Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Hi All - I've been doing yoga for about 19 months largely as a result of this group. I do it from about one to three times a week depending on my schedule. It is something that is an easy thing, but I enjoy it. The thing that happens is that when I do a session, all I seem to be able to do is get something to eat then go home to sleep. If I do yoga after work it is no problem for me to asleep by 7:30 PM and not to wake till the next 11 hours when I have to go back to work. The thing is that the sleep is very good and very deep. It is restful and restorative sleep. The dreams are usually nice if I remember them. If I don't go to sleep I'm dragging rest of the evening. The problem with this is that the sleep is using up my creative time. Evening is when I like to read and to write. I usually only need to sleep from 4 and half hours to six hours a night. My question is this sleep a good thing or bad thing? Is it something that I'll outgrow? Is there something that I need to change? Any help or advice is appreciated. Pax, Eric Otto Cincinnati Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Yoga is a large catch all phrase for really any of the practices of the eight limbs of Patanjali, as even one performing the yamas or basic positve restraints on conduct could be doing yoga. Could you be a bit more specific about your practice? Is it hatha? And if so what school? Or raja, and if so what school? Each type or practice will have different outcomes as far as how much purification versus lifestyle conditioning, etc... Often, purification on top of a full work schedule tends to merely rid one of daily accumulated kleshas, rather than cutting through deep and lasting samskaras. If as you say you're only doing this one to three times a week then what really is the problem? The other nights maybe you can do your creative work. At any rate, you should view all restorative practices as enhancing your basic creative connection or ground as they clear away the aging and freeradical mentality which overwork and stress exacerbate. Thus perhaps making your remaining free time more effective. Peace. - "Eric Otto" <eottoe2001 > <> Tuesday, July 18, 2006 10:38 PM Yoga Question > > > Hi All - > > I've been doing yoga for about 19 months largely as a result of this > group. I do it from about one to three times a week depending on my Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Hello Llundrub - Thank you for your thoughtful questions. The yoga that I do is Anusara yoga that is a hatha yoga with a blend of tantra. It seems to be a yoga of the heart because they always emphasize the heart in the practice and movement. It is very popular here and the studio is convenient to my home and work. I found it more challenging than Avinya yoga. I don't know what the particular outcomes Anusara is going after, but the teachers seem very concerned about aligning the body and opening of the heart chakra. Reading what you wrote, I'm thinking that the yoga is clearing out more than the kleshas of daily life. I think perhaps that many years of stress are finally being released. If it isn't samkaras, it must be some fairly deep things. I didn't see it as a purification. Instead of the sleep being a problem, therefore, it maybe a blessing and I need to adjust my week accordingly as you say. The sleep is very deep and very refreshing. Thank you for your insight in this. Many blessings to you. Eric , "Llundrub" <llundrub wrote: > > restraints on conduct could be doing yoga. Could you be a bit more specific > about your practice? Is it hatha? And if so what school? Or raja, and if so > what school? Each type or practice will have different outcomes as far as > how much purification versus lifestyle conditioning, etc... > > Often, purification on top of a full work schedule tends to merely rid one > of daily accumulated kleshas, rather than cutting through deep and lasting > samskaras. If as you say you're only doing this one to three times a week > then what really is the problem? The other nights maybe you can do your > creative work. > > At any rate, you should view all restorative practices as enhancing your > basic creative connection or ground as they clear away the aging and > freeradical mentality which overwork and stress exacerbate. Thus perhaps > making your remaining free time more effective. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Hi Eric Hatha Yoga , has a strong influence on the functioning of the endocrine glands. This becomes especially pronounced if the practice is combined with Chakra meditation, intonation of sounds and Bandhas (or Mudras). The thyroid gland is the clock of the body so to say and rules over the bodys internal time. Sleep dream and activity and inertia in the waking state is also governed by the excretions of this gland. A balanced and good Yoga Training will result in Lightness of the Body, the need for a little less sleep, and a balanced peaceful calm but nonetheless active and aware state of mind. According to your description you are experiencing the opposite of the desired result, though relaxation should and can occur, an increase of sleep and inertia is not to be expected,and not wished for, and should not occur unless something is going wrong, Lightness, awareness, reduction of sleep and a balanced energy boost should result from Yoga Practice. Your doubts are correct and show an appropriate awareness of your body that is necessary for Yoga. A diagnosis from afar why the positive results of Yoga are not happening to you and instead you experience sleep and inertia is not possible. What is the condition of your thyroid gland? Are you sufffering from other bodily problems? If there is a malfunctioning of the thyroid gland or other health problems some mudras bandhas and exercises are prohibited and if nonetheless practiced can cause a lot of serious problems. I am interested to hear what your Teacher commented on your situation, i have 36 Years experience practicing Hatha Yoga having started when i was 12- 13, and i have also consulted my wife who spent most of her life in India and Nepal also working as a student and Yoga Teacher, and we both agree that you should personally consult with a good yoga teacher near you to find out the reason for your problem, maybe also a second opinion apart from your Trainer. Generally while practicing hatha yoga it is important to trust you own feelings, if you doubt, stop the practice and immediately consult with a competent teacher, this awareness about the condition of your body is an important part and aim of yoga. Together with the advice of your Teacher you should find a routine and set of exercises that suit you and the state of your body/mind and gives the desired results mentionend by me. Practicing Yoga you need an individual schedule, some exercises that are a help to others can harm you and vice versa. This is especially true in the advanced practices like chakra meditations intonations of sounds, and bandhas and mudras you can very easily upset the intricate natural balance of the endocrinal system by wrong exercises or wrong breathing patterns, caution and guidance and awareness are necessary even if you do not suffer from health problems. Mahahradanatha , "Eric Otto" <eottoe2001 wrote: > > > > Hi All - > > I've been doing yoga for about 19 months largely as a result of this > group. I do it from about one to three times a week depending on my > schedule. It is something that is an easy thing, but I enjoy it. The > thing that happens is that when I do a session, all I seem to be able > to do is get something to eat then go home to sleep. If I do yoga > after work it is no problem for me to asleep by 7:30 PM and not to > wake till the next 11 hours when I have to go back to work. > > The thing is that the sleep is very good and very deep. It is restful > and restorative sleep. The dreams are usually nice if I remember them. > If I don't go to sleep I'm dragging rest of the evening. The problem > with this is that the sleep is using up my creative time. Evening is > when I like to read and to write. I usually only need to sleep from 4 > and half hours to six hours a night. > > My question is this sleep a good thing or bad thing? Is it something > that I'll outgrow? Is there something that I need to change? > > Any help or advice is appreciated. > > Pax, > > Eric Otto > Cincinnati > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Mahahradanatha gave you an excellent advice - I second it. Find a GOOD TRUSTWORTHY Teacher. Also, your symptoms may suggest overstressing, either from the practice, or that your practice is trying to remedy by permitting your body to rest (sleep). Are you working harder than people usually would? Perhaps you should consider increasing frequency of the classes (every day, or at least every other day) and reducing the load in each class? Also, if you were forcing yourself to cut on the sleep time - perhaps your body is taking that time back because it needs it for recuperation? Also, as my Teacher usually says "what you do outside of your practice time is of great importance". Also, some say that practicing Bandhas and Mudras not under strict observation and control of a Master is likelier to bring demise than success. You might consider excluding those from your practice (if you were "unconcerned" enough to do them in the first place) and see if there's any difference. Also, if your practice ends with meditation - perhaps you aren't ready to meditate that long... Teacher should be able to help with all of those issues, and with whatever that's not covered. _____ [] On Behalf Of mahahradanatha Friday, July 21, 2006 06:47 Re: Yoga Question Hi Eric Hatha Yoga , has a strong influence on the functioning of the endocrine glands. This becomes especially pronounced if the practice is combined with Chakra meditation, intonation of sounds and Bandhas (or Mudras). The thyroid gland is the clock of the body so to say and rules over the bodys internal time. Sleep dream and activity and inertia in the waking state is also governed by the excretions of this gland. A balanced and good Yoga Training will result in Lightness of the Body, the need for a little less sleep, and a balanced peaceful calm but nonetheless active and aware state of mind. According to your description you are experiencing the opposite of the desired result, though relaxation should and can occur, an increase of sleep and inertia is not to be expected,and not wished for, and should not occur unless something is going wrong, Lightness, awareness, reduction of sleep and a balanced energy boost should result from Yoga Practice. Your doubts are correct and show an appropriate awareness of your body that is necessary for Yoga. A diagnosis from afar why the positive results of Yoga are not happening to you and instead you experience sleep and inertia is not possible. What is the condition of your thyroid gland? Are you sufffering from other bodily problems? If there is a malfunctioning of the thyroid gland or other health problems some mudras bandhas and exercises are prohibited and if nonetheless practiced can cause a lot of serious problems. I am interested to hear what your Teacher commented on your situation, i have 36 Years experience practicing Hatha Yoga having started when i was 12- 13, and i have also consulted my wife who spent most of her life in India and Nepal also working as a student and Yoga Teacher, and we both agree that you should personally consult with a good yoga teacher near you to find out the reason for your problem, maybe also a second opinion apart from your Trainer. Generally while practicing hatha yoga it is important to trust you own feelings, if you doubt, stop the practice and immediately consult with a competent teacher, this awareness about the condition of your body is an important part and aim of yoga. Together with the advice of your Teacher you should find a routine and set of exercises that suit you and the state of your body/mind and gives the desired results mentionend by me. Practicing Yoga you need an individual schedule, some exercises that are a help to others can harm you and vice versa. This is especially true in the advanced practices like chakra meditations intonations of sounds, and bandhas and mudras you can very easily upset the intricate natural balance of the endocrinal system by wrong exercises or wrong breathing patterns, caution and guidance and awareness are necessary even if you do not suffer from health problems. Mahahradanatha @ <%40> , "Eric Otto" <eottoe2001 wrote: > > > > Hi All - > > I've been doing yoga for about 19 months largely as a result of this > group. I do it from about one to three times a week depending on my > schedule. It is something that is an easy thing, but I enjoy it. The > thing that happens is that when I do a session, all I seem to be able > to do is get something to eat then go home to sleep. If I do yoga > after work it is no problem for me to asleep by 7:30 PM and not to > wake till the next 11 hours when I have to go back to work. > > The thing is that the sleep is very good and very deep. It is restful > and restorative sleep. The dreams are usually nice if I remember them. > If I don't go to sleep I'm dragging rest of the evening. The problem > with this is that the sleep is using up my creative time. Evening is > when I like to read and to write. I usually only need to sleep from 4 > and half hours to six hours a night. > > My question is this sleep a good thing or bad thing? Is it something > that I'll outgrow? Is there something that I need to change? > > Any help or advice is appreciated. > > Pax, > > Eric Otto > Cincinnati > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Hi Eric: You seem to be getting excellent advice already, so I will just add one small observation: In the big picture, and especially in the early stages, a hatha yoga practice starts a movement toward BALANCE. Thus, there is no need at the outset to consciously force modification your behavior -- for example, if you're a smoker, hathayoga will naturally, as your practice becomes entrenched, make you feel less need for tobacco; likewise, the non-vegetarian will feel less need for meat; the hyperglycemic will feel less need for sugar; and so on. And yes, those who get too little sleep will suddenly feel a need for lots of sleep; just as those who sleep too much will find themselves needing much less sleep. I think this is probably what is happening to you. It's nothing to worry about, most likely. It's kind of detoxification; so the effects might seem extreme or uncomnfortable or unnerving at first. The thing is to just keep up your practice and listen to your body. Give it what it's asking for. Trust in the process. In the early stages of achieving balance, what is needed? Counterweights, always. So relax and let the process work itself through. You say you feel good. Your comments indicate that you are paying attention. It is true that having a good teacher is always the best way, but in lieu of that, your body is an even better teacher -- if you listen. Sounds like you are doing that. So I would not worry much at all. [bTW, your comments on the vocabulary problems here are duly noted. In the future, I will endeavor to eschew obfuscation. ;-) ] My 2 cents DB , Mouse <uri wrote: > > Mahahradanatha gave you an excellent advice - I second it. Find a GOOD > TRUSTWORTHY Teacher. > [...] Lightness, awareness, reduction of sleep and a balanced energy boost should result from Yoga Practice. Your doubts are correct and show an appropriate awareness of your body that is necessary for Yoga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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