Guest guest Posted August 30, 2001 Report Share Posted August 30, 2001 Do you think that sometimes people get their injuries b/c sometimes when you practice yoga you are working from your ego? Your body may be saying "back off, I can't do that today" but your ego is saying "I'm doing this asana today, I'm holding it for 8 breathes, if that guy can do it, I CAN DO IT." I know I always end up in trouble if I start working from a place that is competitive, overly ambitious and egocentric. Yoga has definitely taught me humility humility humility. So what if you can't do that 3rd wheel today. Listen to your body. I try to think about long-term vs. short-term benefits. A 2 minute flawless asana isn't worth a 2 month injury. If you're going to the NY workshop and you're concerned about guruji's adjustments sit in the back row. He won't go back there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2001 Report Share Posted August 30, 2001 >> A 2 minute flawless asana isn't worth a 2 month injury. <br><br>If it's hurting you then it's not flawless - in fact, it's not an asana at all if you're not working with yamas/niyamas - like, for example, compassion for yourself and honesty about what you can do - just some stupid piece of competitive gymnastics. <br><br>However, let's be honest and admit that this is a phase many (most?) of us go through in our practice because of the achievement-oriented, competitive backgrounds we come from, which yoga can help us to grow out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2001 Report Share Posted August 31, 2001 "However, let's be honest and admit that this is a phase many (most?) of us go through in our practice because of the achievement-oriented, competitive backgrounds we come from, which yoga can help us to grow out of. "<br><br>YOU could also say that our achievement-oriented competitive backgrounds also brought us to the ashtanga practice. So sometimes our ego is our friend and gets us to do things that our positive for us. If we weren't a little competitive and ambitious by nature surely we would have picked something a lot less difficult and strenuous than ashtanga. I know that if I'm not challenged my mind wanders. Challenge helps me focus and concentrate more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2001 Report Share Posted August 31, 2001 If the challenge is competition in achieving certain postures -> bad, gymnastics, co yoga.<br>If the challenge is change in the physical and spiritual parts of your body -> yoga<br>(a very simplified view, I know)<br>Many people come to yoga classes in order to get rid of tensions, or to be relaxed, or... How many of them REALLY want to WORK for any kind of physical or mental change. They want the teacher to provide some convenient postures or exercices and want to go home an feel good, but not serious work for real change.<br>If you do Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga seriously, most of us certainly won't feel good for a long time (I still hope that I will one day). Either you go on and you'll probably suffer from injuries and pain but you will feel the change going on. Or you leave and go back to your "Kuschelyoga Class" to relax and feel good again.<br>Once in an Ashtanga Workshop for beginners, my teacher said some kind of "Yoga is no fun, it's very hard work and many people will go through hell if they take it serious". You should have seen the faces of most of the beginners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2001 Report Share Posted August 31, 2001 Or like ESPW says, if you want to relax then open a beer and sit in front of the TV. <br><br><br>FBL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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