spiritual, mental, and physical dimensions.”

so i ask myself again, now more than ever, can we call ourselves yogis in this regard? and more specifically, do we, as iyengar said, use all of our resources to alleviate the pain and suffering of others?

i don't often write or share my thoughts and views because my neurodiverse brain makes me too fearful, and so i find it extremely difficult, but the pull to put this out there was stronger than the fear.

perhaps it resonates?