Guest guest Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 For what it is worth (though I agree with you in learning and teaching in the traditional non-modified style) tapes are worthwhile for people like me who travel to places like Moscow where happends to be only one Ashtaga center where classes are not taught in the traditional style and are at strange times like noon (kind of tough if you have a day job like I do). Tapes make it possible for people who travel or live in foreign countries and do not have access to traditional Ashtanga teachers to continue their practice (I should know since I was an expat in Moscow for three years)... --- funkybadlady <no_reply> wrote: > Maureen, > Why do you believe it is necessary to "modify" any > of the poses? > I have seen (and taught) many, many "beginners," > older people > who have been inactive for years, fat, stiff people > who are trying > yoga for the first time, and any kind of inflexible, > physically and > mentally stiff person learn and become proficient at > the primary > series AS IT EXISTS. The come in and start from the > beginning > and they keep getting adjustments in the tougher > poses until > they get there. They learn patience. Even going > too far in > Ashtanga "modified" or not can lead to injury > especially if the > person doesn't have the strength to lift the weight > of their own > body which is the case woth most beginners. And > usually they > come in with a host of physical complaints as it is. > People like > that need to start slowly - 15 minutes of yoga a day > at first, not an > hour and a half of "modified" ashtanga. > > The biggest challenge for anyone is to maintain a > regular daily > practice. Just doing sun salutations and finishing > poses is > hugely theraputic. Doing them every day, as it says > in yoga Mala > and as I have seen in practice, can change a > person's physical > and mental nature. > > Why would you want to encourage a beginner to > "learn" from a > tape. It seems to me what you are doing is making a > tape for > "impatient people", not "Beginners." A beginner is > better off > going to a non-ashtanga class and having an > instructor present > rather than trying to learn some kind of twisted > version of > modified Ashtanga Yoga from a tape. Yoga classes > are > EVERYWHERE now so it would be a rare person in North > > Dakota who says they can't find a class to attend. > > Shame on you Maureen! You have permission to teach > primary > series? You should know better! > > FBL > > > ashtangayoga, Maureen Bolton > <bolto11> wrote: > > In my opinion, the best book is Ashtanga Yoga by > John > > Scott and the best tape is David Swenson's primary > > series. John Scott's book is available through > Amazon > > and David Swenson's video is available through > > ashtangayoga.com. It is very rigorous and offers > no > > modifications, but he clearly demonstrates and > > explains each of the postures. > > > > I am currently working on producing my own > Ashtanga > > Video (I have trained with SKPJ in Mysore and am > > authorised to teach the primary series) with > > modifications so that it is more accessible to > > beginners -we all have to start somewhere. I'll > let > > you know once it becomes available. > > > > Kind Regards, > > Maureen > > --- dsan_uk <dsan_uk> wrote: > > > I am a gym instructor living in London and have > very > > > little free time > > > to go to classes but am keen to start As(h)tanga > > > yoga. Is it possible > > > to learn properly from videos/books and if so > which > > > are the best? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > > http://sbc. > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 Michelle: Having just "retired" from the World Bank Group, I have definitely been in your position -working in a remote area without access to classes or teachers. Self practice is obviously a viable alternative, but it can get kind of old. Regarding the tapes, I just want to shake things up a little since the existing tapes are so "serious" -though obviously effective. I think there is room for a variety of tapes and a variety of ways to motivate people. Ashtanga has been such a godsend to me - I am a former gymnast who really couldn't find any exercise routine that was as challenging and exciting -I'd just like to share it with the world. So many people think that yoga isn't a workout-but its because they haven't tried Ashtanga! Kind Regards, Maureen --- Michelle Kelner <michkelner wrote: > For what it is worth (though I agree with you in > learning and teaching in the traditional > non-modified > style) tapes are worthwhile for people like me who > travel to places like Moscow where happends to be > only > one Ashtaga center where classes are not taught in > the > traditional style and are at strange times like noon > (kind of tough if you have a day job like I do). > Tapes make it possible for people who travel or live > in foreign countries and do not have access to > traditional Ashtanga teachers to continue their > practice (I should know since I was an expat in > Moscow > for three years)... > > --- funkybadlady <no_reply> wrote: > > Maureen, > > Why do you believe it is necessary to "modify" any > > of the poses? > > I have seen (and taught) many, many "beginners," > > older people > > who have been inactive for years, fat, stiff > people > > who are trying > > yoga for the first time, and any kind of > inflexible, > > physically and > > mentally stiff person learn and become proficient > at > > the primary > > series AS IT EXISTS. The come in and start from > the > > beginning > > and they keep getting adjustments in the tougher > > poses until > > they get there. They learn patience. Even going > > too far in > > Ashtanga "modified" or not can lead to injury > > especially if the > > person doesn't have the strength to lift the > weight > > of their own > > body which is the case woth most beginners. And > > usually they > > come in with a host of physical complaints as it > is. > > People like > > that need to start slowly - 15 minutes of yoga a > day > > at first, not an > > hour and a half of "modified" ashtanga. > > > > The biggest challenge for anyone is to maintain a > > regular daily > > practice. Just doing sun salutations and > finishing > > poses is > > hugely theraputic. Doing them every day, as it > says > > in yoga Mala > > and as I have seen in practice, can change a > > person's physical > > and mental nature. > > > > Why would you want to encourage a beginner to > > "learn" from a > > tape. It seems to me what you are doing is making > a > > tape for > > "impatient people", not "Beginners." A beginner > is > > better off > > going to a non-ashtanga class and having an > > instructor present > > rather than trying to learn some kind of twisted > > version of > > modified Ashtanga Yoga from a tape. Yoga classes > > are > > EVERYWHERE now so it would be a rare person in > North > > > > Dakota who says they can't find a class to attend. > > > > Shame on you Maureen! You have permission to > teach > > primary > > series? You should know better! > > > > FBL > > > > > > ashtangayoga, Maureen Bolton > > <bolto11> wrote: > > > In my opinion, the best book is Ashtanga Yoga by > > John > > > Scott and the best tape is David Swenson's > primary > > > series. John Scott's book is available through > > Amazon > > > and David Swenson's video is available through > > > ashtangayoga.com. It is very rigorous and > offers > > no > > > modifications, but he clearly demonstrates and > > > explains each of the postures. > > > > > > I am currently working on producing my own > > Ashtanga > > > Video (I have trained with SKPJ in Mysore and am > > > authorised to teach the primary series) with > > > modifications so that it is more accessible to > > > beginners -we all have to start somewhere. I'll > > let > > > you know once it becomes available. > > > > > > Kind Regards, > > > Maureen > > > --- dsan_uk <dsan_uk> wrote: > > > > I am a gym instructor living in London and > have > > very > > > > little free time > > > > to go to classes but am keen to start > As(h)tanga > > > > yoga. Is it possible > > > > to learn properly from videos/books and if so > > which > > > > are the best? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > > > http://sbc. > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > http://sbc. > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 Dear Funkybadlady: The reason why I feel it is necessary to modify the poses is that some of them (pressing to a handstand for example)intimidate people and turn them off to Ashtanga. At least this has been my experience as a teacher. I love Ashtanga and want to share it with as many people as possible. At any rate, if it is of any comfort to you-my modifications are not that drastic. The approach of my video is different than existing Ashtanga videos and I don't see anything wrong with that.Again, the goal is to spread the joy of Ashtanga. Kind Regards, Maureen --- funkybadlady <no_reply> wrote: > Maureen, > Why do you believe it is necessary to "modify" any > of the poses? > I have seen (and taught) many, many "beginners," > older people > who have been inactive for years, fat, stiff people > who are trying > yoga for the first time, and any kind of inflexible, > physically and > mentally stiff person learn and become proficient at > the primary > series AS IT EXISTS. The come in and start from the > beginning > and they keep getting adjustments in the tougher > poses until > they get there. They learn patience. Even going > too far in > Ashtanga "modified" or not can lead to injury > especially if the > person doesn't have the strength to lift the weight > of their own > body which is the case woth most beginners. And > usually they > come in with a host of physical complaints as it is. > People like > that need to start slowly - 15 minutes of yoga a day > at first, not an > hour and a half of "modified" ashtanga. > > The biggest challenge for anyone is to maintain a > regular daily > practice. Just doing sun salutations and finishing > poses is > hugely theraputic. Doing them every day, as it says > in yoga Mala > and as I have seen in practice, can change a > person's physical > and mental nature. > > Why would you want to encourage a beginner to > "learn" from a > tape. It seems to me what you are doing is making a > tape for > "impatient people", not "Beginners." A beginner is > better off > going to a non-ashtanga class and having an > instructor present > rather than trying to learn some kind of twisted > version of > modified Ashtanga Yoga from a tape. Yoga classes > are > EVERYWHERE now so it would be a rare person in North > > Dakota who says they can't find a class to attend. > > Shame on you Maureen! You have permission to teach > primary > series? You should know better! > > FBL > > > ashtangayoga, Maureen Bolton > <bolto11> wrote: > > In my opinion, the best book is Ashtanga Yoga by > John > > Scott and the best tape is David Swenson's primary > > series. John Scott's book is available through > Amazon > > and David Swenson's video is available through > > ashtangayoga.com. It is very rigorous and offers > no > > modifications, but he clearly demonstrates and > > explains each of the postures. > > > > I am currently working on producing my own > Ashtanga > > Video (I have trained with SKPJ in Mysore and am > > authorised to teach the primary series) with > > modifications so that it is more accessible to > > beginners -we all have to start somewhere. I'll > let > > you know once it becomes available. > > > > Kind Regards, > > Maureen > > --- dsan_uk <dsan_uk> wrote: > > > I am a gym instructor living in London and have > very > > > little free time > > > to go to classes but am keen to start As(h)tanga > > > yoga. Is it possible > > > to learn properly from videos/books and if so > which > > > are the best? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > > http://sbc. > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 funkybadlady wrote: Maureen, Why do you believe it is necessary to "modify" any of the poses? I don't currently have the money to attend a class and so I've simply been doing Sun Salutations until I can afford an Ashtanga class. Even with the Sun Salutations, I have to modify. Not because I'm out of shape, but because of an injury that limits my wrist movement. My wrist physically will not bend back far enough for me to put my hand flat on the floor. It's not a flexability issue, it's an issue of the bones in my hand and wrist not being aligned properly. Trying to force it, or putting any weight on it in a bent position only irritates the condition and causes pain and swelling. So I support myself on my knuckles instead of putting my hand flat on the floor, because this allows my wrist to stay straight. I consider this a minor modification and don't see how it would really effect the benefits of doing Sun Salutations, but it is a modification just the same. Why would you want to encourage a beginner to "learn" from a tape. It seems to me what you are doing is making a tape for "impatient people", not "Beginners." A beginner is better off going to a non-ashtanga class and having an instructor present rather than trying to learn some kind of twisted version of modified Ashtanga Yoga from a tape. Yoga classes are EVERYWHERE now so it would be a rare person in North Dakota who says they can't find a class to attend. Many of the people I've met that practice with tapes actually would love to attend a class but cannot afford it. I can empathize with this, as I'm currently not in a situation to be able to afford a class either. New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 Maureen- My niece is Kristen Maloney, USA's Women's Gymnastic Team, Sydney. If you still follow gymnastics I am sure you have heard of her. She has tried Ashtanga and agrees that it is a great workout and loves the calmness she feels after doing it. She said that she has done alot of other things and feels that AShtanga is just wonderful. I agree. Margee > > Maureen Bolton [sMTP:bolto11] > Friday, October 04, 2002 10:40 AM > ashtanga yoga > Re: ashtanga yoga Re: starting up > > Michelle: Having just "retired" from the World Bank > Group, I have definitely been in your position > -working in a remote area without access to classes or > teachers. Self practice is obviously a viable > alternative, but it can get kind of old. > Regarding the tapes, I just want to shake things up a > little since the existing tapes are so "serious" > -though obviously effective. I think there is room > for a variety of tapes and a variety of ways to > motivate people. Ashtanga has been such a godsend to > me - I am a former gymnast who really couldn't find > any exercise routine that was as challenging and > exciting -I'd just like to share it with the world. > So many people think that yoga isn't a workout-but its > because they haven't tried Ashtanga! > Kind Regards, > Maureen > --- Michelle Kelner <michkelner wrote: > > For what it is worth (though I agree with you in > > learning and teaching in the traditional > > non-modified > > style) tapes are worthwhile for people like me who > > travel to places like Moscow where happends to be > > only > > one Ashtaga center where classes are not taught in > > the > > traditional style and are at strange times like noon > > (kind of tough if you have a day job like I do). > > Tapes make it possible for people who travel or live > > in foreign countries and do not have access to > > traditional Ashtanga teachers to continue their > > practice (I should know since I was an expat in > > Moscow > > for three years)... > > > > --- funkybadlady <no_reply> wrote: > > > Maureen, > > > Why do you believe it is necessary to "modify" any > > > of the poses? > > > I have seen (and taught) many, many "beginners," > > > older people > > > who have been inactive for years, fat, stiff > > people > > > who are trying > > > yoga for the first time, and any kind of > > inflexible, > > > physically and > > > mentally stiff person learn and become proficient > > at > > > the primary > > > series AS IT EXISTS. The come in and start from > > the > > > beginning > > > and they keep getting adjustments in the tougher > > > poses until > > > they get there. They learn patience. Even going > > > too far in > > > Ashtanga "modified" or not can lead to injury > > > especially if the > > > person doesn't have the strength to lift the > > weight > > > of their own > > > body which is the case woth most beginners. And > > > usually they > > > come in with a host of physical complaints as it > > is. > > > People like > > > that need to start slowly - 15 minutes of yoga a > > day > > > at first, not an > > > hour and a half of "modified" ashtanga. > > > > > > The biggest challenge for anyone is to maintain a > > > regular daily > > > practice. Just doing sun salutations and > > finishing > > > poses is > > > hugely theraputic. Doing them every day, as it > > says > > > in yoga Mala > > > and as I have seen in practice, can change a > > > person's physical > > > and mental nature. > > > > > > Why would you want to encourage a beginner to > > > "learn" from a > > > tape. It seems to me what you are doing is making > > a > > > tape for > > > "impatient people", not "Beginners." A beginner > > is > > > better off > > > going to a non-ashtanga class and having an > > > instructor present > > > rather than trying to learn some kind of twisted > > > version of > > > modified Ashtanga Yoga from a tape. Yoga classes > > > are > > > EVERYWHERE now so it would be a rare person in > > North > > > > > > Dakota who says they can't find a class to attend. > > > > > > Shame on you Maureen! You have permission to > > teach > > > primary > > > series? You should know better! > > > > > > FBL > > > > > > > > > ashtangayoga, Maureen Bolton > > > <bolto11> wrote: > > > > In my opinion, the best book is Ashtanga Yoga by > > > John > > > > Scott and the best tape is David Swenson's > > primary > > > > series. John Scott's book is available through > > > Amazon > > > > and David Swenson's video is available through > > > > ashtangayoga.com. It is very rigorous and > > offers > > > no > > > > modifications, but he clearly demonstrates and > > > > explains each of the postures. > > > > > > > > I am currently working on producing my own > > > Ashtanga > > > > Video (I have trained with SKPJ in Mysore and am > > > > authorised to teach the primary series) with > > > > modifications so that it is more accessible to > > > > beginners -we all have to start somewhere. I'll > > > let > > > > you know once it becomes available. > > > > > > > > Kind Regards, > > > > Maureen > > > > --- dsan_uk <dsan_uk> wrote: > > > > > I am a gym instructor living in London and > > have > > > very > > > > > little free time > > > > > to go to classes but am keen to start > > As(h)tanga > > > > > yoga. Is it possible > > > > > to learn properly from videos/books and if so > > > which > > > > > are the best? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > > > > <http://sbc.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > > <http://sbc.> > > > > > > > > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & > <http://sbc.> > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > Terms of Service > <>. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 funkybadlady wrote: If you want a more "user-friendly" form of yoga, then teach Kripalu or some other such drivel. This is just one example in many of "teachers" on this board who seem to only grasp asana and know nothing about the actual philosophy of yoga. I would NEVER return to a yoga class if my teacher refered to a different school of yoga as "drivel". Making remarks like that is not only negative but completely counter to the spirit of yoga. I was attracted to Ashtanga yoga for two reasons: One, it is very challenging. And Two - the biggest reason - it is SUPPOSED to be based on all eight limbs of yoga. I thought I would get a more well-rounded training and further learn the philosophy, the spirit, what yoga is all about. After being on this mailing list for just a few weeks - if the "teachers" on this list are a reliable sample of the Ashtanga community- I'm beginning to rethink my interest in Ashtanga. I want to hear about why the practice is good, how it has enriched people's lives, discussion of practice, etc. I DO NOT want to hear about why everyone besides a few "teachers" on this forum are stupid and wrong and ridiculous. Recently someone voiced interest in having a teacher from this list do a workshop at their studio. The teacher's only reply was the amount that it would cost. I was appalled. Of COURSE you would expect compensation for your time and efforts. But I cannot think of a colder, less friendly, less open way to reply to anyone that is showing genuine interest in learning from your knowledge and experience. I do realize that there are many wonderful and caring people on this list. However, it seems the people that want to be negative are doing the majority of the posting. I get upset by this list almost daily. Not so much because of the hostility but because the targets of that hostility, in my opinion, have never deserved it. It seems the nicest, most open hearted people are the ones that receive the slander. So thank you to all that have had a kind word. I think I'll be unsubscribing from this list after I send this email. Warm Regards, Asha Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos, & more faith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.