RE: ashtanga yoga Zoning and David Swenson

[Guest guest]

Wow !

How long was it before you could do the series without the guidance of

the instructor?

 

I'm hopeless at things like that...not very "mindful" I guess (for

example, I can only go to shopping malls with a Bay store to park in

front of, because I'd never remember where I parked my large vehicle)

 

D :-)

 

 

lawrence romanosky [lromanosky]

November 11, 2002 6:27 PM

ashtanga yoga

ashtanga yoga Zoning and David Swenson

 

 

This "zone" thing is an interesting concept,

[Guest guest]

What you did is called "Mysore Ashtanga," which I have been practicing for the

past year. I go early, 5:45am (ughhh, getting up), but it truly is the best way

to start the the day. Just the drive to the studio alone (which I need to wake

me up) is wonderful because it gives me a chance to look at the stars, or in the

summer, to watch the sun rise and to remind myself every day what a wonderful

gift God gave us, LIFE!

My teacher is very quiet and knows when I need my adjustments, or I will stop

and get his attention when I need help. We don't have mirrors either and I am

glad because I found in another studio, they were distracting (yes, the ego

thing!!) So, I would rather not see how I look and just go by how I feel and I

know when Greg is not adjusting me I am doing it well. Also, the energy from

the other practitioners is a great motivating factor and great sources of

encouragement for those days when things don't go so well.

I also appreciate practicing at home too, when I am not able to get to class.

That is the wondorful things about Ashtanga, you can do it anywhere, anytime.

So glad to be back to practice !

Physically I feel better and mentally I feel better when I practice. although,

I have to be honest and say that at 47 I don't have the flexibility that alot of

the females (20's) do and it takes some effort to keep the ego in check !

 

Yup, I went through the cult thing too and got alot of grief for awhile because

I am a Christian and they thought that they were trying to convert me to

Hinduism. No such thing.. I am too founded in my faith for that, but I

appreciate where they are with their beliefs and I am grateful for Ashtanga

yoga.

Margee

>

> lawrence romanosky [sMTP:lromanosky]

> Monday, November 11, 2002 6:27 PM

> ashtanga yoga

> ashtanga yoga Zoning and David Swenson

>

> This "zone" thing is an interesting concept, I'm glad

> others can relate to it, if not my friends who

> think I'm joining a cult... It occurs during a

> repitive activity where the body can predict where it

> is going to be, and the mind can remove itself from

> the task at hand. It doesn't happen for me climbing

> because I wouldn't spend long enough on a route to

> memorize it *completly*. I've gotten there swimming

> but the activity doesn't have to be athletic, I've

> been there restoring a car--cleaning thousands of

> small parts for hours (and days and years) at a time.

>

>

> I relate this to some Eastern philosophical practices

> (which I don't really know much about to be honest)

> where monks would spend all day making things with

> grains of sand, then leave it for the tide. The

> repetitive nature of the activity fostered deep

> concentration and self awareness. From what I gather

> detachment is a part of traditional Yoga, which I also

> see as the same sort of thing. All basically a form of

> meditation, and of concentrating on your inner self.

> And it is an enlightening experience-I always wind up

> feeling really happy with myself. It's funny that

> there are seemingly so many ways of achieving the same

> thing. (Some safer than others!)

>

> This is probably why the learned Yogi's value the home

> practice, as it is easier to concentrate without being

> prompted by the instructor.

>

> On Sunday I did a full primary series practice, and

> the instructor told us we were on our own and we were

> all to go at our own pace, with no instruction. I

> found that I could concentrate on breath much more,

> and started a powerful inner rythem that isn't quite

> there normally. It is a direction to go in once I'm

> satisfied with my asanas, and don't need the

> corrections.

>

> I bought David Swenson's practice manual which is

> terrific-there was a lot in there that has really

> helped my practice. But, there are no mirrors in our>

> studio, so I had no idea what my asanas looked like,

> except from very odd angles. So, I took some digital

> photos of me (using the camera timer then trying to

> set up the full pose in like 5 sec.) and compared them

> to David's. I'm not sure it was a smart move, ego

> wise, because poses that I thought I had nailed looked

> terrible compared to his. But it was a productive

> exercize. But jeez, I have a long way to go!

>

> Cheers, Lawrence.

>

>

>

>

> --- "Gearhart, Margee" <mgearhart wrote:

> > Well, that is what I figured...

> > As far as the zone, it is a place during my practice

> > that I have come to

> > cherish, although not always able to get there

> > unfortunately.

> > Unless one has experienced it, it is quite difficult

> > to explain and my

> > "non-yoga" friends (mostly all of them) do not

> > understand and think that I

> > am just "out there" at times!

> >

> > It has been awhile since I have been actively zoning

> > and starting tommorow I

> > have made the commitment to myself to get my butt up

> > at 5am and go practice

> > again. I am very fortunate to have great friends at

> > my studio (KATHLEEN!!!)

> > that support and encourage me and also, the greatest

> > teacher. He has just

> > finished a full intensive with Manj Jois and PJ

> > again and I so benefit from

> > his knowledge.

> >

> > I think your race car driver should have taken up

> > Ashtanga instead !!

> >

> > Margee

> >

> > >

> > > lawrence romanosky

> > [sMTP:lromanosky]

> > > Monday, November 11, 2002 2:09 PM

> > > ashtanga yoga

> > > RE: ashtanga yoga time for yoga

> > >

> > > Margee,

> > > Yep, he was killed in a crash in 1994...Brazil had

> > a 3

> > > day mourning which shut the country down.

> > Something

> > > like 200,000 people filled the streets for the

> > > funeral. He and Pele are Brazil's most famous, and

> > > beloved persons.

> > >

> > > No relatives that I know of in the US.

> > >

> > > Cheers, Lawrence.

> > > --- "Gearhart, Margee" <mgearhart

> > wrote:

> > > > Lawrence-

> > > > And the reason he is the "late" Arton Senna???

> > > > Do you have any relatives in NJ? Work with

> > someone

> > > > with same last name.

> > > > Margee

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > lawrence romanosky

> > > > [sMTP:lromanosky]

> > > > > Friday, November 08, 2002 4:45 PM

> > > > > ashtanga yoga

> > > > > ashtanga yoga time for yoga

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi Margee,

> > > > > > I will come and watch him and Johnny

> > > > > > ride, but somehow I don't

> > > > > > think he will be on a yoga mat anytime soon!

> >

> > > > >

> > > > > You never know, before Yoga & Climbing, the

> > last

> > > > thing

> > > > > I got into hard was race car driving! I know

> > this

> > > > is

> > > > > going to sound ridiculous, but I've found that

> > > > there

> > > > > are some important similarities. When the

> > mind

> > > > > withdraws inward and the body starts to act on

> > > > it's

> > > > > own, as though you are "out of body" looking

> > down

> > > > on

> > > > > yourself doing something, you are said to be

> > "in

> > > > the

> > > > > zone" racing a car; everything smooth and inch

> > > > > perfect, right on the edge. This is the

> > ultimate

> > > > > high, and the fastest way around a track. On

> > a

> > > > good

> > > > > day, those feelings come to me in Yoga too.

> > One

> > > > of

> > > > > the most gifted drivers in the sports history,

> > the

> > > > > late Brazilian Arton Senna, described this

> > zone as

> > > > a

> > > > > union with God. Of course most people thought

> > he

> > > > was

> > > > > crazy, but then he was so much quicker than

> > > > anybody

> > > > > else, nobody dared to laugh at him!

> > > > > Cheers, Lawrence.

> > > > >

> > > > > --- "Gearhart, Margee" <mgearhart>

> > > > wrote:

> > > > > > Lawrence-

> > > > > > Being an Aries, I am always trying to

> > achieve in

> > > > > > what ever I "decide" I want

> > > > > > to do. Practicing Ashtanga and learning on

> > the

> > > > mat

> > > > > > that I couldn't, and

> > > > > > didn't have to do it "perfect" was the

> > greatest

> > > > gift

> > > > > > that my teacher ever

> > > > > > taught me. Not to say that I still don't

> > try

> > > > hard

> > > > > > to practice well. I have

> > > > > > just learned not to expect so much from

> > myself

> > > > and

> > > > > > to take each practice as

> > > > > > it is and know that it is ok. Tough

> > lesson....

> > > > > > I also, know, speaking from experience, that

> > > > > > relationships do take time and

> > > > > > effort, just as our practice does and I

> > think

> > > > our

> > > > > > greatest challenge is to

> > > > > > learn balance. Don't give up one for the

> > > > other, it

> > > > > > isn't worth it.

> > > > > > Sharing our lives and helping others is the

> > > > greatest

> > > > > > gift we can ever have.

> > > > > > I do know that sharing our love for

> > > > > > Ashtanga/climbing with another who has

> > > > > > the same interests would be great. Then you

> > > > could

> > > > > > do it together. I love

> > > > > > yoga and my husband loves motorbikes. I

> > would

> > > > say

> > > > > > that was a bit of a

> > > > > > difference. I will come and watch him and

> > > > Johnny

> > > > > > ride, but somehow I don't

> > > > > > think he will be on a yoga mat anytime soon!

> >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Margee

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > lawrence romanosky

> > > > > > [sMTP:lromanosky]

> > > > > > > Thursday, November 07, 2002

> > 6:06 PM

> > > > > > > ashtanga yoga

> > > > > > > RE: ashtanga yoga RE: yoga

> > and

> > > > > > climbing/time for yoga

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Hmmm. Point taken.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > There is something about the incremental

> > > > progress

> > > > > > of

> > > > > > > activites like yoga and climbing which are

> > > > > > addictive.

> > > > > > > Climbing a harder route or getting that

> > > > Vinyasa

> > > > > > smooth

> > > > > > > and pretty, gives enormous satisfaction.

> > The

> > > > more

> > > > > > you

> > > > > > > do it, the better you want to become, so

> > the

> > > > more

> > > > > > you

> > > > > > > want to do it. Seeing a skilled ashtangi

> > > > floating

> > > > > > up

> > > > > > > into a handstand from boat is inspiring

> > and

> > > > makes

> > > > > > me

> > > > > > > want to work harder to do it too. (that's

> > a

> > > > ways

> > > > > > off

> >

> === message truncated ===

>

>

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