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ableism, Ashtanga Adaptability, Diversity, Privilege, Social Media, Teaching Ashtanga, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
My Answer To Kino: Would You Still Love Me If I Don’t Handstand Anymore?
Kino posted an article today, “Would You Still Love Me If I Don’t Handstand Anymore?” My answer is “yes” because I do not choose teachers based on the poses they can do. Even though the yoga world at large has not followed suit, I outgrew that years ago. If someone believes that achievement in physical asana constitutes dedication to practice or greater knowledge of yoga, they either don’t really practice that much or they change studios, styles of yoga or teachers too often. It only takes a few years of hanging around in the same yoga rooms with the same students and the same teachers to see that this is…
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Inspiration and Coveting
The line between being inspired and coveting is a thin one. You can tell the difference by how you feel. Inspiration, well, makes you feel inspired and lit up. Coveting what someone else has makes you feel dejected, anxious, envious, jealous, angry and frustrated. On my mat, I tend to be inspired when I am working with a new pose or I am watching people do poses I have not been given. I tend to feel like I am coveting after I have been working with a pose for a long time and I still can’t do it. The difference is expectations. When I have expectations that I can do…
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Don’t Sweat the Technique
I speak in discreet cause talk is cheap Then I get deep in the beat then completes Compose with physique never weak or obsolete They never grow old technique’s become antique Better then something brand new cause it’s original In a while the style, I have much more value Classical to intelligent to be radical Masterful never irrelevant mathematical Here’s some soothing souvenirs For all the years you taught to sought the thoughts and ideas It’s cool when you freak to the beat But don’t sweat the technique Eric B and Rakim Before I start, these concepts are hard to talk about using words. They are just pointers. Last…
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Yoga Sutras For Modern Life: Are Desire and Contentment Enemies?
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2:42 By Contentment, supreme joy is gained Defining the Sutra “There were times when, for this or that reason, we had temporarily ceased to feel anxious; when we lived-as we seldom do-in the depths of the present moment, without regretting the past or worrying about the future. This is what Patanjali means by contentment.”-Swami Prabhavananda, Patanjali Yoga Sutras Modern Day Application Warning: This post contains the overuse and abuse of oversimplified examples because it is really hard to explain contentment with words. Contentment is more easily explained by example. Think of times in your life where you were so fully engaged that you lost track of…
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Get Up and Practice Yoga or Sleep In?
I opened my eyes and stared at my clock. It said 4:30AM. Time to get up and get ready to go to Yoga. Than the story started. “You’ve worked hard this week. You deserve to sleep in.” “You had a headache yesterday. You should rest today.” “Why are you doing this? This is stupid!” “What if this is all just B.S?” Then I thought. The definition of Yoga, in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is, “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind” or as Pattabhi Jois says it, “Yoga is mind control.” Getting up early and getting to the mat is the first step in mind control.…
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Yoga Sutras For Modern Life: Yoga For Dummies
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2:28: By the practice of the limbs of Yoga, the impurities dwindle and there dawns the light of wisdom, leading to discriminative discernment. Defining the Sutra Healthy mind, healthy body, wisdom, and the the ability to know what is right for us on our journey. Who does not want these things? This is the promise of the 8 limbed path! Modern Day Application Believe it or not, the 8 limbs was designed to make the science of Yoga easier for us. The 8 limbs of Yoga is essentially “Yoga for dummies”. For the average person, they are all that is needed for success on the…
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Adventures in Mysore India, Alignment and Injuries, Ashtanga Adaptability, Ashtanga Quotes, Conference Notes, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
Tough Yoga Practices: When Doubt Touches the Heart
Can you remember a time in your life when you thought you would never get over something, but you did? Do you remember an injury that you thought would never heal but it did? Do you remember feeling like you would never be comfortable in a certain asana but now you are? It is funny that even though we know intellectually that, this too shall pass, we still get caught. For me, the slow falling away of who I thought I was, is in direct contradiction to who I think I am in the moment. The reality is that none of the images are true. The presence inside of me…
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Adventures in Mysore India, Ashtanga Adaptability, Ashtanga Quotes, Social Media, Teaching Ashtanga, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
What is a Yoga Teacher?
I used to have such a hard time describing what Yoga was! I always tried to frame it in a way I felt would be PC or approachable…and failed miserably. Even after studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which gives a very simple definition of Yoga, I still had trouble with it. After I started teaching, it got worse. I became a card carrying member of the “Yoga gross over simplification club” because I thought, “I need to get people into my class with something catchy!” As the years progressed, I started to notice that nebulous definitions of Yoga led to nebulous teaching and nebulous integrity. When Yoga can be whatever…
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Ashtanga Quotes, History, Interviews, Review, Teaching Ashtanga, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
Interview with Gregor Maehle on Samadhi
Ashtanga teacher and practitioner, Gregor Maehle is the author of Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga: The intermediate Series, Yoga Meditation, and Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga. With each book, Gregor takes us deeper into the practice of yoga. Now Gregor has taken us to the ultimate culmination of the yoga practice, Samadhi. Gregor’s new book, Samadhi, The Great Freedom, is available and is sure to blow some minds and ruffle some feathers. Gregor so graciously agreed to an interview about his latest work. This interview is intended to awaken your curiosity. To get all of your questions on Samadhi answered, get your copy of the book here. I am sure…
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What is Discipline and Do You Have It?
In your 30’s it becomes more difficult to rely on the physical power of youth and raw enthusiasm, and also on free time. You really start to discover what it means to have discipline. You have to yoke yourself to the discipline of practice-David Garrigues, Ashtanga Yoga Maps and Musings What does it mean to be disciplined? Discipline: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.-Merriam-Webster Dictionary Discipline is the act of training yourself to take on a certain behavior at the necessary moment. It is process of training that prepares you for the fruits your are seeking. The proof of a disciplined individual is…
