A really important thing to know about yoga, is that it's a solitary endeavor. I know, I know.
You're thinking that there's another dozen or so people in class. How can yoga be solitary?
Well, assuming you've managed to close down your senses, and you're totally focussed. Then, there really isn't anyone else. It's just you and your breath.
So, there is only one answer, to what you could possibly be learning in yoga. Because there's only one thing that there is, to actually learn about ...YOU.
You see, yoga's not about poses or breath, it's about knowing about yourself. Your body. Your mind. Your senses.
Yoga is an exploration of you. That's it!
CU in class, learning about yourself, J.
Saturday 8 October 2016
Tuesday 27 September 2016
What You Should Be Doing In Warrior 1 and 2
The stuff you hear in a yoga class.
This in warrior 1 and 2...
"Push out through your legs."
"Push the mat apart."
Say what!?!
Let's keep it simple and basic.
The outside of your rear foot is what you should be focusing on.
You need to be pressing the outside edge of the back foot into the mat...THEN...and this is the important bit...
This in warrior 1 and 2...
"Push out through your legs."
"Push the mat apart."
Say what!?!
Let's keep it simple and basic.
The outside of your rear foot is what you should be focusing on.
You need to be pressing the outside edge of the back foot into the mat...THEN...and this is the important bit...
...make the action of dragging the back foot towards the front foot.
The result is that the pose goes from an outward spilling of energy, to an inward and upward, gathering of energy.
...one is weak ...the other is strong ...you know ...like a warrior.
Peace out, J.
How To Make Yogic Decisions
If you're unsure about a decision you need to make. Here's some messianic advice...
Ask yourself if you're making the decision based on fear or values.
Fear might give you short term relief (vanity, ego). But in the longer term it may bring pain (grief, resentment, anger, regret).
A values based decision might bring short term pain (sorrow), but should stand you well in the longer term (compassion, joy, happiness).
CU in class, makin' good decisions, J.
Yoga Myth Bustin' - The Meditation Replacing Asana Myth
You'll sometimes hear a yoga teacher talk about how they used to do heap of asana. All the tough stuff.
But now they just do a couple of sun sals and some meditation.
Look, there's nothing wrong with what they're saying, unless they make out like they've progressed onto the sun sals and meditation.
Like advanced asana is a phase, on the way to a seated meditation practice.
Playing one part of yoga off against another, is not the yogic way.
Yoga's not a zero sum game, where you can decrease this bit, but because you increased this other bit, all's well.
This is a western way of looking at yoga and is not yoga.
Peace out, J.
P.S. Yes, I know asana means seat.
But now they just do a couple of sun sals and some meditation.
Look, there's nothing wrong with what they're saying, unless they make out like they've progressed onto the sun sals and meditation.
Like advanced asana is a phase, on the way to a seated meditation practice.
Playing one part of yoga off against another, is not the yogic way.
Yoga's not a zero sum game, where you can decrease this bit, but because you increased this other bit, all's well.
This is a western way of looking at yoga and is not yoga.
Peace out, J.
P.S. Yes, I know asana means seat.
Thursday 22 September 2016
Yoga And Technology
Bet you're thinking this post is about how to use technology in yoga. Or if technology is compatible with yoga. That's main stream kid's stuff peeps.
You're here to read about yoga and technology.
How technology...
...cures diseases that kill humans.
...heals the sick.
...lifts nations out of poverty.
...brings water and food to desert tribal regions.
It's not that technology can be good or bad from a yogic standpoint.
Technology is being used for both good and bad.
It's just as yogis, we are grateful for the blessings it brings, and saddened by the destruction it causes.
I know! A weird trippy post, but I've been inspired lately. J.
You're here to read about yoga and technology.
How technology...
...cures diseases that kill humans.
...heals the sick.
...lifts nations out of poverty.
...brings water and food to desert tribal regions.
It's not that technology can be good or bad from a yogic standpoint.
Technology is being used for both good and bad.
It's just as yogis, we are grateful for the blessings it brings, and saddened by the destruction it causes.
I know! A weird trippy post, but I've been inspired lately. J.
Wednesday 21 September 2016
How Yoga Makes You A Winner
Yoga is an infinitesimally slow process. And too succeed at yoga, you are practicing the #1 winning trait.
Persistence
You are face planting and getting back up, and doing it again.
You are babying injuries through recovery. Listening to your body and learning.
You are showing up.
Don't underestimate this.
There's a lot of shiny stuff out there, competing for your attention.
Persistence has a LOT to with winning.
Did you know most successful business men have failed many times before they made it big? True story.
Your yoga practice can make you win in other areas of your life. It gets better...
You can also add non-attachment to persistence. NOW that's a winning combo.
The non-attachment makes it easier to get back on the horse.
We'll cover how non-attachment is not not-giving-a-shit (read it twice) another time. But know...
The more you practice yoga, the more you're practicing winning.
CU in class, winning, J.
Tuesday 20 September 2016
Today Tomorrow Whenever Yoga
It's real easy to fall into whether your yoga is better today than yesterday. And you're all fired up about how great you're gonna be tomorrow.
What's wrong with that last sentence? Yep. No now.
Look, yoga is. That's it.
What happened yesterday and what's gonna happen tomozz doesn't matter. What's happening now? That's what's important.
Are you improving? Does it matter?
All that matters is showing up.
And when you do show up, all that matters is that you're breathing and are focussed.
The rest takes care of itself.
Yesterday took care of yesterday and tomorrow will take care of itself, when it arrives.
You gotta be. Just be. That's yoga. J.
P.S. Look, it's ok to look forward to your practice.
It's ok to be disappointed if your practice sucked.
But there's a time and a place for everything.
Look forward to your practice before you practice.
Be disappointed your practice sucked after your practice.
But during your practice there's no emotion. There just is.
What's wrong with that last sentence? Yep. No now.
Look, yoga is. That's it.
What happened yesterday and what's gonna happen tomozz doesn't matter. What's happening now? That's what's important.
Are you improving? Does it matter?
All that matters is showing up.
And when you do show up, all that matters is that you're breathing and are focussed.
The rest takes care of itself.
Yesterday took care of yesterday and tomorrow will take care of itself, when it arrives.
You gotta be. Just be. That's yoga. J.
P.S. Look, it's ok to look forward to your practice.
It's ok to be disappointed if your practice sucked.
But there's a time and a place for everything.
Look forward to your practice before you practice.
Be disappointed your practice sucked after your practice.
But during your practice there's no emotion. There just is.
When To Stop Practicing Yoga
There's usually asana that you are practicing to get into. Then there's asana that you can get into.
The question is, what do you do with the asana you're practicing to get into, once you can get into it?
Easy.
(Around) Half your practice should be going over stuff you can do. This is includes the highest level of asana you can competently achieve.
Now all you're gonna do, in the can-do practice, is ensure you can-still-do it.
The trick here, is to realize that once you can-do something, it takes less practice to maintain it.
The other half of the practice is stuff you're working on (usually your weakest area). This is the stuff you have to strap or block, or that you fall out of. Now.
At some point, you're gonna consistently nail the new stuff. This then needs to be incorporated into your can-do practice.
So, the bar is constantly being raised with your can-do practice. And new stuff (usually your weakest area) is being introduced into the can't-do practice.
People talk about yoga being balanced or yoga meaning balance, without really knowing what that means in a yoga practice. I know! Weird.
CU nailing it, J.
P.S. It might help to think of your yoga as doing yoga and practicing yoga.
The yoga you do is the stuff you can do.
The yoga you practice is the stuff you can't do.
Now half your yoga time is spent doing and half practicing.
The question is, what do you do with the asana you're practicing to get into, once you can get into it?
Easy.
(Around) Half your practice should be going over stuff you can do. This is includes the highest level of asana you can competently achieve.
Now all you're gonna do, in the can-do practice, is ensure you can-still-do it.
The trick here, is to realize that once you can-do something, it takes less practice to maintain it.
The other half of the practice is stuff you're working on (usually your weakest area). This is the stuff you have to strap or block, or that you fall out of. Now.
At some point, you're gonna consistently nail the new stuff. This then needs to be incorporated into your can-do practice.
So, the bar is constantly being raised with your can-do practice. And new stuff (usually your weakest area) is being introduced into the can't-do practice.
People talk about yoga being balanced or yoga meaning balance, without really knowing what that means in a yoga practice. I know! Weird.
CU nailing it, J.
P.S. It might help to think of your yoga as doing yoga and practicing yoga.
The yoga you do is the stuff you can do.
The yoga you practice is the stuff you can't do.
Now half your yoga time is spent doing and half practicing.
Monday 19 September 2016
Yoga: If You're Not Getting Injured, Are You Doing It Properly?
Yoga's a repetitive practice. Not only that.
But yogis are taking their bodies to the edge. Not over the edge. But close to it.
With repetition comes risk. With edge play comes risk.
There's enough risk, that at some point an injury is bound to happen.
Sure, we get wiser around injury management and prevention. But that's from experience being injured.
In the meantime, injuries happen. The thing is.
What if you've never been injured? Maybe you're not doing it properly.
CU in class, J.
But yogis are taking their bodies to the edge. Not over the edge. But close to it.
With repetition comes risk. With edge play comes risk.
There's enough risk, that at some point an injury is bound to happen.
Sure, we get wiser around injury management and prevention. But that's from experience being injured.
In the meantime, injuries happen. The thing is.
What if you've never been injured? Maybe you're not doing it properly.
CU in class, J.
Sunday 11 September 2016
You Can't Be A Good Yoga Teacher If You're Not Good At Yoga
That title is a mouthful. But here's the rub...
How can a person teach what they don't know? They can't.
A physics teacher can't teach physics, if they don't know physics. I mean, c'mon.
In the same way, a yoga teacher can't teach yoga, if they don't know yoga.
So. To be able to teach yoga, the yoga teacher must be an experienced yogi. And let me tell you. That path ain't short.
So, if your yoga teacher has only been a yogi - that's a yogi, not a teacher - for less than say a decade or two.
They are unqualified, J.
How can a person teach what they don't know? They can't.
A physics teacher can't teach physics, if they don't know physics. I mean, c'mon.
In the same way, a yoga teacher can't teach yoga, if they don't know yoga.
So. To be able to teach yoga, the yoga teacher must be an experienced yogi. And let me tell you. That path ain't short.
So, if your yoga teacher has only been a yogi - that's a yogi, not a teacher - for less than say a decade or two.
They are unqualified, J.
Sunday 28 August 2016
How To Choose Your Yoga Teacher
...ahhh ...the elusive yoga teacher.
How do we 'pick' a yoga teacher.
Ok, IF you ARE in the position of being able to PICK your yoga teacher. You are in a good position.
Obviously - if you've been reading these posts - you'll know that I think that you are always your own best teacher.
However, if you do want to 'pick' a teacher, pick one who's been there. No, not India.
Who's been an advanced yogi.
It's sad to say it, but not all teachers have experienced real yoga.
Most have attended studios and maybe thought being a yoga teacher would be a good job. The studio offers courses, and Bob's your uncle, 6 weeks later they are McYoga certified.
If you think maybe someone's gonna be a good candidate to teach you. Observe them doing yoga.
Is their warrior terrifying?
Can they defy gravity in arm balances?
Is their breath long and loud (and in time with the practice)?
Is their focus laser sharp?
Now, this is a person who can teach.
Doesn't matter if they can't do the poses any longer. As long as they've been there.
CU in class, J.
Boom Yoga
Here's a really cool tip / trick / whatever, that you can use in life.
When a really cool thing happens...
...say you see a really beautiful sight in nature, that takes your breath away. You say "Booom".
Not a loud sharp "BOOM!". A soft, low-key, long "boooomm". Just pucker your lips and use enough breath to part them. That's the boom.
Here's what this does...
--First up, it makes you recognize that you're seeing, feeling, tasting something special. It's a moment worth noting.
--Next, it keeps you in expectation of booms. It's a positive reinforcer.
Finally, a word of caution: Don't have a word for negative events. Are you crazy?!?
Why would you want to mark that crap?
Learn from your mistakes. Don't repeat them. But please don't mark them for remembrance.
Learn the principle. Let the event fade.
Anyway, enough psycho babble.
Boom, J.
When a really cool thing happens...
...say you see a really beautiful sight in nature, that takes your breath away. You say "Booom".
Not a loud sharp "BOOM!". A soft, low-key, long "boooomm". Just pucker your lips and use enough breath to part them. That's the boom.
Here's what this does...
--First up, it makes you recognize that you're seeing, feeling, tasting something special. It's a moment worth noting.
--Next, it keeps you in expectation of booms. It's a positive reinforcer.
Finally, a word of caution: Don't have a word for negative events. Are you crazy?!?
Why would you want to mark that crap?
Learn from your mistakes. Don't repeat them. But please don't mark them for remembrance.
Learn the principle. Let the event fade.
Anyway, enough psycho babble.
Boom, J.
What Your Mind Should Be Doing In Savasana (Relaxation)
So everybody knows how to do savasana. Corpse pose. Relaxation. Whatever.
Everybody relaxes, and our mind does... What? Every yoga teacher is doing a different thing.
Some have us breathing. Others, focussing. What should your mind be doing during relaxation?
Well, the answer lies in why we do corpse pose. You see.
We don't do corpse pose to just relax our body...
Here's the skinny...
During yoga we do a heap of warm up.
Then we bend, twist, extend, and compress our body, in every direction our body can go.
Do you not think that may actually put some stress on the body? It sure does.
Yeah, we're all loose and stuff. But here's the question...
What happens at the end of all that bending, stretching, etc? Does our body come back together properly. Now.
Some readers are gonna be scratching their heads, saying, "What does he mean. Like our body's not going come back together correctly?"
Yes. Now you've got it. You see.
Yoga's not as calm and tranquil as some would have you believe. It can bet a bit intense on the matt. In fact.
If it hasn't gotten a little intense on the matt...
Everybody relaxes, and our mind does... What? Every yoga teacher is doing a different thing.
Some have us breathing. Others, focussing. What should your mind be doing during relaxation?
Well, the answer lies in why we do corpse pose. You see.
We don't do corpse pose to just relax our body...
...we do corpse pose to see what happens to our body as it relaxes. Say what? Yep.
During yoga we do a heap of warm up.
Then we bend, twist, extend, and compress our body, in every direction our body can go.
Do you not think that may actually put some stress on the body? It sure does.
Yeah, we're all loose and stuff. But here's the question...
What happens at the end of all that bending, stretching, etc? Does our body come back together properly. Now.
Some readers are gonna be scratching their heads, saying, "What does he mean. Like our body's not going come back together correctly?"
Yes. Now you've got it. You see.
Yoga's not as calm and tranquil as some would have you believe. It can bet a bit intense on the matt. In fact.
If it hasn't gotten a little intense on the matt...
...then maybe you don't need savasana.
I kid you not.
Skip it.
Savasana isn't something you tack onto the end of a practice, to honor yoga. Or to be respectful.
You do it, because it's a necessary part of the practice. You do it to make sure that your body is fully functional at the end. That's why we do savasana.
Now, what do you reckon your mind should be doing during relaxation?
Whatever best relaxes your body, so you can see if it's all good.
If a certain breathing pattern relaxes your body, so you can make sure it's all ok. Then breathe.
If focussing on one body part at a time, and relaxing it, best gets you through this process. Then focus on one body part.
The mind during savasana matters, only as much as it's helping you relax.
So, if you do a home practice that is pretty run of the mill. Not much effort. Sure skip savasana. I know, shock, horror. Whatever.
If, however, you spend an hour and a half back-bending. Probably a good idea to have a savasana to make sure you are good to go.
...that all the bits are fitting back together properly in a neutral position.
CU in class, working hard for that savasana, J.
Sunday 21 August 2016
Sex And Yoga
There's two things to keep in mind when thinkin' about sex and yoga.
There is only one verb that the term "Making love", can apply to. It's sex.
Now, some smarty is gonna be saying something like, "I make love, when I look at my man". Ok.
Say to your man, "I wanna make love to you tonight". And then, when he gets you in the bedroom, just look at him. See if he agrees with your application of this term.
Alrighty, back in reality, we call sex "making love".
Have SEX.
Here's why. You only make love when you have sex. Think about it.
If you aren't having sex...then you're not keeping the love alive. You're not making more love. You're relying on the old love.
Don't have sex with your partner for long enough, and all the love will have gone out.
...all sorts of control.
...including sexual control. This is what is meant by the Yama, Brahmacharya.
I'm not going to sugar-coat this for you...and it's bad ...ready? ...here goes.
If you masturbate a lot, you are not controlling your sexual energy. While I'm at it...
...if you masturbate to porn all the time, you're way off yogic base.
You're not respecting yourself if you don't have a partner (masturbation), and you're not respecting them if you do (the porn thing).
I'm tryin' to keep this M rated, so I'm not goin' into why.
Any yogi (teacher) that waters down this application of Brahmacharya, is also a watered down yogi, and maybe you should re-think your teacher.
Here endeth the lesson, (I went with the biblical ending 'cause I sure feel like I've been a preachin'. Tough topic too) J.
First thing...
There is only one verb that the term "Making love", can apply to. It's sex.
Now, some smarty is gonna be saying something like, "I make love, when I look at my man". Ok.
Say to your man, "I wanna make love to you tonight". And then, when he gets you in the bedroom, just look at him. See if he agrees with your application of this term.
Alrighty, back in reality, we call sex "making love".
Have SEX.
Here's why. You only make love when you have sex. Think about it.
If you aren't having sex...then you're not keeping the love alive. You're not making more love. You're relying on the old love.
Don't have sex with your partner for long enough, and all the love will have gone out.
Second sex point, is that yoga is about control.
...all sorts of control.
...including sexual control. This is what is meant by the Yama, Brahmacharya.
I'm not going to sugar-coat this for you...and it's bad ...ready? ...here goes.
If you masturbate a lot, you are not controlling your sexual energy. While I'm at it...
...if you masturbate to porn all the time, you're way off yogic base.
You're not respecting yourself if you don't have a partner (masturbation), and you're not respecting them if you do (the porn thing).
I'm tryin' to keep this M rated, so I'm not goin' into why.
Any yogi (teacher) that waters down this application of Brahmacharya, is also a watered down yogi, and maybe you should re-think your teacher.
Here endeth the lesson, (I went with the biblical ending 'cause I sure feel like I've been a preachin'. Tough topic too) J.
Saturday 20 August 2016
Who To Learn Yoga From
If you're gonna learn yoga, it's best to learn it from someone who's been there.
Look at this way ...it's easier for a teacher to help a student up to the teachers level, than it is for a teacher, to try to push a student, to a level the teacher them-self has never been.
Awkward sentence, but you get it.
So, if you're the kind of person who wants to progress in yoga, you're gonna be either:
1) a person who needs a helping hand, or
2) a person who has the motivation and drive to get yourself to the next level (...and the next ...and the next).
Obviously 2) kinda makes a teacher redundant.
So, if you're 1), the question then is, how do you find a teacher who's been there?
This is kinda easy ...all you need to do, is look to see if the teacher, is where you want to be with your own yoga.
If you want to advance your yoga. Find a teacher who practices advanced yoga.
If you're lookin' at your yoga teacher, and you can conclude, that in the teacher's practice, they've never done xyz-asana, they're gonna have trouble getting you there.
Look where you are going. In life. In yoga.
If you want to advance your yoga, look towards advanced yoga.
Peace out, J.
Look at this way ...it's easier for a teacher to help a student up to the teachers level, than it is for a teacher, to try to push a student, to a level the teacher them-self has never been.
Awkward sentence, but you get it.
So, if you're the kind of person who wants to progress in yoga, you're gonna be either:
1) a person who needs a helping hand, or
2) a person who has the motivation and drive to get yourself to the next level (...and the next ...and the next).
Obviously 2) kinda makes a teacher redundant.
So, if you're 1), the question then is, how do you find a teacher who's been there?
This is kinda easy ...all you need to do, is look to see if the teacher, is where you want to be with your own yoga.
If you want to advance your yoga. Find a teacher who practices advanced yoga.
If you're lookin' at your yoga teacher, and you can conclude, that in the teacher's practice, they've never done xyz-asana, they're gonna have trouble getting you there.
Look where you are going. In life. In yoga.
If you want to advance your yoga, look towards advanced yoga.
Peace out, J.
Play Only What's In Front Of You Yoga
There's a term in the sporting world - "Play what's in front of you" - that more than applies to the yogic world.
It's when your present performance is affected by your past performance.
It becomes a problem if you've been nailing it lately, but say you are a bit tired or rundown. You get all worried that your present performance is up to par. Or.
If you've had a couple of recent practices that weren't up to what you consider scratch, then you feel like you have to lift your game.
In both instances, past performance is an added burden to present performance.
To practice at your best, you simply must be in the moment, playing only what is in front of you.
Playing against your past is a from of competition and is ego driven.
Don't fall for it. It only ever has one effect: To reduce your present performance.
Get your mind focussed on your present practice. Breathe. Nail it.
J.
It's when your present performance is affected by your past performance.
It becomes a problem if you've been nailing it lately, but say you are a bit tired or rundown. You get all worried that your present performance is up to par. Or.
If you've had a couple of recent practices that weren't up to what you consider scratch, then you feel like you have to lift your game.
In both instances, past performance is an added burden to present performance.
To practice at your best, you simply must be in the moment, playing only what is in front of you.
Playing against your past is a from of competition and is ego driven.
Don't fall for it. It only ever has one effect: To reduce your present performance.
Get your mind focussed on your present practice. Breathe. Nail it.
J.
Thursday 18 August 2016
How To Practice Grateful Yoga
In yoga we often hear corny terms.
Compassion. Soften.
There is one term that get's bandied about a lot, that's worth a second look. It's gratitude.
We don't often practice this as yoga would have us.
Here's how you practice yogic gratitude...
Think of something that someone has done for you - it might be an act, or encouragement, or some helpful advice.
Now write a message to that person, letting them know that their advice, encouragement, whatever has helped you.
Ok, notice how you aren't thanking them. All you're doing is letting them know, that what they did or said, has helped you.
Et voila, yogic gratitude!
Oh, you thought it was about Gratitude during class. Look.
Have a think how you'd practice gratitude during class, and you'll see why - compared to my example - it's better to practice yogic gratitude outside class.
Well, what are you waiting for? Sharpen that pencil, J.
Compassion. Soften.
There is one term that get's bandied about a lot, that's worth a second look. It's gratitude.
We don't often practice this as yoga would have us.
Here's how you practice yogic gratitude...
Think of something that someone has done for you - it might be an act, or encouragement, or some helpful advice.
Now write a message to that person, letting them know that their advice, encouragement, whatever has helped you.
Ok, notice how you aren't thanking them. All you're doing is letting them know, that what they did or said, has helped you.
Et voila, yogic gratitude!
Oh, you thought it was about Gratitude during class. Look.
Have a think how you'd practice gratitude during class, and you'll see why - compared to my example - it's better to practice yogic gratitude outside class.
Well, what are you waiting for? Sharpen that pencil, J.
When Not To Practice Yoga
You don't want to take yoga's internal focus too far.
Yes (internally focus), when you are practicing.
Take the internal focus as far as you can. Shut down those senses. Withdraw.
But when you aren't practicing yoga, try to be externally focussed.
Walk with your head held high.
Take in the world around you.
Be open to the experience of the moment.
This is still yoga. In fact.
It's the best yoga.
Machs gut, J.
Yes (internally focus), when you are practicing.
Take the internal focus as far as you can. Shut down those senses. Withdraw.
But when you aren't practicing yoga, try to be externally focussed.
Walk with your head held high.
Take in the world around you.
Be open to the experience of the moment.
This is still yoga. In fact.
It's the best yoga.
Machs gut, J.
Wednesday 17 August 2016
The Intelligent Yogi
Betcha think this post is gonna be about meditation and focus.
...and how if you meditate, you can focus better, which in turn gets better - more intelligent - results. Nope.
It's about practice. A lot of people have very static practices. That's because they are heading in a very specific direction with their yoga.
They practice the same routine daily. And only change or alter course infrequently.
Daily practice is about picking up the slack where you are weak. You give those areas some extra lovin'.
Now in your enthusiasm, you might hit your weak area a bit harder than normal. I get it. You're in the zone. You're practicin' hard.
Now, a big part of yoga is self-awareness. Yogi's gotta know their limitations (Dirty Harry). Whatevs.
So, you need to be aware when you have hit it hard. Maybe there's some residual inflam or stiffness.
This is the intelligent bit...
If you are aware you've hit a body part hard ...it's ok to dial it back the next practice.
Give the body part a nod. But dial it back. Allow your body to recover.
Play it smart ...include some calm after a storm.
This is injury prevention. Remember, how we discussed daily practice. And how yogis infrequently change their daily prac.
Well, this is one way injuries occur in yoga. They can build up over time. Sure.
An injury always presents like it just occurred. But really, they have been secretly building in the background.
Ideally, you don't let them build up. Part of that is throttling back when you know you've pushed it.
CU in class, being all intelligent, J.
...and how if you meditate, you can focus better, which in turn gets better - more intelligent - results. Nope.
It's about practice. A lot of people have very static practices. That's because they are heading in a very specific direction with their yoga.
They practice the same routine daily. And only change or alter course infrequently.
Daily practice is about picking up the slack where you are weak. You give those areas some extra lovin'.
Now in your enthusiasm, you might hit your weak area a bit harder than normal. I get it. You're in the zone. You're practicin' hard.
Now, a big part of yoga is self-awareness. Yogi's gotta know their limitations (Dirty Harry). Whatevs.
So, you need to be aware when you have hit it hard. Maybe there's some residual inflam or stiffness.
This is the intelligent bit...
If you are aware you've hit a body part hard ...it's ok to dial it back the next practice.
Give the body part a nod. But dial it back. Allow your body to recover.
Play it smart ...include some calm after a storm.
This is injury prevention. Remember, how we discussed daily practice. And how yogis infrequently change their daily prac.
Well, this is one way injuries occur in yoga. They can build up over time. Sure.
An injury always presents like it just occurred. But really, they have been secretly building in the background.
Ideally, you don't let them build up. Part of that is throttling back when you know you've pushed it.
CU in class, being all intelligent, J.
Tuesday 16 August 2016
Yogis Yoga
Yogis always gravitate to yoga. Sure.
There's other fun stuff to do. And you should be doing fun stuff.
It's just when it comes to yoga/physical fitness/building strength ...well ...everything else pales.
Yogis will just do yoga. Every time. I know.
You're saying you like pilates or barre or whatever. Sure, go for it.
But I'm tellin' you ...yogis yoga, J.
P.S. This insight is great if you are looking for a teacher.
Remember...yogis yoga.
Ask them what they do for fitness.
If it's other stuff ...well...
There's other fun stuff to do. And you should be doing fun stuff.
It's just when it comes to yoga/physical fitness/building strength ...well ...everything else pales.
Yogis will just do yoga. Every time. I know.
You're saying you like pilates or barre or whatever. Sure, go for it.
But I'm tellin' you ...yogis yoga, J.
P.S. This insight is great if you are looking for a teacher.
Remember...yogis yoga.
Ask them what they do for fitness.
If it's other stuff ...well...
How To Nail Yoga
Everyone in class was hitting the poses well. The teacher was pleased.
You're all nailing it today, he beamed.
He meant the poses. He's wrong. Whatever. Here's why...
If you're doing yoga well, you're focussed and breathing. Where're the poses in that? Nowhere.
Good yoga isn't about poses, it's about focus and breath during poses.
So, if the teacher heard long, slow, deep breathing. And he saw people were focussed on one point. Then yeah. You guys were nailing it.
CU in class, nailing it, J.
You're all nailing it today, he beamed.
He meant the poses. He's wrong. Whatever. Here's why...
If you're doing yoga well, you're focussed and breathing. Where're the poses in that? Nowhere.
Good yoga isn't about poses, it's about focus and breath during poses.
So, if the teacher heard long, slow, deep breathing. And he saw people were focussed on one point. Then yeah. You guys were nailing it.
CU in class, nailing it, J.
There's No Room In Yoga For A Pity Party
Injuries suck big time.
Then you get to thinkin' how good you used to be.
Then it's on.
You gotta nip that pity sucker in the bud.
It's not about 'steeling' yourself or being strong, or any of that western wank.
All there is, is you not focussing when you should be. So start focussing.
If you're not practicing asana when the sads hit, same deal. There's other - more important - stuff that you need to focus on.
So move on.
Nothing to see here, J.
Then you get to thinkin' how good you used to be.
Then it's on.
You gotta nip that pity sucker in the bud.
It's not about 'steeling' yourself or being strong, or any of that western wank.
All there is, is you not focussing when you should be. So start focussing.
If you're not practicing asana when the sads hit, same deal. There's other - more important - stuff that you need to focus on.
So move on.
Nothing to see here, J.
Wednesday 10 August 2016
Building A Better World One Yogi At A Time
Yoga has this rep of saving things bigger than itself.
But what really happens is that individual yogis - people - actually save things. Here's how it works...
We show up to yoga. It's just us and our matts.
Each of us concentrates on ourselves.
...our own breathe,
...our own body,
...our own drishti,
...our own mind.
We leave the practice, a little bit longer, a little bit stronger, a little bit calmer.
Then the magic happens...
People we meet are affected by us.
Our little bit of long, strong, calm, rubs off a bit on them. They feel better for it.
Then their little bit of long, strong, calm affects people they meet.
Like ripples of calmness, the effect flows outwards.
If we get enough yogis going out being long, strong, calm.
All affecting many other people.
The world slows down and relaxes.
Now that's yoga, J.
But what really happens is that individual yogis - people - actually save things. Here's how it works...
We show up to yoga. It's just us and our matts.
Each of us concentrates on ourselves.
...our own breathe,
...our own body,
...our own drishti,
...our own mind.
We leave the practice, a little bit longer, a little bit stronger, a little bit calmer.
Then the magic happens...
People we meet are affected by us.
Our little bit of long, strong, calm, rubs off a bit on them. They feel better for it.
Then their little bit of long, strong, calm affects people they meet.
Like ripples of calmness, the effect flows outwards.
If we get enough yogis going out being long, strong, calm.
All affecting many other people.
The world slows down and relaxes.
Now that's yoga, J.
Tuesday 9 August 2016
When Failing At Yoga Is a Valid Strategy
You know the crow to chaturanga jump back?
Well, if you're just starting out, you should jump back and flop down on to your belly (basically fail at doing the jump back).
Do this a couple of times.
What you are doing as you flop, is you're starting to learn how much strength it'll take not to flop. Pretty tricky eh?
Next step is to start to slow down your descent. You're still flopping/failing, but now you're starting to exert control. Ah ha!
Pretty soon you are controlling the descent.
Pretty soon you're not flopping.
Same applies when transitioning from handstand to say koundinyasana 1. Picture please....
So, imagine the chick in the pic is you and you're in handstand.
What you'd do, is start to twist your torso in handy and lower your body (in twisted position) until you flop onto the floor, with that right leg out to the left hand side.
You do this a heap of times. Then you start to control the descent. Then you land it!
This is how we advance in yoga by failing.
CU in class failing at yoga, J.
Well, if you're just starting out, you should jump back and flop down on to your belly (basically fail at doing the jump back).
Do this a couple of times.
What you are doing as you flop, is you're starting to learn how much strength it'll take not to flop. Pretty tricky eh?
Next step is to start to slow down your descent. You're still flopping/failing, but now you're starting to exert control. Ah ha!
Pretty soon you are controlling the descent.
Pretty soon you're not flopping.
Same applies when transitioning from handstand to say koundinyasana 1. Picture please....
So, imagine the chick in the pic is you and you're in handstand.
What you'd do, is start to twist your torso in handy and lower your body (in twisted position) until you flop onto the floor, with that right leg out to the left hand side.
You do this a heap of times. Then you start to control the descent. Then you land it!
This is how we advance in yoga by failing.
CU in class failing at yoga, J.
What Yoga Strength Is All About
Yoga flexibility gets us into poses. Yoga strength allows us to hold the poses.
So far so good. And also, so far, pretty straight forward.
You'll know from your yoga practice that feeling of freedom that comes from being flexible. Well.
There's also a similar feeling from being able to handle your own body weight.
It's a weird satisfaction, knowing that if you had to, you could. It's liberating.
Think of it this way...
Yoga is all about control. We control our breathing, focus and body. Yoga strength aids that control.
And the more you can control your body, using strength, the stronger your yoga.
Enough theory, here's some practical applications.
-- If the teacher says it's optional to take the flow. Take the flow.
-- Chaturanga into up dog. And also Chaturanga out of up dog. Do it on your knees if you can't do a pushup.
So far so good. And also, so far, pretty straight forward.
You'll know from your yoga practice that feeling of freedom that comes from being flexible. Well.
There's also a similar feeling from being able to handle your own body weight.
It's a weird satisfaction, knowing that if you had to, you could. It's liberating.
Think of it this way...
Yoga is all about control. We control our breathing, focus and body. Yoga strength aids that control.
And the more you can control your body, using strength, the stronger your yoga.
Enough theory, here's some practical applications.
-- If the teacher says it's optional to take the flow. Take the flow.
-- Chaturanga into up dog. And also Chaturanga out of up dog. Do it on your knees if you can't do a pushup.
-- You know how the teacher gets you to do three legged dog and then touch your knee to your nose in plank?
Well, you need to do the knee to nose thing every time you transition from down dog to a standing warrior pose.
Learn to do this from a plain down dog (not just three legged down dog).
Learn to shift your weight forward so that you come onto just the tip of your back big toe.
-- Make sure you are doing some sit ups (or Navasanas), locusts (loci?) and pushups (of some sort) each time you practice.
If you aren't - cause the class doesn't include them - do them before class the next time you attend, in order to make up.
Imagine being able to double the great feeling you get from yoga. Well, you can.
A bit of focus on yoga strength will add just as much pleasure as you get from yoga flexibility.
Plus, it'll give you access to a whole load of other poses.
CU gettin' strong in class, J.
Monday 1 August 2016
Winners Win At Yoga
To get good at yoga. Not just fancy asnana. But breathing, focus, energy control ...the whole 9 yards. You have to be a winner.
Now all the purists are gonna be thinking that yoga
...is non-competitive.
...it's not a game.
...it doesn't have a destination.
...and they'd be correct.
But it doesn't change the fact.
To be good at yoga, you have to be a winner.
This is because the same things that create winners in life, are the same things you need, to get good at yoga.
What are these things that characterize winners? Not what you may be thinking.
So, things like perseverance, dedication, discipline, fortitude, resilience.
Notice how there's no natural ability.
That's because all the natural ability in the world isn't going to help you, if you turn tail and run at the first setback. Or, if you lack the self-discipline to apply your ability.
However, if you have average abilities but consistently apply yourself to a discipline, you'll get better.
Eventually you'll get good. Even further along the path, you'll be great.
Have you ever wondered how someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger could go from winning the Mr Olympia a half a dozen times, and then go on to be the highest paid actor in Hollywood, and then become governor of California?
It's because he practices winning. He practices perseverance, discipline, all those things that are needed to be good at yoga.
You can practice them too.
You should practice them.
Don't live a mediocre life.
Don't get to your deathbed and think, I wish I did this or that.
Live life. Practice wining.
CU in class winning at yoga, J.
Now all the purists are gonna be thinking that yoga
...is non-competitive.
...it's not a game.
...it doesn't have a destination.
...and they'd be correct.
But it doesn't change the fact.
To be good at yoga, you have to be a winner.
This is because the same things that create winners in life, are the same things you need, to get good at yoga.
What are these things that characterize winners? Not what you may be thinking.
So, things like perseverance, dedication, discipline, fortitude, resilience.
Notice how there's no natural ability.
That's because all the natural ability in the world isn't going to help you, if you turn tail and run at the first setback. Or, if you lack the self-discipline to apply your ability.
However, if you have average abilities but consistently apply yourself to a discipline, you'll get better.
Eventually you'll get good. Even further along the path, you'll be great.
Have you ever wondered how someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger could go from winning the Mr Olympia a half a dozen times, and then go on to be the highest paid actor in Hollywood, and then become governor of California?
It's because he practices winning. He practices perseverance, discipline, all those things that are needed to be good at yoga.
You can practice them too.
You should practice them.
Don't live a mediocre life.
Don't get to your deathbed and think, I wish I did this or that.
Live life. Practice wining.
CU in class winning at yoga, J.
Saturday 23 July 2016
Child's Pose Isn't A Resting Pose
Extended child's pose isn't a resting pose.
Notice how I straight away said 'Extended'?
That's because I'm not willin' to stick my neck out with the full Child's pose. Yet! Stay tuned.
Anyway, extended child's pose is a shoulder opener. I know! You're saying you knew that!
Well it's a shoulder opener, in that it's getting your actual armpits on the floor.
...your ...actual ...armpits on the floor.
To do this, you need to rotate your ampits 90 degrees, from sideways to front ways. Oh! You say. I know, right?
Anyway, next time you're in extended child's pose, try turning you armpits forward and get them to suction to the floor.
Ewwwww! says you.
I know, J!
Notice how I straight away said 'Extended'?
That's because I'm not willin' to stick my neck out with the full Child's pose. Yet! Stay tuned.
Anyway, extended child's pose is a shoulder opener. I know! You're saying you knew that!
Well it's a shoulder opener, in that it's getting your actual armpits on the floor.
...your ...actual ...armpits on the floor.
To do this, you need to rotate your ampits 90 degrees, from sideways to front ways. Oh! You say. I know, right?
Anyway, next time you're in extended child's pose, try turning you armpits forward and get them to suction to the floor.
Ewwwww! says you.
I know, J!
Friday 22 July 2016
How To Find Yoga
Modern yoga is distorted. It's twisted and gnarled. Sour and bitter.
Old yogis...I'm talking 'old', shake their dreadlocked heads.
Consumerism, capitalism and commercialization have hijacked the practice.
Young yogis really don't know what yoga is.
They mechanically follow instruction.
I asked a studio owner where the advanced yogis are? Dunno, but everyone likes the easy stuff, was the answer.
You need to push on.
Keep at it.
Don't stop at any cost.
The truth is out there. But you gotta stick with it.
Push through the expensive lycra.
Practice through the hype.
Move. Breath. Expand.
Learn.
Be.
J.
Old yogis...I'm talking 'old', shake their dreadlocked heads.
Consumerism, capitalism and commercialization have hijacked the practice.
Young yogis really don't know what yoga is.
They mechanically follow instruction.
I asked a studio owner where the advanced yogis are? Dunno, but everyone likes the easy stuff, was the answer.
You need to push on.
Keep at it.
Don't stop at any cost.
The truth is out there. But you gotta stick with it.
Push through the expensive lycra.
Practice through the hype.
Move. Breath. Expand.
Learn.
Be.
J.
Thursday 21 July 2016
Can You Be A Yogi And Be An Asshole?
Great question. The answer's got to do with power. Energy.
...and the type of energy yoga generates.
...and the type of energy it takes to be an asshole. Read on.
Yogic energy is calm and centered. It's very introspective.
Asshole energy is tense and self-centered. It's in other people's faces.
About now, you are saying to yourself that you know yogi's who are assholes. And you are right.
The difference of opinion we are experiencing, is around the definition of a yogi.
If we agreed that a yogi is someone who practices a couple of hours per day (that's self practice). Well that would certainly narrow the field down a LOT.
Consider also, that someone practicing a couple of hours per day will have strong yoga.
Their yoga will be powerful.
They will be very calm and very centered.
They are firmly rooted in their power.
They just aren't gonna go from being zen chilled, to being an asshole in the blink of an eye. It just doesn't happen.
But yeah, there are people who pretend to be all yogic. And because they aren't firmly rooted in yogic power (they're pretending) ...yeah, they can be assholes.
But then again they're not real yogis.
CU in class, J.
...and the type of energy yoga generates.
...and the type of energy it takes to be an asshole. Read on.
Yogic energy is calm and centered. It's very introspective.
Asshole energy is tense and self-centered. It's in other people's faces.
About now, you are saying to yourself that you know yogi's who are assholes. And you are right.
The difference of opinion we are experiencing, is around the definition of a yogi.
If we agreed that a yogi is someone who practices a couple of hours per day (that's self practice). Well that would certainly narrow the field down a LOT.
Consider also, that someone practicing a couple of hours per day will have strong yoga.
Their yoga will be powerful.
They will be very calm and very centered.
They are firmly rooted in their power.
They just aren't gonna go from being zen chilled, to being an asshole in the blink of an eye. It just doesn't happen.
But yeah, there are people who pretend to be all yogic. And because they aren't firmly rooted in yogic power (they're pretending) ...yeah, they can be assholes.
But then again they're not real yogis.
CU in class, J.
Wednesday 20 July 2016
How To Breathe In Yoga
Stupid post. Everybody knows how to breathe in yoga.
It's ALL the teacher bangs on about the whole class. Nothing new here. Move on. Not ...so ...fast ...speedy.
Let me describe it, and we'll see if anything new comes up.
On an inhale, your body fills with oxygen. You literally, physically expand. The muscles that you are lengthening, they expand.
At the top of the breathe. When you've expanded the most. You momentarily hold your breathe.
But, during that moment, you turn on all muscles that it's going to take to maintain, the skeletal position, of your body in the expanded position.
So then you exhale, and keep all the muscles contracted that are maintaining the expanded position.
Next, you inhale and your body expands beyond the previous expansion...And the cycle repeats.
That momentary hold and conscious turning on of muscles required to hold the pose, in the maximum position, while you exhale, is you learning bodily awareness.
It's also how you take the pose to the next level. By not losing the gains you've made so far in the pose.
Your yoga will be stronger and your poses will be deeper.
CU in class being strong and moving deep, J.
It's ALL the teacher bangs on about the whole class. Nothing new here. Move on. Not ...so ...fast ...speedy.
Let me describe it, and we'll see if anything new comes up.
On an inhale, your body fills with oxygen. You literally, physically expand. The muscles that you are lengthening, they expand.
At the top of the breathe. When you've expanded the most. You momentarily hold your breathe.
But, during that moment, you turn on all muscles that it's going to take to maintain, the skeletal position, of your body in the expanded position.
So then you exhale, and keep all the muscles contracted that are maintaining the expanded position.
Next, you inhale and your body expands beyond the previous expansion...And the cycle repeats.
That momentary hold and conscious turning on of muscles required to hold the pose, in the maximum position, while you exhale, is you learning bodily awareness.
It's also how you take the pose to the next level. By not losing the gains you've made so far in the pose.
Your yoga will be stronger and your poses will be deeper.
CU in class being strong and moving deep, J.
Monday 18 July 2016
How To Get In The Yoga Zone
There's no way this post isn't gonna sound trippy. So cue some Doors and let's get psychedelic.
So, there's advanced yoga by performing advanced asana while meditating.
There's also advanced yoga by performing advanced meditation without intricate poses.
There's also advanced yoga by performing easy asana with a certain breathe quality.
And to be advanced yoga, in easy poses, the 'certain' breathe quality is a must. Or it's just easy yoga. Onward!
In this post I'm gonna have a crack at describing that 'certain' breathe quality. Here goes...
I'll mechanically describe it and emotionally describe it.
Advanced yoga is when you are mechanically and emotionally performing the breathe.
The breathe is long, deep, loud, steady, rhythmic and continuous.
Emotionally: You can hear the breathe via your ears, but more importantly, it's in your head. In fact, it's all you'll hear.
Other noises are just background noise. You aren't focussed on the breathe, as in you don't need to force your focus. But you will be focussed on it anyway. In fact, it's all you'll hear.
It's slow. About a nice easy 5 count. Although to do it correctly you wouldn't be counting.
It's one breathe per movement. There's certain poses where you'll take an extra breathe. But one breathe is long enough to get the benefits of the pose. Like I said, it's long and deep.
Ooo before I forget, it's most decidedly ujjayi breathing. But there's ujjayi and then there's ujjayi.
Now, an important aside about the level of fitness required to perform this type of breathe-movement orchestration. You need to be pretty fit. Yoga fit.
You may not be able to keep it going for long stretches. But it is possible with LOTSA practice.
We all think we practice in the zone. But, you'll really know you are in the zone when you are doing this properly. More importantly, it'll be the new bar you set your standard to.
More emotional stuff... you are fully conscious ... fully aware ... but your yoga will be all consuming.
Your yoga will also be strong. Freaky strong. Not flashy. Strong.
You may not be able to perform this yoga for long periods. In fact, you probably won't be able to sustain the practice.
So it's important to rest and centre between flows. Oh!...it is most certainly suited to flow. In fact, it's easier to do this using flow. Harder if you are just hitting unrelated poses without graceful transitions.
Now, you are all gonna be saying to yourselves that you've experienced this type of practice. Trust me, you haven't.
It took me over 15 years of a couple of hours per day to catch a glimpse of this type of practice. And I still can't get it back every time I hit the matt. But it's worth pursuing.
Anyway, now you know what to look out for.
Happy practicing, J.
So, there's advanced yoga by performing advanced asana while meditating.
There's also advanced yoga by performing advanced meditation without intricate poses.
There's also advanced yoga by performing easy asana with a certain breathe quality.
And to be advanced yoga, in easy poses, the 'certain' breathe quality is a must. Or it's just easy yoga. Onward!
In this post I'm gonna have a crack at describing that 'certain' breathe quality. Here goes...
I'll mechanically describe it and emotionally describe it.
Advanced yoga is when you are mechanically and emotionally performing the breathe.
The breathe is long, deep, loud, steady, rhythmic and continuous.
Emotionally: You can hear the breathe via your ears, but more importantly, it's in your head. In fact, it's all you'll hear.
Other noises are just background noise. You aren't focussed on the breathe, as in you don't need to force your focus. But you will be focussed on it anyway. In fact, it's all you'll hear.
It's slow. About a nice easy 5 count. Although to do it correctly you wouldn't be counting.
It's one breathe per movement. There's certain poses where you'll take an extra breathe. But one breathe is long enough to get the benefits of the pose. Like I said, it's long and deep.
Ooo before I forget, it's most decidedly ujjayi breathing. But there's ujjayi and then there's ujjayi.
Now, an important aside about the level of fitness required to perform this type of breathe-movement orchestration. You need to be pretty fit. Yoga fit.
You may not be able to keep it going for long stretches. But it is possible with LOTSA practice.
We all think we practice in the zone. But, you'll really know you are in the zone when you are doing this properly. More importantly, it'll be the new bar you set your standard to.
More emotional stuff... you are fully conscious ... fully aware ... but your yoga will be all consuming.
Your yoga will also be strong. Freaky strong. Not flashy. Strong.
You may not be able to perform this yoga for long periods. In fact, you probably won't be able to sustain the practice.
So it's important to rest and centre between flows. Oh!...it is most certainly suited to flow. In fact, it's easier to do this using flow. Harder if you are just hitting unrelated poses without graceful transitions.
Now, you are all gonna be saying to yourselves that you've experienced this type of practice. Trust me, you haven't.
It took me over 15 years of a couple of hours per day to catch a glimpse of this type of practice. And I still can't get it back every time I hit the matt. But it's worth pursuing.
Anyway, now you know what to look out for.
Happy practicing, J.
Tuesday 12 July 2016
Why You Shouldn't Become A Yogalebrity
You shouldn't become a yogalebrity, because of the ego.
There's no way that those yogis haven't got ego.
They will be doing the best poses (because they're advanced, because they have plenty of time, because they charge more per class - see prev post). Also.
Every class is a winner, because the people want to be there. Sales 101.
If you can make people want something, it's more powerful than people having to have something. Think about it!
Every class is a winner. Everyone fawns over you. You are the best yogi. Ego. Ego. Ego.
Anyway, just thought you should have all the facts before proceeding.
Put that camera away, J.
There's no way that those yogis haven't got ego.
They will be doing the best poses (because they're advanced, because they have plenty of time, because they charge more per class - see prev post). Also.
Every class is a winner, because the people want to be there. Sales 101.
If you can make people want something, it's more powerful than people having to have something. Think about it!
Every class is a winner. Everyone fawns over you. You are the best yogi. Ego. Ego. Ego.
Anyway, just thought you should have all the facts before proceeding.
Put that camera away, J.
Monday 11 July 2016
Why You Should Become A Yogalebrity
Maintaining an advanced practice, takes time.
If you see yogis doing really advanced asana, they're putting in hours. Serious hours.
I have a theory that most full time yoga teachers don't have an advanced practice, because they don't get the time to maintain such a practice.
They are busy teaching yoga. And teaching yoga is a physical job. They are knackered afterwards.
The best career path for a full time teacher, is to become a yogalebrity. You know, yogis on insta and tumblr with 100K followers. Here's why.
You see, yoga teachers need just one thing, in order to consistently have the time needed for advanced practice... ... Money. Yep.
If they become yogalebrities, they can charge more per class. Thus they can take less classes. Hence freeing up time and energy for advanced practice. Here's how it's done...
Become a yogalebrity by posting pics of yourself. Now, how pretty you are is inversely proportional to the level of yoga you need to perform ...to become a yogalebrity.
If you're pretty you can get way with semi advanced poses, in a nice setting.
If you're not pretty then you need to be advanced. Setting doesn't matter.
Ok, so you're now a yogalebrity, with 100K followers.
You start to count where the followers are from .e.g. 10K from Australia. Ha! Says you.
You notice that there's 5K in Sydney, and 5K in Melbourne. Too easy.
So now you develop a workshop and let everyone in Oz, know that you'll be in Sydney and Melb, on such and such dates. At $75 per pop, you pocket $750K. Pretty good money.
Airfares, accommodation, venue hire (and meals?) is ALL tax deductible. Perfect.
You're jetting around the world. Following the sun. AND you've got enough time to practice advanced asana. Not only that.
But it becomes a self-reinforcing loop. The better you get, and the more pretty the location. The more followers. So now you've got even MORE time to maintain an advanced practice.
What are you waitin' for, start takin' pics, J.
If you see yogis doing really advanced asana, they're putting in hours. Serious hours.
I have a theory that most full time yoga teachers don't have an advanced practice, because they don't get the time to maintain such a practice.
They are busy teaching yoga. And teaching yoga is a physical job. They are knackered afterwards.
The best career path for a full time teacher, is to become a yogalebrity. You know, yogis on insta and tumblr with 100K followers. Here's why.
You see, yoga teachers need just one thing, in order to consistently have the time needed for advanced practice... ... Money. Yep.
If they become yogalebrities, they can charge more per class. Thus they can take less classes. Hence freeing up time and energy for advanced practice. Here's how it's done...
Become a yogalebrity by posting pics of yourself. Now, how pretty you are is inversely proportional to the level of yoga you need to perform ...to become a yogalebrity.
If you're pretty you can get way with semi advanced poses, in a nice setting.
If you're not pretty then you need to be advanced. Setting doesn't matter.
Ok, so you're now a yogalebrity, with 100K followers.
You start to count where the followers are from .e.g. 10K from Australia. Ha! Says you.
You notice that there's 5K in Sydney, and 5K in Melbourne. Too easy.
So now you develop a workshop and let everyone in Oz, know that you'll be in Sydney and Melb, on such and such dates. At $75 per pop, you pocket $750K. Pretty good money.
Airfares, accommodation, venue hire (and meals?) is ALL tax deductible. Perfect.
You're jetting around the world. Following the sun. AND you've got enough time to practice advanced asana. Not only that.
But it becomes a self-reinforcing loop. The better you get, and the more pretty the location. The more followers. So now you've got even MORE time to maintain an advanced practice.
What are you waitin' for, start takin' pics, J.
How Yogis Become Gods And Why They Fail
Yoga is crazy powerful.
You probably don't realize it. It takes someone new looking in.
Their eyes widen. Their mouths open. They tell you you're un-freakin'-believable.
You shrug it off. It's just yoga.
It's not just the physical strength. People notice the calmness. They notice you're always smiling.
Your conversation is always on track. Your views are always the right ones to have.
Here's something you won't hear from the average yoga teacher.
Yoga is making you into a god. Now.
All you christians, don't go gettin' freaked out. Lemme explain.
There's four types of yoga. Each one takes you closer to god.
For the sake of this post, we'll call god any supernatural being that is wise, calm, strong and right (as in, correct in his/her views).
Jnana yogis study god. They try to understand god through knowledge. Their knowledge of god makes them like god, in that they understand the wisdom of god.
Jehovah's witnesses are Jnana yogis. They study the bible (although they'd be upset at being called yogis).
Karma yogis are caring and perform works of goodness. They don't require, nor do they ask for, anything in return.
Think mother Teresa and Ghandi.
Bhakti yogis cultivate love and devotion. Love is arguably god's greatest attribute. Bhaktis cultivate divine love. Think Hare Krishnas.
Raja yogis. That's us. Our bodies become strong. Our minds calm. Physically and mentally we are becoming as close to god, as our human body will take us.
This is yoga's goal. And it's not a bad one.
Gettin' back to the start of this post...
When people notice our yoga. And they will when your yoga is strong. Then immediately you have a problem. Ego asserts itself. This is our undoing.
If you can control your ego, when your yoga is strong. Then you will experience a physical and mental closeness (as close as the human body can take you), to being divine.
Watch that ego, J.
Friday 8 July 2016
Maximum Power Yoga
Other sports use ujjayi breathing. Martial arts is an easy one.
You know, when they practice kata. Well, they also practice ujjayi.
Here's the best one though:
Imagine a pro cycler, cycling up a hill, in the world championship. He's out in front.
He's feeling really strong. He's sucking in the oxygen, in a controlled manner. To get the most he can.
He's blowing it out, in a controlled manner.
He's controlling his energy.
Bingo. J.
If you are going to do maximum power yoga - and I'm talking power here, not trying hard and gettin' puffed out. Anyway,
To do maximum power yoga, you must be controlling your breathe. Or you ain't doing max power yoga.
You know, when they practice kata. Well, they also practice ujjayi.
Here's the best one though:
Imagine a pro cycler, cycling up a hill, in the world championship. He's out in front.
He's feeling really strong. He's sucking in the oxygen, in a controlled manner. To get the most he can.
He's blowing it out, in a controlled manner.
He's controlling his energy.
Bingo. J.
If you are going to do maximum power yoga - and I'm talking power here, not trying hard and gettin' puffed out. Anyway,
To do maximum power yoga, you must be controlling your breathe. Or you ain't doing max power yoga.
Power And Is Yoga
Let's face it. You don't come here for the easy stuff. There's 'other' blog sites for that.
Yoga's a box of chocolates blogs, run by Skye or her eternal celestial sister Harmony.
Nope, just the raw rub, real deal, here. Onward!...
Two legged standing warriors.
That'd be 1 and 2 (warriors, of course).
The energy in the pose is the back leg forcing everything forward. The front leg is a wedge. A block of rock.
That back leg energy, is trying to force that block forward. The front leg block doesn't push backwards. It doesn't push at all. It just is, and will remain.
That's the pose. Any upperbody arm action is just a bonus. Icing.
The upperbody action is established after the back leg is pushing forward, and the front leg just is.
You won't hear WI and WII described like that, in many blogs. If you do hear it, follow that blog too.
Power and is, J.
Yoga's a box of chocolates blogs, run by Skye or her eternal celestial sister Harmony.
Nope, just the raw rub, real deal, here. Onward!...
Two legged standing warriors.
That'd be 1 and 2 (warriors, of course).
The energy in the pose is the back leg forcing everything forward. The front leg is a wedge. A block of rock.
That back leg energy, is trying to force that block forward. The front leg block doesn't push backwards. It doesn't push at all. It just is, and will remain.
That's the pose. Any upperbody arm action is just a bonus. Icing.
The upperbody action is established after the back leg is pushing forward, and the front leg just is.
You won't hear WI and WII described like that, in many blogs. If you do hear it, follow that blog too.
Power and is, J.
Saturday 2 July 2016
As Long As You Are Practicing Yoga, You May As Well Self-Realize
Yoga's a journey of/to self-realization. Better amend that...
Yoga can be a journey to self-realization, if you choose to make it that way. And let's face it.
If you are going to the trouble of doing the practice, you may as well maximize your returns.
The physical practice of yoga (asana) is a great vehicle to attain self-realization.
It produces the range of emotions and feelings that need to be analyzed and processed, on the way to self-realization.
Here's a couple of examples, to get you thinking correctly about this...
This means that you need motivation, dedication and persistence to progress.
Practicing asana can make you thin, healthy and strong. This is a huge ego boost. Unfortunately, ego must be dealt with, in order to self-realize.
This is a major milestone on the path to self-realization.
Having to deal with injuries and setbacks is just plain character building.
Hanging around in an uncomfortable position is counter-intuitive.
This is great if you can make the connection between an uncomfortable pose, and situations in life that are uncomfortable, but which you deal with, by facing and not running.
Mental fortitude is one of yoga's greatest gifts.
Nearly everything you need to self-realize is present in the physical practice of yoga. Not only that, it's easy to do. Here's how...
Move, hold, breathe, focus, lengthen, soften.
CU in class self-realizing, J.
Yoga can be a journey to self-realization, if you choose to make it that way. And let's face it.
If you are going to the trouble of doing the practice, you may as well maximize your returns.
The physical practice of yoga (asana) is a great vehicle to attain self-realization.
It produces the range of emotions and feelings that need to be analyzed and processed, on the way to self-realization.
Here's a couple of examples, to get you thinking correctly about this...
Asana is tough physically.
This means that you need motivation, dedication and persistence to progress.
Asana can reward you physically.
Practicing asana can make you thin, healthy and strong. This is a huge ego boost. Unfortunately, ego must be dealt with, in order to self-realize.
This is a major milestone on the path to self-realization.
Asana can punish you physically.
Having to deal with injuries and setbacks is just plain character building.
Asana is a mental challenge.
Hanging around in an uncomfortable position is counter-intuitive.
This is great if you can make the connection between an uncomfortable pose, and situations in life that are uncomfortable, but which you deal with, by facing and not running.
Mental fortitude is one of yoga's greatest gifts.
Nearly everything you need to self-realize is present in the physical practice of yoga. Not only that, it's easy to do. Here's how...
Move, hold, breathe, focus, lengthen, soften.
CU in class self-realizing, J.
Friday 1 July 2016
Yoga's Better When You Don't Care About It
During class today, we came into eka pada vasisthasana.
There's absolutely nothing in a yoga class for you to attach to. Know this. Live this.
The teacher asked one of the students to demo the move again.
Talk about deer in the headlights.
The student was a little reluctant. Probably, due to the fact that they couldn't get into the pose.
I think the teacher was trying to demo that trying counts. Anyway. Back to the deer in the headlights.
Now, it's understandable how getting asked to demo a move in class, can be a big thing. Especially, if you can't do the pose.
Unfortunately, there wasn't an opportunity to speak to the student after class. If there was, the lesson is simply...
...don't attach to anything in a yoga class.
If the teacher asks you to do something, give it a go.
If you fall on your ass. Get up and give it another shot.
This isn't about confidence. It's about practicing non-attachment.
There's absolutely nothing in a yoga class for you to attach to. Know this. Live this.
CU in class, not attaching, J.
Wednesday 29 June 2016
Yogis Don't Do Yoga Anymore
A studio I attend, has taken all the 'strong' flow classes, off the timetable, and replaced them with 'normal' yoga.
I know the owner, and asked why. "People don't come", she said.
"What about the people who come for a while? What do they do to progress?", I asked.
The owner just shrugged.
Another studio I attend, has introduced a heap of Yin classes. You know, restorative yoga, rebadged and trendy'd up. Apparently, those classes are ok.
Sometimes I use the stretch area, at a mind body studio. This is next to the weight area. Funny thing.
I haven't seen one 'buff' person using the weights.
We live in a weird world folks. Up is down and right is left.
Yogis are attending yoga classes, but want less yoga.
Gyms are full of out of shape people.
Please don't let the malaise (weakness) affecting mankind, affect you.
Make an effort. Light a fire under your own bum. Move. Sweat.
Do something. Anything that isn't normal. Normal is SO boring and mediocre.
Fight like hell not to be normal. Play hard.
You have one life. Do something with it. Anything.
Don't just be one of the herd.
CU in strong flow, J.
I know the owner, and asked why. "People don't come", she said.
"What about the people who come for a while? What do they do to progress?", I asked.
The owner just shrugged.
Another studio I attend, has introduced a heap of Yin classes. You know, restorative yoga, rebadged and trendy'd up. Apparently, those classes are ok.
Sometimes I use the stretch area, at a mind body studio. This is next to the weight area. Funny thing.
I haven't seen one 'buff' person using the weights.
We live in a weird world folks. Up is down and right is left.
Yogis are attending yoga classes, but want less yoga.
Gyms are full of out of shape people.
Please don't let the malaise (weakness) affecting mankind, affect you.
Make an effort. Light a fire under your own bum. Move. Sweat.
Do something. Anything that isn't normal. Normal is SO boring and mediocre.
Fight like hell not to be normal. Play hard.
You have one life. Do something with it. Anything.
Don't just be one of the herd.
CU in strong flow, J.
Monday 27 June 2016
Why Thin Chicks Do Yoga
Here are 3 reasons why thin chicks do yoga...
So if you're doing a lot of yoga. Building focus and discipline.
You're gonna want to start to get into the binds and the balances. Thing is.
Bulk gets in the way. So, with your focus and discipline, you are gonna move the bulk. To get into the poses more.
Your focus and discipline is what's moving the weight. Practice is just icing.
Here's another way of looking at it...
Body builders, train and eat for mass.
Runner are thin. Mass ain't helpin' them.
Gymnasts are compact and muscular.
Yogis, we'll we're eatin' healthy. But not for mass.
And the natural state of lengthening and strengthening - especially isometric holds like in yoga (where the muscle contracts, but doesn't change length) - is stringy hard muscle. Coiled muscles.
There's a yoga lifecycle. It occurs over your entire life. And it goes like this...
You start yoga.
You get into yoga.
You go hard.
This is where you get injured and learn a lot about yourself.
You get calm.
You start to move more to the spiritual part of the practice.
You've done all the fancy, schmancy moves. They no longer appeal.
Now it's a basic practice (note: basic doesn't necessarily mean beginner).
That middle bit, where you're going hard. Your body will prolly change. You'll get a yoga body.
Not bulky. Possibly rail thin.
You'd really have to be eating rubbish, to maintain bulk during that phase. But then, you'd be also progressing spiritually, so you wouldn't be eatin' a diet of big macs.
Is everyone the same. Nope.
But a lot are.
That's why all the chicks at yoga are thin.
CU in class, J.
1. Attraction
Yoga's non-competitive. It's calming.
These attributes will attract a certain type of person.
In the west, it's the young, upwardly mobile female.
This woman is employed or married with kids. She looks after herself and is prepared to work to stay in shape.
2. The Practice
Yoga builds focus. It also builds discipline.
So if you're doing a lot of yoga. Building focus and discipline.
You're gonna want to start to get into the binds and the balances. Thing is.
Bulk gets in the way. So, with your focus and discipline, you are gonna move the bulk. To get into the poses more.
Your focus and discipline is what's moving the weight. Practice is just icing.
Here's another way of looking at it...
Body builders, train and eat for mass.
Runner are thin. Mass ain't helpin' them.
Gymnasts are compact and muscular.
Yogis, we'll we're eatin' healthy. But not for mass.
And the natural state of lengthening and strengthening - especially isometric holds like in yoga (where the muscle contracts, but doesn't change length) - is stringy hard muscle. Coiled muscles.
4. Yoga Throughout Your Life
There's a yoga lifecycle. It occurs over your entire life. And it goes like this...
You start yoga.
You get into yoga.
You go hard.
This is where you get injured and learn a lot about yourself.
You get calm.
You start to move more to the spiritual part of the practice.
You've done all the fancy, schmancy moves. They no longer appeal.
Now it's a basic practice (note: basic doesn't necessarily mean beginner).
That middle bit, where you're going hard. Your body will prolly change. You'll get a yoga body.
Not bulky. Possibly rail thin.
You'd really have to be eating rubbish, to maintain bulk during that phase. But then, you'd be also progressing spiritually, so you wouldn't be eatin' a diet of big macs.
Is everyone the same. Nope.
But a lot are.
That's why all the chicks at yoga are thin.
CU in class, J.
Sunday 26 June 2016
How To Become An Advanced Yogi, In One Easy Lesson
Here's the lesson...
Go to insta, pintrest or tumblr and search on advanced asana.
You'll get a heap of hits.
Start scrolling through, and look at the yogis who are not quite there yet.
So, they've come up under the 'advanced' search, but they aren't quite nailing it.
What criteria are you using to see if a yogi is nailing it or not?
You're prolly looking for
1. Bad form in an advanced asana,
2. Advanced poses, that aren't fully formed, or
3. Advanced poses, that require assistance (blocks, straps, wheels, etc).
It's number 3 that's most interesting, because if you are using 3 then you'll be nailing 1 and 2 also.
It doesn't work the other way around though. 3 will always aid 1 and 2.
1 and 2 don't usually exist with 3.
So, therefore, ergo and hence...
Here endeth the lesson :-) J
Go to insta, pintrest or tumblr and search on advanced asana.
You'll get a heap of hits.
Start scrolling through, and look at the yogis who are not quite there yet.
So, they've come up under the 'advanced' search, but they aren't quite nailing it.
What criteria are you using to see if a yogi is nailing it or not?
You're prolly looking for
1. Bad form in an advanced asana,
2. Advanced poses, that aren't fully formed, or
3. Advanced poses, that require assistance (blocks, straps, wheels, etc).
It's number 3 that's most interesting, because if you are using 3 then you'll be nailing 1 and 2 also.
It doesn't work the other way around though. 3 will always aid 1 and 2.
1 and 2 don't usually exist with 3.
So, therefore, ergo and hence...
...in order to practice advanced asna much faster. Use props.
Here endeth the lesson :-) J
Thursday 23 June 2016
Bad Yoga Back
We gotta run through what to do, when you've got a back injury, that prevents you from back bending.
Funnily enough, that's all the stuff, that you're guru yoga teacher, is telling you to do now.
Now, you're thinkin' that that sounds right. Right?
My teacher runs a safe class. Whoa!
Who said anything, about being super conchy, during normal class.
We just said, that your guru teacher, is teaching class, like everyone's got a bad back. Can that be right?
Tucking your tail. Not flaring your ribs. Guys. This is when the magic happens.
If it hurts in your back, where the magic happens. Don't do it. Otherwise.
Do it, J.
P.S. You didn't think I'd leave you hangin', without tellin' what to do, when you do actually have a sore back...
For lower back pain
Back bend on a foam roller, that is under the bottom of your shoulder blades. Tuck your tail. I know!
For upper back pain
Contain your ribs. I know!
Don't wanna move
Last bit. A lot of people are all "I don't wanna move anything. I've got a sore back." This is crap.
Unless your backs caused you to go to the doc. You will benefit from twists and side stretches that don't inflame your injury.
Tuesday 21 June 2016
Yoga Mojo
My flat mate said I'd lost my mojo. True story.
I've been overdoing it with backbends and ended up with an injury. Hey.
There's a scoliosis in there somewhere.
Gotta learn to ride that thin line.
I had to learn not to practice. Sounds weird.
Believe me, it's tough not practicing.
What I ended up doing, is a modified practice, without backbends.
The interesting thing, is that this caused me to start practicing, just for the hell of it.
No destination. Weird.
Mojo and smile was back in no time.
Mental note: You gotta include some playtime in between the serious yoga stuff.
Smiles, J.
I've been overdoing it with backbends and ended up with an injury. Hey.
There's a scoliosis in there somewhere.
Gotta learn to ride that thin line.
I had to learn not to practice. Sounds weird.
Believe me, it's tough not practicing.
What I ended up doing, is a modified practice, without backbends.
The interesting thing, is that this caused me to start practicing, just for the hell of it.
No destination. Weird.
Mojo and smile was back in no time.
Mental note: You gotta include some playtime in between the serious yoga stuff.
Smiles, J.
Yoga Helps With Other Sports More Than They Help With Yoga
This post topic is easy pickings. Low hanging fruit.
In cycling, you use your legs and your stomach. That's it. It's all pushing and crunching. There's nothing else.
In soccer, you're fit. Thin. Fit. Loose. Where's the strength? Exactly!
What else have we got?
Weight training...too easy...all bulk...Those muscle are getting in the way. So you aren't as loose as you could be.
So, in general, sports focus on one thing. There aren't many that cover it all.
In yoga, we're strong and flexible everywhere. Back. Front. Side. Right side up. Up side down.
We move with agility. We are loose. We are graceful.
It's this balance in yoga that makes yoga helpful with other sports.
A longer stroke. Stronger supporting muscles.
The focussed nature of sports, means that they only benefit yoga, in one way or in one plane of motion (legs and abs with cycling).
CU in class, J.
In cycling, you use your legs and your stomach. That's it. It's all pushing and crunching. There's nothing else.
In soccer, you're fit. Thin. Fit. Loose. Where's the strength? Exactly!
What else have we got?
Weight training...too easy...all bulk...Those muscle are getting in the way. So you aren't as loose as you could be.
So, in general, sports focus on one thing. There aren't many that cover it all.
In yoga, we're strong and flexible everywhere. Back. Front. Side. Right side up. Up side down.
We move with agility. We are loose. We are graceful.
It's this balance in yoga that makes yoga helpful with other sports.
A longer stroke. Stronger supporting muscles.
The focussed nature of sports, means that they only benefit yoga, in one way or in one plane of motion (legs and abs with cycling).
CU in class, J.
Yoga Vs Sports
The great thing about yoga, is that you can't really lose at it. I mean.
C'mon, are you sad that you left the matt looser than when you started? Nope. Never.
So, with yoga, you always win.
Not so with other sports.
In other sports, people are always measuring ...how fast ...how much.
With yoga, you can just do it for the hell of it. Play some music. Move. Breathe.
Peace, J.
C'mon, are you sad that you left the matt looser than when you started? Nope. Never.
So, with yoga, you always win.
Not so with other sports.
In other sports, people are always measuring ...how fast ...how much.
With yoga, you can just do it for the hell of it. Play some music. Move. Breathe.
Peace, J.
Saturday 18 June 2016
Can You Overtrain At Yoga?
Can you overtrain at yoga?
Does the pope shit in a forest?
Of course you can! In fact.
Yoga is so addictive, that you prolly will overtrain at some point. But.
Let's get this post the right way around...First up.
What the hell IS overtraining?
Well, every time you do yoga, or anything that is strenuous, your body needs time to recover.
If the body isn't allowed adequate time to fully recover, between sessions of strenuous activity, performance suffers.
The more you don't allow your body to recover, the more your performance suffers.
In addition to a loss in performance, you'll experience a greater susceptibility to infection (coughs and colds).
It'll probably mess with your metabolism and / or sleep. Anyway.
So you're probably thinking that overtraining shouldn't occur in yoga. And that a good yogi or teacher would never over train. ...errrrr, you'd be wrong.
Overtraining isn't you going hell for leather. Damn the torpedoes. Full steam ahead.
It can happen just from practicing. In fact yogis are more prone to overtraining, as we're encouraged to practice daily.
Now, you may not actually know that you've overtrained. You'll just think you're a bit run down. True.
So, you'll rest up a bit more. And Bob's your uncle. Before you know it, you're back on your game.
The thing to recognize, are the symptoms, and the level of exertion, that's required before overtraining occurs.
If you never get to the point of over training then, no problemo. Let this knowledge rest in your brain until the time you do overtrain. Then.
Being the switched on yogi you are. You'll say to yourself, "I remember reading once, about this thing..."
CU over training, J.
What the hell IS overtraining?
Well, every time you do yoga, or anything that is strenuous, your body needs time to recover.
If the body isn't allowed adequate time to fully recover, between sessions of strenuous activity, performance suffers.
The more you don't allow your body to recover, the more your performance suffers.
In addition to a loss in performance, you'll experience a greater susceptibility to infection (coughs and colds).
It'll probably mess with your metabolism and / or sleep. Anyway.
So you're probably thinking that overtraining shouldn't occur in yoga. And that a good yogi or teacher would never over train. ...errrrr, you'd be wrong.
Overtraining isn't you going hell for leather. Damn the torpedoes. Full steam ahead.
It can happen just from practicing. In fact yogis are more prone to overtraining, as we're encouraged to practice daily.
Now, you may not actually know that you've overtrained. You'll just think you're a bit run down. True.
So, you'll rest up a bit more. And Bob's your uncle. Before you know it, you're back on your game.
The thing to recognize, are the symptoms, and the level of exertion, that's required before overtraining occurs.
If you never get to the point of over training then, no problemo. Let this knowledge rest in your brain until the time you do overtrain. Then.
Being the switched on yogi you are. You'll say to yourself, "I remember reading once, about this thing..."
CU over training, J.
Thursday 16 June 2016
When Your Yoga Teacher Tells You To Get Your Yoga Elsewhere
No, you haven't been a bad yogi.
In western yoga, you have class yoga, workshop yoga, or one-on-one yoga.
With your one-on-one yoga you need to make sure you're working on the right things. And there will be right things.
The right teacher will know this about you.
They will have you working specifics.
They'll tell you to go to class for the other stuff.
If you're one-on-one instructor doesn't have you working specifics. And they aren't telling you to go to class for the other stuff.
You have the wrong teacher.
CU in class (working the other stuff), J.
In western yoga, you have class yoga, workshop yoga, or one-on-one yoga.
With your one-on-one yoga you need to make sure you're working on the right things. And there will be right things.
The right teacher will know this about you.
They will have you working specifics.
They'll tell you to go to class for the other stuff.
If you're one-on-one instructor doesn't have you working specifics. And they aren't telling you to go to class for the other stuff.
You have the wrong teacher.
CU in class (working the other stuff), J.
How To See The Yoga Trees In The Yoga Forest (Part 1)
There's a political term, called industry capture. (yes, this is still a yoga blog).
It's when lobbyists capture the political process for their industry.
Industries, in turn can capture things. Like football leagues.
We like to think it's just a game, with winners and losers. But really it's an industry, with profits and losses.
Western yoga's totally been captured by industry. Don't believe me?
When was the last time you went to a free yoga class?
How many guru's do you know, who aren't paid (directly or indirectly), by their disciples?
More soon, J.
It's when lobbyists capture the political process for their industry.
Industries, in turn can capture things. Like football leagues.
We like to think it's just a game, with winners and losers. But really it's an industry, with profits and losses.
Western yoga's totally been captured by industry. Don't believe me?
When was the last time you went to a free yoga class?
How many guru's do you know, who aren't paid (directly or indirectly), by their disciples?
More soon, J.
Sunday 12 June 2016
Yogis Smile
Just the fact that you practice yoga is reason to smile.
Not to mention...
You're crazy strong.
Can defy gravity.
Can make yourself super compact and small.
Can make yourself super elongated and tall.
You're loose.
You move like you're 18 (even when you're not (even (close)))
You meet, neat, other yogis.
You live more in the moment in one day, than some people live their whole lives.
You savor moments.
Yoga makes life worth livin'.
:-) J.
Not to mention...
You're crazy strong.
Can defy gravity.
Can make yourself super compact and small.
Can make yourself super elongated and tall.
You're loose.
You move like you're 18 (even when you're not (even (close)))
You meet, neat, other yogis.
You live more in the moment in one day, than some people live their whole lives.
You savor moments.
Yoga makes life worth livin'.
:-) J.
Yogis Don't Smile
You want a neutral face when practicing.
Not happy. No grimace either.
You don't want to register any emotions on your face. Totally neutral.
This is because any emotion on the face is just that, an emotion.
An emotion is the result of conscious thought. Therefore.
You need to be thinking, to be feeling an emotion.
You don't want to be thinking when practicing. You want to breathe and focus. That's it.
No thinking. No emotion. No facial expression.
CU in class, J.
P.S. The time to actually control your facial expressions is when you fall out of a pose.
Don't laugh.
Don't cry.
Fall.
No emotion.
Get back in.
The great thing about not registering an emotion when you fall out of a pose, is that you don't lose your yogic calm.
This means you don't have to both regain the pose and the composure.
Just one thing to work on. Efficient :-)
Not happy. No grimace either.
You don't want to register any emotions on your face. Totally neutral.
This is because any emotion on the face is just that, an emotion.
An emotion is the result of conscious thought. Therefore.
You need to be thinking, to be feeling an emotion.
You don't want to be thinking when practicing. You want to breathe and focus. That's it.
No thinking. No emotion. No facial expression.
CU in class, J.
P.S. The time to actually control your facial expressions is when you fall out of a pose.
Don't laugh.
Don't cry.
Fall.
No emotion.
Get back in.
The great thing about not registering an emotion when you fall out of a pose, is that you don't lose your yogic calm.
This means you don't have to both regain the pose and the composure.
Just one thing to work on. Efficient :-)
...the perfect yoga ending
Here's the perfect ending to a class.
Backbend the shit out of yourself. Go nuts. Bend that bad boy. Ok. Now...
Do a happy baby. Put your sacrum on the matt. Now, try to pull your knees to the ground. Pretty standard stuff so far. Here we go...
Put the soles of both feet together. Take hold of the blades of the feet and pull them towards your forehead.
Here's the best bit.
Try to place the blades of the feet into one of your elbow creases. It's a perfect fit.
Next, try to hook the other arm over, so that the blades of the feet rest in both elbow creases.
Now push out through the feet.
Happy times, J.
Backbend the shit out of yourself. Go nuts. Bend that bad boy. Ok. Now...
Do a happy baby. Put your sacrum on the matt. Now, try to pull your knees to the ground. Pretty standard stuff so far. Here we go...
Put the soles of both feet together. Take hold of the blades of the feet and pull them towards your forehead.
Here's the best bit.
Try to place the blades of the feet into one of your elbow creases. It's a perfect fit.
Next, try to hook the other arm over, so that the blades of the feet rest in both elbow creases.
Now push out through the feet.
Happy times, J.
Friday 10 June 2016
Three Leg Dog Isn't Really
You know three leg dog? When the teacher gets you to lift a leg in down dog?
It's a pretty useless pose.
I mean, c'mon, floating that foot behind you in down dog, does nothing for your body.
Try pushing forward through that standing leg. Now, you got it.
Not three leg dog anymore, is it?
Totally different pose.
Now you're opening all through the front of the body and the lifted leg hip flexors.
This is a full backbend. Say what?
Just give it a go, J
It's a pretty useless pose.
I mean, c'mon, floating that foot behind you in down dog, does nothing for your body.
Try pushing forward through that standing leg. Now, you got it.
Not three leg dog anymore, is it?
Totally different pose.
Now you're opening all through the front of the body and the lifted leg hip flexors.
This is a full backbend. Say what?
Just give it a go, J
Thursday 9 June 2016
Sneaky Yoga Tips & Tricks: How To Move A Backbend Further Up Your Back
A lot of yogis will dump into their lower back in a back bend.
You really want to move more of the bend up, into your upper back (thoracic) and your shoulders.
This can be hard to do if your lower back is used to doing all the bending. Try this.
You'll need a yoga strap (or a belt), which goes around your arms above your elbows.
This keeps your elbows from flaring, and forces your shoulders to open more in backbends.
Ok, here's the kicker. To prevent your lower back from bending, hence forcing the bend further up your back, use a weight belt.
A weight belt is normally used by body builders to help support their lower back, when lifting heavy loads.
You can buy them from any sports store. Make sure you can do it up real tight.
All you do, is put on the belt and then do your normal back bend routine.
The belt stops your lower back from bending, forcing your upper back and shoulders to bend more.
After a while, using the belt, you'll start to get control of your stomach during backbends. Weird, I know. But it works.
Bend it like Beckham, J.
You really want to move more of the bend up, into your upper back (thoracic) and your shoulders.
This can be hard to do if your lower back is used to doing all the bending. Try this.
You'll need a yoga strap (or a belt), which goes around your arms above your elbows.
This keeps your elbows from flaring, and forces your shoulders to open more in backbends.
Ok, here's the kicker. To prevent your lower back from bending, hence forcing the bend further up your back, use a weight belt.
A weight belt is normally used by body builders to help support their lower back, when lifting heavy loads.
You can buy them from any sports store. Make sure you can do it up real tight.
All you do, is put on the belt and then do your normal back bend routine.
The belt stops your lower back from bending, forcing your upper back and shoulders to bend more.
After a while, using the belt, you'll start to get control of your stomach during backbends. Weird, I know. But it works.
Bend it like Beckham, J.
Wednesday 8 June 2016
Why Yoga Will NEVER Lose The Hippie Association
So, I had reason to take some asprin lately.
Soon after, I was doing some yoga. But I was getting into the poses a little more than normal.
Hmmm...thinks me...must have been the asprin.
Curiosity piqued...I remember thinkin' back to high school, and an unfortunate event, involving some pot, a foot and a spear fishin' gun...and how the pain wasn't all that bad.
So a quick check of the internet, returns the standard killjoy response from yoga teachers. Condemning the use of drugs and yoga.
Interestingly, there seems to be quite a few practitioners who favor it. So.
Let's see. On one hand, we have public personas condemning pain killers in yoga (as you would expect)...on the other hand we have practitioners in favor of it.
Wonder who's tellin' the truth?
Peace out, J.
Oh...come to think of it, I do remember seeing a picture of yoga being done at a night club once. Thinkin', what the hell are those people doing yoga in a night club for?
Ah...penny drops.
The real reason why yoga will never lose the hippie association is more to do with the whole, do yoga and save the world. Funnily enough...
...there's a school of thought, that says that if everybody pursues their own self interest, the world WILL be a better place. Weird when worlds collide.
Soon after, I was doing some yoga. But I was getting into the poses a little more than normal.
Hmmm...thinks me...must have been the asprin.
Curiosity piqued...I remember thinkin' back to high school, and an unfortunate event, involving some pot, a foot and a spear fishin' gun...and how the pain wasn't all that bad.
So a quick check of the internet, returns the standard killjoy response from yoga teachers. Condemning the use of drugs and yoga.
Interestingly, there seems to be quite a few practitioners who favor it. So.
Let's see. On one hand, we have public personas condemning pain killers in yoga (as you would expect)...on the other hand we have practitioners in favor of it.
Wonder who's tellin' the truth?
Peace out, J.
Oh...come to think of it, I do remember seeing a picture of yoga being done at a night club once. Thinkin', what the hell are those people doing yoga in a night club for?
Ah...penny drops.
The real reason why yoga will never lose the hippie association is more to do with the whole, do yoga and save the world. Funnily enough...
...there's a school of thought, that says that if everybody pursues their own self interest, the world WILL be a better place. Weird when worlds collide.
Crow: What You Need To Know
There's only one plane of motion in crow. It's up and down.
The arms push down into the floor, the stomach sucks up through the spine, up to the sky.
There's no back to front motion. 'Cause it's a balance. This means.
That if you have a straight line going up from say, the back of the wrist, you need to get half your body weight forward of this line.
Some people are just sticking their heads forward of their wrists, thinking that this is enough weight to balance the rest of their body. Dudes.
...even Einstein's brain wasn't that big. You gotta move more weight forward. Here's a trick.
Look forward. This makes your head come forward more. It's called leverage.
Remember, how there's only one plane of motion? But you're wobbling from side to side! That's because the eyes of your elbows aren't facing forward.
Turn those biceps forward, so that the only way the elbows can bend is front to back. That's how you remove any sideways motion.
It's also what you need to build strength if you are going to start transitioning into and out of crow.
CU in class, J.
The arms push down into the floor, the stomach sucks up through the spine, up to the sky.
There's no back to front motion. 'Cause it's a balance. This means.
That if you have a straight line going up from say, the back of the wrist, you need to get half your body weight forward of this line.
Some people are just sticking their heads forward of their wrists, thinking that this is enough weight to balance the rest of their body. Dudes.
...even Einstein's brain wasn't that big. You gotta move more weight forward. Here's a trick.
Look forward. This makes your head come forward more. It's called leverage.
Remember, how there's only one plane of motion? But you're wobbling from side to side! That's because the eyes of your elbows aren't facing forward.
Turn those biceps forward, so that the only way the elbows can bend is front to back. That's how you remove any sideways motion.
It's also what you need to build strength if you are going to start transitioning into and out of crow.
CU in class, J.
Thursday 2 June 2016
Why You Wanna Get Injured Doin' Yoga
I got a ton of stuff too small for a regular post. I know...
If that's your last urdhva, it's supta. Then next back bend pose. Got it?
Supta releases your lower back, more than knees together. Save supta, until after the last round.
The next time you're standing on the escalator. Look around you.
Look at the other bodies standing on the escalator. Lettin' the escalator do all the heavy lifting.
Are those bodies, being carried up (or down), are they fit or fat?
Keep standing on that escalator and you're lookin' at your future.
If a yoga teacher in class is all safety conscious, that's good.
If a yoga teacher in class says that you should always practice safely, and that you should never get an injury doing yoga. Run for the hills. That teach' has no clue.
Look, the stuff we do. It's intense. To say you'll never get an injury stinks of mediocrity.
Either that or a bullet proof body. But most likely, a lack of motivation, effort, and practice.
Know this: If you're practicing to get into advanced asanas, there's a high chance you're gonna experience an injury. Fact is.
If you don't get an injury, it's gonna be a miracle (and I'd be sus' as to how hard you are actually practicing).
How you recover. And how smart you are about not letting it happen again. Well.
That separates the advanced yogis, from the advanced wannabes.
Umm....I think that's it.
Get injured, J.
- I'll bullet point them!
- In between back bends, do knees knocking together. At the end of back bends, do supta baddha konasana.
- Frick, now my bullets are all messed up! I wanna do an e.g. but blogger keeps bulletting. Forget bullets. Bullets are crap.
If that's your last urdhva, it's supta. Then next back bend pose. Got it?
Supta releases your lower back, more than knees together. Save supta, until after the last round.
Agenda item number 2.
The next time you're standing on the escalator. Look around you.
Look at the other bodies standing on the escalator. Lettin' the escalator do all the heavy lifting.
Are those bodies, being carried up (or down), are they fit or fat?
Keep standing on that escalator and you're lookin' at your future.
Agenda item number 3.
If a yoga teacher in class is all safety conscious, that's good.
If a yoga teacher in class says that you should always practice safely, and that you should never get an injury doing yoga. Run for the hills. That teach' has no clue.
Look, the stuff we do. It's intense. To say you'll never get an injury stinks of mediocrity.
Either that or a bullet proof body. But most likely, a lack of motivation, effort, and practice.
Know this: If you're practicing to get into advanced asanas, there's a high chance you're gonna experience an injury. Fact is.
If you don't get an injury, it's gonna be a miracle (and I'd be sus' as to how hard you are actually practicing).
How you recover. And how smart you are about not letting it happen again. Well.
That separates the advanced yogis, from the advanced wannabes.
Umm....I think that's it.
Get injured, J.
Friday 27 May 2016
You Know You've Been On The Yoga Wagon Too Long, When...
You know you've been on the yoga wagon too long, when you suddenly notice that you've become known as "...oh, that yoga girl?" at work.
You know you've been on the yoga wagon too long, when you suddenly notice that leggings are your good clothes.
You know you've been on the yoga wagon too long, when you suddenly notice that nobody can remember you not in a pony tail.
I spared you the lame one, about the Prius, J
Ok, the original title was...
You Know You've Been On The Wagon Too Long, When San Pellegrino Is Your Favorite Mineral Water
But it wasn't getting too many hits. So had to change it.
Your water is the nectar of the gods.
Only a true devotee, could pen, such truly fantastic slogans, for your company.
Because I love you...
...the slogans are yours, for only USD10,000.00 each.
Please contact me to arrange payment.
Alright, 'cause I love you (but you still owe me the money!)...
...here's how you use it in commercials (USD10,000.00 per commercial of course)...
Fist commercial is a power point deck. You know, educating you.
You see a dude dead drunk. Text "Drunk people."
You see a dude (same dude) in a circle getting counseled. Text "Who recover."
You see a dude with a heap of mineral waters in front of him. Text "Choose San Pellegrino."
You see a dude tasting one of the mineral waters. Text (still) "Choose San Pellegrino."
You see a dude pointing at San Pellegrino. Text (still) "Choose San Pellegrino."
(There's like a million dollars worth of subliminal messaging, right there in those last three slides.)
Commercial number two, is a follow up commercial.
Dude's at a bar with some work buddies (use guys in suits...cause only dipshits wear suits to bars, when they don't have to). Whatever,
Anyway, the guys are ordering drinks, and the dude makes the no gesture with his hands, then points at San Pellegrino.
This is important. Pay attention: the no and point are in time with the cool music being played (cause you don't hear the dudes talking. It's just gestures and music)). <sigh, try to keep up>
Anyway, we get the same thing, in a number of different bars, with different people (Same dude. Keep up).
Here try this rhyme to remember:
"No, no!
San Pellegrino."
So it's two hand crosses, and a point at San Pellegrino. "No, no! San Pellegrino"
So at the last bar, we get the two no gestures, but he can't make the point gesture, cause there's no San Pellegrino. Anyway, long story short.
You see him ask, in a stunned way, "But, where's the San Pellegrino?"
Bar tender says no.
Fade to black.
Focus white text, "You Know You've Been On The Wagon Too Long, When San Pellegrino Is Your Favorite Drink"
Commercial number 3.
Dude's at the bar with his buddies. They aren't asshole, cause they're not in suits. Anyway.
Dude's drinkin' his San Pellegrino as usual.
Anyway, the dudes buddy points at the San Pellegrino, then does a sweeping point at the other mineral waters.
Important: San Pellegrino, must be the MOST represented mineral water presented - use a fridge with a glass front. 50% San Pellegrino. 50% the rest. Anyway.
Then the dudes buddy shrugs why.
Dude pulls a bitter face (tongue out slightly). Points at the drinks.
Then he nods his head at the San Pellegrino.
Ok, Mr San Pellegrino Company. Here's what your multi-million dollar ad agency didn't tell you...
The easiest way, to get a message across, is making the message, easy to understand.
Don't underestimate the power of easy.
If something is hard, it's powerful right? Think of a bodybuilder's bicep. Flexed. Power.
What's the exact opposite of 'hard'? 'Easy' right?
So, easy has the same magnitude of power as hard. So easy's powerful.
Yep. That is savant genius, at work.
Talk when you've got the money, J
You know you've been on the yoga wagon too long, when you suddenly notice that leggings are your good clothes.
You know you've been on the yoga wagon too long, when you suddenly notice that nobody can remember you not in a pony tail.
I spared you the lame one, about the Prius, J
Ok, the original title was...
You Know You've Been On The Wagon Too Long, When San Pellegrino Is Your Favorite Mineral Water
But it wasn't getting too many hits. So had to change it.
Representatives of San Pellegrino company.
(You yogis may as well leave. This next bit is going to be as boring, as meditation at lunchtime, on a crowded corner)
(Cough. Cough) Representatives of San Pellegrino company.
Only a true devotee, could pen, such truly fantastic slogans, for your company.
Because I love you...
...the slogans are yours, for only USD10,000.00 each.
Please contact me to arrange payment.
Alright, 'cause I love you (but you still owe me the money!)...
...here's how you use it in commercials (USD10,000.00 per commercial of course)...
Fist commercial is a power point deck. You know, educating you.
You see a dude dead drunk. Text "Drunk people."
You see a dude (same dude) in a circle getting counseled. Text "Who recover."
You see a dude with a heap of mineral waters in front of him. Text "Choose San Pellegrino."
You see a dude tasting one of the mineral waters. Text (still) "Choose San Pellegrino."
You see a dude pointing at San Pellegrino. Text (still) "Choose San Pellegrino."
(There's like a million dollars worth of subliminal messaging, right there in those last three slides.)
Commercial number two, is a follow up commercial.
Dude's at a bar with some work buddies (use guys in suits...cause only dipshits wear suits to bars, when they don't have to). Whatever,
Anyway, the guys are ordering drinks, and the dude makes the no gesture with his hands, then points at San Pellegrino.
This is important. Pay attention: the no and point are in time with the cool music being played (cause you don't hear the dudes talking. It's just gestures and music)). <sigh, try to keep up>
Anyway, we get the same thing, in a number of different bars, with different people (Same dude. Keep up).
Here try this rhyme to remember:
"No, no!
San Pellegrino."
So it's two hand crosses, and a point at San Pellegrino. "No, no! San Pellegrino"
So at the last bar, we get the two no gestures, but he can't make the point gesture, cause there's no San Pellegrino. Anyway, long story short.
You see him ask, in a stunned way, "But, where's the San Pellegrino?"
Bar tender says no.
Fade to black.
Focus white text, "You Know You've Been On The Wagon Too Long, When San Pellegrino Is Your Favorite Drink"
Commercial number 3.
Dude's at the bar with his buddies. They aren't asshole, cause they're not in suits. Anyway.
Dude's drinkin' his San Pellegrino as usual.
Anyway, the dudes buddy points at the San Pellegrino, then does a sweeping point at the other mineral waters.
Important: San Pellegrino, must be the MOST represented mineral water presented - use a fridge with a glass front. 50% San Pellegrino. 50% the rest. Anyway.
Then the dudes buddy shrugs why.
Dude pulls a bitter face (tongue out slightly). Points at the drinks.
Then he nods his head at the San Pellegrino.
Ok, Mr San Pellegrino Company. Here's what your multi-million dollar ad agency didn't tell you...
The easiest way, to get a message across, is making the message, easy to understand.
Don't underestimate the power of easy.
If something is hard, it's powerful right? Think of a bodybuilder's bicep. Flexed. Power.
What's the exact opposite of 'hard'? 'Easy' right?
So, easy has the same magnitude of power as hard. So easy's powerful.
Yep. That is savant genius, at work.
Talk when you've got the money, J
Why Relaxation Is the Hardest Pose In All Of Yoga
You know how your yoga teacher is always banging on about savasana?
And how it's the hardest pose of all. But they never explain why. Here's why...
Advanced asana is about flexibility and strength. It takes both, to hold an advanced pose.
All that flexibility and strength, enables you to position your body, for the maximum openness (a.k.a. advance asana).
Ummm...think about it this way...all stretches have a contraction and an extension. Opposite muscle groups etc.
So all the asanas involve some contraction. Muscles build strength when they contract. Therefore, all asana builds strength.
Well, what if there was an opposite, negative energy, that balanced all that strength?
And, what if there was just one pose that you could do. That could counter all the positive energy poses in a whole class?
Well, - and you know where this is going - there is!
'Cause there's only one pose where every muscle is relaxed, and none of them are working.
Yep, Savasna.
Now, there's two ways to think of savasna:
One: You store more energy in your body, as class progresses. In savasana, the energy dissipates to earth.
Two: You deplete more energy in your body, as class progresses. In savasana, the you are recharged from the earth.
Half empty, or half full? J
And how it's the hardest pose of all. But they never explain why. Here's why...
Advanced asana is about flexibility and strength. It takes both, to hold an advanced pose.
All that flexibility and strength, enables you to position your body, for the maximum openness (a.k.a. advance asana).
Ummm...think about it this way...all stretches have a contraction and an extension. Opposite muscle groups etc.
So all the asanas involve some contraction. Muscles build strength when they contract. Therefore, all asana builds strength.
Well, what if there was an opposite, negative energy, that balanced all that strength?
And, what if there was just one pose that you could do. That could counter all the positive energy poses in a whole class?
Well, - and you know where this is going - there is!
'Cause there's only one pose where every muscle is relaxed, and none of them are working.
Yep, Savasna.
Now, there's two ways to think of savasna:
One: You store more energy in your body, as class progresses. In savasana, the energy dissipates to earth.
Two: You deplete more energy in your body, as class progresses. In savasana, the you are recharged from the earth.
Half empty, or half full? J
Saturday 21 May 2016
Vinyasa Isn't The Answer ...Sorry, What Was The Question?
If you just do pure vinyasa, you'll never truly get great at yoga.
I'm talking about actual flow time. Not the time you've stopped flowing. When you are say going from one backbend to another. That's just hatha time, in your viny class.
Hatha time is great time. You can really concentrate on your body.
You can spend more time on the bits that aren't moving real well. And throttle it back on areas were you are insanely good.
There's other yoga time, that could help your yoga, as well as vinyasa flow time, and hatha time.
But, you'll have to give up some of your other yoga to fit it in. Thing is?
If all your yoga time is full of vinyasa time and hatha time. And that's all your yoga time.
Then how will you use, know yoga time, to know what other yoga's gonna be good for you?
Know yoga (Keep reading me, we'll time getting there together.), J
I'm talking about actual flow time. Not the time you've stopped flowing. When you are say going from one backbend to another. That's just hatha time, in your viny class.
Hatha time is great time. You can really concentrate on your body.
You can spend more time on the bits that aren't moving real well. And throttle it back on areas were you are insanely good.
There's other yoga time, that could help your yoga, as well as vinyasa flow time, and hatha time.
But, you'll have to give up some of your other yoga to fit it in. Thing is?
If all your yoga time is full of vinyasa time and hatha time. And that's all your yoga time.
Then how will you use, know yoga time, to know what other yoga's gonna be good for you?
Know yoga (Keep reading me, we'll time getting there together.), J
Friday 20 May 2016
The Argument For Alcohol In Yoga
See the guy in the picture.
Now, I'm guessin' he's not a yogi.
So, how's he bending so far?
He's drunk and the muscles in his body have gone slack. Says you.
Allowing his skeletal joints to open all the way up, in that position. You continue.
Hmm...says I. If he's not a yogi. And his joint is bent like that.
And the only thing, that's changed,
...from alcohol.
That means that the only thing that will get us deeper into a pose is relaxation.
I wonder if he can backbend more, when he's sober the next day? Says I.
Now, I'm guessin' he's not a yogi.
So, how's he bending so far?
He's drunk and the muscles in his body have gone slack. Says you.
Allowing his skeletal joints to open all the way up, in that position. You continue.
Hmm...says I. If he's not a yogi. And his joint is bent like that.
And the only thing, that's changed,
is that all his muscles are relaxed
...from alcohol.
That means that the only thing that will get us deeper into a pose is relaxation.
I wonder if he can backbend more, when he's sober the next day? Says I.
The Internet's Changed All Of Us
The Internet's changed everyone.
It's like everyone's inner voyeur has been set free.
We look at everyone. Everyone looks at us.
We put on a good show.
So the internet has changed everyone.
But now we're all the same.
It's like everyone's inner voyeur has been set free.
We look at everyone. Everyone looks at us.
We put on a good show.
So the internet has changed everyone.
But now we're all the same.
Not All Poses Are Created Equal
When you're old, you can still straighten your arms. Your legs. Your hips. Neck. Wrists.
Wanna know what you can't straighten, when you are older? Your thoracic (upper back).
Don't believe me? <sigh, foolish one>
Think of two ideal old people. One's straight and tall, and is full of life. The other, is <insert body part and direction>, and not much fun.
Exactly!
Now you know why backbends are the most important asana family.
They are the only ones, that stop the one body part, that can't be straightened - in most oldies - from getting bent over. Ergo.
Backbends rock. And you should be busting them out more than any other family of asana.
Workin' on that kickass press lift from uttanasana?
Or, that chin to shin in pacimo?
Pfffft...Wastin' your time.
Those body parts aren't in danger of not straightening. Now, your thoracic.
If you don't give that 666 badboy some attention, you'll regret it later.
Well, don't sit around reading blogs. Get backbendin', J.
Wanna know what you can't straighten, when you are older? Your thoracic (upper back).
Don't believe me? <sigh, foolish one>
Think of two ideal old people. One's straight and tall, and is full of life. The other, is <insert body part and direction>, and not much fun.
Exactly!
Now you know why backbends are the most important asana family.
They are the only ones, that stop the one body part, that can't be straightened - in most oldies - from getting bent over. Ergo.
Backbends rock. And you should be busting them out more than any other family of asana.
Workin' on that kickass press lift from uttanasana?
Or, that chin to shin in pacimo?
Pfffft...Wastin' your time.
Those body parts aren't in danger of not straightening. Now, your thoracic.
If you don't give that 666 badboy some attention, you'll regret it later.
Well, don't sit around reading blogs. Get backbendin', J.
You Know The Moment You Know You're Weird
You know the moment you know you're weird.
You know?
When you're standing there.
And you get a view of your life from the outside.
It's kinda magical.
You know that it's happening, and you know it's magical.
But you also remember, saying to yourself.
In your magical happening, outside your body, looking back at yourself.
Remember that you're weird.
You know?
When you're standing there.
And you get a view of your life from the outside.
It's kinda magical.
You know that it's happening, and you know it's magical.
But you also remember, saying to yourself.
In your magical happening, outside your body, looking back at yourself.
Remember that you're weird.
Tuesday 17 May 2016
Bring Yoga Back
Follow up post to "How Yoga Lost Its Way"
In that post we argued that money is now in charge of yoga. And because of this, yoga now bends to the mass of consumers, rather than the masses bending to yoga (pun intended).
In other posts, we questioned where all the back bends went, and tied that into this bowing to the masses. Give 'em what they want. They don't want backbends.
In this post, we give a passing mention to how hard we see yoga teachers trying to teach funky flows. New moves. Fresh outta <insert hip, happenin' yoga location>.
You see guys, these teachers and studios, that omit asana families (like backbends), or that feel they have to funk up their flows, in order to be successful, are robbing you.
Not of money. Of yoga.
It's only after years and years of practice, that you'll start to see that, what you needed all along, was a solid basic practice.
One that builds on itself, and fully equips you with all the tools you need to climb Mount Yoga.
The way yoga's being taught now, you guys are gonna hit high altitude, and figure out some important bit of equipment is missing. That you need to get to the top.
So, then you have to go all the way back down. Pick up the equipment, and start climbing again.
The good news, is that there's probably a few yoga teachers around that understand this. You need to find them.
They're the ones with the boring classes that include all the basics and where you're probably gonna (shock, horror) sweat during class. Yep, yoga's a workout.
So, try different studios. Find the ones that stick to the basics. Find ones that actually include backbends or that have backbend props lying around.
Find classes the make you sweat.
Here's yoga:
Repetition of the same boring old poses, until you get them. Then repetition of new poses, that soon get boring, until you get them.
Rinse, dry repeat, J
In that post we argued that money is now in charge of yoga. And because of this, yoga now bends to the mass of consumers, rather than the masses bending to yoga (pun intended).
In other posts, we questioned where all the back bends went, and tied that into this bowing to the masses. Give 'em what they want. They don't want backbends.
In this post, we give a passing mention to how hard we see yoga teachers trying to teach funky flows. New moves. Fresh outta <insert hip, happenin' yoga location>.
You see guys, these teachers and studios, that omit asana families (like backbends), or that feel they have to funk up their flows, in order to be successful, are robbing you.
Not of money. Of yoga.
It's only after years and years of practice, that you'll start to see that, what you needed all along, was a solid basic practice.
One that builds on itself, and fully equips you with all the tools you need to climb Mount Yoga.
The way yoga's being taught now, you guys are gonna hit high altitude, and figure out some important bit of equipment is missing. That you need to get to the top.
So, then you have to go all the way back down. Pick up the equipment, and start climbing again.
The good news, is that there's probably a few yoga teachers around that understand this. You need to find them.
They're the ones with the boring classes that include all the basics and where you're probably gonna (shock, horror) sweat during class. Yep, yoga's a workout.
So, try different studios. Find the ones that stick to the basics. Find ones that actually include backbends or that have backbend props lying around.
Find classes the make you sweat.
Here's yoga:
Repetition of the same boring old poses, until you get them. Then repetition of new poses, that soon get boring, until you get them.
Rinse, dry repeat, J
Natarajasana - The Sooner You Push Up ^ With That Back Leg The Better
Let's work on a bit of visual imagery with natarajasana.
This pose doesn't actually start, until your back thigh, is up past parallel to the floor.
So, the guy in the above pic, has his lifted leg just under parallel to the floor. If he lifts his back knee another 12 inches, it'll be past parallel.
This is an important milestone (when the back knee is higher than the hips). Here's why.
The importance of this change in action can't be understated.
That right angle in the guys pose (between the lifted leg and the standing leg), saps huge amounts of energy from the pose.
Past parallel he'll be pushing down through the standing leg, and straight up, through the lifted leg.
Ummm...try this...put your hands on a wall and push away.
Now stand in a doorway. Reach up and push up against the top of the door jamb. Put some effort into it.
You'll notice that you can exert heaps more outward power, when pushing linearly under the door jamb.
In the two examples, the right angle nataraj is like pushing against the wall. That right angle kills the pose. It's hard to transfer energy through a bend.
When your leg is past parallel, you have unlimited ability to push upwards. All that leg strength acting in a linear motion. Powerful.
Ok. So here's the main take away...
This pose doesn't actually start, until your back thigh, is up past parallel to the floor.
So, the guy in the above pic, has his lifted leg just under parallel to the floor. If he lifts his back knee another 12 inches, it'll be past parallel.
This is an important milestone (when the back knee is higher than the hips). Here's why.
With the knee higher than the hips, you get access to pushing upwards linearly.
The importance of this change in action can't be understated.
That right angle in the guys pose (between the lifted leg and the standing leg), saps huge amounts of energy from the pose.
Past parallel he'll be pushing down through the standing leg, and straight up, through the lifted leg.
Ummm...try this...put your hands on a wall and push away.
Now stand in a doorway. Reach up and push up against the top of the door jamb. Put some effort into it.
You'll notice that you can exert heaps more outward power, when pushing linearly under the door jamb.
In the two examples, the right angle nataraj is like pushing against the wall. That right angle kills the pose. It's hard to transfer energy through a bend.
When your leg is past parallel, you have unlimited ability to push upwards. All that leg strength acting in a linear motion. Powerful.
Ok. So here's the main take away...
...you gotta hit nataraj hard, until the leg is past parallel.
The gains literally pour on, when you can access the power of linear motion. Especially when using the body's most powerful muscles (legs, glutes).
In a future post, I'll show you a method of supercharging your nataraj practice. Easy, but powerful.
In a future post, I'll show you a method of supercharging your nataraj practice. Easy, but powerful.
Be royal, J
P.S. Here's a pic of someone with their leg past para. She's pushin' up through that lifted leg. The power you can use in a straight line is awesome. Especially, when the legs are involved.
Evolution Of A Yogi
When you first start out, you gravitate to what comes naturally. Maybe arm balances for men. Hip and hammies for women.
After a bit (a 'bit' in yoga is years and years), you've got your go-to thing coming along nicely.
Then you notice that you're weak in something. It's your nemesis yoga body part or family of asana. Say backbends.
Well, you're pretty good at your go-to body part, so you devote some lovin' to your nemesis yoga.
Pretty soon ('soon' in yoga is years and years), your nemesis yoga is looking pretty decent.
Encouraged by your success, with your nemesis yoga, you move onto the next thing that you are most weak at.
In the meantime you are keeping up your practice with your go-to and nemesis yoga.
You keep working through things, until everything is the same.
et voila! Balance. The circle is complete. You are complete.
Now, you can start the real practice, J
After a bit (a 'bit' in yoga is years and years), you've got your go-to thing coming along nicely.
Then you notice that you're weak in something. It's your nemesis yoga body part or family of asana. Say backbends.
Well, you're pretty good at your go-to body part, so you devote some lovin' to your nemesis yoga.
Pretty soon ('soon' in yoga is years and years), your nemesis yoga is looking pretty decent.
Encouraged by your success, with your nemesis yoga, you move onto the next thing that you are most weak at.
In the meantime you are keeping up your practice with your go-to and nemesis yoga.
You keep working through things, until everything is the same.
et voila! Balance. The circle is complete. You are complete.
Now, you can start the real practice, J
Friday 13 May 2016
Yoga's Unique Perspective
Photography is all about perspective. I like to think successful photography is about being unique.
Unique person, unique thing, unique event or unique perspective (or combinations of them).
Everything you perceive is because of a function of your body in some way.
You feel the wind on your face, running the fastest you've ever run before.
You look out from higher than you've ever been before.
What if one of the functions improved. You could see further, jump higher, run faster or smell more?
It would be unique feeling the wind on your face, running the fastest you've ever run before. Or, how the trees go by so much faster.
Or, you how everything you've ever smelt before is now up for grabs, if you could smell more.
Deeper asana provides a unique perspective.
Every time you bend further than you've ever been before, you are getting a unique perspective. A place you've never felt open in such a way before.
..the first time you see your feet from behind in a backbend.
Back to photography; next time you see a photo you really like, ask yourself: Unique person, unique thing, unique event or unique perspective?
I just made all that up...It's Friday night. I need to get out more. You know. Be unique, J
Unique person, unique thing, unique event or unique perspective (or combinations of them).
Everything you perceive is because of a function of your body in some way.
You feel the wind on your face, running the fastest you've ever run before.
You look out from higher than you've ever been before.
What if one of the functions improved. You could see further, jump higher, run faster or smell more?
It would be unique feeling the wind on your face, running the fastest you've ever run before. Or, how the trees go by so much faster.
Or, you how everything you've ever smelt before is now up for grabs, if you could smell more.
Deeper asana provides a unique perspective.
Every time you bend further than you've ever been before, you are getting a unique perspective. A place you've never felt open in such a way before.
..the first time you see your feet from behind in a backbend.
Back to photography; next time you see a photo you really like, ask yourself: Unique person, unique thing, unique event or unique perspective?
I just made all that up...It's Friday night. I need to get out more. You know. Be unique, J
Tuesday 10 May 2016
Read All About It: Yogi Eats Hot Dog
Ok so, you know how hot dogs are full of shit that's bad for you? Well, apparently it's true...
Well, there's a healthy yogic alternative.
Introducing: The Banana Dog (tm) : )
Yep, the folks down at the yogic think-tank "Brainy People For Yoga", have come up the yoga's hot dog alternative.
No longer will you sit in the stands at your favorite sporting event, jealous of all the guys who get to eat dogs. It's just not right.
Now you can break out your Banana Dog (tm) and chow down with them. Could life get any better?
num, num, num, J
Banana Dog (tm) ingredients:
Lightly (that's lightly, not crispily, <sigh> toasted bread.
Nuttelex (spread over aforementioned light toast)
Honey (spread over Nuttelex)
Banana
Bend toast around banana, voila! Banana Dog (tm) <see, told you not too crispy!>
iWitness Testimony
"How like, this one time,
Rhonda's sister Sherry's boyfriend
said that the sausages in the hot dogs
are made from all the dead cats and dogs
that they kill at the pound."
Well, there's a healthy yogic alternative.
Introducing: The Banana Dog (tm) : )
Yep, the folks down at the yogic think-tank "Brainy People For Yoga", have come up the yoga's hot dog alternative.
No longer will you sit in the stands at your favorite sporting event, jealous of all the guys who get to eat dogs. It's just not right.
Now you can break out your Banana Dog (tm) and chow down with them. Could life get any better?
num, num, num, J
Banana Dog (tm) ingredients:
Lightly (that's lightly, not crispily, <sigh> toasted bread.
Nuttelex (spread over aforementioned light toast)
Honey (spread over Nuttelex)
Banana
Bend toast around banana, voila! Banana Dog (tm) <see, told you not too crispy!>
Friday 6 May 2016
Yoga Is Selfish
"Yoga is so selfish", said the daughter to her father.
"It's all about your pose, your breath, your focus".
"But I never talk about my yoga with you!", protested her father.
"I can see it when you practice", said his daughter.
"It's all about your pose, your breath, your focus".
"But I never talk about my yoga with you!", protested her father.
"I can see it when you practice", said his daughter.
Thursday 5 May 2016
This Is Yoga, You Are --> Here
In this post we...
...levitate ourselves into the yoga stratosphere
...take a gander at the world of yoga below us
...pinpoint where exactly we are
Then we suck the whole world of yoga into that pinpoint. Kinda like an imploding black hole. It's gonna be so cool. Let's liftoff.
There's four paths of yoga:
1) Jnana yoga: This is nerd yoga. These yogis study a lot. Knowledge is their drug. They study yogic texts. Kinda like monks in a monastery studying scripture.
2) Karma yoga: This is selfless action yoga. Think Ghandi and Mother Teresa. They are Karma yogis. What goes around, comes around.
3) Bhakti yoga: This is love and devotional yoga. Devotion to God. Think Hare Krishnas.
4) Raja yoga: This is us. Jock yoga.
We'll stick with Raja yoga for this next bit, and we'll use Patanjali's 8 limbs to help pinpoint our location.
...levitate ourselves into the yoga stratosphere
...take a gander at the world of yoga below us
...pinpoint where exactly we are
Then we suck the whole world of yoga into that pinpoint. Kinda like an imploding black hole. It's gonna be so cool. Let's liftoff.
Four Paths
There's four paths of yoga:
1) Jnana yoga: This is nerd yoga. These yogis study a lot. Knowledge is their drug. They study yogic texts. Kinda like monks in a monastery studying scripture.
2) Karma yoga: This is selfless action yoga. Think Ghandi and Mother Teresa. They are Karma yogis. What goes around, comes around.
3) Bhakti yoga: This is love and devotional yoga. Devotion to God. Think Hare Krishnas.
4) Raja yoga: This is us. Jock yoga.
We'll stick with Raja yoga for this next bit, and we'll use Patanjali's 8 limbs to help pinpoint our location.
CU in the next post, J.
Monday 2 May 2016
Practice At Your Level During Class
You go to class, and the level of practice is below your level. Do you:
A) Throttle it back, and go with the level of the class, or
B) Practice at your own level regardless of the teacher and class.
Now, I'm not talking about heading off in your own direction during class. What's the point of attending, if you are just gonna do your own thing?
No. I'm talking about practicing at your level within the poses on offer.
Here's some examples:
Teacher has the class come into side plank and lift the top leg up. Do you catch the toes and extend or just lift the leg a bit?
Teacher has the class come into ardha chandrasana. You are used to lifting the bottom hand. Do you do this or leave the lower hand on the floor?
Here's the answer:
A) Throttle it back, and go with the level of the class, or
B) Practice at your own level regardless of the teacher and class.
Now, I'm not talking about heading off in your own direction during class. What's the point of attending, if you are just gonna do your own thing?
No. I'm talking about practicing at your level within the poses on offer.
Here's some examples:
Teacher has the class come into side plank and lift the top leg up. Do you catch the toes and extend or just lift the leg a bit?
Teacher has the class come into ardha chandrasana. You are used to lifting the bottom hand. Do you do this or leave the lower hand on the floor?
Here's the answer:
Will you be practicing the pose in the full variation in the next couple of days? Now.If you will be practicing the full variation in the next couple of days, it doesn't matter whether you go full variation or throttled back.If you will not be practicing the full variation in the next couple of days, then you had best go full variation.
If you keep throttling back your practice during class, and class is the only yoga you are getting in, then eventually you'll lose the ability to get into the full variation.
That's why it's called PRACTICE!
Now, onto whether you look like a show off or not if you do practice the full version.
Show off to who? Those who don't have the fortitude to achieve? Gimme a break. Same deal.
Show off to who? Those who don't have the fortitude to achieve? Gimme a break. Same deal.
If you let people with less ability than you, dictate your capabilities, well, it won't be long till you join them.
CU in class, J.
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