ashtanga yoga ** yo-shak...

[Guest guest]

I don't think you have to go through all the eight angas and convert

to yoga as your religion or something like that. It is about why you

were attracted to yoga in the first place. Others have been attracted

by the asanas and the health benefits and that is all so fine. Yoga

isn't about Indianizing or should I say Hindunizing Americans, it is

about unity consciousness. This oneness ideal is common to all

religions. There is Shaktism in Sanatan Dharma, there is Zen in

Buddhism, Mysticism in Christianity, Sufism in Islam, Sant Math in

Sikhism and so on. But what makes yoga really unique is the asanas,

we cannot deny that. That is one strong attractor or puller. People

who only took-up yoga because they want to learn the asanas, become

more agile and flexible, fit and slim, etc. should not let anyone

shove such heavy yogic doctrines in their faces (strict adherence

yama/niyama, fundamentalist ahimsa, vegetarianism, guru worship and

stuff), they should remember what attracted them to yoga in the first

place, stick to them and enjoy. There is so much time for all these

other angas, so many lifetimes, we all have an eternity for this.

Now, those who are really ready, really seeking for oneness, those

who are serious in actualizing the yogic ideal, should be the ones

going all the way into the heavy stuff. It is egoistic to say that

someone who is only into asana and a little bit of meditation isn't a

yogin. Show us somebody, other than the masters themselves, someone

from your ranks who is a REAL yogin (I am using this word because

it's for both male and female), strictly adhering to the yama and

niyama; not killing even the most miniscule life form; abstaining

from meat, fish and eggs; performs the most challenging asanas and

tapas; knows the deepest secrets of sadhana (pranayam and all); one

who's kundalini has been fully awakened and not just a certificate. I

don't believe that anyone can certify somebody else to be a yogin,

much more to be a "yoga teacher". Yogins are not like accountants,

they don't come in batches.

 

The light in me bows to the light in you,

 

Brother Brahman-Atmananda

http://www.angelfire.com/yt/kr

 

ashtangayoga, Deb Bobier <pureconsciousness2002>

wrote:

>

> This is to address the post to Yo-Shakti from Funky Bad Lady.

>

> Unfortunately, yoga in the west has come to mean 'Hatha' yoga which

is mainly physical exercise, and postures (asana). In fact, asana is

only a single step in the eight-step path (Ashtanga yoga of

Patanjali). Patanjali is quick to point out that asanas are to be

used as a stepping stone for the higher paths, since just working on

the beauty and welfare of an impermanent object (the body) is a waste

of time and effort.

>

> So Asana isn't even as important as the other 7 limbs of Ashtanga.

While I myself got into Yoga for the spiritual aspect, many people

use asana as their psychological point of entry. There is no right or

wrong. However, looking for a lithe, slim body, they also find a

calm, clear mind. Hoping for strength and stamina, they also find

increased determination, and concentration. Wanting to be free of

backpain, they find also, freedom from compulsive anxiety. Seeking

relief from asthma, they also find unlimited reserves of physical,

and mental energy. Trying to release tight shoulders, and a stiff

neck, they find also a new fund of enthusiasm, and joy.

>

> In fact, Yoga is capable of delivering a remarkable range of

benefits. Though physical, and mental benefits are not Yoga's primary

purpose. This is simply to allow us to become fully in touch with who

and what we are. This means not only our transient, conditioned

characteristics, with which we only too easily identify. It also

means our deeper, unconditional nature, which we rarely even glimpse.

It does this by bringing about a resolution of the conflict arising

from the polarization of opposites within us. It allows us to

experience, on every level of our being, the unity behind opposites.

The relativity of all tendencies.

>

> Then we can see that by imposing a dualistic either/or projection

on reality, we feel isolated, exposed and unsafe. The vulnerability

of this dualistic projection generated the development of a complex

and deeply embedded structure of tension, both mental and physical.

This structure is designed to protect our vulnerability: to reduce

the anxiety of being alive. However, this structure itself easily

becomes the major hindrance to our living a full, joyful life. It

does so by restricting movement: of body and of mind. Our ability to

engage directly, fully and freely with the dynamic of life is

hindered by deep layers of tension. Rigidity, and inflexibility in

body, and mind restrict us to a limited range of responses to life.

Yoga is designed to free us from all limitation.

>

> To do this it must dismantle these restricting structures through a

simple, systematic recalibration of body, and mind. It does this

through the agency of asana (alignment), vinyasa (connectivity),

bandha (energetics), pranayama (breathing), and drushti

(attentiveness). They are used to break down the patterns of holding,

and limitation from which we live. As this structure is dismantled,

the deeper, profoundly rewarding aspects of our being are revealed.

In using the body to transform the mind, the body is also

transformed. It is recalibrated, revitalized, harmonized, brought to

a functional peak, both anatomically, and physiologically,

unreachable by any amount of diligent cross-training. Then in many

cases, something else begins to happen to them.

>

> As an Ashtanga teacher, I couldn't even get certified without

extensive knowledge of each of these limbs, along with Yoga

philosophy and history, anatomy and physiology, and the list

continues. But there is so much to learn in Yoga. For me it's a

lifelong journey. Most of us are still just babes in the woods no

matter how long we have been studying and practicing. And just

knowing isn't enough. You must practice all the limbs every day and

in every situation. Difficult to say the least. So when Yoga Shakti

quotes 'scriptures' and so on, frankly, she is right on. Though most

Yoga aspirants wouldn't have even bothered to answer this post,

choosing to only channel their energy where they can affect positive

change, I felt compelled to clarify inaccuracies in the response.

>

> Also, Yoga doesn't stop once you walk out the door of a Yoga class,

or finish your own asana practice. Yoga is a lifestyle, a philosophy

that encompasses Self Control (Yama), Strict observance of character

(Niyama), Body postures (Asana), Pranayama (Breathing excecises and

control of prana), Pratyahara (withdrawal from sense-desires),

Dharana (concentration on an object), Dhyana (Meditation on the

Divine), and Samadhi (Union with the divine). I have many students

and I am around many teachers. Most are walking examples of each of

these aspects of Yoga, however, as with anything in life, there are

those, myself included, who haven't mastered these things. We are

each only human, but what harm can be done from aspiring to be the

best we can be.

>

> Yoga is about non-judgement, so those of us you might be referring

to as sanctimonious aren't really judging you at all. We are just

following our hearts, our spirit. Taking responsibility for what

happens in our lives. Knowing that our thoughts lead to our actions

so trying to think only good things. When each of us takes

responsibility for our own actions and uses our energies in positive

ways, truly phenomenal things can happen. I am pleased to be part of

something that is bigger and better than myself, and strive each day

to use these Yoga philosophies to bring joy into my life and those

around me. Yoga is also about detachment as well as freedom from our

ego.

>

> While one might be able to quote these things, they are but a

theory. The difficulty is the practice. Just as the physical aspect

of Yoga is extremely challenging, I believe these aspects are even

more difficult. Because we are each just Human and driven by all

those human frailities. But what is wrong with trying to be, or do

the best we can. That is why Yoga is about acceptance. Acceptance of

ourselves and others. Not only for where we are, but who we are. Yoga

is about detachment, unburdening yourself from the shackles of

expectation and anticipation and being in the present moment. As with

anything people do, we each bring our essence, our personality, our

ego's and the like. However, in Yoga you learn very quickly the areas

of life you need to learn the most. Your strengths as well as your

weaknesses. Someone extremely egotiscal isn't someone we should be

judging. We should simply acknowledge they still have a long way to

go on their path.

>

> The Yamas are the ethical principles of Yoga. They are non-

violence, truthfulness (with yourself and others), not stealing,

celibacy (this has a new intrepretation than 2000 years ago) and

absence of greed. The observance of these ethical principles at all

times, all places and in all circumstances, is the great vow of Yoga.

>

> The Niyamas are personal observances that support one's practice.

Like cleanliness (of surroundings, mind and spirit), austerity,

contentment, self-study) and surrender to the Iswara (Divine). Now

these are things you do, they are things you become. If you are so

inclined to want to truly follow the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga.

>

> If I were new to Ashtanga, I would seek out the Ashtanga websites

for information. Our decisions in life are only as good as

credibility of the information we have. These resources have good

intentions. They are without judgement and I have found that most of

the information is extremely accurate, not just someone's opinion.

Which is always a good thing. I would also take responsibility for my

own practice and not rely on others to tell me what I should be

doing. Yoga is a personal journey. If you are truly on the spiritual

path, it really isn't something most of us go around discussing with

others.

>

> Namaste'

>

> PureConsciousness2002

>

>

>

> is they cannot even discuss

> without

> > > "quoting scripture" and refuse to answer basic questions

> about

> > > their credentials for giving ashtanga advise.

> > >

> > > If you were given permission to teach by Guruji in 1985 (17

> years

> > > ago) and but you no longer do ashtanga yourself or teach the

> > > correct method - which you simply cannot do if you don't go

> to

> > > Mysore regularly and study with your own teacher, then your

> > > advise should be taken with a grain of salt or at least with

> this

> > > information in mind - just be straight with us.

> > >

> > > What also makes me confused is this idea some people

> have

> > > that to be a yogi, you have to adopt some kind of code of

> > > behaviour commonly referred to by the pretentious phoney-

> > > baloneys as "YOGIC" (and gets wielded as a weapon when

> > > someone says something they don't like "You are not being

> > > YOGIC") and adopt some kind of "imported from

> > > India"appearance and an "Imported from India" name and

> start

> > > pretending that life doesn't affect you because you have

> choosen

> > > to be above us all and you have read the Hatha Yoga

> Pradipika

> > > and maybe the yoga sutra of Patanjali... Yoga doesn't make

> you

> > > GOD, it makes you a person, and there are all kinds of

> people

> > > who do yoga.

> > >

> > > For example, someone like myself, (kind of trashy,

> outspoken,

> > > opinionated, obnoxious, filthy-dirty minded, rude and

> fearless)

> > > happens to be a disciplined yoga student with one hell of a

> > > dedicated practice. So why all this phoney crap? All this "I

> have

> > > arrived and I am here to impart my wisdom upon you" crap. I

> am

> > > not impressed at all and I feel like protecting all the

> beginners

> > > from this kind of crap as well.

> > >

> > > Here are some principals to a successful yoga experience:

> > >

> > > 1. NEVER give a yoga teacher money to teach you if you can

> give

> > > their teacher money to teach you instead.

> > >

> > > 2. Never trust a "yoga teacher" who doesn't have a yoga

> teacher

> > > of their own "A teacher without a teacher takes lessons from

> a

> > > fool" It is a spiritual practice. Honesty is a primary

principal.

> > > There is no place for EGO or FALSE HUMILITY. (ps - for

> those

> > > who are curious, false humility is well represented in yogini

> > > shakti's recent post where she tells us all how she has

> adopted

> > > an attitude of... blah blah blah.)

> > >

> > > 3. Never trust a teacher who answers questions with quotes

> > > from the yoga sutras or any mysterious source that they

> cannot

> > > or will not reveal. Especially if it makes you feel dumb.

> > >

> > > 4. This one is hard, but be really, really careful before you

> trust a

> > > Westerner who has changed their name to something

> "Indian/

> > > Sanskrit" sounding. Ask them why they changed their name.

> > > Giving up one's name is a very very serious matter in Hindu

> > > culture and in the Vedic Tradition and is not something that

> you

> > > do for yourself. Thats just gross, OK? Unless of course the

> > > person has a mental illness of some kind, in which case it's

> > > pathetic.

> > >

> > > 5. If they seem phoney to you, they ARE! Don't give them

> your

> > > money.

> > >

> > > Bye and thank you for not deleting my posts.

> > >

>

>

>

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