Asana literally translated means comfortable seat. Metaphorically though it is the seat of our soul. There are broadly five families of asanas - Standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists and inversions. The whole idea is to break down movement and become aware of the motivations of our actions.
"Sthiram Sukham Asanam" means that while in an asana we should be able to find stillness and be comfortable. Surrender the ego and go only as far in a pose as you can easily hold. The Namaste mudra (gesture), of hands together, thumbs (representing the ego) to the sternum with the forehead (judgement) bowing towards the heart (resting place for the soul "atma sthanum") symbolizes this surrender.
In building your own home practice you can create your own sequence of asanas from the family of asanas mentioned above. I like the "Ashtanga" Yoga Primary Series sequence as taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois because you can be sure that following this sequence you would have covered all the major asanas in one practice. I learned this sequence under the tutelage of my teacher Govinda Kai over a period of a year by simply showing up for a 7 am, one and a half hour class five days a week. I did not practice regularly for a few years after but even though my mind often forgets the sequence, my body does not. Now when I practice Mysore style, I am able to get through 90% of the practice without stalling.
I cannot emphasize the importance of acknowledging and accepting where you are in your practice and being in the moment. I gained 30 lbs in the last three years as a result of being on medication (I have slowly started to lose that weight because I am back on the mat!) and every time I would find myself on the mat I would start crying because I would think of my 115 lb body and my advanced practice of the primary series. At that time I was just beginning to learn the next set of intermediate asanas, the secondary series. It is sort of like climbing Mt. Everest, finding you are half way there and falling back to the bottom because of a landslide. Bottomline, don't be discouraged and just do it "practice" safely and comfortably and let go of the outcome!!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Yoga Practice 101 - Be Regular
Ironically, the answer to the two questions "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?, and "How do I achieve Salvation?" are both the same - "Practice, Practice, Practice!" Or "Tapas".
The philosophy of yoga suggests that through repetitive activity, tapas, we can transform the very nature of our conditioning (accumulated traumas from the past) into pure energy that can be re-directed into other areas of our lives that move us towards Universality and Self Actualization.
Similarly through regular practice of yoga asanas we can remove the conditioning of our mind and body and move from the impossible to the possible (everyone can do a headstand in the middle of the room!)
Over the years I have found a very simple formula for establishing regularity in my yoga asana practice. The elements include (i) finding a studio that is conveniently located to your place of work or home that you can afford; (ii) identifying two or three teachers that you like who teach in the time slots that you can set aside for your practice; and (iii) showing up for class!
I like early morning yoga classes because I can practice on an empty stomach, before breakfast but after a bowel movement. I usually drink a glass of lukewarm or room temperature water half an hour before my yoga class.
The physical practice of yoga through breath "prana" and postures "asanas" awakens your body energy. The reason they say that you should not drink water during your practice is because it is the equivalent of dousing embers with water - putting out a fire even before it gets started.
Even though the yoga studio provides mats, I take my own (the mat builds psychic energy). I wear comfortable knee length or three quarter length yoga pants, a tank top with built in support, and a camisole. I started wearing the camisole underneath the tank top so that I could stop worrying about my breasts popping out every time I got into a twisted seated pose or a down dog!
It is important to dress comfortably, tie your hair into a pony tail, to empty your bladder etc before class because the whole idea of a yoga practice is not to be distracted but to bring your attention to the present moment and connect your mind and body through your breath. Sage Patanjali says Yoga is the cessation of the mental turnings of the mind "Yoga citta vritti nirodha"
Every studio is different and each teacher has his/her own style. However, I recommend where ever possible to set up your mat facing East for a morning practice (the sun rises in the East) and start your practice with your teacher by chanting OM three times.
The philosophy of yoga suggests that through repetitive activity, tapas, we can transform the very nature of our conditioning (accumulated traumas from the past) into pure energy that can be re-directed into other areas of our lives that move us towards Universality and Self Actualization.
Similarly through regular practice of yoga asanas we can remove the conditioning of our mind and body and move from the impossible to the possible (everyone can do a headstand in the middle of the room!)
Over the years I have found a very simple formula for establishing regularity in my yoga asana practice. The elements include (i) finding a studio that is conveniently located to your place of work or home that you can afford; (ii) identifying two or three teachers that you like who teach in the time slots that you can set aside for your practice; and (iii) showing up for class!
I like early morning yoga classes because I can practice on an empty stomach, before breakfast but after a bowel movement. I usually drink a glass of lukewarm or room temperature water half an hour before my yoga class.
The physical practice of yoga through breath "prana" and postures "asanas" awakens your body energy. The reason they say that you should not drink water during your practice is because it is the equivalent of dousing embers with water - putting out a fire even before it gets started.
Even though the yoga studio provides mats, I take my own (the mat builds psychic energy). I wear comfortable knee length or three quarter length yoga pants, a tank top with built in support, and a camisole. I started wearing the camisole underneath the tank top so that I could stop worrying about my breasts popping out every time I got into a twisted seated pose or a down dog!
It is important to dress comfortably, tie your hair into a pony tail, to empty your bladder etc before class because the whole idea of a yoga practice is not to be distracted but to bring your attention to the present moment and connect your mind and body through your breath. Sage Patanjali says Yoga is the cessation of the mental turnings of the mind "Yoga citta vritti nirodha"
Every studio is different and each teacher has his/her own style. However, I recommend where ever possible to set up your mat facing East for a morning practice (the sun rises in the East) and start your practice with your teacher by chanting OM three times.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
In Search of a Teacher(s)
Anyone will tell you that an essential and first step to developing your own yoga practice is to find a "Guru" or teacher. One who initiates, guides and challenges you in your practice of Yoga. However, no one really talks about how to go about finding a Guru, let alone recognizing greatness when you do meet someone. I knew I was in the presence of a great teacher this morning when-
She opened the practice with the simple chant of OM, followed by a prayer, a mantra from the Upanishads "Asato Ma Sad Gamaya..... from asat to sat, from darkness to light, from death to immortality)";
During the practice she repeated several times that she was there only to teach through observation of her students and the end goal was for each student to develop his/her own Self-Practice; and
In closing she reminded everyone to pick up and clean up after themselves and leave the studio in the same order as when they first arrived.
The physical practice of yoga asanas is not the only element of a yoga practice. Yoga is a process by which we evolve in consciousness. The invocation of 'Om' (which is the primordial sound of the Universe) at the beginning of a yoga class is a reminder to us of this transformative process which connects us with a state of awareness that enables us to experience our identity with the Universe. The prayer or chanting of the mantra was a collective plea for assistance in this transcendence. And finally, the request to clean up or "sauca" (cleanliness) is part of the second limb of Patanjali's yoga sutras: Niyama.*
*Note: Sage Patanjali is believed to have written the text known as the Yoga Sutras which outlines the eight limbs of yoga - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyana, and Samadhi.
She opened the practice with the simple chant of OM, followed by a prayer, a mantra from the Upanishads "Asato Ma Sad Gamaya..... from asat to sat, from darkness to light, from death to immortality)";
During the practice she repeated several times that she was there only to teach through observation of her students and the end goal was for each student to develop his/her own Self-Practice; and
In closing she reminded everyone to pick up and clean up after themselves and leave the studio in the same order as when they first arrived.
The physical practice of yoga asanas is not the only element of a yoga practice. Yoga is a process by which we evolve in consciousness. The invocation of 'Om' (which is the primordial sound of the Universe) at the beginning of a yoga class is a reminder to us of this transformative process which connects us with a state of awareness that enables us to experience our identity with the Universe. The prayer or chanting of the mantra was a collective plea for assistance in this transcendence. And finally, the request to clean up or "sauca" (cleanliness) is part of the second limb of Patanjali's yoga sutras: Niyama.*
*Note: Sage Patanjali is believed to have written the text known as the Yoga Sutras which outlines the eight limbs of yoga - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyana, and Samadhi.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Letter from my late mother, my first yoga teacher
My very first yoga teacher was my mother. As a child she made yoga fun for me...cow, cat, rocking horse, butterfly, bridge, cobra, table, tree, plough, and lotus were just some of the poses I learned from her starting at the age of six.
My late mother Poonam (the Moon), continues to be my inspiration in my ongoing practice of yoga.
A few years before she died she wrote me this letter after a visit to New York.
" I love you, Jo. Your time has come. You have won over my heart. You have perfect understanding of life. Keep it up. Be sweet and loving."
I share this with you because my mother knew my true nature....I am only beginning to find my inner light through my practice of Yoga.
My late mother Poonam (the Moon), continues to be my inspiration in my ongoing practice of yoga.
A few years before she died she wrote me this letter after a visit to New York.
" I love you, Jo. Your time has come. You have won over my heart. You have perfect understanding of life. Keep it up. Be sweet and loving."
I share this with you because my mother knew my true nature....I am only beginning to find my inner light through my practice of Yoga.
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