The Everything Yoga Blog

Whole Body Strain Drain

2010-03-08T18:05:48-05:00

Given that I have studied yoga therapy and work with clients in a therapeutic manner, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I used to reject yoga posture modifications in all forms. My ego was convinced that I didn't need to modify any pose. After all, why modify when you can force your body into a posture (I guess the ego boost you get from getting into a posture soothes some of the pain you get from injuring your body to get into it)?

Perhaps it's wisdom that comes with age -- or with lots of yoga practice -- or it's studying yoga philosophy and learning about ahimsa and how it applies to your yoga practice as well as daily life or perhaps it's simply the understanding that yoga, like life, should feel GOOD. Of course this means shutting down the "if it feels too good that means it's not beneficial because you have to suffer to get to the good stuff" voice. You also have to let go of the attachment to achieving all sorts of fancy yoga postures to prove that you're a serious student (and/or teacher) of yoga. Yep, it's heady stuff.

Some sort of perfect storm of all of these things occurred for me somewhere along the way and I realized that modification is good. This realization led to years of training in the world of therapeutic yoga. Now I'm attached to a different idea -- that asana should be modified to the individual. I tend to get a little soapboxy about this, so I won't expand upon this. Suffice to say, I wanted my body to feel good, not bad, during and after my yoga practice.

Every day I do things that don't make my body feel so good. Whether it's hunching over a desk and working at the computer or lifting heavy items improperly or overdoing it with landscape maintenance. My body has developed habits and compensates for imbalances and weaknesses. Pushing myself in my yoga practice only strengthens these patterns and tightens the knots I've spent years tying. After years of training, I realized that yoga can be used to loosen these knots and change these negative body habits/patterns. Eureka!

Now it's not unusual for me to alter uttanasana by practicing it with one arm (alternating) rather than two when I have neck stiffness. Yes, there's still a little part of me that's screaming "Yoga wussy!" I smile when I hear the taunt from my inner yoga bully, ignore it, and continue with my modified practice. Over time it's gotten me less pain, more flexibility, and less "I can get myself into all sorts of fancy postures" bragging rights. I'll take that trade.

If you're looking to unwind your body's knots, I highly recommend three wonderful resources from one of my favorite yogis, Susi Hately Aldous. With these three resources, you can drain the strain from your entire body:

Remember -- modifications and/or practicing yoga in a way that is different than the push-your-body-type-A-yoga you may be practicing currently isn't a bad thing. It's a healing thing. Your inner yoga bully may scream "You are a yoga wuss!!!" but don't listen.

Movement for the joy of it sometimes gets lost in our yoga practices because we get so caught up in getting a posture right or doing what everyone else in the class is doing. One way I shook loose of the push it mindset was to move joyfully in my yoga practice. I took 10 minutes at the end of my practice to practice my own little brand of free-flow yoga. I followed my body's lead and didn't care so much about how I looked on my mat.

Another way I did it was through dance. I wasn't the little girl who begged her mom to enroll her in dance class. I never dreamed of being a ballerina. What I did enjoy was the freedom of movement when I felt a bit more restricted in my yoga practice. Putting on music and moving was a nice way to get out of the mindset of "I must move this way." The lovely Blisschick wrote a guest post on this very topic that's wonderful and I highly recommend it. Click here to read it on Suburban Yogini's blog.

Now for the yoga public service announcement of the day -- modification and feeling good are good things.

Namaste!

Titans of Yoga

2010-03-04T15:13:40-05:00

Anyone who practices yoga has learned it from someone, a teacher. Sometimes a student stays with this particular teacher, other times he/she moves on. Some students learn from a variety of teachers over a period of years while others prefer to be their own teacher. All students of yoga start somewhere -- with a teacher or a DVD or a book. Even though I've been practicing for a while, I still remember my first few teachers. Although I no longer practice with either, I still have a deep gratitude for both.

I think it's valuable to reflect back on your past experiences with teachers and to express gratitude for all that you've learned from them. A friend of mine likes to say, "unacknowledged good turns to sh$#!" I agree. I currently find myself in a place where I'm stepping away from one teacher and turning more inward to be my own. As I go through this transition, I have the desire to acknowledge where I've been and with whom I've been there with. I am so grateful for the classes, workshops, trainings, and mentoring that I've participated in/received. My yoga practice -- and my life -- wouldn't be what it is today without these opportunities. After years of study, it's time to integrate it all and temporarily put my desire to learn even more on hold for the time being.

What have you learned from your greatest teachers (or perhaps it was a negative experience with a teacher that taught you the most)? Have you expressed gratitude for all of the teachers in your life? Just because there's no Yoga Teacher Day (Note to Hallmark executives -- you should get on that), doesn't mean that you can't give thanks and celebrate the yoga teachers in your life.

The folks over at Yoga Month are asking yoga students everywhere to recognize their yoga titans. What, you ask, is a yoga titan? Yoga Month does a great job with their definition: people of exceptional importance, reputation and achievements in yoga with a substantial influence in society, leading by example and are able to inspire people with their empowering message.

In celebration of yoga titans everywhere, Yoga Month is releasing a forthcoming 75-minute DVD featuring a cast of yoga titans (including the likes of Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Saul David Raye, Larry Payne, Bryan Kest, and Gurmukh Khalsa) who discuss personal anecdotes, offer tools to help your improve your life, and insights into the essence of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Click here to learn more about the Titans of Yoga and to pre-order your copy today.

In addition to learning more about this feature film, you can also vote for your very own yoga titan. When you fill out the survey by selecting three of your top yoga titans, you'll be entered to win a transformational meeting with one of the Greats of Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness, free DVDs and other prizes. Click here to access the survey.

As for my yoga titans -- there are too many to name (some are names you wouldn't recognize because they're not on the "yoga star" circuit). But a few of my favorites are T.K.V. Desikachar and Mark Whitwell. If you'd like to enjoy some wisdom from these two wonderful teachers, you can listen to some audio with each:

T.K.V. Desikachar's opening keynote address from the most recent Colorado Yoga Journal Conference -- Click here for the MP3.
Mark Whitwell's interview on contact talk radio -- click here for the MP3.

And for some feminine yoga titans, check out this wonderful discussion of the power of women in yoga (also recorded from the most recent Colorado Yoga Journal Conference) featuring Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, and Judith Lasater.

Teachers are a precious thing, so let's appreciate them (whether they be big titans or just us regular folk).

Namaste!

Life Imitates Art

2010-02-28T16:06:48-05:00

"Art is a lie that makes us realize truth." --Pablo Picasso

Fellow yogi John Calabria turned me onto an amazing artist and musician (and yogi, of course) -- Aaron Jones. Check out his video below:

What I love about this video (besides the awesome music that accompanies it) is how Aaron challenges us to see something new where there was once something else. To me, this is a central theme of yoga. We practice yoga to clear our mind and see something in a different way -- the way it is rather than something that has been colored by our perceptions, prejudices, memories, past experiences. The transformation is just beautiful to watch.

Aaron offers yoga portraits and accepts commissions, so you can beautify your surroundings with his talent. Click here for more info.

Namaste!

Yoga Therapy: Yoga for Movement Disorders

2010-02-24T11:53:08-05:00

"If you've been hesitant to try yoga because of physical limitations or other medical restrictions, smile, relax, and start with where you are. That's all you'll need." -- Excerpted from LIM (Less is More) Yoga

If I had to choose one thing that saddens me about yoga is how so many people shy away from the practice because they feel they don't fit into the "yoga mold" -- they feel too old, too inflexible, too limited, too unfit, too unlike the cover model on this month's yoga magazine, etc. to even try yoga. The truth is -- yoga is for everyone and more and more often today people are seeing the therapeutic value of yoga.

Luckily, more and more resources are surfacing to dispel the myth that there is a yoga mold and reinforcing the fact that yoga can (and should) be adapted to the individual rather than vice versa. Just recently, I came across an excellent book that offers an ease-into-it approach to yoga for anyone suffering from movement disorders, Parkinson's Disease, MS, stroke, TBI recovery or anyone else who has physical limitations due to medical restrictions. The book, Yoga for Movement Disorders: Rebuilding Strength, Balance, and Flexibility for Parkinson's Disease and Dystonia, is a fabulous resource for anyone who needs to adapt yoga to his/her own level of functioning and need.

The author, Renee LeVerrier, comes from a place of experience, as she is a stroke survivor and yogi living with Parkinson's Disease. Renee offers up her personal story and offers up her insight throughout the book in the form of short vignettes from her life and sound bite tips (these Try This tips are peppered throughout the book) to enhance your life with unique practices.

This fabulous book offers up clear direction and includes fabulous color photos. And because the book is spiral bound, it's easy to practice yoga while using it as a guide. The first part of the book includes an introduction to yoga along with warm-ups. The second part of the book includes a practice for each day of the week. Included in each weekly practice are tips for how to apply yoga and meditation to one's daily life.

Here's a video preview of this one-of-a-kind book:

I can't recommend this brilliant, illustrated text enough. If you or anyone you know (or for teachers working with anyone dealing with neurological disorders) is living with a neurological disorder, this book is a must have. I also suggest checking out Renee's Web site, LIM Yoga, as it offers up a variety of useful resources.

And for those of you in the NY area who want to explore the therapeutic uses of yoga, the Yoga for Health Conference is coming to Pure Yoga in NYC on March 6th. Topic include grief relief, joint health, pain management, and application of yoga therapy. Click here to see the schedule for this day-long event. To keep things affordable, you can pay per session or purchase a pass for the entire day.

Namaste!

The One-Limbed Monster -- Asana is King

2010-02-20T17:23:13-05:00

When you think of yoga, what's the first thing that comes to mind? I'll bet it's asana (I don't think I've ever seen a cover model for Yoga Journal in a meditative position rather than some beautifully executed yoga posture). For the first few years of my practice, asana was the only thing on my mind. I didn't understand that yoga is an 8-limbed path. Instead, I was operating with one limb. And, as can be expected when one is only using a fraction of her capacity, the benefits of my practice were limited.

My current practice isn't nearly as asana-heavy as it used to be. Now I use asana as it was originally intended -- as a precursor to pranayama and meditation. When I give clients practices -- unless they specifically ask for more asana -- I tend to go with 1/2 asana, 1/4 pranayama, and 1/4 meditation.

Gasp! A yoga teacher only practicing a little asana? Shocking, eh? I love asana, I do. And some days I desire to do more of it than others. Yet over the years, I've found that less asana is like riding a bike without training wheels, whereas a practice whose majority is asana is like riding a bike with training wheels. I'm not judging all of you asana-lovers out there -- I'm just saying this is what's true for me.

Here is an interesting article on the topic of yoga asana, and the huge industry that it's become.

And shocking as it may sound (HA -- this is major tongue in cheek time), Steamy Politician -- uh, I mean Yogi -- Bikram Choudhury is gunning to add yoga to the Olympic line-up.

Do we shortchange our yoga practice when we pack it full of asana, ignoring the other limbs of yoga? I'll say this -- the majority of clients I work with report more benefits from the slower, more meditative practices (which prominently feature pranayama and a little meditation in them) than they do from the acrobatic asana they were practicing prior to us working together.

Don't take my word for it -- try it for yourself. Do you feel more of a benefit from being able to execute a perfect Crow pose or do you find your mind calmer after a little pranayama and meditation?

If you believe the path to a calmer, less reactive mind is paved with Sun Salutations, that's just fine. Just ask yourself -- what would happen if I followed the 1/2 (asana), 1/4 (pranayama), 1/4 (meditation) rule? You're not deep-sixing asana altogether -- you're just not making it your entire focus.

I know people (and have been this person myself) who have spent years injuring themselves with heavy duty asana practices only to come to a more half and half practice (1/2 asana and 1/2 pranayama and meditation) after some years. While this mix of asana, pranayama, and meditation does wonders for their mind, emotions, and personality, they still can't seem to stick with it and go running back to their mat screaming things like "I'm losing my yoga skills/mojo," "my flexibility is in the toilet," and "I'm feeling weaker."

All this talk about enlightenment, yet we continue to put a premium on asana, often taking pride in the fact that we can execute a perfect Headstand. Interesting, eh?

Just a little something to think about...

Namaste!