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Below are four value statements about yoga. I wonder if you agree with them. Are these values currently practiced in Yoga as you experience it? Are these values important to your practice of Yoga?
1) Yoga is independent of race, color, creed, or gender. It is essentially international in character, with no artificial boundaries. This makes Yoga essentially a unifying factor among diverse races and creeds.
2) Yoga knowledge is public knowledge, not the exclusive prerogative of any group. Free and frank exchange of information among yogis is valued and open to review by other yogis.
3) Yoga is not influenced by any ego-driven ideology, or manipulated to serve for personal profit. Yoga is honest, objective (methods and results can be observed by others), and impersonal (in the sense of the methods and results being available to all and not under private ownership).
4) Yoga statements are not accepted based only on the word of authority. There is freedom to question such statements. According to Yoga, the test of validity of any statement is experience or observational verification. In other words, just because a Guru says it, it ain’t necessarily so. Yogis are free to find out what works for them through their own experience and observations, and they are free to share those experiences and observations with others.
In my experience, Yoga fits pretty well with the first and second. As for the third and fourth, I would say that it is possible to practice Yoga according to these values, though some don’t. I am not proposing that these form a sufficient value base for yoga, though I think they could be recognized as compatible with a practice of Yoga. I wonder if you see value in practicing Yoga based on these values and whether they actually violate any necessary conditions for doing Yoga?
Where did these values come from? They represent four basic values of science: Universalism (scientific knowledge and methods are independent of artificial separations or boundaries), Communalism (scientific knowledge and methods are shared), Disinterestedness (scientific knowledge and methods are unbiased), Scepticism (scientific knowledge and methods are open to question and verification).
Namaste’
Scott
A blogger over at Yoga Journal asked these questions. I thought I might post my answers here too.
Is anyone doing hatha yoga to become more spiritual/enlightened?
I prefer the term “evolved.” If that term qualifies, then yes. As a non-dualist, I see improving in any area as effecting positive change in my entire being.
Does[sic] you feel more spiritual doing asanas?
I have had many emotional breakthroughs as well as “ah-ha” type enlightening moments while practicing yoga asana. Asana is meditative for me.
Do you find spirituality in a yoga studio?
The studio where I practice is intentionally made to be a sacred space. When I am there, I experience the sacred more directly than anywhere else I go. As a non-dualist, I don’t distinguish between the spiritual and physical worlds. They are the same, and since the physical world is manifest, that is where I sense the sacred.
Do you think that one day during your practice you are going to become enlightened?
Enlightenment is a process, not an end state. It isn’t something to reach or become.
Do you feel that if you achieve perfection in an asana you are somehow more spiritual?
Perfection is only experiencing ones ultimate expression of self in the moment. We are all perfect, always.
Thanks for asking.
Namaste’
Scott
I have a young cousin who recently wrote about her fears of not being able to compete on her facebook page. She is in High School and already a very accomplished musician, performer and generally an academic champ as well. From where I sit, I can see that the world is her oyster. She can’t see as far yet. I’m guessing she will eventually. Anyway, her post got me thinking about competition.
I read somewhere a long time ago that the Greek or latin root of the word we now know as competition once meant “To strive together.” It was said that in the original Greek Olympics, this was also the underlying ideal; to strive together to reach the highest expression of the physical activity being engaged in. This is very different than the focus of many sports now days where one person or team beats the other, creating winners and losers.
A lot has been said about how sports are a metaphor for life, and to some extent I agree. However, it is also clear that which metaphors we choose also structure how we create meaning in life. When we choose the competitive metaphor, it has consequences as does our choice of the cooperative metaphor. We can obviously see this played out on the world stage (that may be adressed in a different post) as well as in our individual lives.
Part of my cousin’s dilemma involved how to engage her world within the cooperative mindset when so many others around her are trying to compete with her. Indeed, if the cooperative mindset is placed in opposition to the competitive mindset, does it not become competitive? Perhaps not. What I told my cousin was that she had the choice whether to adopt the competitive mindset or not. I asked her, in the event that she chooses the competitive mindset, will she begrudge those she defeats their angst and sorrow as she begrudges those who defeat her their successes? I pointed out that choosing to see herself and her cohort as each striving for the untimate expression of their most genuine self had the potential to transform her, her interactions with her “competitors” and perhaps open the door to transformation within the wider community in which she lives.
My Yoga teacher defines Yoga in part as a non-competitive activity and that philosophy pervades everything we do in the studio. While we are each encourged to find our own ultimate expression of the poses in that moment, there is no comparing ourselves to others in the class. Sometimes when a fellow yogi achieves a particularly awesome expression of a pose, the class claps, but there is no envy. For me, the cooperative metaphor is the very essence of Yoga. No one is a better yogi or worse yogi. Those who have gone before offer paths for those who follow, sometimes we walk side by side. The path is wide. There is room for us all.
Namaste’
Scott
A cousin recently asked me if I had any pointers about getting started in Yoga. After practicing for a year and a half I still feel like I’m just getting started. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some widely varying experiences in yoga during that time as well, so I hope I have enough perspective at this point to offer some good advice. What I have to say reflects my experience and that might not be yours. What you need from your yoga and what you have to give to yoga will be reflected in your exerience of yoga and will help determine whether a specific path is for you.
Most Westerners start yoga hoping for some kind of improvement in their physical conditioning whether it be weight loss or increased strength, flexibility or cardio-vascular fitness. Improvement in all of these aspects of physical functioning are available to those to practice yoga. Many practitioners also experience other physical improvements in areas such as digestion, respiration, and reduced excitation of the autonomic nervous system. Improved physical conditioning also leads to improvements in mood, self-efficacy, self-esteem and personal effectiveness in a variety of different areas. So, many people who do yoga regularly find a path to personal growth that may go well beyond physical conditioning. Many students also find that what they desire from their yoga practice grows over time. There is never any pressure to be involved in any aspect of yoga that the student doesn’t wish to be involved in, so while yoga is often associated with Eastern spiritual traditions, people of all faiths and those who eshew spiritual practices are equally welcome. One of the great joys of yoga for me is being able to practice in peace and love with people from widely varying cultures and traditions. It gives me hope that if we can do this in yoga, we may someday be able to do it “off the mat” as well.
For me, the first thing that comes to mind about starting yoga is finding a good teacher. I really lucked out because the teachers at the studio closest to my house happened to be very good teachers. I had no idea that was the case when I started. I figured that yoga was yoga and teachers were teachers. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It took me a while to get enough knowledge and perspective about my teachers to understand just how good they are. In the past few months I’ve been able to travel to the East coast and West and attend classes at some of the most well-known studios, from some of the most well-known teachers. In that time I’ve seen teachers who acted more like coaches than yoga teachers. I went to one class where the teacher never looked at her students – she just went through the poses, calling them out and expected everyone to follow along. I’ve been to classes with supposedly experienced teachers who tried to put the whole class into poses that could be attained by only a few and would likely have injured some had they tried them. I’ve heard tales of harsh teachers who demean their students, though I’ve never experienced that directly. Yoga should never be harsh or uncaring. If you run into that kind of practice, leave quickly knowing that what you experienced was not Yoga.
On the other hand, I’ve had teachers who have taken me places I never expected I could go. I’ve had teachers who connected with me as an individual in ways that allowed my practice to grow to become more than I ever expected it could. I have noticed a few things that these teachers seem to have in common. They do their best to connect with each individual in their class. They attempt to know and meet the needs of their students from a holistic perspective. They accept and love each student exactly how they are and they find an approach to yoga that helps each person grow beginning with who they are in the present. These things may be true of all teachers, not just yoga teachers, but yoga is a very personal practice, so having a caring yoga instructor is crucial. The really good teachers I have met have experienced a transformation in their own lives as a result of practicing yoga. Because of this they know yoga can be more than just exercise. Yet, they also have the wisdom to know that each person has their own path and their own needs. A good teacher does not try to make students walk the teachers path. A good teacher empowers the student to walk their own.
Different types of yoga have students do different types of classes and some types of yoga may mix a variety of different class styles. One major distinction is how much flow or “Vinyasa” is included in the class. Some classes go through different poses with little thought to the transition between poses, but a class with flow is designed to move from one pose into the next in a fluid and comfortable flow. A class with a lot of flow can get the cardio-vascular system up and far more quickly than you might expect, especially if you are started from the average state of deconditioning most Americans finds themselves in. A class that focuses more on form might have you hold poses for several minutes while working to ensure that you are not only safe, but that your alignment allows the fullest expression of the pose that you can achieve. Holding some poses for an extended period can be quite challenging. There are also many poses designed to lengthen and stretch out various muscles. Becoming more limber and maintaining flexibity is one of the great gifts of yoga. However, major gains in flexibility can take a very long time. Attempts to force flexibility where your body isn’t yet ready are almost certain to lead to injury. A good practice starts gently and warms you up before going for deep stretches. Some of the best classes I have been to and the ones I enjoy the most integrate form, flow and flexibilty seamlessly, warming the students up, reaching a peak and then cooling them off toward the end of class. I think being able to do that is one sign of a well-trained teacher. All that being said, I don’t think you should expect every class to be like that. Some classes are more focused on specific issues and the choice of methods can vary quite widely. Over time though, you should find your classes enjoyable, challenging but not demanding, and they should meet your specific needs (within reason).
There are some common threads to a good yoga practice. Yoga is non-competitive by its very nature. Learning from others in class is cool, but trying to be the best or comparing yourself to others for better or worse is not yoga. Finding the practice that works for you is. It’s your body and your practice. The Asana aspect of Yoga is a full body exercise. Over time, it should work every muscle in your body, including many you probably don’t even know that you have. Asana is also closely tied to conscious, mindful breathing. This not only nourishes your body and helps cleanse toxins, it also promotes relaxation and increases mental focus. Specific breath work also enhances the effects of some poses, allowing deeper stretches and a more unified experience in vinyasa. A good teacher helps students integrate breath work seamlessly into the practice of yoga regardless of the style of yoga they teach.
There are some nuts and bolts type issues to consider when starting yoga. Compared to many other exercises and/or sports, the expense of yoga clothes and tools is minimal. Yoga is almost always practiced on a mat. The type of mat you use may depend on the type of yoga you do. Most yoga mats are two feet by six feet, but some leading teachers are now recommending using mats that are larger. Of of the best mats on the market right now is the Manduka mat. http://www.manduka.com/ Most studios have mats they will loan or rent to you, but as soon as you can, get your own. These are usually thin and small. That works for lots of yogis, but some of us need more. There are also hygiene issues involved with using mats other feet have been on. Some forms of yoga (hot yoga) make you sweat a lot, so you need a mat/towel/blanket that can absorb fluids while also providing the traction you need. You will want to have clothes that stretch with you every which way. There are many options available from a variety of manufacturers. For big guys like me, Lululemon http://www.lululemon.com/ has consistently had yoga clothes that fit in their stores. Most other manufacturers don’t. They also have some cool stuff for the ladies because size does matter: http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/why-we-love-the-tata-tamer-ii/. Many guys prefer a largish t-shirt and stretchy gym shorts. Whatever works for you is fine. Just try not to wear clothes that will restrict your movements. You might want to bring a small towel and a bottle of water.
Most yoga studios try to create a sacred space in which to practice. You will usually be asked to take off your shoes and socks before entering the studio. Studios often have their own “flavor” too. There will be some where you walk in and everyone will be mediitating before class. In others students talk and joke around, practice asanas, or whatever. Try to be sensitive to the needs of other students and the traditions of the studio. Many practices begin with a short meditation and end with one as well. These tend to be “generic” but I’ve also been in classes where the meditation includes more specific spiritual content. It is unlikely that you will ever find a perfect class given all the variations that yoga can take, so a helpful attitude with which to approach classes is to take what you can use and leave the rest for others who may benefit from it.
There are many places you can learn about yoga on the internet. One of the best is the Yoga Journal website, http://www.yogajournal.com/. If you go my my blog at http://www.newsomweb.net, there are also some links to other blogs and websites you might find interesting.
Finally, there is an unattributed quote I love about this topic: “Yoga can only be learned by Yoga.” So, ultimately, you just have to try it and see where it leads you.
Namaste’
Scott
Christina Sell is coming to my home studio this weekend. I’m really looking forward to practicing with her. I enjoy reading her blog (a link to which can be found in my blogroll). I took too much time away from Asana practice and I’m a little creaky and stiff though. I’ve been back from vacation and haven’t really gotten back into a rhythm with Yoga, or my daily life. I’ve been sleeping late a lot (getting up at 8:30 or9:00, )which is very unusual for me. In some ways, I feel like I’m in a holding pattern. I was supposed to be starting my Yoga teacher training now, but the start got put off until January 2010. Ah well, I hope I will be in better physical condition by then and be better able to learn to teach more advanced Asanas.
No matter what you believe in, sooner or later you are bound to run across someone in your tradition who believes they know the Truth and that their way is the only way. Dogmatism and Zealotry are a nasty combination that inevitably lead to woe for those who end up under the spell of the practitioners. A post zealously espousing dogmatic beliefs was recently posted on the forums at Yoga Journal, and the post below is my response.
So, the old straw horse is set up to be knocked down again. Yep. the hoards of yogis who think that Yoga is only about exercise are running rampant and squashing out all of the other (more real) aspects of Yoga.
Sigh.
Anyone who claims to know the Truth so well that they deny refutation before examination is lacking in the ability to accurately perceive their own limitations. Wisdom begins with knowing one’s own limitations. Thus, wise people rarely if ever make the kinds of statements expressed in this blog. Knowledge and passion do not equal wisdom.
Those who would judge others for following their own path are saying that they are foolish for not being willing slaves. Worse is that these people are either so stuck in their own Samskaras that they can’t see when they are leading others astray, or they know what they are doing and do it intentionally. Woe be to those not free enough to avoid such people.
Instead of attempting to lead others, such people are better off spending more time meditating on the nuances of what they really know and how they know it. Often, when we do this, the flimsiest of foundations are found. In fact, the reason that the strongest wing of modern philosophy holds that we create our own meaning in life is that no revealed, rational or impirical method has proven reliable or valid with regard to any universal truths about the meaning of life, not to mention supernatural phenomena.
Knowing that there is no single or in fact any infallible method to find truth is freeing. We are each then free to discover the meaning life has for us – to discover and create our own path. We can rely on our own experience as well as the experiences of others. We can look at science for objective measures of our physical world. We can read great books of philosophy, religion, ethics and what have you. We can use our intuition. We can share our beliefs, expose them to scrutiny and modify them when they are found lacking. Then we can each follow the truth that for us is most truthful.
Acknowledging the heterogeneity of and fallability of ways to knowledge also frees us to respect and value the diversity of beliefs held by other yogis because we are then on (more or less) equal footing with others. Once we do this, criticizing other’s beliefs becomes much more difficult. It doesn’t mean that we accept others beliefs for ourselves uncritically, but we would be much less likely to tell others that their beliefs are wrong for them.
Acknowleding fallability of our own ways to knowledge allows us to let go of those beliefs that are found wanting instead of, well, religiously believing things that upon honest reflection are simply absurd or otherwise lacking.
Knowing the limitations we all share destroys the idea that one person or any group of people has automatic authority over others because of their set of beliefs. It also frees us from the idea that old beliefs are somehow better than new ones just because they are old. Old beliefs were created the same way new ones are created, and by people with the same or even greater limitations. This democratizing attitude is once again freeing. No one need be oppressed or even concerned by others who think their way is the only way.
Go forth and multiply indeed.
Scott
Or, Reason Number 365 to keep Politics out of the Studio
The other day a student at a studio where I practice went out of her way to make a comment about the clothes I was wearing to Yoga, asking if they came from “that” store. When I replied in the affirmative she proclaimed she would never shop there because of a political ad “that company” had run after the last election. I just laughed and told her it was the only place that had yoga clothes my size. Of course the ad didn’t bother me either because it reflected well on “my guy.” Still, I know how I would have felt if the shoe was on the other foot. I quit going to a local nursery for plants and such after they supported the other side in the national election before this one and chose to put a big sign on their front fence proclaiming it. Partisan politics and offering services to the public really don’t mix too well. Partisan politics and Yoga don’t either. I’m really glad I didn’t have that experience early on in my practice because conflict is the very last thing I look for in my yoga practice. I wouldn’t have shrugged it off as easily before I had a firm foundation in my yogic practice.
Yoga is about connections with people and universal values, not things that separate or divide people. Its easy enough to find examples of how partisan politics divides people from each other. I’ve come to understand that it can also divide people from their own values too. One example of this is how strong environmental protection has been lost as a major interest of many Republicans (thankfully not all of them feel this way). This was once the party that actually started the National Park system because they knew it was consistent with conservative values to conserve natural resources. Conserving natural resources so that the environment (and thus life itself) can thrive is a value that every person should be able to embrace fully. Conservation is a value that should be easy to put in front of money and power. It is a value that fits with every religious and ethical system of philosophy and which should transcend politics, yet partisan politics has has been able to use it to divide people not only from others, but from their own values and best interests.
Partisan politics as it is currently practiced obviously has the power to divide us from each other even in areas where we should be able to stand shouder to shoulder regardless of any other differences we might have. I don’t believe it always has to be that way – the term competition came from a Greek word that means “to strive together.” However, since politics in America needs some serious healing before it will be compatible with yogic values, it is surely the wise thing to do to keep partisan politics out of the studio. That doesn’t mean we can’t take Yoga to politics, but that is another blog all together.
One last thought before I go: I know Yogis with very different political views who think that the Yamas and Niyamas are consistent with their views, but not so much for “the other side,” kind of like both sides in a war believing that they have God on their side. Both sides are of course wrong. Both sides would undoubtedly benefit from studying Yoga though and in the end, no one really benefits from war between or within.
Peace, Om Shanti
Namaste’
Scott
The key to the art of personal practice lies in learning how to accurately assess our present condition, how to set appropriate goals, and how to develop an appropriate practice. – Gary Kraftsow
That is a little sentence that just says a whole lot. As a yoga student, I don’t think I would have been ready for that until fairly recently. I have been content to go along with whatever we do in class, and then to just do whatever feels good when I do a home practice. So, if I want to do a home practice that will actually get me somewhere, I need to first accurately assess my current condition. I haven’t read that part of the book yet though so I’ll let you know how that goes. O.K., I know hamstrings and adductors will be on the menu. I’ll think about that for a while and see if I can come up with a good sequence or two for working those areas.
Namaste’
Scott
Filmmaker Kate Churchill is determined to prove that yoga can transform anyone. Nick Rosen is skeptical but agrees to be her guinea pig. Kate immerses Nick in yoga, and follows him around the world as he examines the good, the bad and the ugly of yoga. The two encounter celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks and world-renowned gurus. Tensions run high as Nick’s transformational progress lags and Kate’s plan crumbles. What unfolds and what they discover is not what they expected.
http://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/angelika_film.asp?hID=3854&ID=0572949.77118195l0i307×420.77
I have an excellent teacher at the studio where I pracice yoga. A few months ago, I was surprised to find how strong my devotion to her has become. At first it scared me because it was unexpected. It struck me as inappropriate to feel that way, but I wasn’t sure why. My mind told me that I didn’t need a Guru – that it is maybe unhealthy and puts me at risk of being manipulated by unscrupulous cult figures. My mind told me people will think this is wierd. My mind told me that my teacher may even think I was strange because of it though I had never gotten that feeling from her. Maybe it is because of the history within some Eastern traditions for some students to follow a particular teacher or “Guru” at a level that is unhealthy. Undoubtedly, this has happened and continues to happen. I don’t think it is typical of the teacher-student relationship within yoga though. Unhealthy relationships are the opposite of the yogic tradition and against yogic teaching. I know that now because I know more about yoga. My fears were generated in part by the negative stereotypes of the guru and mindless/powerless student, not because of anything my teacher did. My fears were part of the imprint I have about how the world is supposed to be given my specific cultural upbringing. So, having identified the source and nature of my bias, I can let go of that to open myself to a new understanding of the teacher-student relationship.
I decided to listen to my heart instead. My heart told me that this teacher is a well spring of love and positive energy. My heart told me that I am being transformed in both body and mind, and that it is my effort, my intention that allows me to benefit in this way from her teaching. My heart tells me I am being empowered and freed. My heart tells me that mt teacher is simply a teacher and it is the quality of the teaching that determines what grows from it. My teacher has never put herself out as a Guru. She simply tries to meet the needs of her students and she brings every bit of herself to the practice. Her devotion and the excellence she has developed because of it inspires me. Her openness and trust in her students inspires me. Her generosity inspires me. I think it is natural to feel devotion to a teacher who brings these qualities to their practice and just so it feels to me now.
Namaste’
Scott
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