|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
Yoga 101?
#12464163 - 04/27/10 09:11 AM (13 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
It has been suggested that I write a sort of a background/history of Yoga. There seems to be a lot of mystery, confusion and misinformation on the subject, not just on this forum, but just in general. I want to shed some light on what is to me, a magical and alchemical way of life and self discovery.
Is there anything in particular that y'all want to know about?
I will do my best to provide the most accurate information that is available to me, from what I've learned practicing for 10 years and my teacher training.
--------------------
|
bassfrequences
shroomslovemusic



Registered: 03/26/09
Posts: 220
Loc: france
Last seen: 9 years, 10 months
|
Re: Yoga 101? *DELETED* [Re: yogabunny]
#12464240 - 04/27/10 09:26 AM (13 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Post deleted by bassfrequencesReason for deletion: miscomprehension
-------------------- Knowledge is nothing without skill. Skill is nothing without attitude and commitment. Our imagination is the limit
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
uhhh i think you're trolling but i can't say that i fully support Yoga practice as a means to facilitate better reaction time in bar fights.
but yes, it will probably help.
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
Quote:
yogabunny said: uhhh i think you're trolling but i can't say that i fully support Yoga practice as a means to facilitate better reaction time in bar fights.

Personally I'd just like to have a clear idea about what Yoga is, what the difference is between the Western and Eastern traditions, and I guess how one would get started with this spiritual practice.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
What is Yoga?
Yoga has many definitions and interpretations.
In Sanskrit Yoga literally means, "to yoke" or "union".
Personally, I feel one of the most important definitions of Yoga comes to us from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It goes:
"Yogas citta vritti niodhah"
It means (more or less) "Yoga is the stilling of the modifications of the mind"
The Sutras are one of many texts important to the practice of Yoga, and are the basis of Yoga as we know it in the west today. Other important texts are The Vedas, The Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, to name a few. It is uncertain who Patanjali really was, but we can assume he was influenced by the Vedas and Upanishads before him. Patanjali, whomever he was, with the Yoga Sutras; summarizes the process of self study and alchemy that is the practice of Yoga by organizing them in easy to remember and pass along aphorisms. Sutra in sanskrit means suture, or thread, thus by stitching together all the threads we have a comprehensive look at how to achieve Yoga.
I mention the Sutras because they play the lead role in Yoga as we know it in the west today.
Here's a far out story for y'all:
Once upon a time there was a man called Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a scholar of Vedic philosophy who took up the study of Yoga with Sri Brahmachari in a cave at the foot of Mount Kailash. There he studied the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and the practices therein for 7 1/2 years. As was the custom, at the end of his practice he went to his teacher to ask what the payment would be for the years of teaching. His teacher said the payment would be for him to return home marry, have a family, and teach yoga. Sort of a shock for a man who had spent 7 1/2 years living the ascetic life a Yogi, but naturally he obliged his guru.
He married, had children, and opened a yoga school, thus becoming Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. There, three very important men were able to learn from him, and they developed their own unique styles which they then brought to the West. These men are now revered in their own right as Yoga legends. His own son TKV Deskichar brought us Viniyoga, or Vinyasa. Pattahbi Jois brought us Ashtanga. Finally BKS Iyengar brought his practice of alignment and the use of props.
So, it would seem that his wise guru set in motion the events for Yoga to make it's way to us here in the West.
"Whether you practice the dynamic series of Pattabhi Jois, the refined alignments of B.K.S. Iyengar, the classical postures of Indra Devi, or the customized vinyasa of Viniyoga, your practice stems from one source: a five-foot, two-inch Brahmin born more than one hundred years ago in a small South Indian village."


--------------------
Edited by pika (04/27/10 11:27 AM)
|
Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
|
|
I would like to know how Hatha Yoga came about as a Yoga method & not just a physical exercise.
Before i even thought of taking up Hatha Yoga, it felt really good to stretch and get deep into the stretch. I reckon if we listened to our bodies more we'd naturally do yoga without even having lessons.
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
"stilling of the modifications of the mind"
so the un-modified mind is completely still? Very nice basic intro BTW!
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
Quote:
Chronic777 said: I would like to know how Hatha Yoga came about as a Yoga method & not just a physical exercise.
Before i even thought of taking up Hatha Yoga, it felt really good to stretch and get deep into the stretch. I reckon if we listened to our bodies more we'd naturally do yoga without even having lessons.
I do believe Sri Krishnamacharya had a big part in developing the asanas into the series of postures that modern asana, or yoga is based on.
In the Sutras, Asana is barely mentioned, I think they are mentioned maybe 3 times between the 4 Padas (Books/Chapters)? The one I know off the top of my head is:
"Shtira Sukha Asanam"
"Asana is a steady, comfortable posture"
Then they are mentioned again when Patanjali lists the eight limbs: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
Oh also what is the intended purpose of Yoga? IOW what incentive does one have for pursuing this tradition over others?
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
Quote:
Mr. Cypher said: "stilling of the modifications of the mind"
so the un-modified mind is completely still? Very nice basic intro BTW!

the unmodified mind is Yoga.
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
my modified mind is utterly blown.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
|
|
Quote:
yogabunny said:
Quote:
Chronic777 said: I would like to know how Hatha Yoga came about as a Yoga method & not just a physical exercise.
Before i even thought of taking up Hatha Yoga, it felt really good to stretch and get deep into the stretch. I reckon if we listened to our bodies more we'd naturally do yoga without even having lessons.
I do believe Sri Krishnamacharya had a big part in developing the asanas into the series of postures that modern asana, or yoga is based on.
In the Sutras, Asana is barely mentioned, I think they are mentioned maybe 3 times between the 4 Padas (Books/Chapters)? The one I know off the top of my head is:
"Shtira Sukha Asanam"
"Asana is a steady, comfortable posture"
Then they are mentioned again when Patanjali lists the eight limbs: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
But why in your opinion is deep stretching a spiritual thing?
--------------------
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
Re: Yoga 101? [Re: deCypher] 1
#12464926 - 04/27/10 11:42 AM (13 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Mr. Cypher said: Oh also what is the intended purpose of Yoga? IOW what incentive does one have for pursuing this tradition over others?
Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodhah!
Stilling of the mental chatter.
that is the incentive for adopting the practice.
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
Doesn't meditation do that? I guess then I'm asking what the relationship is between Yoga and meditation.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
Quote:
Chronic777 said:
Quote:
yogabunny said:
Quote:
Chronic777 said: I would like to know how Hatha Yoga came about as a Yoga method & not just a physical exercise.
Before i even thought of taking up Hatha Yoga, it felt really good to stretch and get deep into the stretch. I reckon if we listened to our bodies more we'd naturally do yoga without even having lessons.
I do believe Sri Krishnamacharya had a big part in developing the asanas into the series of postures that modern asana, or yoga is based on.
In the Sutras, Asana is barely mentioned, I think they are mentioned maybe 3 times between the 4 Padas (Books/Chapters)? The one I know off the top of my head is:
"Shtira Sukha Asanam"
"Asana is a steady, comfortable posture"
Then they are mentioned again when Patanjali lists the eight limbs: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
But why in your opinion is deep stretching a spiritual thing?
Ok.
One thing that must be understood is that the physical practice of Yoga is not stretching, and stretching is not yoga. Yes, certain poses stretch certain muscles but it is SO much more than that.
Asana tones, strengthens, creates balance, stability and yes, flexibility.
The thing to keep in mind is that asana practice will give YOUR body whatever it needs. Some of us are already flexible, and we create strength and stability with our practice. Others are rigid, and can gain flexibility from practice.
Also keep in mind that these changes start in the body and then, with continued practice, manifest in the mind.
--------------------
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
Quote:
Mr. Cypher said: Doesn't meditation do that? I guess then I'm asking what the relationship is between Yoga and meditation.
YES!
that is the whole point of that Sutra. ANYTHING CAN BE YOGA.
whatever it is you do that stills the constant chatter in your mind, is Yoga.
the sutras recommend certain practices but what i love about them, and that one in particular, is that it is basically saying it's all open to interpretation by the Sadahka (seeker).
running stills your mind? great! running is Yoga.
if you run everyday, for a long time, you will exerperience yoga.
there are many many MANY ways to practice Yoga.
--------------------
|
Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 13,679
|
|
I know its not just stretching...
Quote:
yogabunny said: Also keep in mind that these changes start in the body and then, with continued practice, manifest in the mind.
Thats what im poking at you to focus on, on why its a spiritual practice The bodily benefits of it in my experience are secondary
--------------------
|
deCypher


Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
|
Gotcha!
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
Quote:
Chronic777 said: I know its not just stretching...
Quote:
yogabunny said: Also keep in mind that these changes start in the body and then, with continued practice, manifest in the mind.
Thats what im poking at you to focus on, on why its a spiritual practice The bodily benefits of it in my experience are secondary
perhaps your practice is not challenging enough then?
it's a spiritual practice because it stills my mind.
--------------------
|
yogabunny
fancy cat



Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 11,281
Loc: Nasty Women Get Shit Done
|
|
THE MANY PATHS OF YOGA (taken from The Heart of Yoga, by TKV Deskichar)
Yoga offers several methods for attaining clarity of mind, each with its own emphasis. In the Bhagavad Gita alone, eighteen different forms of yoga are named. I shall discuss the following nine: jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, mantra yoga, raja yoga, karma yoga, kriya yoga, tantra yoga, kundalini yoga, and hatha yoga.
so, yeah, it's no surprise that yoga is a confusing subject/topic
--------------------
|
|