Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 Hi Club,<br><br>I have a few questions regarding my practice (I'm currently practicing with an Iyengar student who has also worked with Caroline Boulinguez, here in France).<br><br>1. So what the heck is with this turbulence in my navasana? I'm trying to get my legs straight (yes, I suck at this) and they start to tremble so I back off and don't get as far into the stretch as I think I might.<br><br>2. Has anyone else ever experienced this:<br>do a really intense and hot practice, then eat a big cold meal too soon afterwards, and spend the next two hours chilled and weak, practically in shock. Guess who's not doing that ever again.<br><br>3. What's the deal with incense? I'm used to a fairly strong charcoal-y version from Anglican church services in my undergrad choir days, that killed my throat. Now, I'm walking into stores that sell incense, teas, Buddhas, bracelets, bindhis, etc., and thinking "That smell is so good and I would love to make it a part of my practice." Reason I'm hesitant: I'm a singer and any kind of irritant is bad for my throat. I avoid cigarette smoke like the plague. Can some of you more experienced meditators give me the scoop on the esoteric significance and the respiratory impact of incense?<br><br>ok, enough for now.<br><br>namaste,<br>bodysings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 Hey there,<br>1. I've been practicing for nine years, it took me about seven to feel remotely competent in Navasana--though there are still days when it seems hopeless. Just keep practicing with intelligence. Don't worry so much about whether or not you "get it." Breathe and work the bandhas.<br>2. If you read macrobiotic literature, ALL cold (i.e. refrigerated) is unhealthy, a shock to the system. Think about how long humans have actually had refrigerators in terms of the duration of human history. Also, my teachers recommend waiting at least one hour before eating after a practice (I know this is often very difficult).<br><br>3. Almost all Indian incense I've come across is overly perfumed and very strong--too much oil. Some of it even seems downright toxic. It is good if you need to stink up a large space.<br>Try Japanese incense, it's much more refined and the good brands use only woods and herbs, no oils or perfumes. The best company here in the states is www.shoyiedo.com in Boulder CO. Also, I wouldn't recommend burning incense during asnana practice, wait for savasana and meditation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 Dear bodysings,<br><br>concerning point 2 of your post.<br>I never experienced that because my teacher warned me to eat and even to drink too soon after practise. Of course for drinking you don't have to wait as long as for eating. But especially cold drinks are not welcome. <br>My teacher told me, that drinking something cold after practise is like throwing cold water into a hot fire.<br><br>Namaste<br>Dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 "like throwing cold water into a hot fire"<br><br>Oooo, I like that; a new thought for me, and something I am sure to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 i am a relative beginner here but have current experience similar to yours.<br><br>1. yes i tremble in navasana at times and can't often get my legs up straight, but i am farther along than i was 6 months ago and farther along than many in my class.<br><br>2. i don't eat at all for about 3 hours before and an hour or more after practice...but it seems like cold would be in extreme contrast to practice so i would tend to avoid it too soon after...?<br><br>3. i tried using incense early on and found that it hindered my breathing during practice so i avoid it. i tend to feel hyper sensitive about things like that during practice...(like what little smoke there is in the air from incense seems to burn my eyes and throat during practice but i am fine with it at other times). candles burning are kind of nice though as long as the perfume is very light...<br><br>fwiw.<br><br>yasar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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