Afraid of my mat

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am new to this group. I recently returned from my first trip to India

(loved it) and my house was in ruin. My boyfriend quit his job and

didn't pay a single bill while I was away. I came home close to summer

so schedules were limited and money was tight. So I radically went in

another direction and switched jobs. Now months later I am finally

coming out of the financial hole, haven't practised in months, and am

quiting the horrible job I had to take. I am finding myself afraid to

return to my mat and teaching. Has anybody had a similiar experience?

How can I motivate myself to reutrn to my practice?

[Guest guest]

For your first practice, make yourself a promise: "Today, I am only going to

do three surynamascaras and then savasana. If I feel like doing more, I may

but don't have to." Do that whenever you have time for a practice and agree

to do a little more each time only as you are comfortable. Then, watch your

practice take off. It worked for me.

 

Ronald Richard Stowell

[Guest guest]

It seems, that by writing this, you have already started the journey.

 

Be kind to yourself. Love yourself and know that when you and you're body

are ready you will find a need... I'm only speaking from personal

experience, but its experience I've been through.

 

I would start really, really slowly. Commit to one practice a week... and as

your body/mind are ready they will tell you when you need more. They will

crave it.

 

Here in the west (US to be specific) the term practice so often means only

asana and it's almost laughable.

 

I follow two lineages. One that goes a Tibetan Buddhist route and one that's

more Ashtanga based (Jivamukti).

 

I too have had struggles getting on the mat for a variety of reasons, but

like you, many of them job related. I teach six to eight classes a week,

work a full time job and work as a photographer on the side... and then

there's my three kids who live with me on and off weekends. I leave in the

morning before the studios open and come home after they close. After days

like that manufacturing a home practice has been a real challenge.

 

I've done a lot of studying lately (Autobiography of a yogi, Autobiography

of Gandhi) listening to tapes of my teachers... the Tibetan line flat out

says, asana without mediation is just exercise.

 

I even had the chance to talk to Manju Joise a year ago where I was shooting

a work shop and he said a lot of the same things. Asana and Pranayama are

merely preparation for meditation.

 

I recently reconnected with my teacher and was surprised that his first

questions weren't about my asana, but about my meditation. He wanted to know

much more about that than anything else.

 

Then I spoke with my Jivamukti teacher... and she said flatly "you have

abandoned your yoga practice." I wasn't hurt, I'm used to her frankness and

appreciate the truth. I responded by telling her 'I don't know, I think

you'd be surprised, my moods are calmer, I deal with people better..."

 

She responded, "oh you've learned your yamas and niyamas and have developed

anger management and people skills, but you have abandoned your yoga

practice. You have stopped searching for God in every breath.

 

Her comment is why I mentioned the studying I've been doing because in the

history of the practice the devout search for the universal mother... for

God... it's at the root of what we now call practice. It's the only reason

THE gurus took to the mat at all.

 

I think, though, in a lot of ways we've got it backwards.

 

In doing the things you've needed to get your life/house/job back in order

you may have been practicing your behind off.

 

Maybe not the answer your were looking for, and maybe a rant just for me to

think some things through but I hope there is something in all of this that

helps.

 

Be good to yourself because if you won't I can guarantee nobody else will.

 

 

 

 

 

ashtanga yoga [ashtangayoga] On

Behalf Of Jennie

Friday, November 10, 2006 10:01 AM

ashtanga yoga

ashtanga yoga Afraid of my mat

 

Hi

I am new to this group. I recently returned from my first trip to India

(loved it) and my house was in ruin. My boyfriend quit his job and

didn't pay a single bill while I was away. I came home close to summer

so schedules were limited and money was tight. So I radically went in

another direction and switched jobs. Now months later I am finally

coming out of the financial hole, haven't practised in months, and am

quiting the horrible job I had to take. I am finding myself afraid to

return to my mat and teaching. Has anybody had a similiar experience?

How can I motivate myself to reutrn to my practice?

[Guest guest]

I am a student...not a teacher so please forgive me.

What do you have to fear?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our drkenss, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who are we to be brilliant , gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Acturally who are you not to be? You playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so other people won't feel insecure around you. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others!"

Nelson Mandela

So...what is it you have to fear? Return to your mat and let your love and light shine. The greatest motivation is your heart and desire to serve not just yourself but others

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

[Guest guest]

Start out by just doing the standing series for a few day's and see how your body reacts.

 

LOL

[Guest guest]

Yes, I felt the same way, a few times already!!! I think there are periods

in our lives when we get totally wrapped up with other things and just can¹t

do everything. I am also a yoga teacher and I love yoga--that¹s all I want

to do--but there were periods, (even in a recent history) when I traveled or

had a hard job to do, and I found myself just too exhausted to even think of

doing yoga, much less doing it. But more than that, it was something

psychological... not that I was afraid, just physically I couldn¹t get

myself to do any practice!!!

 

My suggestion is, to start easy!!! Not forcing it! Don¹t expect you¹ll do

all the poses just like you used to. The strength is the big problem in the

beginning. Your mind remembers how you can do all the poses fast and steady,

but now you are out of breath, body is shivering and mind going all over.

 

I suggest you start just with surrounding yourself with things that remind

you of your practice. Find a spot at home where you can practice, put the

mat down, light the scent sticks, and start with just doing the poses that

you feel like doing. You can start with sitting ones, and then maybe the

energy starts flowing and you feel like doing more. The key is to not give

yourself too much to do with it in your head, just say to yourself that

you¹ll do Œa few poses¹. I find that approach easiest. You could also put on

a yoga DVD of your choice, sit on the mat and do as much or as little of the

poses as you want. Of course there is always an option to go to a yoga

studio and practice there... But sometimes I¹d be lacking motivation to go,

so I¹d buy the monthly pass and go 3 times...

 

I¹m sure I will all come back, everything comes/goes at its own time, and

there is a reason for everything that¹s going on in our lives. Just be at

peace with it, accept it and LIKE IT just the way it is!

 

A great yoga teacher of mine once said, yoga practice is also just unrolling

the mat sitting on it dedicating the time to something in your life and then

rolling the mat back up!!! ) I agree!!!

 

Good luck!!!

diana

[Guest guest]

Hi Jennie,

I have been praticing Astanga and Vinyasa for almost 3 years. During the past three years I have had two long term (2-3 month) breaks where I did not pratice at all. This last break was started by a lower back injury. The back was out of a month and a half, then it was the problems at work, my move out of my appartment and also a death in the family. It has now been about 4 month since I have been on my mat.

 

Great timing to read your post, as I am on the eve of sarting back to classes tomorrow at 6pm.

 

My thoughts to share with you are as follows: A strong yoga pratice is not someting that should ever be stoped. Yoga is about acceptence of your self, physical, as well as emotional. The beauty of breath and pose is to facilitate the experience of being as we are, alive, grounded with energy flowing up and outward. We must always be exactly what we are, all the time, we cannot ignore this, it is fact. Even though we are hurt or are damaged, emotionally or even physically, to be / to acccept / to acknowledge ourselves and to come to the mat to celebrate is still not only possible but it makes perfect sence to do.

 

We will all have times in our lives when we are happy, by nature these times will not last, hardtimes, sadness, hurt and suffering will always find a way to creep back into our fun. So let's discount our emotional pain and stay on the mat. Continue to celebrate your nature, be true to your reality, weather we are hurt or happy, celebrate being alive, being human.....breath!

 

As I start back in my pratice, I hope never again to stop. I now better understand what it is to pratice yoga. Even a physical restriction should not hold this celebration back.....there are more than enough modifications to be empoyed.

 

Even if I have to sit in Child's Pose during the whole cass, I dont think I should stop going.

 

Good Luck,

Peace,

J

[Guest guest]

Er, yes, just unroll your mat and stand on it.

 

Some days that's all you'll want to do, and that's fine. Another day,

just do three A', three B's and a shoulder stand. And, hey, your

practice is back!

Good luck.

 

 

ashtanga yoga, "Jennie" <whydoyoga wrote:

>

> Hi

> I am new to this group. I recently returned from my first trip to India

> (loved it) and my house was in ruin. My boyfriend quit his job and

> didn't pay a single bill while I was away. I came home close to summer

> so schedules were limited and money was tight. So I radically went in

> another direction and switched jobs. Now months later I am finally

> coming out of the financial hole, haven't practised in months, and am

> quiting the horrible job I had to take. I am finding myself afraid to

> return to my mat and teaching. Has anybody had a similiar experience?

> How can I motivate myself to reutrn to my practice?

>

[Guest guest]

When especially radical circumstances have kept me from my practice for more

than a couple of days or so, I have actually cried tears of gratitude for

Ashtanga yoga at the end of my first practice "back."

 

So my advice is to just start with Surya Namaskars ... go from there, but do

get back on that mat.

 

I'm also reading with interest the thread regarding injury and the teaching

of Ashtanga in the US ...

 

Does ARI offer any other instruction other than Mysore? I study with Tim

Miller, one of Gurujii's master pupils, here in So. Cal., and his studio

offers a number of "Intro to Ashtanga" type classes where Tim can go into a

little more detail on both the asanas and the spiritual/moral limbs. That's

how his students become proficient so they can feel confident in Mysore

practice, where of course Tim can give personal instruction and further

learning about alignment, etc. takes place. Other excellent Ashtanga studios

here in San Diego offer similar levels of progression in practice.

 

That said, I think Patricia's comments are welcome here on the Ashtanga

board -- despite her more varied Hatha yoga background. I don't agree that

her posting to an Ashtanga board will "confuse" the members here ... she has

clearly laid out the difference between classical Ashtanga methodology and

her own findings and position on the injury matter. I don't necessarily

agree with everything she wrote, but that's not why I'm here, to bolster my

own opinions. I'm here to learn, as a seeker.

 

I differ in that I do think that the Primary series is good for lateral hip

issues ... the standing series alone has opened my hips unbelievably on that

lateral front. But my results may be unique to my own, unique body. As the

saying goes, yoga is experiential. This is so banal sounding, but is one of

the things I contemplate constantly. It's so true ... you can't really even

talk about it.

 

Namaste, and thank you all for continuing to provide much to contemplate, as

well as news from around the world, and much entertainment!

 

Hugs, Tina

www.tinarathbone.com

[Guest guest]

What Belief do you have about yourself, that stops you returning to your mat

and teaching again?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jennie,

 

The hardest part is getting back onto the mat. Just try to remeber why you practiced in the

first place and how it made you feel. I'm going thru a hell job situation right now myself. I

quit one job for the other and now the other place may have changed their minds....all this

after me taking a very expensive holiday thinking I was coming back to a regular

paycheck! But whatever,somehow I know everything will be fine. The one thing that

remains constant is my practice. It keeps me sane! Or at least "saner"! Just take it slowly.

Satrt with 3 A, 3 B, and the last 3 and work from there. You'll be fine - just trust yourself!

 

Yogababe

[Guest guest]

Jeffery: Well said. Namaste'

 

-

Jeffrey Zak

ashtanga yoga

Monday, November 13, 2006 11:19 PM

Re: ashtanga yoga Afraid of my mat

 

 

Hi Jennie,

I have been praticing Astanga and Vinyasa for almost 3 years. During the past three years I have had two long term (2-3 month) breaks where I did not pratice at all. This last break was started by a lower back injury. The back was out of a month and a half, then it was the problems at work, my move out of my appartment and also a death in the family. It has now been about 4 month since I have been on my mat.

 

Great timing to read your post, as I am on the eve of sarting back to classes tomorrow at 6pm.

 

My thoughts to share with you are as follows: A strong yoga pratice is not someting that should ever be stoped. Yoga is about acceptence of your self, physical, as well as emotional. The beauty of breath and pose is to facilitate the experience of being as we are, alive, grounded with energy flowing up and outward. We must always be exactly what we are, all the time, we cannot ignore this, it is fact. Even though we are hurt or are damaged, emotionally or even physically, to be / to acccept / to acknowledge ourselves and to come to the mat to celebrate is still not only possible but it makes perfect sence to do.

 

We will all have times in our lives when we are happy, by nature these times will not last, hardtimes, sadness, hurt and suffering will always find a way to creep back into our fun. So let's discount our emotional pain and stay on the mat. Continue to celebrate your nature, be true to your reality, weather we are hurt or happy, celebrate being alive, being human.....breath!

 

As I start back in my pratice, I hope never again to stop. I now better understand what it is to pratice yoga. Even a physical restriction should not hold this celebration back.....there are more than enough modifications to be empoyed.

 

Even if I have to sit in Child's Pose during the whole cass, I dont think I should stop going.

 

Good Luck,

Peace,

J

[Guest guest]

Thank you, your words are very helpful. Good luck to you too.

J