Yoga everyday?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Last week I had my first yoga class. It lasted an hour and a half and was quite interesting in that i do like it. However, I felt unsure as to what exactly I was doing. I took what is called Class 1. The Beginners class doesn’t meet till next month. I didn’t necessarily find the poses difficult other than it was obvious that I’m not that limber. So…until I can afford a book with pictures I’m only meeting yoga class once a week. I also need to learn all about the breathing. I’m not all that excited to try and learn from a book as I do better with a class setting. I think the Class 1 might be moving just a bit fast for me but will know more tomorrow night for my second class.

One of the things i’d like to know is, is the practive of doing yoga poses a daily thing or every other day or once a week? I think I’d probably feel better if I did it at least every other day, no?

Thanks!
Andy

#2

Hello,
I think, it depends on what you want to get out of yoga.

For me, the asanas are beneficial for sitting and relaxation and that the study and application of the mudras have been beneficial to me, even at work.

Yes, to me, it’s a daily thing and more.

#3

[QUOTE=Kaos;5804]Hello,
I think, it depends on what you want to get out of yoga.

For me, the asanas are beneficial for sitting and relaxation and that the study and application of the mudras have been beneficial to me, even at work.

Yes, to me, it’s a daily thing and more.[/QUOTE]

I want to bring a little more calmness/serenity into my daily life. I have the time to devote an hour in the mornings. I thinking that by becoming a little more calm and relaxed throughout the day I might worry less and just take things as they are. I’ve also been reading a little on Buddhism and am finding some of the information very helpful.

thanks for the reply!

andy

#4

There are two perspectives from which to answer your question Andy.
The first is looking at boimechanics, movement, and the physical effects.

The second is a much larger perspective about the joys of Asana and how it fits into a larger scheme of life for us as practitioners.

Within the scope of each of these lenes it is fine to practice everyday. In the second perspective one develops such a strong sense of joy from asana that it is actually something one looks forward to rather than plans, schedules, or tallies.

Now depending on what sort of asana practice you are doing, it is fine to do it everyday. It is also fine to do it at any other frequency until you develop the joy that moves you to practice every day.

#5

Hello Andy It is rigth as much as you pratice as much you will realise the joy of practising Yoga. Allthough it is not a question of schedule, I often recomend to my students to make an inner commitment for the first four weeks to practise daily or every second day, depending on the time they have. In this time there shouldnt be any excuse for not practising. Usualy after this weeks people start realising all the benefits from yoga practise on all levels, like getting rid of bodyly tensions as well as to be more calm, silent and happy. Than it happens that something is lacking if we don?t practise. For example we dont feel comfortable going to bed without having our tooth brushed. You don?t think about it, you just do it. Than no schedule for pratise is needed anymore. Hari Om Lars Patanjali Yoga Schule M?nster

#6

i am also trying to practice every day, i am finding it difficult because i am not strong enough yet, but i know it will eventually come. i found it helpful to keep a journal so i could look back on my progress and how often i practiced so that i could look forward knowing the obstacles that might present themselves. i’m finding that two days in a row is fine, three days also works, but then i find myself needing a break or i am just tired. so rather than beating myself up about not practicing, i note it in the journal and provide a reason why i didn’t practice. i’m now finding that on days i rest i sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and want to practice (usually to work out a physical kink or to calm my mind)- so i consider that also progression, that my practice is becoming integral over time. it was an important step for me to realize that the body and mind will sometimes resist.

keep it up when and where you can, you may find more opportunities than you think.

#7

Sara (or Sarah),

It is only a matter of strength based on the practice you have selected, not based on Yoga inherently. There are may ways to “practice” asana (and that’s what I am talking about even though asana is not yoga but yoga has asana within it).

Your practice should empower and enliven not exhaust and belabor you.
It is true you will develop some things in the physical realm (body) and that will include muscular strength.

I suspect your situation or experience is similar for many who are doing rigorous practice. Are you practicing in a style that is rigorous? If that is the case it is, of course fine, but there are other ways to practice and you may find a simple opening sequence of Virasana, Baddha Konasana, Dandasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Viparita Karani, and Savasana as a wonderul set of asanas to do on those days where you feel less “strong”.

You are quite right though. Part of the path is the examiniation of how you treat yourself and there should be no “beating” yourself up at all in yoga, especially over the topic of “did I practice today”.

[QUOTE=sarahy;5810]i am also trying to practice every day, i am finding it difficult because i am not strong enough yet, but i know it will eventually come. i found it helpful to keep a journal so i could look back on my progress and how often i practiced so that i could look forward knowing the obstacles that might present themselves. i’m finding that two days in a row is fine, three days also works, but then i find myself needing a break or i am just tired. so rather than beating myself up about not practicing, i note it in the journal and provide a reason why i didn’t practice. i’m now finding that on days i rest i sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and want to practice (usually to work out a physical kink or to calm my mind)- so i consider that also progression, that my practice is becoming integral over time. it was an important step for me to realize that the body and mind will sometimes resist.

keep it up when and where you can, you may find more opportunities than you think.[/QUOTE]

#8

Hey Sara

If you don?t feel like practising everyday don`t blame yourself.
But if you feel tired or whatever there gentle exercises or asanas to do and if that doesn?t fit in your mood you can always try to do Yoga Nidra to relax and become quite without any effort.
All the best
Lars
Patanjali Yoga Schule M?nster

#9

certainly let the body rest when it feels fatigued. we should be mindful of the letting the ego to dominate the practice. just because you haven’t worked up a sweat doesn’t mean that you haven’t achieved ‘yoga’ in your day.

let this time of the full moon to rest your body…

[B]Moon Days[/B]

Moon Days are the days each month on which you “take rest” from your regular Yoga practice. With traditional Ashtanga Yoga, no practice is done on full, or new moon days. Sunrise begins each day. If the new moon is 1.07 pm on the 24, the moon day would be the 23rd. This is how Patthabi Jois works out the Moon days (days he doesn’t teach).

From an astrological point of view, it makes sense to look at the time of the exact moon phase and not practice if it is within less than 24 hours of your normal practice time. This is how one of my teacher’s, BKS Iyengar (from Mysore, India) works out the days. Using his interpretation, your moon day would be on the 23rd if you normally practice in the evening. The 24th if you practice in the morning.

The following are based on Universal Times. If you wish, you may convert this to Standard Time in your specific area by using the World Time Zone map.
[B]Date[/B]
[B]Time (GMT, add 1 hours for BST)[/B]
[B]Moon Phase[/B]
2nd January8.24 pmNew
18th January 10.49 amFull
1st February10.48 amNew
16th February11.52 pmFull
3rd March2.36 amNew
18th March10.36 amFull
1st April7.20 pmNew
16th April7.37 pmFull
1st May12.16 pmNew16th May3.57 amFull31st May4.21 amNew14th June11.17 amFull29th June6.40 pmNew13th July7.22 pmFull29th July6.54 amNew12th August4.49 amFull27th August5.27 pmNew10th September4.37 pmFull26th September3.10 amNew10th October7.29 amFull25th October12.51 pmNew9th November1.14 amFull23rd November11.00 pmNew8th December8.36 pm-Full23rd December9.44 amNew

accessed from Yoga Bound Moon Days.

#10

hi all,

yes i am focusing on asanas ([U]y[/U]oga) not [U]Y[/U]oga, because i don’t have a regular teacher and asanas are something i have been instructed on in the past and feel comfortable doing by myself. i also have a chair-bound work life and i am primarily seeking to regain the flexibility i used to have. the positive side effect is i am getting stronger- and i am positively egotistical about it because it’s FANTASTIC! previously asanas were easy for me because i am flexible. now many new asanas have opened up to me because i am gaining strength and control! so i’m seeing a side of [U]y[/U]oga that i hadn’t in my past, even when i had a regular teacher.

however, a few months ago i felt my practice was lacking and so now, prior to each practice, i also read two sutras (i’m going in order) and i incorporate them into my practice by trying to memorize them and think about them as i am practicing. so now i know that when my mind wanders i am experiencing ‘imagination’ or ‘memory’ and also that the results of my practice are directly related to the faith and effort i put into it. and that with correct action i can achieve and maintain my practice. so this has greatly expanded my [U]y[/U]oga and I am now starting to understand… this is not even to mention the complete change in my diet and outlook (and inlook) on life.

so i guess…i am offering encouragement (for myself as well) that [I]intention[/I] for daily practice is a foundation from which other things will come.

on a side note- yes, i’m practicing ashtanga primary sequence, which i think may be considered vigorous? i finish my practice feeling good, but there are days when i look forward to practice i think, ‘can i really get through the whole thing today?’ and as i’m not sure where to cut corners and i have an all or nothing personality (which is slowly changing too ;)) i do sometimes feel tired…but i know enough now to realize it’s probably all in my mind.

#11

It is always nice to hear about other people’s practice.
I am glad to hear asana made you stronger, Sarahy. My problem is that while I have a very good muscle tone due to former weight training and running, flexibility of the legs is low. My hamstrings are like steel strings, when I am trying to strech them … the same is true for my quadriceps. My hip is starting to open, though, because that’s where I focus my work.

Thanks for sharing, it is very inspiring to hear others’ achievements.

I jog every second day, and have my asana practice every other day. When I am tired, I just do savasana, and count it as full practice. :wink:
I found that even a single asana session a week is enough for maintanance. To progress, it is required to have more. Daily sessions would be the best, and the intensity should be set accordingly.

#12

i want to learn yoga …but i alway keep busy working
too bad…

#13

Everyone has to work. We have to eat, pay taxes, dress, and so on.
This is called dharma, or duty. If only that you do in your life, it is enough. When you do other things on expense of this duty, be it yoga or anything, you go backwards, instead of going forward.

Listen to yourself, if aspiring for yoga is strong enough in you, you will find a way. Only five minutes if you do daily, it can blossom into a full practice in time, transforming your entire life, including your work.

That five minutes does not have to be asana. It can be just thinking of yourself, and your thoughts and emotions. It can be just reading about yoga. The more you know, the easier will be to start the practice, and keep you going.

#14

Hello
May be you should try doing it with a teacher once to correct your practise.
But still if you dont feel like doing it dont do it.
If you practise violently than it is better not to call it yoga.
Cause one of the basic principles is ahimsa the non violence.
Allthe best
Lars

Patanjali Yoga Schule M?nster

#15

Just to add to Hubert’s post above, there are several different “sorts” of Dharma and the definitions vary from a Buddhist perspective to a Yogic one. I bring this up mostly because I reference Dharma fairly frequently in my replies and want it to be as clear as possible.

#16

I was using it as it is in the Vedas, where it is sometimes used as duty. This is what lead to casts, certain individuals had different duties, priests, warriors, peasants and even outcasts, thus creating dharma, or order of the society.
This was a theocracy, where they tried to mirror and enact the divine order of things, according to their nature. Perhaps it was too strong of a notion to apply here, I was just trying to say that we must see our life as not something imposed on us by outer forces, but something organically linked to us, something that we are supposed to do, face, and live.

#17

Dear Sarah

Really everthing is within our mind and when the restlesness is removed we can focus the mind for all the things we want.
I recommend the part about the hinderence on the path in the yoga sutras for you to read since they seem to be the same for everybody pratising yoga.

Sunny greetings
Lars

Patanjali Yoga Schule M?nster

#18

sarah, feeling tired is not just in your mind, as a beginner listen to your body. the ashtanga series can sometimes seem to me like trying to run a hundred meters in under 30 seconds. i cant do that. classes are for you to learn the techniques, you dont have to do all. i personally think it will all make sense by studying and gradually practicing the precepts outlined in YAMA and NIYAMA. ask your teacher about the first two steps in ashtanga. what you are doing is trying to run before you can stand. (dear teachers- please hear this call). without this understanding all is going to turn sour. maybe we should have two different kinds of ashtanga. ashtanga with yama and niyama , or ashtanga without . which is right?. the choice should not arise. some might want to meditate or contemplate on this.may the blessings of all the saints be with you. peace and HAPPY DEEPAVALI.

#19

odd how things come around…i’ve been practicing the ashanga sequence every day except fridays and moon days (and ‘ladies holidays’) for 8 weeks now and i’m on a sattvic diet as part of a yoga teacher’s training course. one more week left and i’m free to see if i can maintain the practice! and of course begin the journey of a teacher while still trying to be a student.

i entered the course with 2 sprained elbows (from painting my house) and various other old injuries (ankle, shoulder, neck), they got worse but i’m on the mend now as my strength and focus have deepened. i’ve accomplished a lot and it’s nice to look back and see how far i’ve come. i’m not fatigued anymore and do enjoy my practice. the nice thing is also, from my first experience teaching this week, i can now understand teaching as also a type of practice (i’m trying to practice detachment from my practice :)). i’m looking forward to both now!

#20

it’s always interesting to see how things ‘revive’. And qualifying as an enthusiastic ‘revivalist’, i’ll take this mandala back around.
…
yoga strikes me as a ‘comfortable pair of shoes or sandals’. You can take them anywhere, at any time, wear em with socks or without. And find them ‘right’ almost always.
for every day cycle there would seem to be a ‘yoga’ that might suit any of us that day. it could be a focus on body and balance or it could be a focus on strength versus release. It could be all about mind or it could be the connection with earth. It can, and often is, completely different from what it was in the day cycle previous. And there’s nothing holding us back from yoga throughout the day cycle.
We are blessed with the ability to decide what lays ahead for us in the next hours or days. How we move forward and construct the journey is the fun part. Yoga, like most good things is so adaptable the question might become “How can we not do yoga every day?”