Category Archives: yoga

Yoga Therapy Training Part 2

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I’m really diggin’ my Foundations of Yoga Therapy training with Gary Kraftsow. It’s just what I was looking for and I’m so happy that I made the choice to take THIS training over the other ones I was looking at. Here are a few reasons why I like this training:

  1. Gary Kraftsow is incredibly knowledgable AND has a great ability to explain his thinking. I’m just in awe of what he has to offer.
  2. I’m learning a whole new way of looking at asana from a therapeutic perspective. I’m learning to see how asanas primarily affect the SPINE and secondarily affect other parts of the body. The focus is on the spine since that’s really the most important part (i.e., you can live without your hamstrings!).
  3. The breath is #1. And I’m learning that it’s not just about coordinating your movement to breath; it’s about focusing your attention to your breath to bring awareness to the movement. I’m learning a whole new way to use breath in asana and it’s SUPER COOL.
  4. Asana practice is not about the asanas. It’s about the practitioner and how the asana can potentially bring a functional benefit to that person. There’s other benefits too but we haven’t gotten to them yet! But for now we are decreasing emphasis on the form and instead focusing on the PERSON. How cool is that?
  5. I’m meeting some really amazing people. It’s a great group and I don’t feel like there is any kind of exclusivity even though many of them have been working with Gary for awhile. Gary doesn’t appear to play favorites and everyone is very warm and welcoming, including the assistants :)
  6. Mount Madonna, our location, rocks!

I’m already really excited to come back here in December!

Yoga Therapy Training

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I’m at a Yoga Therapy training right now with Gary Kraftsow. Yesterday was our first full day and all I can say is WOW!

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Many of the ideas and perspectives I’ve learned from my previous trainings are being confirmed. I feel really good about that. Then on top of that I am learning to see things slightly differently – about asanas and practice and breath and the purpose of yoga.

Last night we had a yoga philosophy discussion that focused mostly on the Vedas. Here are some of the core insights from the Vedas that are generally consistent across the various lineages of yoga:

  1. The true nature of the essence of what we are as human begins: we are both the Seer and the Seen. We get caught up in identifying with the Seen (Prakriti), things like our job/body/spouse/friends/etc. and we forget that we are really Pure Awareness (Purusa).
  2. This fundamental misconception is the root of our suffering (suffering being any source of unhappiness or distress).
  3. Intelligence (from Purusa) can influence the direction of change. For example, if you have back pain you can take steps to heal your back. You not only CAN, but it’s your RESPONSIBILITY to influence the direction of your LIFE.
  4. The role of YOGA is to refine your relationships – with your mind, society, your body, your family, your breath. You are NONE of these things but you are in a relationship with them. (It’s not about the asana!)

I know it’s not the same to read these four key insights vs having a discussion about them and learning about them from a true master like Gary Kraftsow. But perhaps they can be simply “food for thought” for now?

Have a great day :)

How Yoga is Like Dating

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Julia13Often times I see new students get frustrated when they cannot immediately perfect a new yoga pose they are learning. So I often explain that yoga is like dating. Here’s how:

When you first start dating someone, generally you take the time to get to know that person over a series of dates, or encounters if you will. For your first date, you might meet over a cup of coffee or tea. For the second date, you might have lunch together. Then the third date might be a dinner date. As your relationship progresses, you might meet the parents, go on a vacation together, get engaged, and eventually – maybe – get married or commit to one another. Usually you don’t get married on the first date, or even the second or third – you go through a process of getting to know one another and deciding if this is the person for you. And although it’s been known to happen, you don’t have to go all the way on the first date.

So the same can be true when you are learning a new yoga pose. The first time you and the pose “meet,” you might just casually get to know one another over a brief encounter – like having coffee. Then, for the second date you and the pose might spend a little more time together and go a little further – like having lunch. Eventually, and there’s no real solid timetable for this, you might go all the way. Alternatively, you may never go all the way – you might realize that the pose is not for you and decide to not “date” it any longer, or you might decide that all you want from the pose is an ongoing casual relationship (coffee).

So here’s some friendly advice for dating a yoga pose:

  • Only go as far as you are comfortable going – don’t let any one pressure you into “going all the way.”
  • If you really want to date a pose, you need to put some effort into it. Think about what you want out of the “relationship” and be prepared for possible “rejection.”
  • Be realistic about which poses you choose to have a relationship with. On the other hand, you never know until you try!
  • Take time off if it is not going well.
  • Enjoy the process - there’s no hurry to “seal the deal.”

In summary, there are no universal fail-proof tricks or magic for “mastering” a new yoga pose. With some poses you might click immediately, some may take some time, and some just might never really do it for you. Just breathe, take your time, and enjoy the journey!