All Yoga's topics - tribe.net

Yoga While Breast Feeding

ZyAnn — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:10:46 GMT

I just read according to Alice Christensen----founder of the American Yoga Association, that you shouldn't practice yoga asans while breast feeding your child. "Nursing Mothers: WE suggest that nursing mothers refrain from Yoga asans until their babies have been completely weaned. We believe that the hormonal changes brought about by Yoga asans are evident i the chemical composition of the mother's milk and are not suitable for the well-being of the child. Meditation and breath exercises are encouraged and may be practiced any time. "

From The American Yoga Association's Beginner's manual, page 23.

Could someone please advise me if this is correct or not. My daughter who practices Yoga faithfully as it's been a life saver---throughout the pregnancy will I'm sure, continue to practice while nursing the baby. NOW I'm reading she shouldn't. I realize there are all sorts of opinions out there, so could you all please give me yours, as I will be passing this on to her. Also according to this same author children under 16 shouldn't practice Yoga either. She's had her son doing some asans to combat ADD, he's 7......so what say you concerning this also. I'd really appreciate your opinions. thank you. *S*

posted in All Yoga - 11 replies

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Sam — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:34:29 GMT

The three gunas, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas are one of the most fundamental and important topics in yoga philosophy. Anyone who is interested in yoga philosophy, psychology, or transformational meditation should be familiar with these concepts. Out of kindness and desiring to feed the hungry seekers of truth, I have published a short and eminently readable introduction to the subject at:

http://samkhya-yoga.blogspot.com

Comments are welcome. Criticism is likely to be met with vigorous and well-reasoned defenses.

Sam

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

Check out Devotional chant dance fusion..awsome

Chris — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:32:02 GMT

Just discovered a cool new chanting group, who fuse dance music, english lyrics and sanskrit chants. Amazingly uplifting....

Anyone heard them play live ?

www.maha-ra.com

posted in All Yoga - 1 reply

Yoga during your moon cycle

Goofball Jess — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:02:04 GMT

Hi there,

I was wondering what poses are appropriate during a woman's moon cycle and what poses should be avoided??

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Does all yoga include vinyasa???

joyrochelle — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:47:06 GMT

I am trying to find a class that will help with overall strength... i absolutely fell in love with Anusara years ago but in CT there are only 3 certified Anusara instructors. Today I drove an hour to get to ones class and was surprised to find us starting with sun salutes-- i didnt thikn it was as integral in Anusara. I have an old fracture in my wrist and some tendonitis in my opposite shoulder, so not to be a wimp or anything but I kinda poop out on the 5 or 6th chaturanga dandasana. My chin actually kinda hit the floor during one -- I know I need to strenghten there obviously-- but i was wondering-- does ALL yoga move through the vinyasa and sun salutes??

posted in All Yoga - 5 replies

Early bird deadline coming up soon--yoga dance fusion teacher yraining

Kimberlee — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:01:45 GMT

FYI, the early discount registration deadline for this training is July 31:

http://montana.tribe.net/event/Shake-Rattle-Pose-Yoga-Dance-Fusion-Teacher-Training-Workshop/missoula-mt/cbab82bf-0beb-4d08-a954-286e6b1dc12e

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

"The Five Tibetans"

sahajananda — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:28:18 GMT

I also posted this in the Buddhism tribe. I hope nobody minds the duplication.

Lately I have been researching a set of yoga exercises that are ostensibly of Tibetan Buddhist origin and were introduced to the West in the 1930s. They have become widely known as "The Five Tibetans". Several years ago, I was doing research on ‘phrul ‘khor (yantra) when I came across a reference to the “five Tibetans”. I decided to look into them. When I saw these exercises, I was immediately struck by the fact that four of the five were quite similar to techniques from a ‘phrul ‘khor system that I was already practicing.

However, I quickly learned that some individuals were claiming that they were not derived from any authentic Indo-Tibetan yoga tradition. One thing that surprised me about the allegations of these skeptics (about why these exercises must be inauthentic) was that their claims either were distortions or in many cases were blatantly false.

Some examples of the false claims and factual distortions used by these “skeptics” are:

In Tibetan yoga there are five chakras not seven charkas. Tibetan yoga does not involve improving health by speeding up of “vortices”. Tibetan yoga was uninterested in adverting illness, cultivating longevity or improving appearance. Authentic Tibetan yoga always includes over a 100 movements. An authentic Tibetan practitioner will always reveal the name and lineage of their teacher (usually accompanied by long dedicational verses). Tibetans did not teach secret yoga practices to Westerners or laypersons in the 1930s. To attempt a practice without reciting from or memorizing an authentic ancient text is unheard of in all Tibetan spiritual lineages etc.

Every single one of these claims is factually (and demonstrably) inaccurate. Some of them even appear to be complete fictions.

Given that the “five Tibetans” certainly -looked like- a genuine form of ‘phrul ‘khor, and that the claims of many skeptics were flatly wrong, I decided to investigate to see if they are a legitimate form of Indo-Tibetan yoga. When I read _Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth_. I noticed that the book described these exercises and their effects it a way that was quite consistent with traditional Tibetan ’phrul ‘khor. Moreover, there were many details that would be hard to explain-away as mere coincidence.

For instance, it is common to group ‘phrul ‘khor methods into groups of five with an additional breathing exercise as a sixth method. It is common for Tibetans to advise practicing 21 repetitions of an exercise. The throat and genital chakras have a special relationship that causes one to affect the other. The seed syllable “om” is associated with the crown chakra. Clockwise rotation is auspicious and counter-clockwise rotation is in auspicious. Physical rotation of the body can cause or augment the rotation of the charkas. This spinning of the charkas is beneficial to the practitioner and ‘phrul ‘khor can be seen as a method designed to accomplish this. Greatly enhanced longevity, health, and even spiritual development are all potential benefits of these exercises.

These details are far too specific to explain away as mere coincidence

I’ve since learned from a lama and scholar of the sa skya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism that the “five Tibetans” are an authentic form of yantra (‘phrul ‘khor) in the Indo-Tibetan tradition. They derive from a set of yantra used in association with the Sadnadapada dharma, especially as a support to candali-yoga practice (candali-yoga is, for all intents and purposes, essentially a Buddhist form of kundalini-yoga)

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing an article on the “five Tibetans” which would probably cover the following areas

1) It would answers the many (false) claims of various skeptics

2) It would illustrate how many details in _Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth_ are directly related to the minutiae of other authentic Indo-Tibetan yogic traditions

3) Finally, it would discuss how the “five Tibetans” were derived from an authentic system of Tibetan yoga and how they were used within their original Indo-Tibetan context.

Would there be any interest in such an article?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Warm Regards,
Ryan

posted in All Yoga - 12 replies

Prophecy of Love July 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rachel — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:27:38 GMT

It has come to my attention that viewers are having trouble opening a link I included in a previous post. This previous message was posted as a loving message to get word out about something that I stumbled upon and found to be a great source of hope. It hurts to imagine that such a movement of healing and love as this would be labeled as SPAM. Although I can understand the confusion, I am reposting with message included, no links, so I am sure that all those who want to receive the message can.
This information has been copied off of a website from Shalomar Productions. com;

Worldwide Prophecy of Love Day

And the Angel said:
"The day of the fulfillment of the prophecy given long ago draws nigh. We would ask you to be the messenger for this day which shall be called the Prophecy of Love day, in your time and calendar July 13th 2008.
We would ask that for 24 hours on this your day of July 13th, 2008, that people all over your planet would commune at all of the Sacred places upon beloved Gaia and allow the energies of unconditional love to flood every cell, every fiber, and every molecule of their Beings. We will be focusing our collective energies upon each of you as you do this. The frequency of Love that you will feel in your bodies will be more than you have ever felt before because of this collective focus. If you would do this you will literally become Lightning Rods of Love.
We ask you to hold this energy and not to project it outward. After 24 hours of receiving and Being unconditional love it will become apparent to you that, indeed without projecting, your outer world will have already changed.
If 1 million or more of you will answer this call then all of the other prophecies of destruction and doom will be shifted. For it is Love that will bring balance and harmony to your world.
Focus not upon what you think is wrong in your world rather focus on the Kingdom of Heaven manifested now within the hearts of all creatures and upon Terra and it will be so.”

The vision for this conference is this: There are so many prophecies out there of doomsday and cataclysms, with floods, earthquakes, plagues and war, that it makes one feel that everything is hopeless. That is certainly one time line for the future. But I have had dreams and visions of a different future, a future based upon love and brother- & sisterhood where this Earth becomes the beautiful garden and radiant star that it is destined to become.
Thus, I am now guided to co-create this conference to counterbalance all of the fear-based prophecies running amok throughout the unconsciousness of so many people, and anchor into the morphogenic field this new dream, this new vision based upon the prophecy of love.
Where will you be July 13th, 2008?
Will you be one of the millions who will help make a difference in the Destiny of Terra?

For more extensive information and to get info regarding a July 13 conference upon Mt Shasta, you can visit shalomarproductions.com. For all those who wish to participate privately in your own sacred palce and in hopes of bettering our world, thank you.

Rachel

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Ganesh ( Ganapati ) the Hindu Buddhist Deity : practices references and transmission

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:49:35 GMT

Ganesh ( Ganapati ) the Hindu Buddhist Deity : practices references and transmission

Keywords : Ganapati / Ganesh the Elephant Headed God of Classical India, Mantra and Praise of Ganapati, Deity yoga, Tantric empowerment, Overlapping Hindu / Buddhist mantra culture, Vedacarya Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Sakya Lineage and Sakya Monastery, Seattle Washington.

“To those for whom these village fires still have meaning:
Oh, may your own most beautiful Animal of Light come safely to you!”
from the Last Whole Earth Catalog

On 13 July in Seattle Washington a Ganapati empowerment will be offered at Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The guru bestowing this empowerment is the tantric master of Sakya Monastery, His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Rinbochay. See www.sakya.org for more information.

For this reason it is timely and appropriate to provide some basic teaching and perspective on Ganapati, and in particular an esoteric Hindu Ganapati mantra and also a Sanskrit Buddhist praise of Ganapati. Many diverse teachings on this deity in Hindu form are available on the internet ( under both Ganapati and Ganesh ).

An excellent introductory summary for Ganapati / Ganesh is available online at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

The Buddhist Ganapati is also referenced in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Nyingma ( e.g. Longchen Nyingtik ) and Gelugpa lineages ( see practice texts for www.fpmt.org ). There is also Buddhist practice of Ganapati in the esoteric Buddhist Japanese tradition known as Shingon, which came East via China and not Tibet.

Briefly, Ganapati means Lord of the Troop, and Ganesh basically means Elephant Headed One. Ganapati is known by the title “Remover of Obstacles” or “Lord of Obstacles”. He carries or represents the enormous power of the Elephant. He is often accompanied by two female consorts Riddhi and Siddhi ( Magical Accomplishment and Spiritual Accomplishment ).

Ganapati is very prominent and even central in Hindu practice and is often evoked at the beginning of important engagements or projects, such as making a journey or starting employment, or beginning a meditation practice session. I have seen dance evocation of Ganapati at the beginning of a Hindu temple dance concert. Ganapati is one of the main practices of Hindu business people for success in their commercial ventures.

Ganapati is strongly associated with the “national spirit” or Mother India as well as her earliest roots. In the distant past elephants were used throughout India to clear land for agriculture, and also as war elephants. More recently, public Hindu celebrations were banned by the occupying British and the outlawed Ganapati ceremonies were brought forth, successfully, to rally India against foreign rule.

It is said that the long “History of India” was transcribed by the deity Ganapati as given by Rishi Visvamitra. Many of the key texts of Sanatana Dharma ( Hinduism ) were written down by Ganapati. So, this practice is a primary connection to Vedic Culture. Due to this, Ganapati is also practiced by students to help with their secular school exams.

Ganapati has a very ambivalent status in Buddhist tantra, the esoteric form of Buddhist meditation which relies on yoga, deity recitations and mystic practices in general. On the one hand, Ganapati is often considered unfriendly towards Buddhist practitioners in general, and propitiated or banished or subjugated so as to not cause problems. Thus, a subjugated Ganapati serves as the throne for the deity Mahakala in his Six Armed form. This reflects the fact that some but not all Hindu practice / culture affirms Buddhist teachings.

On the other hand, there are specifically Buddhist practices for Ganapati, as for other Hindu deities such as Shiva, Sarasvati and so forth. The Sakya lineage carries Buddhist deity yogas for the Hindu deities Uma Devi / Parvati and Garuda, as well as Ganapati. ( In Southern Buddhism, such as in Sri Lanka Theravada monasteries, it is common to propitiate the Hindu deity Visnu for outer or worldly benefits. )

More broadly, many Buddhist schools share with the Sanatana Dharma ( i.e. Hindu practice and culture ) a significant focus on Ayurveda, or spiritual medicine. The Buddhist deity Bhaisajyaguru, or Medicine Buddha, is a deity of Buddhist spiritual medicine and Ayurveda in both Hindu and Buddhist forms is more or less identical in practice, not just similar.

In the classical Sakya tradition, this Twelve Arm Ganapati is actually an emanation of Avalokitesvara, the beloved and universal Buddhist deity of liberating compassion. Thus, it is reasonable to view this empowerment as being a definite connection to Avalokitesvara and the general practices of Avalokitesvara.

It is also very important to note that with this ( or any ) tantric Buddhist empowerment comes the general set of universal Buddhist vows, such as the Ten Precepts ( rejection of harmfulness, theft, dishonesty, ill-will and so forth ), and the Bodhisattva vows. The Bodhisattva vows focus on active humanitarian service in the most broad and deep and long term ways, starting with rejection of limiting ideas such as racism, sexism, tribalism, and all cultural divisiveness.

For some basic teachings on Buddhist theory and practice, see the following at Asian Classics:
http://www.asianclassics.org/research_site/webdata/education.html

The Principal Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Refuge
The Vows of the Bodhisattva

For an excellent general introduction to Buddhist practice, with a focus on Buddhist tantra, see the following book by Kalu Rinpoche:
The Dharma: That Illuminates All Beings Like the Light of the Sun and the Moon, State University of New York Press, 1986, ISBN 0-88706-157-5

http://www.amazon.com/Dharma-Illuminates-Beings-Impartially-Light/dp/0887061575

This book is short, direct, accessible, classical and effective. It should be. It was transcribed as spoken directly to westerners by one of the greatest Buddhist masters of the last century.

To take the tantric Buddhist empowerment of Ganapati or any other is to take Mahayana Buddhist vows, as well as to become authorized to do magical kinds of practice, such as mantra recitation to develop the power of the deity. The point is that in this case, the Hindu/ Buddhist deity Ganapati is practiced within a classical Buddhist context, not otherwise. Thus the above mentioned Buddhist references are of central importance in this transmission and practice.

As a brilliant red deity aspect, Twelve Armed Ganapati is not only a remover of obstacles and disharmonious circumstances, but also a magnetizing deity, i.e. a deity that “warms up” social situations, and develops strongly positive interpersonal engagement.

On a yogic level, this deity ( in Buddhist deity yoga ) develops strength and power at the level of the navel point of the psychic energy body ( svadhisthana cakra ), although I cannot say more without transgressing tantric vows of secrecy. Note that the Hindu Ganapati is girded by snakes, representing kundalini energy, and is similarly associated with the energy at the base of the spinal column. All tantric transmissions are private, and their contents not to be discussed following initiation.

This is one of many specifically obstacle-removing diety yogas in Buddhist tantra. There are many others, but this one is definitely recommended for those who have a more Hindu-oriented background in culture and/ or personal karma. And as noted earlier, it is a connection to Avalokitesvara practice specifically, and to the outer Mahayana practices in general.

This can also be viewed ( speaking very unofficially ) as a connection to Hindu transmissions. ) For this reason I will now provide a specifically Hindu mantra for Ganapati, which has been confirmed. It is quite reasonable to say that on obtaining a Twelve Arm Ganapati empowerment, one may practice the following Hindu mantra as well.

Maha Ganapati Mantra
"Aum shrim hrim klim glaum gam
ganapataye vara varada sarva
janamme vashamanaya svaha"

Vedacarya Thomas Ashley-Farrand, from whom I have Laxmi transmission, has many introductory and also detailed teachings on Hindu mantra practice. See his website at
http://www.sanskritmantra.com/

The following is not an official representation, but I do have the Sakya lineage Ganapati transmission some twenty years back from HE Luding Khen Rinbochay. This Sakya initiation is for a Twelve Arm Red Ganapati, equivalent in many respects to the Hindu deity Ganesh or Ganapati. Many diverse teachings on this deity in Hindu form are available on the internet ( under both Ganapati and Ganesh ). The Buddhist Ganapati is also referenced in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Nyingma and Gelugpa lineages.

From www.sakya.org :

07/13/2008
GANAPATI INITIATION
Offered by H. H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya
Sunday, July 13
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Shrine Room
Suggested Donation: $30 Public, $25 Members
Translator: Dr. Jeff Schoening
Ganapati made the commitment to help all beings to uphold the 3 trainings—moral behavior, meditation, wisdom— and, in particular, to provide the necessary materials and provisions for practitioners.
He protects one from obstacles at the beginning of any enterprise and also helps to increase wealth and power for the benefit of the Dharma.
His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, head lama of Sakya Monastery, was born in Tibet in 1929. He continues the great Sakya lineage which began with Khon Konchok Gyalpo (1034—1102). He received teachings of the unbroken Khon lineage, the Sakya Vajrakilaya, the Hevajra and the complete Lamdre Tsogshe, from his father, H.H. Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchul, the last Sakya throne holder in Tibet. He also studied with many other great Buddhist teachers, including Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi and Dingo Khyentse Robsal Dawa.
In 1960, H.H. J.D. Sakya was invited to work on a University of Washington research project on Tibetan civilization which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. At the request of students, he co-founded with H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche Sakya Tegchen Choling, a center for the study of Tibetan Buddhism and culture. In 1984, the center became the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.

The following is copyrighted material from The Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon, at
http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/index.html
specifically
http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/Stotra/Roman/stotra30.html

The source text is “ Source: Pandey, Janardan Shastri ed. Bauddha strotra Samgrah. Varanasi : Motilal Banarsidass, 1994”.

This is provided as a necessary and specific demonstration that classical Indian Buddhist culture incorporated Ganapati deity yoga as a tantric practice, and not for other purposes.
Ganesastotram

kharvam sthulataram gajendravadanam lambodaram sundaram
vidhnesam madhugandhalubdhamadhupavyalolagandasthalam|
dantodghatavidaritahitajanam sindurasobhakaram
vande sailasutasutam ganapatim siddhipradam kamadam|| 1||

herambah paramo devah karyasiddhividhayakah|
saibhagyarupasampannam dehi me sukhasampadam|| 2||

ekadantam mahakayam lambodaram gajananam|
sarvasiddhipradataram gangaputram namamyaham|| 3||

vande tam gananathamaryamanagham daridrayadavanalam
sundaadandavidhuyamanasamalam samsarasindhostarim|
yam natva surakoyayah prabhuvaram siddhim labhante param
sindurarunavigraham paripataddanambudharahrtam|| 4||

uccairbrahmandakhandadvitayasahacaram kumbhayugmam dadhanah
presannagaripaksapratibhatavikatasrotratalabhiramah |
devah sambhorapatyam bhujagapatitanusparddhivardhisnuhasta-
strailokyascaryamurtirjayati trijagatamisvarah kuñjarasyah|| 5||

ganapatisca herambo vidhnarajo vinayakah |
deviputro mahateja mahabalaparakramah || 6||

mahodaro mahakayascaikadanto gajananah|
svetavastro mahadiptastrinetro gananayakah || 7||

aksamalam ca dantam ca grhnan vai daksine kare|
parasum modakapatram ca vamahaste vidharayan|| 8||

nanapusparato devo nanagandhanulepanah |
nagayajñopavitango nanavidhnavinasanah || 9||

devasuramanusyanam siddhagandharvavanditam|
trailokyavidhnahartaramakhvarudham namamyaham|| 10||

sumukhascaikadantasca kapilo gajakarnakah |
lambodarasca vikato vidhnarajo vinayakah || 11||

dhumraketurganadhyakso bhalacandro gajananah |
vakratundah surpakarno herambah skandapurvajah || 12||

sodasaitani namani yah pathecchunuyadapi|
vidyarambhe vivahe ca pravese nirgame tatha|| 13||

samgrame samkate caiva vidhnastasya na jayate|
vidhnavallikutharaya ganadhipataye namah || 14||

sriganesastotram samaptam|

Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu!

In partial fulfillment of vajrayana teaching responsibilities,

KT

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

This Sat 7/12! The Yoga That Helps You Get Your Sh!t Together...

trikaya — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:35:56 GMT

Uh huh. That's right.

And so much more!

Join us this Saturday, July 12th for the Trikaya Tribe Awareness Event.
Details and Tickets available now at: http://www.trikayatribe.com

If You've Got The Passion...We've Got The Process.

Find out How to Reignite Your Dreams, Remove All Obstacles In
The Way of Achieving Them, and Turn Them into Your Life's
Greatest Work; a Mission that Will Bring You Peace, Prosperity,
Wild Adventures, and the Opportunity to Make Your
Greatest Contribution to the World.

Malashock Dance Studio.

6pm - 10pm

Reg. $50. July Pricing Special 30% OFF!

1st Time Participants - $35

Returning Tribe Members bring a guest for only $25

• Cutting-edge films for conscious evolution

• Yoga and ecstatic dance with the most vibrant and passionate people in San Diego

• Revealing self-assessments & intimate discussions

• As much organic kettle corn and nutritious drinks as you can consume

• Live your passions and exponentially enhance your financial, emotional, and physical well-being

• Gain clarity and support from a like-minded community

• Manifest your highest potential and your greatest, grandest visions

Bring it. Shake it. Move it. Dream it. Plan it. Live it!
Namaste,

Kris

Trikaya: (Sanskrit) trinity
The first Awareness Events Company to use Yoga as a
platform for uncompromising abundance & authenticity.
...A.K.A. The Yoga that helps you get your sh!t together.

Take our free quiz: http://www.TrikayaQuiz.com

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Shamanic Intensive Training Course:Bolivian Andes & Amazon

Miguel — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:38:11 GMT

Sacha Runa Collective offers two Month-long Shamanic Intensive Training Courses a year
(Jan/Feb and August) in the Bolivian Andes& Amazon (www.sacharuna.com).
The course is indeed Intensive and deeply transformational.
It is intended to help train those people who trully want to entrust themselves to Spirit
and dedicate themselves to Service.
No prerequisite is necessary, except the absolute determination to face oneself
and do what is needed to allow spirit to flow through us and bless creation.
The next one is August1-30.
Have to fly in and out of la Paz, Bolivia.
Application letters are due ASAP.
The next course is Jan/Feb 2009

For serious apprentices who intend to become full fledged shamans and
conduct medicine ceremonies, at least 4 courses are recommended but it
ultimately dependes on everybody's skills.

For a description of the course, please visit www.sacharuna.com
Blessings:
Miguel A. Kavlin

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Do Yoga Classes Help with Spiritual Growth?

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:27:59 GMT

An interesting and amazing resource for those serious sadhaks. Perhaps you choose not to believe with everything on this site, but nonetheless some good resources. Enjoy!

http://spiritualresearchfoundation.org/aboutspiritualresearch/Yoga_Classes_Spiritual_growth.php

posted in All Yoga - 54 replies

kripalu

Marnie — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:24:41 GMT

hey yoga community,

i've been considering a stay at kripalu in lenox, massachusetts. what's the word about this place? have you stayed there, gotten certified to teach yoga there? i understand kripalu has worked through a few scandals, i was wondering what the current vibe is about the community, its yoga certification program, etc.

thanks!

posted in All Yoga - 4 replies

looking for yoga instructor

Indigo — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:49:11 GMT

Hello all.... I run a small dance studio in Arlington Wa (small but growing town) and am looking to find a Yoga Instructor to teach yoga at the studio.... Does anyone have any good ideas of places to look to find a yoga instructor? Thank you, Indigo

posted in All Yoga - 1 reply

Family Yoga Camp July 20-27

LauraE — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:24:11 GMT

Sivananda Yoga Farm in Grass Valley is holding their annual Family Yoga Camp, July 20-27, and still has space available. We're going again this year. It's good enough that we drive 9 hours, up from Ventura County. It's cheap, quiet, friendly and peaceful. I love not having to cook or organize anything and hanging out with other yogi parents and new-to-yoga parents. Our rowdy 10 year old soccer/skater/surfer son loved it and would faithfully attend Satsang each night, chanting and listening to the stories and teachings. They have a pond on the property, some hiking and a great staff.

The idea of the camp is that families can be together but with some separate activities for children so that adults can take an asana class and have quiet meditation time. There are plenty of fun and games and outdoor activities, water play and crafts etc. They encourage you to spend time together as a family in the afternoons, relaxing or exploring the local area. There is usually a couple of day trips to the beautiful, truly awesome South Fork of the Yuba River State Park, where the water is clear and sweet flowing through the granite and you can see brown trout swimming below you. If you're looking for a last-minute family vacation, this is good stuff. You can do the full week or part of it.

www.yogafarm.org

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

What is the role of the guru and what about individuation

ENIAD — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:24:36 GMT

This is a bit like Tanemon's question but it goes further in my case so I will post here.

What is the role of the guru?

The people that I am associated with in Siddah Yoga seem to think that the guru can take your karma for you. Isn't karma about learning. if it is taken away and you haven't learned the lesson, wouldn't you get yourself in the same fix that got you the karma in the first place?
Maybe what is taken away is the residual effects and/or you become enlightened and will we exhibit sufficient wisdom not to get yourself in it making the lesson unnecessary.
However, I have noticed that shaktipath works (you get a lift from hanging with more advanced people) even when it is not called that way.

What about individuation?

We go through numerous, sometimes miserable lives (I remember about 20) in order to develop and purify ourselves. However, I am told that the final outcome or illumination is to dissolve into the cosmos. I always felt that I am one with everything on some level so my question is why go through the difficult individuation path just to loose it all in the end?
What if all we learn is not pure ego? Something does not make sense on that level.

Thanks for answering. I am a critical thinker and hope I can work my way through that. Maybe I simply do not have all the necessary info yet.

posted in All Yoga - 14 replies

On The Nature of Enlightenment

Sam — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:23:02 GMT

Someone recently wrote that enlightenment is "considered to be a state that cannot be captured in words" . This registered approximately ankle deep on my bullsh*t detector. Apparenlty to that writer, "enlightenment" is sort of like obscenity. As a famous judge once said, I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.

That is not yoga philosophy. I've been through a couple versions of the yoga sutras and a lot of the Samkhya literature, and I don't recall any use of the terms enlightenment or nirvana. I believe these are Buddhist concepts.

In my view, this illustrates one of the problems and obstacles to understanding true yoga philosophy. Yoga is widely accepted by many different religious ( and non-religious) traditions. The problem occurs when these different traditions call their own beliefs yoga.

Yoga philosophy speaks in terms of bondage and liberation. What is meant is the liberation or release of the Purusa or self from the bondage of material existence. All experience in the material world is to help the Purusa understand his true nature. Once he/she has attained this understanding, there is no reason for continued existence in the material world and the Purusa achieves Moksa; that is, liberation or release.

Self-realization is probably a better description of yoga's ultimate goal than enlightenment. It's really not so mysterious and not all that hard to express in words. The concept of Moksa is specific and independent of one's personal beliefs. It is not dogma, ideology, or religious belief. Rather it is achieved by correctly understanding the true nature of reality, in particular, the reality of one's self.

Any thoughts?

posted in All Yoga - 70 replies

anyone experienced dahn yoga??

light — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 02:02:10 GMT

wondering this b/c i'm having mixed feelings on this placce.

i worked for a center in the sw burbs of chicago for 10 months.
i made alot of great friends and am missing them and my instructors.
but, their belief on money (and the fact that its really not yoga) has really led me away.

i can elaborate more on this if anyone has experience with them.

thanx!

~kim

posted in All Yoga - 40 replies

Prashanti

ik — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:41:42 GMT

Does anyone know anything about the prashanti mantra?

Philip glass and ravi shankar composed a beautiful piece almost 2 decades ago entitled Prashanti and it included a beautiful mantra

I don't know if it's traditional, or what it means

do you?

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Yoga and Psychedelics

Stephen — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:07:44 GMT

Recently reading the precepts of sivananda yoga of which it is stated "no drugs," I wonder what others had to offer on this.
I have a colorful history and relationship to the psilocybe molecule as well as a healthy interest in regular yoga practice,
learning, and teaching. I have heard it mentioned also that the drug soma, which is thought to be some kind of mushroom possibly,
is mentioned in the rig veda, one of the earliest known and also indian spiritual texts. So, nowadays, "no drugs," and yoga
pose a slight query...I have heard of fantastic psychedelic yoga experiences (myself included) and have also heard about yoga
being a practice which prepares one for the tremendous energy of psychedelics, true, I would say it helps just about everything,
but to be truly yogic do you think psychedelics have their place for the inclined?

posted in All Yoga - 36 replies

yoga and carpal tunnel

amadas — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:16:08 GMT

I have been doing yoga for many many years and just recently noticed shocks were going into my hands when I did certain poses, which pressed on my wrists. The doctor said I have carpal tunnel but I'm one of those who believe AnYTHING can be healed with yoga and clear intention. I have thought maybe my body was sending me a message, but alas, perhaps I am just getting old. Does anyone have any suggestions for either modified poses, or for anything that could help?

posted in All Yoga - 7 replies

Good Yoga Sites?

Melissa — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04:06 GMT

Hey there! I'm new to the Bay Area, and new to tribe. Along with my move, I'm trying to make some positive changes in my life, including increasing my knowledge and practice of yoga. I've been doing yoga off and on for a few years, and am looking for a good website to remind me of all those poses I used to know...I know it's best to learn any new poses from someone experienced (and I plan too!) but this seemed like a good way to get started back up again.

Any suggestions?

posted in All Yoga - 6 replies

I hope you enjoy new Rumi (spiritual)Cd

sina(i'm Love ) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:14:44 GMT

http://www.trueloverumi.com/shop.html

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

I can't breath through my nose...

Le4Life — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:54:20 GMT

... so what the hell can I do? I've been like this since I was a child. I used to have mad asthma as a kid (was even hospitalized for a few days when I was about 6). This is why during meditation and poses where I'm instructed to breath through the nose and out from the mouth, I feel like I'm definitely not getting the full experience. Anyone else have such problems/allergies?

posted in All Yoga - 5 replies

x-post Chakras and states of consciousness

sahajananda — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:31:14 GMT

I hope nobody minds the x-post

Can anyone point me towards any traditional yogic or tantric materials that associate the head chakra (anja) with waking, the throat chakra with dreaming, and the heart chakra with deep or dreamless sleep. I’m only interested in traditional sources so hopefully somebody can point me towards something that is at least a century old.

Thanks
Ryan

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

LA Yogis - support this benefit for free yoga/massage

Le4Life — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:04:33 GMT

Suzanne, a fellow Tribe yogi (and instructor as well as massage therapist) is holding a benefit event in June for her husband. You can find out more details at the link below or if you just wanna shoot her a msg. It's taking place at the Mudra Yoga & Dance Studio in the San Fernando Valley. She doesn't have much funds to put together this show, so she's asking for volunteers to help with whatever they can. I'm planning on bringing turntables and the DJ music. In exchange, she is offering yoga and massage services, and plenty of good karma :)

http://losangeles.tribe.net/template/pub%2Coc%2CDetail.vm?plugin=blog&inst=9784017&topicid=9fc2c701-cf97-4dcd-8a87-a077e394b6ed&commentid=fbafbe1a-da42-4aa5-8de8-bfff840276b3#fbafbe1a-da42-4aa5-8de8-bfff840276b3

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Hatha Yoga and Capoeira

0-A-Zen-Pin-Head-0 — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:55:28 GMT

I'm curious to know if any of you other Yogi's/Yogini's practice Capoeira along with your Hatha practice? If so, have you found it complementary? I'd like to know your experiences.

:D

Across whatever distance, I send my love,

:D

Baba Mike

posted in All Yoga - 4 replies

Emotional release and sense of well being...

Tim — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:39:19 GMT

I have been taking yoga classes for a few months now. Something interesting occured yesterday. My class was focused on spinal twists and backbends... ie. cobra pose. During shivasana and for quite a while after class I was struck with a tremendous feeling of well being and , also, I had the sense of my emotions being very near the surface. Was this coincidental? Or, was there something connected with these asanas and my experience?

Namaste
Tim

posted in All Yoga - 5 replies

6 root and 39 branch yantras

sahajananda — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:31:41 GMT

I would like to have a private discussion on the “Yantra cycle(s) for candali-yoga of the Sadnadapadadharma” (naro'i chos drug las gtum mo'i 'phrul 'khor skor).

In particular I hope to find somebody familiar with the Chakrasamvara cycle consisting of 6 root yantras (rtsa ba drug gi ´phrul ´khor) and 39 branches (yan lag so dgu), which is mentioned in the earliest strata of textual traditions on the Six-Yogas (such as Mahasiddha Naropa’s _karnatantra-vajrapada-nama_).

If you are familiar with this yantra system please feel free to get in touch.

Warm Regards,
Ryan

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Come do yoga with us in Greece?

caitlin — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:44:01 GMT

Hi guys-

Just wanted to let you know about a Yoga & Health Retreat we are doing September 22-28 on the Greek Island of Santorini!
The retreat includes daily yoga classes, massage, naturopathic consultations, workshops, sailing to neighboring islands & hot springs, and alot more amazing things...
Check out our wesbite: www.renewyourspiritretreats.com/

Hope some of you can come!

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

My hip went pop!

ZyAnn — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:22:22 GMT

Today in Yoga class I was doing the triangle and then the half moon. We were doing this against the wall, and even though I practice the triangle at home, but not the half moon---at class it was causing more stress. I'm sure I was pushing the position more than I will at home. Anyway---as I did the half moon, to the left with my right leg in the air.....I twisted weird, a loud pop occurred, my leg gave away and I had excruciating pain in my hip. Now my hip is sore and the muscles surrounding are tight & in a spasm....Does anyone have any idea what I did? And what should I do to make it better. Rest or work through the pain?

posted in All Yoga - 11 replies

Searching for Kirtan in Boston

Naraya — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:55:14 GMT

Hello Everyone!

I'm searching for a Kirtan group in Boston...does anyone know of anything going on? Thanks!

Blessings,
Naraya

posted in All Yoga - 3 replies

Double hernia

Matthew — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:23:54 GMT

I have had seperate operations on both sides of my pelvic area and find that whenever I sit cross-legged it stretches the scar tissue and can hurt for a couple of days. Sometimes my leg feels a little numb. Has any others had this experience and what have you did for it?

posted in All Yoga - 1 reply

how long to hold pastichismasana

SatNam — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:24:19 GMT

Do i hold it till after i start to get pins and needles in my legs and feet? this is good?

posted in All Yoga - 4 replies

Nerves in feet hurting

Indigo — Sat, 03 May 2008 06:39:34 GMT

I am a BellyDance Instructor and this came up yesterday thought I'd see if anyone has any insight
Yesterday in class.... My class and I were working on a move on the balls of our feet..... This is in my advanced class and I do warm peeps up and part of warm ups usually include either yoga balancing or a little ballet ..... I like to dance on the balls of my feet and want my students to be comfortable....
Anyhoo One of my students mentioned the nerves in her feet hurt when she is on the balls..... And I am wondering if anyone may have any advice at all....
She is very overweight and does have some health issues tho not too bad but just wanted to give that in....
All I could think was to recommend to her simply practicing becoming used to being on the balls of her feet and really work to engage her core / posture...... However she did mention the nerves in her feet hurt.... Any ideas out there

posted in All Yoga - 5 replies

Fruit consumption

Le4Life — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:56:52 GMT

So the past two or three weeks I've felt like shit cuz I haven't been eating much fruit AND have been missing all my yoga classes. Last night I finally made it in. Even though it was the most crowded session I'd ever been to (I think I'm close to giving up on yoga at 24 Hr Fitness), I had an odd moment. During one of forward swan dives, I had a brief craving for fruit. Like it just hit me out of nowhere. Usually my fruit intake is something I maintain as one of those it's-good-for-me-so-I-have-to-do-it kind of things. But it was trippy cuz I just wanted to eat some fruit right there and then all of a sudden.

I recall my old supervisor went back to being a vegetarian around the same time he started doing yoga, and he once told me that when he started doing yoga, it made him wanna eat vegetarian again (or vice versa, I forgot exactly). Anyway my question is have any of you experienced something like this? Is there a correlation between yoga and fruit intake? I should also note that since last summer, I've only been buying organic fruit.

posted in All Yoga - 8 replies

Your thoughts on Guru versus no-Guru

Tanemon — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:44:04 GMT

Hi. Currently I practice yoga (dhyana) without an embodied guru. (Yes, I know, "guru is within", "guru is atman", etc -- but let's not mince words. I'm referring to gurus as in India, Tibet, and elsewhere).

From my reading and discussions with people, the period of tha late 1960s to the present has given Westerners the opportunity to get familiar with gurus to some extent - including some of the pitfalls of the personal guru-disciple relationship. And don't get the notion that I'm implying all gurus who have come to the West or taught Western devotees in the East are exploiters, rascals, or anything like that.

I'm posting this just so people can exchange feelings, thoughts, and opinions on this topic of "guru versus no-guru".

Namaste,
Tanemon

posted in All Yoga - 67 replies

Is it safe to practice yoga on fingertips?

Leah — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:46:20 GMT

I have wrist pain when doing poses such as downward and upward dog. Lately I have been doing these poses on my fingers instead of my palms. Is this safe, or will it cause more problems?

posted in All Yoga - 20 replies

Breathing and psychoactive chemicals

Le4Life — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:41:22 GMT

Recently I got myself in an uncomfortable and dangerous situation that my yoga experience saved me from. Long story, short: I had taken some ecstasy/MDMA, at as the effects were coming like that

posted in All Yoga - 77 replies

Ana Forrest question

Rosemarie — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:42:24 GMT

Hallo,

I'm thinking of doing an Ana Forrest Intensive training course (24 days) and would like to hear opinions or comments from others who are familiar with her courses/teaching/style.

I have surfed the yoga tribes for related threads and have read the posts with interest.......but these postings are now quite old (+/- 3 or more years ago).

The Ana Forrest intensive interests me because:
- it has a very intensive schedule (6 am-5pm) and I want to immerse myself for a period of time in this manner.
- it sounds personally challenging.......am I tough enough??.
- it sounds well constructed.
- I like the idea of the teacher being an older woman....I can relate to that being a 47 year old woman myself.

I am a bit apprehensive about her emphasis of yoga as a form of therapy and healing....I don't feel "screwed up" enough for this, just the normal hang ups!!

I'd love to hear newer experiences or comments......

Thanks and regards
Rosemarie

posted in All Yoga - 13 replies

"The Yoga That Helps You Get Your Sh!t Together?"

trikaya — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:03:46 GMT

Yup. For lack of a better term. That about says it.
This is super sneaky stuff. Dangerous sneaky.

How to use your yoga practice to change the world.
How to make it a platform for creating your boldest,
most BRILLIANT life, where nothing stands in the way of
your ability to live passionately and abundantly...

And offer your GREATEST contribution to the world.

7 Questions. 7 Answers. Infinite Possibilities.
Take the Trikaya Quiz now and join the tribe
that's raising the vibe.

www.trikayaquiz.com

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

Fantastic Yoga in South India

Yogini — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:52:06 GMT

www.bhagyodayamyoga.com/home.htm

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

Anyone ALL-RAW?

Katrina — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:39:32 GMT

Was wondering if any here had gone all raw or near all raw?

I've been really wanting to make the transition but the time required is a commitment. One that I'm not unwilling to make, but one that I need some suggestions on. How have you found time to prepare the foods you need for an all raw diet? Also, I run & teach yoga regularly so I need foods that can keep up with the activity I'm putting out.

This has been something which is so important to me, but only recently am I really feeling the pull to take the step towards being raw. I have three boys and a man that is a hardcore meat eater in my home. I can't see the whole household changing. Think that might be too much at this stage for me to prepare as well. Think we'll make subtle strides in that direction as time passes, but I'm ready now.

Any helpful insight and time savers?

Thank you!

Katrina

posted in All Yoga - 13 replies

Teaching in Los Angeles

hallelujahv — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:57:47 GMT

I am currently teaching 2 donation based classes in Los Angeles. I finished my 200 hour certification training at Yoga Works last December.

I love teaching! I love reading about yoga and learning from other teachers as well as the students that come to my class.

I would like to integrate myself more as a teacher in the community, anyone have any tips? Or can you share your own experience as a beginning teacher?

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

KUNDALINI---- COMBINATION OF ALL YOGA

madan_gautam — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:24:06 GMT

What is kundalini?

``Kundalini'' literally means coiling, like a snake. In the classical literature of hatha yoga kundalini is described as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine. The image of coiling, like a spring, conveys the sense of untapped potential energy. Perhaps more meaningfully kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy at the base of the spine.
It's not useful to sit with our consciousness fixed in our head and think of kundalini as a foreign force running up and down our spine. Unfortunately the serpent image may serve to accentuate this alien nature of the image. It's more useful to think of kundalini energy as the very foundation of our consciousness so that when kundalini moves through our bodies our consciousness necessarily changes with it.

The concept of kundalini can also be examined from a strictly psychological perspective. From this perspective kundalini can be thought of as a rich source of psychic or libidinous energy in our unconscious.

In the classical literature of Kashmir Shaivism kundalini is described in three different manifestions. The first of these is as the universal energy or para-kundalini. The second of these is as the energizing function of the body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third of these is as consciousness or shakti-kundalini which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these two. Ultimately these three forms are the same but understanding these three different forms will help to understand the differerent manifestations of kundalini.

What is the difference between prana and kundalini? What is the difference between qi (or chi) and kundalini?

First let us try to relate to concepts from the same tradition - prana and kundalini. Prana has been translated as the ``vital breath'' and ``bio-energetic motility''; it is associated with maintaining the functioning of the mind and body. Kundalini, in its form as prana-kundalini, is identical to prana ; however, Kundalini also has a manifestations as consciousness and a as a unifying cosmic energy. One could ascribe these same aspects to prana as well so past a certain point these become distinctions without differences.

From the subjective standpoint of an individual actually experiencing the awakening of kundalini I have found three completely different opinions:

The first opinion is that a pranic awakening is only a prelude to a full kundalini awakening. Tibetan yogins that I have encountered consider the activation of prana (Tibetan: rlung) as merely a prerequisite for the activation of kundalini (Tibetan: gTummo). What's attractive about this viewpoint is that it explains the difference between the experience of simply having pleasant sensations in the spine and the much more powerful experience of having a ``freight-train''-like full kundalini experience.

The second opinion, espoused by Swami Shivom Tirth for example, is that prana and kundalini are absolutely equivalent and that it is not meaningful in any way to describe a difference between kundalini rising and prana rising. When posed with question as to how to distinguish between pleasant sensations that show some pranic-activity in the spine and the much more powerful experience Swami Shivom Tirth said that the difference is not in the nature of the activity but in the consciousness that observes it. If the consciousness that experiences the pranic activity is seated within the spine (or more correctly, the central channel, known as the sushumna), then the experience is felt much more powerfully.

The third opinion, espoused by the modern hatha yogin, Desikaran, is that pranic awakening is the true experience to be aimed for and kundalini is actually an obstruction. Desikaran sees the kundalini as a block in the central channel and thus the kundalini must be ``killed'' to make way for the prana. This is the most unusual view of the three.

The Chinese concept of qi (or chi) can be safely identified with the Indian concept of prana.

If all this seems confusing - don't worry, you're in good company. My conclusion is that these are all different terminologies for dealing with a common set of experiences. Any one of these viewpoints is adequate for describing the full range of experiences. What is probably more relevant is to distinguish two different experiences which are often confused. In one an individual experiences some pleasant energizing electric energy running along the spine. This experience itself brings about a wide range of experiences and results in vitality and sensitivity.

Another very distinct experience is the experience of kundalini entering the sushumna and rising up the spine. As soon as kundalini enters the sushumna this experience will completely overwhelm ordinary waking consciousness. From the moment that kundalini enters the sushumna there will no longer be a distrinction between the subjective consciousness which experiences and the object of experience. This experience much more profoundly transfigures consciousness.

If kundalini is universal, why do some kundalini yogins seem to have more kundalini-energy than others?

It's an intriguing question. If an individual's kundalini is viewed as simply a personal reservoir of a cosmic energy then why would one person appear to have more of a reservoir of kundalini energy than another? Nevertheless, this does appear to be the case. This is probably another advantage of the viewpoint that prana (or qi) is the same as kundalini.
Some Chinese texts distinguish between ``innate qi'' or ``pre-natal qi'' that one is born with and ``cultivated qi'' that can be developed. Clearly some people simply have more ``innate qi.'' This manifests as a stronger more resilient body and greater general vitality.

Through training those that have relatively weak ``innate qi'' may surpass those who have strong ``innate qi'' but do not train. There are many stories in the Chinese literature of Qi Gong about people who took up Qi Gong in order to improve their poor health became powerful martial artists or great qi gong masters. Of course those that have strong ``innate qi'' and also train their qi may develop the strongest qi of all.

What does kundalini have to do with spiritual enlightenment? What is the goal of kundalini yoga?

First we need a few concepts: In yogic anatomy the sushumna is the central channel and conduit for the kundalini energy that runs along our spine and up to the crown of our head. Along this channel are placed additional channel networks called cakras. These cakras are associated with major aspects of our anatomy - for example our throat, heart, solar plexus, and in turn these aspects of our anatomy are related to aspects of our human nature.
According to the literature of kundalini yoga our experience of these centers is limited due to knots which restrict the flow of energy into these centers. Three knots are particuarly important. The knot of Brahma which restricts the center at the base of the spine. The knot of Vishnu which restricts the heart center and the knot of Rudra which restricts the center between the eyebrows. These knots form an important framework in yogic thinking and the stages toward enlightenment are articulated in terms of breaking through these knots in the yogic classic the Hatha Yoga Pradipika as well as in some of the yoga upanishads. Specifically, four stages of progress are described:

arambha

ghata

parichaya

nishpatti

Arambha is associated with breaking the knot of Brahma and the awakening of kundalini.

Ghata is associated with breaking the knot of Vishnu and and with internal absorption.

Parichaya the absorption deepens and in

nishpatti the knot of Rudra is pierced and the kundalini may ascend to the center at the crown of the head. In this state transcendence is integrated and, according to the yogic liteature, the yogi has nothing more to attain.

Putting these elaborate physiological decriptions aside, the goal of kundalini yoga is the same as the goal of any legimitate spiritual practice: To be liberated from the limited bounds of the self-centered and alienated ego. In kundalini yoga this is associated with internal manifestations of the kundalini but the external manifestations should be similar to any other legitiimate spiritual practice.

So does everyone agree that kundalini awakening is necessary for enlightenment?

The view that kundalini awakening is necessary for enlightenment is held in the diverse literature of Kashmir Shaivism and in other Hindu Tantric literature. It is found in the literature of the Hatha Yogis and the Nath Sampradaya. You will find similar views in many Buddhist Tantric works. In addition this view is held by recent spiritual figures such as Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Sivananda, Paramahamsa Yogananda and Swami Vivekananda and of course by contemporary kundalini yogins themselves.

Nevertheless there are some dissenters from this view. These include Sri Chinmoy, Da Free John and Gurdjieff. Dissent can take a number of different forms. For Gurjieff kundalini is associated only with a binding force that leads us to be more attached to the world. Such a view of kundalini is not entirely inaccurate but only reflects the functioning of kundalini in the lower energy centers. For Sri Chinmoy kundalini is an amplifying function that may make an individual more powerful but not more enlightened. From my perspective this also only addresses the impact of kundalini while it operates in the lower energy centers.

Da Free John (born Franklin Jones, a. k. a. Da Love Ananda) has a much more fundamental criticism of kundalini. As far as I understand his position, for him enlightenment cannot be the result of an experience; it is a cognitive transformation. Kundalini may evoke a wide variety of experiences but these are not in and of themselves enlightening. This is an interesting perspective but it seems to assume that the raising of kundalini is an experience in which an ego-consciousness experiences a separate object known as kundalini. Again, this view is consistent with the experience of kundalini in the lower energy centers in which the ego is detached from the movement of kundalini and kundalini experiences are precieved as separate from oneself. However, I would argue that as kundalini rises the ego-consciousness becomes infused in a more fundamental consciousness of cit-shakti-kundalini and this experience does in fact produce a fundamental cognitive change.

Finally, there are many other spiritual practices, such as Zen, Vipassana meditation that consider kundalini irrelevant. Some practitioners or even teachers of these paths, such as Jiyu Kennet, may have kundalini experiences but generally kundalini is not a pivotal part of these paths.

Can I use kundalini yoga simply to improve my health?

Yoga exercises which were traditionally used to purify the body in preparation for awakening the kundalini can also be used simply to improve the health. To practice techniques aimed at actively awakening kundalini with the goal of simply improving your health seems to be a misuse of these powerful techniques.

There are those that teach kundalini yoga principally emphasizing its benefits on health without much discussion of the spiritual benefits. This is how hatha yoga has been taught in the west for some time. The affect of this approach depends on the attitude of the student. There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to improve your health but there is a tension between awakening an energy that will ultimately burn up the ego and trying to shape that energy to simply fulfill an ego-oriented motive.

Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras? Do I really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?

Research on kundalini is especially spotty. There is no compelling work to show that the system represents insights into actual human anatomy. But it's important to understand that kundalini and its network of channels and cakras is simply how yogins have chosen to explain their experience and that yogins from many cultures have arrived at similar, though not identical, concepts. The true physical mechanisms underlying these experiences may be very different from those described. Izaak Benthov has proposed a model to explain kundalini in terms of micro- motion in the brain. In this model experiences are associated with parts of the body, such as the heart, because the part of the brain associated with that part of the body is stimulated by micro-vibrations. His model is treated in ``The Kundalini Experience'' by Sannella referenced below. From a practical perspective the key thing is our subjective experience and that the roadmap of these subjective experiences has been mapped out.

Is Chinese qi gong a kind of kundalini yoga?

If there is any contemporary teaching that is even more diverse in approach than kundalini yoga it must be qi gong. As a result it is hard to compare kundalini yoga to qi gong. From my limited exposure to qi gong it is clear there are many qi gong practices that are identical to kundalini yoga practices. What is also clear is that may qi gong practitioners have reported experiences that are identical to those of kundalini yogins. In so far as each of these practices aims at eliminating blocks to the qi/prana energy then they share a common ground.

What about Tibetan Buddhism - has kundalini been known in Tibet?

Kundalini yoga in the Natha Sampradaya and Vajrayana in Tibetan Buddhism both take their origin from the Mahasiddhas who were active in India from the 8th century to the 12th century. Kundalini yoga practices formed the core of the teachings of a number of these Mahasiddhas and are strongly represented in both Tibetan Buddhist practices and contemporary kundalini yoga practices. Kundalini yoga was spoken of as ``Candali yoga'' by these Mahasiddhas and became known as gTummo rnal 'byor in Tibet. Candali yoga was a key practice of the famous Tibetan yogin Milarepa. The role of kundalini yoga in Tibetan Buddhism is discussed in more detail in the Kundalini Yogas FAQ.

Are there any other traditions that show awareness of kundalini?

If you believe that kundalini is at the basis of spiritual progress then every valid spiritual tradition must have some awareness of kundalini. Christianity (especially Quakerism and Pentecostalism), Sufism, Qabalistic mysticism, alchemy and magick all have literature which demonstrates some awareness of the kundalini process but these traditions are not, to this author's awareness, so open in their exposition of the techniques and so it is hard to judge the depth of understanding latent in these traditions. Nevertheless, the imagery is so unmistakable in these traditions that each must have, at least at one time, been conversant with the movement of kundalini.

So how do I awaken kundalini?

Indirectly kundalini can be awakened by devotion, by selfless service, or by intellectual enquiry. In these paths the blocks to the awakening of kundalini are slowly removed. Occasionally, individuals on these paths will experience a sudden awakening of kundalini but generally because the blocks are slowly and gently removed kundalini-like experiences evolve slowly in these paths.

Broadly speaking there are two radically different direct approaches to awakening kundalini. One approach requires initiation by a guru and relies upon a technique called shaktipat, or ``descent of shakti.'' It is variously called: Siddha Mahayoga, Kundalini Mahayoga or Sahaja Yoga (Spontaneous Yoga). These approaches are treated in the Siddha Mahayoga FAQ. The other approach uses intentional yogic techniques . The styles using intentional techniques include Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kriya Yoga. These approaches are treated in the Kundalini Yogas FAQ .

Fundamentally the approach of Siddha Mahayoga and the Kundalini Yogas are different. In Siddha Mahayoga the guru awakens the kundalini and after that the core of the practice is the inactive and non-willful surrender to kundalini. In Kundalini Yogas the will is used to awaken the kundalini and to guide its progress. Clearly these are different approaches.
Nevertheless, elements of the each approach occur in the practices of the other. Siddha Mahayogins may use asanas, pranayamas and other hatha yoga practices. On the other hand gurus in Kundalini Yoga may give infusions of shakti to their students to help them at particular points in their practice.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using effort, in kundalini yogas, as opposed to the grace of the guru, in siddha mahayoga, to awaken kundalini?

Since every practitioner brings his own unique inclinations and obstacles to the practice of yoga it is very hard to generalize on this point. In terms of actually awakening kundalini gurus of Siddha Mahayoga claim that the kundalini is more easily and reliably awakened by the grace of the guru than by individual effort. In my limited experience I would agree. with this assertion. While not every long-term student of either practice necessarily shows signs of kundalini awakening it is amazing how many people have had instant awakenings of kundalini through initiation from siddha gurus.

In terms of encountering difficulties along the path the siddha gurus would also claim that fewer problems due to kundalini awakening, such as mental imbalance, are encountered by students of Siddha Mahayoga. Here I think the results are mixed. It seems to me that the guidance of the teacher in either Siddha Mahayoga or Kundalini Yoga is more a determining factor than which style of kundalini practice is employed.

Generally speaking each style of practice has its strengths and weakness. The strength of Siddha Mahayoga is the ease with which it awakens the kundalini. The weakness is that because the kundalini is so easily awakened by the guru students of Siddha Mahayoga often have completely undisciplined personal meditation practices. Time is spent instead to trying to recreate some of their initial experiences by following the guru around hoping for his or her grace Some people spend 20 or more years in this manner without ever developing an inner core of practice or experience.

The strength of the family of Kundalini Yogas is that the progress is at least apparently more under the control of the student of the yoga. These students seem more likely to have disciplined personal practices and more of an understanding of how the practice relates to their own experience.
Unfortunately for some students this leads to a fairly egotistical approach to their practice and ultimately the kundalini energy is used to bolster the ego rather than to merge the ego in bliss.

What are the signs of an awakened kundalini?

Briefly, according to classical literature the signs of an awakened kundalini can be grouped into: mental signs, vocal signs and physical signs. Mental signs can include visions that range from ecstatically blissful to terrifyingly frightful. Vocal signs can include spontaneous vocal expressions that range from singing or reciting mantras to make various animals sounds such as growling or chirping. Physical signs include trembling, shaking and spontaneously performing hatha yoga postures and pranayamas.

From a more subjective perspective the more pleasant experiences associated with a kundalini awakening may include: waves of bliss, periods of elation, glimpses of transcendental consciousness. The less pleasant experiences associated with a kundalini awakening may include: trembling, sharp aches in areas associated with the cakras, periods of irrational anxiety, sudden flashes of heat.

Are these methods of awakening kundalini dangerous? What about Gopi Krishna's books?

If we take the psychological perspective and view kundalini as the power latent in our unconscious then it is easy to understand that awakening this force is going to bring a greater amount of unconscious material into our consciousness. Even in the best of circumstances this is likely to be uncomfortable and if an individual is barely coping with his unconscious even under normal circumstances then awakening kundalini may push the individual over into psychosis. This phenomenon has been documented many times.

Forceful methods of awakening kundalini pose additional dangers. Because quite forceful methods can be used to awaken kundalini these techniques themselves are potentially physically and mentally disruptive. An individual named Gopi Krishna awakened his kundalini by doing unguided meditation on his crown cakra. His life after awakening was both blessed by ecstatic bliss and tormented by physical and mental discomfort. Eventually his experience stabilized. He wrote down his experiences in a recently re-released autbiography entitled ``Living with Kundalini.'' Gopi Krishna's autobiography appears to be an honest representation of his experiences but it is only one extreme datapoint in the panorama of experience on kundalini yoga. It represents dangers in forceful unguided practice but it is not representative of a typical practicioner's experience.

But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to enlighenment?

First of all it may be useful to observe that there is no technique currently known on earth that appears to be rapidly catapulting large number of individuals toward enlightenment. Because kundalini yogas deal so directly with a powerful enlightening force it seems natural that they would be ``faster'', but there appears to be alot of tortoise and hare phenomena at work with newbie kundalini yogins. Many people begin kundalini yogas, have strong initial experiences and then become frightened. Many who perservere through this initial phase become distracted by the energy and focus on temporal and phenomenal applications of the energy.

There have been many scandals among kundalini yoga teachers - particularly sexual scandals. Is there a correlation between sexual scandals and kundalini yoga practice?

There have been scandals regarding the teachers of many paths, both spiritual and non-spiritual ; however, it is probably fair to say that kundalini yogins have had more than their share. Since the first publication of these frequently-asked-questions in 1994 more than one well-known kundalini yoga teacher has been implicated in having clandestine affairs with students and has been asked to step down from his position as spiritual leader as a result.

An advanced kundalini yogin is typically a powerful charismatic individual who has the ability to directly influence the minds of others. Westerners often mistake this power as a sign of enlightenment and allow such teachers liberties as a result.

In addition it is quite common for kundalini yoga to temporarily accentuate the sex drive. This period requires extra discipline. Finally, kundalini yoga is closely associated with tantrism and sex is often used in conjunction with tantric practice. Where sex is used there is of course the opportunity for misuse or abuse.

If my kundalini is awakened will I need to change my lifestyle?

It's hard to have your cake and eat it too. If you awaken kundalini in order to change and enrich your life it's reasonable to expect you may need to change your lifestyle as a result. The recommendations of both classical literature and experience is that sleep and diet will need to be moderated otherwise severe discomfort may arise. Furthermore without moderating sexual activity and physical work it will be hard to experience much success with kundalini. The extent that these elements of your life need to change depends on the nature of the individual. While genuine mental imbalances arising from kundalini are rare nearly every kundalini yogin will find periods when one needs to be especially sensitive to needs for sleep, quiet and diet

posted in All Yoga - 8 replies

Support Yoga on the Web

Erica — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:02:40 GMT

If you're a yoga practitioner, you might like to know that the premier yoga website is up for a Webby Award for the first time ever! If you ever use YogaJournal.com as a resource, receive its newsletters, or just appreciate what the magazine and the site has done for the yoga community, please rally the troops and vote!
Here's the link: http://pv.webbyawards.com
Right now we're in third place behind National Geographic and Make... let's show everybody what a big, active yoga community there is online!!

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

What is an Asana?

Paul — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:14:39 GMT

Here's a question that lies close to the heart of what we are doing as yoga practitioners. How do we define asana? Patanjali defines it as sthirasukhamasanam, often translated as 'alert and relaxed' or 'steady and comfortable.' How do you define it personally so that the significance of asana resonates strongly with you. Here's mine...

---
Asana is an embodied state of vibrant calm in which we experience a sublime sense of interconnectivity within all of our motions and our stillness.

The most basic expressions of asana are standing, lying down, walking and breathing. Chopping vegetables, turning the pages of a book, and reaching for a cup of tea can all be sublimed into beautiful expressions of asana.

(Visit my tribe blog for a more in depth exploration)

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

The Interactive Vision that set the world Free

michael_irving — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:06:50 GMT

I thought you might like to see the Rainbow Dream Vision.
If you like this vision, please send it to friends.
You can get a fresh copy here to post into emails:
http://www.worldgathering.net/rdvplain.html
And: http://www.worldgathering.net/vision.html
Michael Irving ~~ Scotland UK
The Big World Gathering
http://www.worldgathering.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom ~ 1993-2012
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope
Intertribal Medicine Societies of Turtle Island
The Twenty Count: 1993-2012

Make copies of the Rainbow prophecy, and give or send them to people anywhere on the planet. Then let them be guided by their hearts to do the same until all planetary citizens are brought to life in the Rainbow dream, so that we may dream and work together for true peace. Love, Thunder Woman

Introduction by Aleran
Throughout the ages humanity has sought out the prophecies of the spiritually gifted to instil a clear hope and vision into life. During this time many prophecies come to us trying to lead us in many different directions.
Some prophecy points to disaster, hopelessness and the annihilation of mankind. But other prophecies create a vision of joyful transformation through quantum leaps into love and light.
As things stand now, the human race is dreaming a hell.
But as individuals and as a collective humanity it is our potential to dream of paradise and to create the kingdom of heaven on our Mother Earth.
Could it be that the pain in our hearts caused by the hell we have created will spur us on into visions and creations of a world formed in love?
It is my prayer and dream, along with a multitude of others who have taught me to dream the Rainbow dream, that each and every one of you learn to dream both while awake and sleeping, the dream of unity and love through divine transformation.
This prophecy is a dream and vision that is a potential reality for mankind. It is not an ultimatum. But it is ours to behold and to create if we only dare to dream it together.

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Turtle Island
Prophecies of The Native Americans
1993-2012

PART ONE ~
The distribution and giving back to humanity of the Twenty Count.
In the Turtle Island lore we say it is the time of finding one’s path with heart.
The time of seeking perfection, growth and development.
Most importantly the time of trust and innocence, when mythologies of the world are revealing secrets.

PART TWO ~
The critical time. The time of the animal. The time of Tuwalananie, the dark force.
The reason for this is that seeds of light have been planted and we are starting to grow and the teachings are starting to come out and all those ones who have taught partial truths, who have taught deliberate lies in history, are going to be threatened by the awakening of the Rainbow people because the Rainbow people exist in every country, in every nation, in every land.
The Dark Forces will be threatened and they will use their power and their power exists in technology. We are going to see new technology appearing which will be a tremendous threat to the survival of humanity.
We must exert our influence by gathering together and sharing our ideas and plans for alternative power and for world peace. If we put a double amount of energy with what we are for, we can change it. We can change it.

PART THREE ~
The time of human to human communication.
The time the human family finally starts to become human.
There will be more information brought out into open format than has ever been seen on this planet.
We will re-establish contact in a very knowledgeable way with our ancestors from the stars.
So mark that down because it will happen. The first contact will be with the Pleiades and will be totally acknowledged and will be known to all the world powers. The second contact will be with Sirius.

PART FOUR ~
When truth seekers begin to open the veil of the crack between the worlds, we will see our memory circles.
Many of the leaders who are trying to keep us locked in the past, will not function today, will fall.
Many teachers and wise people will be seen for who they are and they will be the farmers, the labourers and the gas station attendants because the tagashala will be fully awakened.
People will begin to link up with other people in gathering together circles.
Many of these will be the so-called 'common people' and not the teachers you see up there now.

PART FIVE ~
The various winged serpent wheels will begin to turn, to dance once again and when they do the rainbow lights will be seen in dreams all over the world and these rainbow light dreams will help awaken the rest of humanity.
We will sit in a new circle of law.
All civil and social laws will have to be in conformity with natural laws or the people will not accept them and they will have the enlightenment necessary to reject those laws.
Science will once again become metaphysics. They will discover four laws that will help them jump to universal law and transcend the time-space continuum which is the limitation of the age and once again we will begin to take our power and to work with rules and laws that are cosmic laws.

PART SIX ~
We will once again see the way to continue a new dream.
We will be given the road map back to the stars and we will see the star people come out of the illusion of their two-legged form and into their actual great sleeper-dreamer form.
A powerful time approaches humanity and its really hard for me to talk about it.
I am a great dreamer but I don’t know if I dream that large.
We will see a real shift in planetary consciousness.
Many of the enemies of the humans will begin to drop away.
We will totally gain the light of the great light wheel.
There will be one humanity, one planet composed of all the different ways of dancing in complete harmony in the great gathering together circle.
All the seeds will be planted.
The Earth will have its true reality formed.
It will join the sisterhood of planets, the daughters of Copperwoman and it will create within itself all forms of all things in harmony with the everything.
We will see a whole new way of perfection.
There will be plants on this grandmother earth that will give life and sustenance as never before seen.
Starvation on the earth, all those things will be gone. There will be total balance and harmony.

PART SEVEN ~
The new race of humans will begin to design their new reality of life on this planet as they intended it to be when they first came here from the stars.
We will begin to establish this planet and use the collective consciousness to hold the power of this space in harmony with the Great Circle of Twelve and all the planets. There is a whole lot I don’t even know. There is more that I am not supposed to talk about yet.
The dream will be actualised and this planet will hold its space in the great council of planets and become a part of the universal enlightened sisterhood and brotherhood of humanity and keepers of the light circles. It's happened on many planets and it's expected to happen on a lot of other planets.
There will be a moment when the population will be 'the' Population, and something great will happen.
This planet will have its design of energy movement guided by all of humanity living here.

The Great Spirit will leave its seed and the egg of everything here on this planet and it will create itself 20 times over at the speed of light and this prophecy ends as I have been given it by the Grandmothers that I share with you now.

~~~~~~~~~

Put a double amount of energy with what we are for. We can change it.

Make copies of the Rainbow prophecy, and give or send them to people anywhere on the planet. Then let them be guided by their hearts to do the same until all planetary citizens are brought to life in the Rainbow dream, so that we may dream and work together for true peace. Love, Thunder Woman

http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Background information ~ The Greatest Vision Ever Seen

~ The Greatest Vision Ever Seen ~
~ The Rainbow Dream of Freedom ~

http://worldgathering.net/greatest.html

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom ~ 1993-2012
Intertribal Medicine Societies of Turtle Island
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

~ A powerful time approaches humanity and its really hard for me to talk about it. ~ We will see a real shift in planetary consciousness. ~ The Earth will have its true reality formed. ~ We will see a whole new way of perfection. ~ Starvation on the earth, all those things will be gone. ~

~ VISION of FREEDOM ~

I hope many people will send the Vision of Freedom to friends.

I have been involved with the Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope and Freedom since 1984. In that year, three musicians came into my one-man printing and publishing office, and said, "You really must look at this." They seemed a little (funny how life is at times) like the three wise people bringing gifts. Two days later I was distributing copies at a conference, and like me, people were amazed and astonished.

That's when my life started to be 'larger than life'.
And, in 1987, I went to visit the Hopi in Arizona, North America.

As I drove in from the west, an older man sitting by the roadside waved down my car... later, it felt to me that I was expected. He took me to meet Qwa David Monongye, and in the evening I was taken to a ceremony in the kiva. A dozen or more men descended from a ladder in the roof, and formed up in an arc of a circle.

They faced one direction, towards one of the ends of the arc, and started a slow foot-shuffling dance. Then fairly suddenly, domino-effect, turned one-by-one 180 degrees to face the other end of the arc. At that point I very nearly fell off my chair ... something had hit me. A year or more later, thinking about it, the realisation seemed to be: 'We can change the direction the world is going in. It is possible.'

I drove off, eastwards, along the Hopi mesas to find somewhere to park up, and sleep the night. In the morning I got out of the car, and was surprised to see the face of the large rock only feet from the car had a carving on it. This was the Hopi's 'Prophecy Stone', and it shows people moving in a direction, and the path splitting into two. One path goes nowhere, it fades out. But the other path goes on, and corn symbols by the path indicate that this route leads to life and prosperity.

Many other unusual and significant things occurred out there in this ancient place where it feels like time had stopped. Indeed, after visiting the oldest township on the Hopi mesas ~ a tall, sharp-ended mesa, rather like a ship of the desert ~ my watch stopped, and never worked again. There is much more that happened.

In 1986 ~ the year before my first visit to the Hopi ~ I was within sixty feet of three disc craft, for around 25 minutes. This too, was like events were coming together to inform me of something significant, something much bigger than myself. In 1993, with friends, we were very close to craft in the area of the crop patterns of mid southern England on several occasions.

Since 1993, on most days when I first step out of doors I frequently see one or more flashes in the sky, seemingly from a source fairly close, and at a lowish elevation. I have always taken the flashes to indicate the locations of disc craft which are 'parked up' and are stationary. In 2007, possibly because I was loaned a camera with an unusual infra-red setting, many craft and aerial objects started to appear in my general scenic photographs. Most images are archived here: http://worldgathering.net/scotland

(A) The Rainbow Dream Vision says: "We can change it (the direction the world is going). If we put a DOUBLE AMOUNT of effort into what we are for."

(B) The Hopi Nation has a prophecy stone which predicts the world will come to a time of choice. And if we choose the good direction, we can go on into a good life.

(C) The craft appearing all over the world, seem to be waiting and watching. To see if we can figure things out. To see if we can: 'Seize The Day'.

The writing is on the wall, and it says: 'We can change direction.'

Please send the Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope and Freedom to your friends. And let's make a stand for what we really believe in. Put a DOUBLE amount of effort and energy into what you believe is important.

Don't feel disheartened. It looks like there are some unexpected, good moves to happen yet: "There is a whole lot I don’t even know. There is more that I am not supposed to talk about yet."

Text of The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom:
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

Michael Irving
World-Action and The Big World Gathering
Scotland, United Kingdom ~ http://www.worldgathering.net

http://worldgathering.net/greatest.html

~~~~~~~~~

If you like this vision, please copy it and send to friends. Thanks.

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

What do you sleep on?

SatNam — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:34:56 GMT

I have been sleeping on only a blanket and rugged floor. i was told this was bad, that my spine needs to repair and relax at night, so now i will buy buy a matress or something like that for my floor. i would like something good.
what do you KY yogis and yoginis sleep on?

~One Love~

posted in All Yoga - 12 replies

Question to the group

Mitzo — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:00:26 GMT

This seems like a very active group so I am hoping you all can help us in our search. My wife and I are looking for a local yoga class (San Francisco, CA) for one beginner and one that has the basics. Now with that said there are a few things that may or may not narrow the list. First item and to me it is a biggy I am finally and fully recovered from back surgery where I had my lower back fused due to multiple fractures (L4-L5-S1). I have lost some flexibility but my inactivity has caused me to loose even more and that just plain needs to stop. My wife has done some basic yoga the one issue that my wife has is asthma so certain environments prove to be difficult for her IE Bikram with the heated room. We are both...well...lets just say not the overly active types we both have desk jobs which seems to have a very magnetic effect. So to sum it up we are looking for something that moves slow but still challenges us.

Thanks for any info
-Mitzo

posted in All Yoga - 7 replies

Saffron Blue

psytrancedancer — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:47:39 GMT

I just got a new package of CD's from New Earth Records. I'm really lovin’ the new Rasa album - Saffron Blue - it has a unique Euro-Indian sound. A nice meld of spiritual and sensual… with sitar, sarangi, violin, cello, rhythm and synthesizer.

Music is by Hans Christian and chants by Kim Water.

Take a listen:

http://www.newearthrecords.com/web/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=1315

Beauty.full!

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

Saturday Dhanda Yoga in the Sebastopol Park

ton-ton — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:09:42 GMT

Saturday's 11 AM..across from Whole Foods
Please join me in sharing Dhanda Yoga with the beautiful Sebastopol community. Class is open to everyone from beginers to advanced and is on a donation basis. Bring your friends and family..it's gonna be fun and feel great!

In Sanskrit, "dhanda" means stick or staff. Dhanda Yoga uses a staff to assist the practitioner through flowing sets of Asana.
Dhanda Yoga is an ancient Burmese tradition linked to the servant and warrior caste. Dhanda is the yogic symbol for the human spine through which Prana flows.

We will be doing this every Saturday, weather permitting.

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies

April Fools silliness

Ladyjess — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:04:12 GMT

http://www.iyogalife.com/work-life-balance/The_Inappropriate_Yoga_Guy.shtml?cm_mmc=iYL%20Newsletter-_-Tuesday-_-412008-_-Inappropriate

Do you know a person like this?

posted in All Yoga - 2 replies

Dolphin Yoga

Paul — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:42:33 GMT

Integrated motion involves the dynamic interplay of Yin and Yang, which I think of as an intimate pair of dolphins at play. You can feel this dynamic interplay in the gentle undulations of the spinal column as our breath moves openly. When we apply our will and artistic thought to this rhythmic undulation, we can channel it into various patterns and forms and it becomes very very interesting. Understood in it's elegant simplicity, this principle applies to every movement we do - whether walking, writing, typing, juggling, dancing, singing, kissing, laughing, reaching, turning, twisting, sipping tea, you name it! It's all connected. Everything is unified in Yoga.

As an experiment, take any two activities that you enjoy and contemplate their interconnections using this framework.

Asana is not yoga, but yoga unifies all the diverse motions and patterns of asana.
Juggling is not yoga, but yoga unifies all the diverse motions and patterns of juggling.
Furthermore, yoga unifies asana and juggling in the dynamic interplay of yin and yang.

Try it for yourself.

_______ is not yoga, but yoga unifies _______.
_______ is not yoga, but yoga unifies ________.
Furthermore, yoga unifies _______ and _______ in the dynamic interplay of yin and yang.

Namaste,
Paul

www.theintimateweave.com

posted in All Yoga - 0 replies