Guest guest Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 hello all- so I have two somewhat silly questions.. first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad form... also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the source... thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 hi two good questions. first the water, different teachers will tell you different things. first when you practice asana you are trying to build up heat, creating what is called " an internal fire " , (tapas), the idea here is drinking water would put the fire out. and yes it does disrupt focus etc. drink plenty of water before and after practice... second, cramps are quite common when developing a yoga practice, you are changing so many inner body parts it seems logical. apparently cramps are due to lack of magnesium in the body. try eating bannanas or making sure you have a daily vitamin routine that includes magnesium. good luck gayle - kll876 ashtangayoga Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:07 PM ashtanga yoga drinking water in class and foot cramps hello all- so I have two somewhat silly questions.. first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad form... also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the source... thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 If you must drink water; it is best to take a sip or two before or after your pratice. It is definately best not to drink while your practice. You are working hard to produce " fire " is what I call it during your practice and don't want to put that out.. ashtangayoga , " kll876 " <kspst wrote: > > hello all- > so I have two somewhat silly questions.. > first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of > concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad > form... > also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita > Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the > source... > thank you. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 and Potassium....Eat Potassium rich foods, like bananas. When I use to run marathons, I would even take potssium tablets on a regular basis so that I would not have foot cramps, and the cramps went away. NEVER DRINK WATER DURING PRACTICE for the reason Gayle said below, unless you are on medication that makes you thirsty. In that case, tell the teacher and only swish the water in your mouth swallowing very little...OM, Mary " gayle@pagespringscellars " <gayle wrote: hi two good questions. first the water, different teachers will tell you different things. first when you practice asana you are trying to build up heat, creating what is called " an internal fire " , (tapas), the idea here is drinking water would put the fire out. and yes it does disrupt focus etc. drink plenty of water before and after practice... second, cramps are quite common when developing a yoga practice, you are changing so many inner body parts it seems logical. apparently cramps are due to lack of magnesium in the body. try eating bannanas or making sure you have a daily vitamin routine that includes magnesium. good luck gayle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 ashtangayoga , " gayle " <gayle wrote: > good advice one thing extra, elevate your toes only in parsaritta, it will distribute your weight correctly and elminate the cramping... > hi > two good questions. first the water, different teachers will tell you different things. first when you practice asana you are trying to build up heat, creating what is called " an internal fire " , (tapas), the idea here is drinking water would put the fire out. and yes it does disrupt focus etc. drink plenty of water before and after practice... > second, cramps are quite common when developing a yoga practice, you are changing so many inner body parts it seems logical. apparently cramps are due to lack of magnesium in the body. try eating bannanas or making sure you have a daily vitamin routine that includes magnesium. > good luck > gayle > > - > kll876 > ashtangayoga > Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:07 PM > ashtanga yoga drinking water in class and foot cramps > > > hello all- > so I have two somewhat silly questions.. > first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of > concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad > form... > also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita > Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the > source... > thank you. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Water ? No, unless absolute need for it due to special circumstances as it subside the heat that one is trying to create during practise. Then take a sip, no more or as accordingly advised by the teacher. Furthermore, it may caused injury. Cramps, may be lack of potassium, insufficient / inadequate warm ups, imbalances of body which is trying to adjust or simply tiredness of the body/leg (then, have a few days rest). Try doing asanas on a relaxing day and with proper warm ups (like when sweaty), then do the asana that give you proble to see what happens. Best wishes, Jason Jason ______________________________\ ____ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 My teachers told me that drinking during class was just a distraction from the real reason that we are in yoga class, become one with ourselves/God. All of my teachers advised us to stay hydrated before class then we can focus on yoga during class. Eating citrus fruit, bananas, drinking emergen-c have all helped my stay hydrated during class and I usually do bikram/hot yoga Devon ashtangayoga , " kll876 " <kspst wrote: > > hello all- > so I have two somewhat silly questions.. > first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of > concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad > form... > also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita > Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the > source... > thank you. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Yes, drinking will distract one attention as we should be in meditative state whilst carrying out asanas. Bikram and Ashtanga are two different systems but with similar objective. In Birkam hot yoga, one has to stay hydrated as advised by the founder himself due to the intense external heat reaching 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit. Whereas in Ashtanga, one is trying create heat within to purify the system using ujjayi breathing technique. Jason ______________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Bikram system is not correct as the atmosphere necessarily has to be comfortable to follow YOGA (any system. The Founder of Bikram system does not know the basic philosophy of yoga. He is out there just to fool people who are unaware of this ancient wonderful system. --- jason khoo <jasonkhoobj wrote: > Yes, drinking will distract one attention as we > should > be in meditative state whilst carrying out asanas. > > Bikram and Ashtanga are two different systems but > with > similar objective. In Birkam hot yoga, one has to > stay > hydrated as advised by the founder himself due to > the > intense external heat reaching 100-110 degrees > Fahrenheit. Whereas in Ashtanga, one is trying > create > heat within to purify the system using ujjayi > breathing technique. > > > Jason > > > > ______________________________\ ____ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ______________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 i have much compassion for the person who wrote this email. it's very contradictory. to me, it doesn't matter what reason people use to begin to seek yoga or how they practice. that is the fundamental practice of yoga. budhha was not looking for a religion, he was looking for a way to evolve as a human being. i don't think budhha would say you can't be an enlightened individual because you are not able to sit in lotus or under a specific tree. the point of yoga is not how we arrive to evolve, it's that we're trying. good luck, gayle - tapan patnaik ashtangayoga Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:22 PM Re: ashtanga yoga Re: drinking water in class and foot cramps Bikram system is not correct as the atmosphere necessarily has to be comfortable to follow YOGA (any system. The Founder of Bikram system does not know the basic philosophy of yoga. He is out there just to fool people who are unaware of this ancient wonderful system. --- jason khoo <jasonkhoobj wrote: > Yes, drinking will distract one attention as we > should > be in meditative state whilst carrying out asanas. > > Bikram and Ashtanga are two different systems but > with > similar objective. In Birkam hot yoga, one has to > stay > hydrated as advised by the founder himself due to > the > intense external heat reaching 100-110 degrees > Fahrenheit. Whereas in Ashtanga, one is trying > create > heat within to purify the system using ujjayi > breathing technique. > > > Jason > > > > ________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ________ Never miss a thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 hi gayle i agree. all yoga is good, even the one done in a gym surrounded by house music and the pounding of weights to the floor. lord knows, many of us started our yoga journey in all kinds of rooms. for some people, bikrams works, and that is a positive thing. cheers, arturo --- Re: drinking water in class and foot cramps Posted by: " gayle@pagespringscellars " gayle gaylediehl Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:43 pm (PST) i have much compassion for the person who wrote this email. it's very contradictory. to me, it doesn't matter what reason people use to begin to seek yoga or how they practice. that is the fundamental practice of yoga. budhha was not looking for a religion, he was looking for a way to evolve as a human being. i don't think budhha would say you can't be an enlightened individual because you are not able to sit in lotus or under a specific tree. the point of yoga is not how we arrive to evolve, it's that we're trying. good luck, gayle - tapan patnaik ashtangayoga Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:22 PM Re: ashtanga yoga Re: drinking water in class and foot cramps Bikram system is not correct as the atmosphere necessarily has to be comfortable to follow YOGA (any system. The Founder of Bikram system does not know the basic philosophy of yoga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Tapan, First of all isn't this thread about drinking water during class and how water will effect an individual's practice??? I wrote about my experience in my practice to contribute to the question of foot cramps. I have definitely been touched by Bikram yoga and have experienced his routine as the most effective for me and others close to me. I'm not saying that his is the best for everyone, but for many it is. Also, where in the ancient yoga scripts does it say that the atmosphere must be comfortable? What is comfortable defined as anyway? I agree that yoga is a wonderful system, but seeing that yoga was created in India which is a hot place, why is do you say that Bikram doesn't follow the basic philosophy of yoga? Today the BBC reported that in Mumbai the temperature was 40C/104F, the temperature of a Bikram yoga class. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0144 On what premise do you say that Bikram is out to fool people? He has made a huge difference in many people's lives. ashtangayoga , tapan patnaik <patnaikt wrote: > > Bikram system is not correct as the atmosphere > necessarily has to be comfortable to follow YOGA (any > system. The Founder of Bikram system does not know the > basic philosophy of yoga. He is out there just to fool > people who are unaware of this ancient wonderful > system. > --- jason khoo <jasonkhoobj wrote: > > > Yes, drinking will distract one attention as we > > should > > be in meditative state whilst carrying out asanas. > > > > Bikram and Ashtanga are two different systems but > > with > > similar objective. In Birkam hot yoga, one has to > > stay > > hydrated as advised by the founder himself due to > > the > > intense external heat reaching 100-110 degrees > > Fahrenheit. Whereas in Ashtanga, one is trying > > create > > heat within to purify the system using ujjayi > > breathing technique. > > > > > > Jason > > > > > > > > > ______________________________\ ____ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > > > http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________\ ____ > Never miss a thing. Make your home page. > http://www./r/hs > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Tapan, May I suggest that for your reference of the understanding of Yoga please refer to these to good books like The Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, Autobiography of Yogananda (older brother of Bishnu Gnosh who taught Bikram asanas and also helped him to return to health) The Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar, Yoga Mala by Sri K Patthabhi Jois, Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, Yoga Explained by Mira Mehta and Krishna S Arjunwadkar, A deeper Dimension of Yoga by Georg Feurstein and if you would like to go further in Sankrit you may refer to literature decipher by Krishna S Arjuwadkar (an award winning professor in Sanskrit and also former member of the Sanskrit Commission). Bikram may have tried to patent asanas some years ago but it was overuled by the court. Do you know that his wonderful system is now being research by NASA for the usage of their astronauts ? Of course, this system may not suit everyone but to those who benefited from it hava been certainly very helpful. May I also suggest that seeking a teacher with enough sadhana to ensure understanding of yoga. Nameste, Jason Jason ______________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 ashtangayoga , " kll876 " <kspst wrote: > > hello all- > so I have two somewhat silly questions.. > first, is it ok to drink water during class, or is that a disruption of > concentration and focus? I sometimes feel that that is almost bad > form... > also, any ideas to relieve foot cramps during the Prasarita > Padottanasana series? They've come on recently and I'm not sure of the > source... > thank you. > In Prasarita Padottanasana it is very important to press through all four corners of the feet. If the outer edges of the feet are not pressed down you will feel pain in the inner foot while you are doing the posture. Give it a try and you will see the difference. Om. Peace, Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 Hi all What about all the people who do ashtanga en hot places? For example summer in the tropics can reach temperatures between 40 44 degrees. I think the idea of being comfortable is a strange western obsession which naturally goes out of the window if you pursue anything in profundity whether it is an intellectual, spiritual or physical quest or all of these things combined. Like the idea that it is abnormal to feel pain (reach for the aspirin quick!) which is taken to such lengths that in Rio de Janeiro, where most of the population can claim some African or indigenous descent, natural childbirth is a rarity. Why feel pain if you can take an anaesthetic & have surgery? The idea of drinking water in the middle of a yoga sequence is reminiscent of kids in school desperate for some excuse to get out of the class. Surely it's not so hard to concentrate that long? Vik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 " that in Rio de Janeiro, where most of the population can claim some African or indigenous descent, natural childbirth is a rarity. " What??????? Victoria Birkbeck <vik ashtangayoga Friday, February 29, 2008 6:51:31 PM Re: ashtanga yoga Re: drinking water in class and foot cramps Hi all What about all the people who do ashtanga en hot places? For example summer in the tropics can reach temperatures between 40 44 degrees. I think the idea of being comfortable is a strange western obsession which naturally goes out of the window if you pursue anything in profundity whether it is an intellectual, spiritual or physical quest or all of these things combined. Like the idea that it is abnormal to feel pain (reach for the aspirin quick!) which is taken to such lengths that in Rio de Janeiro, where most of the population can claim some African or indigenous descent, natural childbirth is a rarity. Why feel pain if you can take an anaesthetic & have surgery? The idea of drinking water in the middle of a yoga sequence is reminiscent of kids in school desperate for some excuse to get out of the class. Surely it's not so hard to concentrate that long? Vik ______________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 I have asked my teacher and she told me that when you drink, you lose your focus during some time, but its better to drink if you really need to. I think accepting pain is a kind of self-violence (ahisma) when you can avoid it. Acceptance is good when you cannot avoid the pain, but when you can, I think it becomes stupid not to stop it (just my opinion) I prefer drinking rather than feeling bad, an excessive thirst makes me lose my focus anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2008 Report Share Posted March 1, 2008 I can't understand how is it possible to drink during yoga practice? Water in stomach dramatically reduces your ability to perform poses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Wow- I never thought my simple question would spark such intense and far-flung debate. In any case, thanks for the input- while I wasn't looking for a pass to drink water so as to avoid class, nor was I drinking enough to fill my stomach and therefore not be able to perform- I think I received my answer. I also got a few laughs as well... I appreciate all who chimed in. --- Bacon Leg <katerinebrasil wrote: > " that in Rio de Janeiro, where most of > the population can claim some African or indigenous > descent, natural > childbirth is a rarity. " > > > What??????? > > Victoria Birkbeck <vik > ashtangayoga > Friday, February 29, 2008 6:51:31 PM > Re: ashtanga yoga Re: drinking water in > class and foot cramps > > Hi all > > What about all the people who do ashtanga en hot > places? For example summer > in the tropics can reach temperatures between 40 > 44 degrees. I think the > idea of being comfortable is a strange western > obsession which naturally > goes out of the window if you pursue anything in > profundity whether it is an > intellectual, spiritual or physical quest or all of > these things combined. > Like the idea that it is abnormal to feel pain > (reach for the aspirin > quick!) which is taken to such lengths that in Rio > de Janeiro, where most of > the population can claim some African or indigenous > descent, natural > childbirth is a rarity. Why feel pain if you can > take an anaesthetic & have > surgery? The idea of drinking water in the middle of > a yoga sequence is > reminiscent of kids in school desperate for some > excuse to get out of the > class. Surely it's not so hard to concentrate that > long? > > Vik > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________\ ____ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > ______________________________\ ____ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 your body is designed to tell you that you are dehydrated...one symptom is feeling thrisy, by the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated...if you are feeling thirsty during the two hour yoga class you have already been harming yourself. - Barbara Aubert ashtangayoga Saturday, March 01, 2008 1:46 AM Re: ashtanga yoga Re: drinking water in class and foot cramps I have asked my teacher and she told me that when you drink, you lose your focus during some time, but its better to drink if you really need to. I think accepting pain is a kind of self-violence (ahisma) when you can avoid it. Acceptance is good when you cannot avoid the pain, but when you can, I think it becomes stupid not to stop it (just my opinion) I prefer drinking rather than feeling bad, an excessive thirst makes me lose my focus anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 i agree how interesting how many folks participated in answering such a simple question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 ashtangayoga , keri spiliopoulos <kspst wrote: > > Wow- I never thought my simple question would spark > such intense and far-flung debate. > In any case, thanks for the input- while I wasn't > looking for a pass to drink water so as to avoid > class, nor was I drinking enough to fill my stomach > and therefore not be able to perform- I think I > received my answer. > I also got a few laughs as well... > I appreciate all who chimed in. I agree there has been widely varied views on drinking water in class on this site--however there is no difference of opinion among Ashtanga practioners who follow the teaching of our teacher in Mysore (Pattabi Jois). I know of no one who has studied under the guru or his authorized teachers who would recommend drinking water during practice.......ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Ok Ok ... It was a bit far removed. It was just that the questions made me think of other things. To me the fact that childbirth has become a medical problem to be resolved by surgery is symbolic of how we are all increasingly removed from a natural existence. Maybe the whole idea of a natural existence is just another illusion. Last year I saw two young women discussing the best age for corrective breast surgery in the bathroom of a yoga centre. Maybe I'm just trying to swim against the tide. I do also agree that accepting avoidable pain is a form of self-violence. The problem as I see it is that mostly we are conditioned into believing that there is an instant solution to every problem. Pain can also be part of a learning process. Most of the people I know who practice ashtanga experience pain. I don't know anyone whose body magically glides into more & more intricate poses. Maybe if you start practicing at the age of eight and live in a house with no chairs? So do you just stop when it hurts or do you try & go a little bit further each time? Do you say, yes, I have that possibility somewhere in the depths of my being, or do you say, this where I stop? Probably none of this has anything to do with drinking water & foot cramps. Or maybe it's all related. With foot cramps it often helps if you just relax & flex the foot for a moment & then go back to the pose. Om shanti! Vik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Interesting indeed, lol. This demonstrates individual perceptions of the subject matter over a short period of time, let alone how yoga has evolved or translated over the years from one individual to another. Whatever one perceives, every individual takes its own unique path to achieve the state of yoga no matter what path or tradition one may practise. Jason ______________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make your home page. http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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