So: asana is a preparation for meditation?

[Guest guest]

So: asana is a preparation for meditation (as Patanjali says)?

 

In which case, why do so few teachers offer it?

 

It's all very well for dynamic styles to claim they are a 'moving meditation'.

Odd, however: after five years of Buddhist practice, none of the meditations I

have done have involved listening to someone talk for ninety minutes. Indeed, it

kind of defeats the object.

 

Isn't it about time that Western-oriented styles admit that they are asana, not

yoga? The odd bit of chanting, or meditation at the end of the class hardly

justifies a place on the 'EIGHT limbed path'

 

The Economist's recently did a biography of Pattabi Jois (yeah!). The summary

paragraph posed the question: why did he not practice? The answer: because he'd

gone BEYOND asana. Into meditation, duh.

 

In which case why is this emphasis not represented in western teaching?

[Guest guest]

I have found that the asanas helped me with meditation, especially in the

area of becoming fit to sit still for a time. I usually finish up my morning

routine with a half hour of sitting. Of course, I forgot to ask any

authority for permission to do so....

 

Perhaps the teaching reflects the students? I do not teach yoga (yet!), but

I have taught meditation and mindfulness to patients. Maybe if the student

asks, the topic will become represented....

 

D

 

On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 7:26 PM, w_cottrell <w_cottrell wrote:

 

So: asana is a preparation for meditation (as Patanjali says)?

 

In which case, why do so few teachers offer it?

 

It's all very well for dynamic styles to claim they are a 'moving

meditation'. Odd, however: after five years of Buddhist practice, none of

the meditations I have done have involved listening to someone talk for

ninety minutes. Indeed, it kind of defeats the object.

 

Isn't it about time that Western-oriented styles admit that they are asana,

not yoga? The odd bit of chanting, or meditation at the end of the class

hardly justifies a place on the 'EIGHT limbed path'

 

The Economist's recently did a biography of Pattabi Jois (yeah!). The

summary paragraph posed the question: why did he not practice? The answer:

because he'd gone BEYOND asana. Into meditation, duh.

 

In which case why is this emphasis not represented in western teaching?

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I agree with your comments re 90 minutes of listening to someone.

One of the reasons I view led classes as practicing asana, not practicing

yoga.

 

Mysore style -- the way ashtanga was traditionally taught was not led.

Basically 90 minutes of listening to your breathing (sound familiar) with

occasional adjustments.

 

 

 

On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 4:26 PM, w_cottrell <w_cottrell wrote:

 

>

>

> So: asana is a preparation for meditation (as Patanjali says)?

>

> In which case, why do so few teachers offer it?

>

> It's all very well for dynamic styles to claim they are a 'moving

> meditation'. Odd, however: after five years of Buddhist practice, none of

> the meditations I have done have involved listening to someone talk for

> ninety minutes. Indeed, it kind of defeats the object.

>

> Isn't it about time that Western-oriented styles admit that they are asana,

> not yoga? The odd bit of chanting, or meditation at the end of the class

> hardly justifies a place on the 'EIGHT limbed path'

>

> The Economist's recently did a biography of Pattabi Jois (yeah!). The

> summary paragraph posed the question: why did he not practice? The answer:

> because he'd gone BEYOND asana. Into meditation, duh.

>

> In which case why is this emphasis not represented in western teaching?

>

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hello, 

Has a beginner ever tried sitting in padmasana (lotus) and staying still in that

position and meditating for even 10 min? They would be in excruciating pain

unless perhaps they were Indian and had been sitting on the floor for most of

their lives crossed legged or squatting to use the bathroom. In Patanjalis yoga

sutras " asana " means " a comfortable seat " and yes does imply that the asanas

prepare one to sit. However if you read some of the other great yoga texts like

the Hatha Yoga Pradipaka they place more emphasis on asana as a means to

meditate. Actually holding the postures and finding stillness and awareness in

them. Other schools like ayurveda or viniyoga use asana as therapy for a variety

of physical and psychological ailments. There are many purposes and benefits for

asana. They don't just prepare one physically to be able to sit for meditation.

They also calm and cleanse the nervous system, help to regulate the breath, calm

the mind etc. teach

us patience and body awareness etc etc etc

For the beginner, I would not suggest padmasana. Tadasana certainly is good and

savasana to finish the practice but for preparing the legs to sit, Dandasana

(rod pose) is also good and Janu Sirsasana and its variations as well as squat

to build flexibility in the ankles and supta padangustasana to open the

hamstrings. An easy surya namaskara version (there are many) are perfect to warm

the body and start the day when practiced with the breath. If the beginner did

want to sit to meditate I would suggest any sitting position which is

comfortable for them, even a chair or using a wall to keep the spine straight or

kneeling. Using folded blankets under the sit bones helps raise and keep the

spine straight which is more important than being able to cross the legs. 

NamasteH

--- On Tue, 7/7/09, w_cottrell <w_cottrell wrote:

 

w_cottrell <w_cottrell

ashtanga yoga So: asana is a preparation for meditation?

ashtangayoga

Received: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 9:26 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So: asana is a preparation for meditation (as Patanjali says)?

 

 

 

In which case, why do so few teachers offer it?

 

 

 

It's all very well for dynamic styles to claim they are a 'moving meditation'.

Odd, however: after five years of Buddhist practice, none of the meditations I

have done have involved listening to someone talk for ninety minutes. Indeed, it

kind of defeats the object.

 

 

 

Isn't it about time that Western-oriented styles admit that they are asana, not

yoga? The odd bit of chanting, or meditation at the end of the class hardly

justifies a place on the 'EIGHT limbed path'

 

 

 

The Economist's recently did a biography of Pattabi Jois (yeah!). The summary

paragraph posed the question: why did he not practice? The answer: because he'd

gone BEYOND asana. Into meditation, duh.

 

 

 

In which case why is this emphasis not represented in western teaching?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

Yes, I have also read in a yoga philosophy book, that in the original

yoga, the asanas we there to

prepare your body (back/legs/etc) to sit in meditation posture.

I believe a lot of people in the west do yoga (or I should just say

asanas) for the

health/slim body benefits instead of spiritual benefits. There is a major

push

for " healthy " living these days in the western culture. One example is the

grocery store. Pretty much every single food has some sort of label on it,

with " 20% less fat " , " 15% more fiber " , etc etc. (Too bad they wont tell you

its

genetically modified but thats a different story).

Im curious to see what do people think about this also.

 

Mike