How To Find Yoga In Your Asana

There's a sweet spot in asana practice.

It's between too easy and too difficult.

As westerners it's hard for us to find it. We are either too lazy or too motivated. Which leads us to practice at extremes (easy or hard).

Practicing asana that is easy, means it's easy for the mind and breath to wander onto other, everyday topics. What's next? What's for dinner? Her leggings are nice.

Asana that is too hard focuses the mind on when it will be time to come out of the pose, and makes the breath laboured.

Perfect asana is when the body shakes a little from effort and we are slightly wobbly. 

The breath is strong and the mind is sharp and concentrated on maintaining the pose. This is pure yoga.

The trick is to get your mind to register the perfection of the moment. So you'll remember what it took to get there, so you can get it back again.

Funny how the perfect asana has nothing to do with alignment, strength, flexibility or form.

Peace out, J.

What Kind Of Yoga Teacher Do You Want To Be?

Got stumped today.

While chewing the fat with my yoga teacher training teacher (does that even make sense?)...whatever...anyway, I said I'd put together a kick ass (literally) practice for the weekend.

Anyway, she asks me "Is that the kind of teacher you want to be?"

Now, she means, am I going to be the kind of teacher that teaches a strength based power type class.

I stammered something in reply. But it got me thinking. And now I know the answer :)

I'm going to be the kind of teacher that packs the studio out.

This isn't an idle boast...it's solely based on economics, finding the yoga market groove and supplying a quality experience.

Does this make me less yogic than a teacher who's out to save the whales?

Yes, if that teacher teaches all their classes for free.

See you in class, J.

Who Wins Out Of A Fight Between Yoga And Pilates

First up, similarities (to yoga)...

All your yoga balance, flexibility and strength stand you in good stead during a pilates reformer class. 

You are instantly a pro, even though it's your first class. Weird, I know.

There's plenty of young and not so young females in Lulumelon (whatever). 

And if you're a guy, chances are that you'll be the only one (again!).

What's extra...

Definitely seems to be more strength focussed. Don't sweat it though, if you've been practicing yoga for a while.

What's missing...

Ok, we finally get to the good bit...

Flexibility was definitely missing.

All the machines and putting springs on different settings is a pain. Just take one or two of the middle ones off and leave it like that. Where were we...

Oh, yeah...the machines and boxes and moving this bit of the apparatus here and then there, is really distracting. You won't be able to focus. And this is the biggest thing that did it for me.

After years of yoga and focus and breathing, being in an environment that is noisy and that forces you out of your focus every 2 minutes is bloody annoying.

Not only that, it's feakin' cramped in there with all that equipment surrounding you. Guaranteed claustrophobia.

So yeah, yoga wins hands down. However, you all should really go to at least one reformer class...it'll make you appreciate the calm, intensity of your yoga practice. Nah!

Just take my word for it and stick to yoga, J.

P.S. A yoga teacher I know was taking the Pilates class...he's a yoga Pontius Pilate, I'm the yoga messiah who was seduced by bright lights and shiny equipment.

The Grass IS Always Greener

Surreal moment at the studio today, while warming up before class.

The female teacher was getting in a bit of pre-class practice as well.

She did a beautiful urdhva dhanurasana.

"I wish I could back bend like that",  I said wistfully.

"I wish I had the strength to arm balance like you", she said wistfully back.

In Yoga Everything's Free But Nothing's Cheap

ANYTHING you see in the whole wide world of yoga, is yours for the taking.

Every back breaking, gravity defying, pretzel pose is all yours for the taking. Not only that.

You can be thin, toned, happy and sexy as hell, if that floats your boat...yours...sold!

Hmm...what's the catch?

No catch. All you have to do is decide what you want and practice what you want.

It's literally as easy as that.

But let's not confuse free with cheap.

The pose maybe freely available, but the cost - especially for those spectacular poses  - is high.

The cost is day after day, month after month and sometimes year after year of practicing the same damn thing.

Here's a couple of things that will help keep you on track...

Plan to practice your desired pose at least 3 times per week. 2 is maintenance, 3 is progress.

Know which other poses will assist you in getting there. This is key in introducing variety, to keep you motivated along the way.

Have a set time and place to practice. This is all about reducing blockers to you practicing. Time and environment are the enemy of practice.

Understand the use of props and use them. This is all about minimizing the stress repetitive practice places on your body. Straps, wedges, blocks, rollers. Practice today so you can practice tomorrow.

Ok, that's enough listing. Time to get to it, J.

6 Things Male Yogis Do That Piss Off Female Yogis

#1. Smell bad. DO wear underarm deodorant. DON'T wear too much cologne.

#2. Perv.

#3. Wear tights with their junk showing. WTFITA?

#3. Wear short shorts.

#4. Talk to us.

#6. Glare at us when we hip flex. Yep, we are flexible.

5 Things Female Yogis Do That Piss Off Male Yogis

#1. Assume we are all perverts. We are allowed the 3 second rule. Anything less than that and it's not perving. BTW, this works both ways : P

#2. Wear too tight pants without undies. Ladies...not a good look in cat/cow.

#4. Glare at us when we arm balance. Yep, we are strong. P.S. You get your own back during hip openers and back bends.

#5. Wear tons of make-up. WTFITA?

5 Things Yoga Teachers Do That Piss Students Off

#1. Doing moves from martial arts, dancing or any other movement discipline that ISN'T yoga. People are forking over for yoga. Take the hint. Stick to the program.

#2. Saying the class is 'open' then restricting pose options.

#3. Being outwardly into the 'scene'. We can tell who the teachers are who've grown up exposed eastern disciplines. It just comes out of their pores. Everyone else just looks like they are trying too hard.

#4. Overly organizing class positions. Unless it is full to overflowing AND the students haven't self-organized, ONLY THEN get all badass OCD.

#5. Not doing any specific back bends (and no cobra / updog in a flow isn't a specific back bend).

YOGA: The MORE You Practice, The WORSE You Get

Self Survey

         ...where do you rate your yoga practice?

Beginner? 

                                       Intermediate? 

                                                                              Advanced?

Now, have a think about this and come up with an answer. It's important.

...got the answer yet?

Yes, collect $200 and proceed. No, go directly to jail.

Ok, here's the real yoga lowdown.

If you rated yourself anything other than a beginner - irrespective of how long you have been practicing or how flexible or strong your are - you are kidding yourself. Don't believe me?

Ask some real yogis. Betcha they say they are advanced beginner or something equally vague. You see.

They know that,
       ...the more you practice,
                  ...the better you get, but
                              ...the more you realize how far you've got to go, so
                                         ...the less you rate yourself.

Weird, but oh so true.

So, if you're talking with someone about yoga, and they describe themselves as just a novice...be aware you could be talking to someone who's been practicing their whole life.

Then again, if you are talking yoga with someone, and they say they are advanced...they're talking out of their arse and know nothing about yoga.

J

Yoda Yoga

You're in a jam packed class.

Only a couple of inches between each mat.

Yogis are gonna be slappin' each other on every urdhva hastasana (reach hands up).

...and another person walks in. Bad luck late comer?

Not in a recent class.

One of the cool kids actually pulled up their mat to let the late arrival in.

Due to the studio setup, this meant that the experienced yogi missed the class. Weird, I know.

Anyway, your intrepid reporter asked the yogi about this the next day. The answer...

"It's only yoga. I do enough of it anyway."

Hmm...There's wisdom for us in that answer somewhere. Let's dig in...

The Two Core Principles of Yoga

Yoga has only two core principles. That's right TWO.

And they are...drum roll....

Practice (abhysa) and non-attachment (vairagya).

...now, our cool kid yogi displayed them BOTH (curse him) in his answer, as to why he gave up his class spot.

It's Only Yoga

Our cool kid yogi in saying "It's only yoga", is showing that they are not attached to yoga. 

Even though they are one of the more experienced practitioners. 

But how can an experienced yogi, not be attached to yoga?

Logic tells us, that to be experienced, you must be attached enough to get experience!

Damn these cool kids, messing with our heads, with these contradictions.

Let's keep practicing, I'm sure it'll come to us in the fullness of time.

I Do Enough Of It Anyway

The second part of the yogi's answer shows that they do SO MUCH practice, that they can afford to give up a session without it making a difference.

So how much is ENOUGH? 

Well, 2-3 sessions per week is maintenance. 3-4 sessions is making progress. 

So our experienced yogi is doing more than say 4 sessions, in order to be yoga rich enough to give one away.

We are gonna have to pull up our socks to get as yogic as this dude (double curse him and his Yoda yoga ways).

Going now am I, J

Are Those YOGA Signs Lying To You?

Holy guacamole batyogis. No wonder newbs are confused.

...yoga is to yoke

        ...yoga is union

               ...yoga is breath control

                        ...yoga is meditation

                                 ...yoga is love

                                         ...yada yada

Yoga sutra number 2:

YOGA IS THE STILLING OF THE MIND

So the act of stilling the mind is yoga.

Now this is easier said than done. People practice their whole life trying to do this.

Asana is moving your body into a certain position. Is this yoga? Nope. It's just moving your body into a pose. The act of stilling the mind is yoga.

Now you can still your mind by concentrating on your breath. So is concentrating on your breath yoga? Nope.

If your mind happens to still as a result of concentrating on the breath, then the stilling of the mind bit is yoga. The concentration on the breath is just concentrating on the breath.

Talk about splitting hairs!

So where does asana fit into this? It must be somewhere or else all those signs saying "Yoga" are wrong.

Remember how we said that stilling the mind is easier said than done?

And remember how concentrating on your breath can lead to yoga? (Notice how we carefully said 'lead to' not 'is'). Whatever.

Well, it turns out that diligently applying yourself to a practice (this is any discipline) improves concentration. Let's face it.

If you don't concentrate on your discipline, you'll never get better. Anyway.

So, if you happen to diligently apply yourself to moving your body into certain shapes, let's call this asana, then you are helping improve your concentration.

So let join all the dots together...

Asana is a discipline that you can concentrate on and get better at.

Let's reword: By concentrating on asana, you get better at asana and you get better at concentrating.

What does it take to still the mind? Concentration on one thing .i.e. the mind not jumping around or being still.

Notice how the stillness isn't a sleepy stillness? It's a razor sharp focus, that takes a lot of energy (concentration) to maintain.

So is concentrating the mind on one thing yoga? I'll leave this for you to answer (please don't say 'yes').

So what about asana?

...Asana is never yoga. Asana is always not yoga.

THOSE "YOGA" SIGNS ARE LYING TO YOU.

Peace, J

Spread 'em Like a Pro

Remember in a previous post I said not to gawk around while practicing?

Well, we are gonna ignore that the next time the teacher has us all come in to hanumanasna (front splits).

Why are we ignoring previous sage advice? For a good cause, so it's allowed. Whatever.

Anyhoo, next time everyone comes into hanuman, we are gonna steal a glance.

Now, we aren't going to steal a glance at the bendy chick who can get into the pose no problems. No, no, no.

We want to be zeroing in on someone who isn't quite all the way into it, but who is making good progress and who is most of the way there.

Now, why are we doing this?

Well, the bendy chick is just gonna slide into it with no thought to form.

Whereas, the yogi who is making progress, but isn't quite there, well, they are paying attention to how they get into the pose. And there's a big diff.

My bet is that the yogi making progress slides their back foot backwards to get into hanuman.

Hip extension (sliding the back foot backwards) is a harder stretch than hip flexion (sliding the front foot forward). And I'm betting that's what the 'not quite there, but making progress yogi' is doing (at least they should be doing it, or they could have been there by now! Sheesh).

By moving the back foot backwards they are fully focusing on hip extension (the harder of the two stretches). And...

There's a million and one forward bends (hip flexion) that we do when we practice. So you've got that covered. Whereas, we don't practice nearly as much hip extension stretches.

Try sliding your back foot backwards for huge front split gains.

Happy hanuman. J

P.S. Try not to get busted stealing a glance. Remember, only newbs and non-serious yogis gawk around. Plus, you'll just look like a pervy git.

Use Your Yogic Super Powers For Good Not Evil

On Buffalo Bill

Hannibal Lecter: First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?

Clarice Starling: He kills women...

Hannibal Lecter: No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What needs does he serve by killing?

Clarice Starling: Anger, um, social acceptance, and, huh, sexual frustrations, sir...

Hannibal Lecter: No! He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer now.

Clarice Starling: No. We just...

Hannibal Lecter: No. We begin by coveting what we see every day. Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?

On Insta Gurus

Hannibal Lecter: ...what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do?

Clarice Starling: He post pictures of himself...

Hannibal Lecter: No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What need does he serve by posting pictures?

Clarice Starling: Strength, um, beauty, and, huh, inspiration, sir...

Hannibal Lecter: No! Why does he go to the trouble of setting up the camera, getting the asana just right, taking the picture and uploading it for all to see? Make an effort to answer now.

Clarice Starling: No. He just...

Hannibal Lecter: No. Not the affect the picture has on the viewer, Clarice. What is the effect of posting the picture, on the guru? What does he get in return for publicly displaying pictures of himself?

On Practicing Yoga

Hannibal Lecter: ...what is it in itself? What is its nature? What do you do?

You: I practice yoga...

Hannibal Lecter: No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing you do? What need do you serve by practicing yoga?

You: Fitness, um, flexibility, and, huh, calmness, sir...

Hannibal Lecter: No! Why do you book a class, pick out leggings, get changed, travel to the studio and attend the class? Make an effort to answer now.

You: ...

Damn, Hannibal is harsh.

Whether your yogic super power is advanced asana (which you post for the world to see), writing about yogic topics (which you also post), or just plain attending class...

...when the mirror of truth reflects back at you, you better be using your yogic super powers for good. J

P.S...

On Blogger Messiahs

Hannibal Lecter: ...what is it in itself? What is its nature? What do you do?

Yoga Messiah: I publish posts about yoga...

Hannibal Lecter: No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing you do? What need do you serve by publishing articles?

Yoga Messiah: Guidance, um, knowledge, and, huh, sharing, sir...

Hannibal Lecter: No! Why do you go to the trouble of thinking of something to say, then typing out a draft, then reading and editing, and finally publishing it for all to read? Make an effort to answer now.

Yoga Messiah: No. I just...

Hannibal Lecter: No! Not the affect the blog has on the reader, Messiah. What is the effect of publishing posts on the you? What do you get in return for publicly displaying your writing?

Yoga Messiah: Yoga is a lonely place when all your mates are fair dinkum, trucks, girls and guns manly men.

Writing is me having a conversation with myself, about something in my life that none of my family or friends understand.

Freakin' Hannibal, turning me into a wuss. Gonna retreat to my man cave and drink beer in my singlet and boxers.

When It's Time To Ditch Yoga Classes

This is gonna be deep so grab a double shot (...of coffee...why? What did you think it meant?...yeah, yeah...whatever), let's get into it...

The thing with only attending studio classes, is that they will only take you so far.

You see, to be financially viable, studios must teach accessible yoga. Now what does that loaded statement mean?

It means, that the average class must teach yoga that a person walking in off the street, for the first time can attempt.

Now a lot of the poses that a newbie can attempt can be optioned up .i.e. side angle can be bound, and then taken to bound triangle and onto bound half moon. This is great for aspiring yogis.

But how often would you get to practice these sorts of options? Not much.

So every time you're in a class that offers these options, you wobble your way through them.

The yogis who're nailing the optioned up poses, practice those poses. This means that they do yoga outside of class.

To make the move from queen of the class, to true asana advancement, means that you need to outgrow class.  Say what!?!

Yep, comes a time when to be a true yogi, you need to ditch class and get on with it yourself.

Now, that's yoga! J