So much chatter going on right now about the vegetarian "controversy," and so many valid points on both sides of the argument. Even without taking yoga into account, the vegetarian lifestyle is so often a point of contention between strangers, friends, and even family. I come from a family omnivores who on more than one occasion while I was growing up would make fun of or pass judgment on those who chose to go the vegetarian route. How ironic when one of their own decided to follow that path for herself!
Then, there are those people who have tried to go veg, and have even lasted 5, 6, or even 10 years without eating any meat. But, then, one day, they caught the aroma of a neighborhood bar-b-que and left their vegetarian ways behind them. I still encounter people on a regular basis who give me an incredulous look and ask, "Do you eat chicken or fish? How do you live without meat? I have to eat meat!" And of course, eating out is always a challenge in my skills of explanation when I have to explain to the server that no, I don't want bacon bits, or bacon or Caesar dressing on my salad, or that I want a BLT with no bacon!
But back to the point at hand here: to veg or not to veg--can you practice yoga and still eat the occasional Big Mac?
Many consider yoga to be a strictly personal endeavor, a journey to the inner depths of the soul in an effort to find peace and enlightenment. One doesn't always need to refer to any outward source to find the path to inner peace. And for many people, this is exactly what yoga is. A way for them to find peace and balance in their own minds and daily lives, with no need to reference ancient or foreign texts or teachings. The physical practice brings flexibility and physical wellbeing, while the meditative practice helps to bring clarity and understanding. Whether one chooses to eat meat or not, then, is an entirely personal decision based on one's personal journey. All that's needed is to listen to your own conscience.
If you're approach to yoga is more, perhaps, universal or buddhist in nature, then it might make the consumption of meat a little more difficult. In following closely both the Buddhist and Hindu influences on yoga, one will find that both histories are closely linked to the vegetarian lifestyle. Commitment to the first Yama of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is itself a commitment to vegetarianism. How can one be committed to non-violence and non-harming and continue to eat meat? I must say, you cannot have both. The belief in the Oneness of the Universe is the belief that all things are connected, everything impacts and is impacted by everything else. No one, no thing is an island. One can interpret this to mean that we should respect and honor all things, and not cause harm to others as to do so would be to cause harm to ourselves. (This could also be interpreted to mean, in everyday lingo, that it all washes out in the end, and that eating a cow now will be balanced by being eaten by worms later.)
So, go with whatever is your personal decision (and it is personal, whatever you decide). Next to the teaching of non-violence, yoga teaches compassion, understanding and tolerance. And so it is most important that we respect others' decisions, regardless of whether or not they fall in line with our own. My personal decision to not eat meat is entirely my own, not influenced by others, and I try not to push my opinion where it is not invited. For me, it makes sense, and I enjoy such an enormous variety of food that I have not once "missed" meat. But to each, his/her own. We certainly do not need such a controversy to muddy the (relatively) clear waters of the yoga community.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
AcroYoga Experience
It's thanks to one of my fellow teachers that I had the opportunity to practice some acroyoga over the weekend. It blew my mind how acroyoga enhances and intensifies the focus on all of those yogic elements: breath, bandhas and drishti. I had to pay such close attention to all three, otherwise I would lose it and fall out of the posture. If you're looking for a way to either deepen your personal practice or just wanting to play with yoga with fellow yogis, I would recommend you try this at least once!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
What is the primary series?
"Ashtanga yoga is for all. Everyone can benefit from this practice." ~Sri K Pattabhi Jois
Ashtanga. The primary series. What's there to love?
The primary series of ashtanga yoga is known as "yoga chikitsa" or yoga therapy (this should be the first clue as to why I love it). The first of six progressively challenging series, it is set sequence of postures and vinyasas designed to "unlock" the body part by part, like a combination lock with the purpose of internal cleansing and healing. Starting from basic sequences that focus on major muscle groups (such as forward bends and side stretches), the primary series progresses toward more and more refined postures, requiring attention to smaller groups of muscles and more specific movements(including spinal twists and inversions). Ashtangis fly and float from posture to posture, carried by the breath and fully focused on the present moment. The internal heat created from the continuous flow from one posture to the next, as well as the twists and inversions, acts as a personalized detoxifying agent, aiding in eliminating impurities and inconsistencies from the body. Translated-you'll sweat and wring out whatever bad stuff might be in you.
Asana practice has often been explained to newcomers as "moving meditation," but it takes more than a class or two to gain an inkling as to where the meditation part comes into play. The beauty of the primary series, though, is in its accessibility to all practitioners. Even those new to the universe of yoga can benefit from the practice, as it was designed to be a naturally flowing progression from start to finish. For beginners, their first exposure to the primary series may simply be through the sun salutations and a few standing postures. And yes, it may take a class or three before they're flowing, being carried by their breath. But, due to the very nature of the primary series, the fact that there is a pre-determined sequence, it won't be too long before newcomers are fully experiencing the breath, bandhas and dristi through those first introductory asanas, allowing them a glimpse of what is meant by "moving meditation."
I know of people who get bored with the primary series. They say it's too predictable and they want a class where they don't know what's coming next--the element of surprise and mystery, perhaps? I understand this perspective, because I've been in similar places myself. I've attended classes where all I could think was, "could we please just do something different?" Or, I've wanted to slow down and experience each posture more deeply, but by the time I could engage my bandhas, we were moving through the next vinyasa. It's taken time-some of it more challenging that others. But, I'm happy that, through it all, I've stuck with the primary series and I've been witness as it's taken me to a place where I am able to experience each posture differently, more deeply each time we meet. It is the very fact that I don't have to think about what's next that allows me to be fully present and focus on the experience of each moment.
So, to those yogis who are out there, seeking mystery and adventure both on and off the mat, I would invite you to return to the primary series. Dare yourselves to dive further into the practice and revisit the tried and true sequence. Rather than just jumping about from posture to posture, the primary series offers a beautiful opportunity to take your yoga practice deeper and to a different level each time you step onto your mat.
Ashtanga. The primary series. What's there to love?
The primary series of ashtanga yoga is known as "yoga chikitsa" or yoga therapy (this should be the first clue as to why I love it). The first of six progressively challenging series, it is set sequence of postures and vinyasas designed to "unlock" the body part by part, like a combination lock with the purpose of internal cleansing and healing. Starting from basic sequences that focus on major muscle groups (such as forward bends and side stretches), the primary series progresses toward more and more refined postures, requiring attention to smaller groups of muscles and more specific movements(including spinal twists and inversions). Ashtangis fly and float from posture to posture, carried by the breath and fully focused on the present moment. The internal heat created from the continuous flow from one posture to the next, as well as the twists and inversions, acts as a personalized detoxifying agent, aiding in eliminating impurities and inconsistencies from the body. Translated-you'll sweat and wring out whatever bad stuff might be in you.
Asana practice has often been explained to newcomers as "moving meditation," but it takes more than a class or two to gain an inkling as to where the meditation part comes into play. The beauty of the primary series, though, is in its accessibility to all practitioners. Even those new to the universe of yoga can benefit from the practice, as it was designed to be a naturally flowing progression from start to finish. For beginners, their first exposure to the primary series may simply be through the sun salutations and a few standing postures. And yes, it may take a class or three before they're flowing, being carried by their breath. But, due to the very nature of the primary series, the fact that there is a pre-determined sequence, it won't be too long before newcomers are fully experiencing the breath, bandhas and dristi through those first introductory asanas, allowing them a glimpse of what is meant by "moving meditation."
I know of people who get bored with the primary series. They say it's too predictable and they want a class where they don't know what's coming next--the element of surprise and mystery, perhaps? I understand this perspective, because I've been in similar places myself. I've attended classes where all I could think was, "could we please just do something different?" Or, I've wanted to slow down and experience each posture more deeply, but by the time I could engage my bandhas, we were moving through the next vinyasa. It's taken time-some of it more challenging that others. But, I'm happy that, through it all, I've stuck with the primary series and I've been witness as it's taken me to a place where I am able to experience each posture differently, more deeply each time we meet. It is the very fact that I don't have to think about what's next that allows me to be fully present and focus on the experience of each moment.
So, to those yogis who are out there, seeking mystery and adventure both on and off the mat, I would invite you to return to the primary series. Dare yourselves to dive further into the practice and revisit the tried and true sequence. Rather than just jumping about from posture to posture, the primary series offers a beautiful opportunity to take your yoga practice deeper and to a different level each time you step onto your mat.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Finding Ahimsa On and Off the Mat
“To practice ahimsa, first of all we have to practice it within ourselves... If we want to head north, we can use the North Star as our guide. Our effort is only to proceed in that direction” ~Thich Nhat Hanh, The Path of Harmlessness
At times, through the course of your yoga practice, have you ever been so into the flow of your practice, so on your yoga “high” that you’ve pushed yourself too hard, too fast? You’re breathing, you’re moving, you’re “vinyasa-ing” and suddenly you can fold deeper and twist further than you ever have before. Everything is going beautifully. Then, without quite knowing when, or how it happened, you find yourself with pain, soreness or even an injury—from your yoga practice! Few non-yogis would think to associate yoga with serious injury, but for those it’s happened to, it can be all too frustrating. However, an injury offers a chance to return to the place of compassion and patience encouraged by ahimsa.
In the classical sense, ahimsa means non-injury, non-violence, or harmlessness. When we hear the word ahimsa, we most often think of non-violence toward our fellow human beings: no violence, no killing, no war. Of course, it is vitally important to avoid non-violence toward others in order to promote peace and understanding in our society; but in order to truly embody this ideal, shouldn’t we also apply this first of Patanjali’s yamas to ourselves? In terms of our daily lives and activities, including yoga, this means we must know, understand, and respect our Selves and our bodies. So often in yoga, we think we should push past our limits because that’s the only way to “progress” in a posture. Or, we see the person next to us can hook their ankle behind their head, and we feel that "surely I can do that, too." Unfortunately, it is this inner, almost subconscious, competition within our minds that goes against the principle of ahimsa.
When we have a deeper understanding of these things closest to us, we can know and sense our own strengths and boundaries. From here, we can work with our limitations, taking our practice to the edge without falling off it and into injury, and employing this same principle to our other activities and relationships.
At times, through the course of your yoga practice, have you ever been so into the flow of your practice, so on your yoga “high” that you’ve pushed yourself too hard, too fast? You’re breathing, you’re moving, you’re “vinyasa-ing” and suddenly you can fold deeper and twist further than you ever have before. Everything is going beautifully. Then, without quite knowing when, or how it happened, you find yourself with pain, soreness or even an injury—from your yoga practice! Few non-yogis would think to associate yoga with serious injury, but for those it’s happened to, it can be all too frustrating. However, an injury offers a chance to return to the place of compassion and patience encouraged by ahimsa.
In the classical sense, ahimsa means non-injury, non-violence, or harmlessness. When we hear the word ahimsa, we most often think of non-violence toward our fellow human beings: no violence, no killing, no war. Of course, it is vitally important to avoid non-violence toward others in order to promote peace and understanding in our society; but in order to truly embody this ideal, shouldn’t we also apply this first of Patanjali’s yamas to ourselves? In terms of our daily lives and activities, including yoga, this means we must know, understand, and respect our Selves and our bodies. So often in yoga, we think we should push past our limits because that’s the only way to “progress” in a posture. Or, we see the person next to us can hook their ankle behind their head, and we feel that "surely I can do that, too." Unfortunately, it is this inner, almost subconscious, competition within our minds that goes against the principle of ahimsa.
When we have a deeper understanding of these things closest to us, we can know and sense our own strengths and boundaries. From here, we can work with our limitations, taking our practice to the edge without falling off it and into injury, and employing this same principle to our other activities and relationships.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)