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.

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...

...we do corpse pose to see what happens to our body as it relaxes. Say what? Yep.

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...

...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.

Sex And Yoga

There's two things to keep in mind when thinkin' about sex and yoga.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

-- 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.

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.