Advanced Yoga Poses

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#8

Sirsasana and Urdhva Dhanurasana are not considered advanced poses in any Hatha system I’m aware of. Of course some “practices” do not do any inversions at all. But that’s a different matter.

One does not worry about how one advances in Yoga. It is not an academic pursuit. It is not a pursuit of intellect or rational mind. It is merely a tool for self-exploration.

In order to learn the basic poses, their actions and alignments, in order to develop a foundation there, one really needs to study the art and that study simply must involve a well trained teacher.

#9

This question doesn’t work particularly well on a forum because the answer could be so different for each person who would try to just give you the info you asked for. Your body could be differently mobile than mine, so just 'cause I am steady and joyful in a pose as long as I can hold j, b, and w poses for 10 breaths doesn’t mean you will.

This was the first convincing reason I came across to find a teacher, and I resisted that idea pretty well when I started learning yoga from books. (I think it helped that my books’ authors had different edges from mine, and so they labeled ‘beginner’, ‘intermediate’, and ‘advanced’ asanas with a method that my development did not follow.)

#10

Dearest Yalgaar,
I have been practicing yoga (hatha, raja) consistently
for 36 years, and yet in many ways I consider myself a beginner.

Approach asana with a fresh, beginners mind.

Do not worry my friend about being advanced, or
learning advanced asanas. Follow your heart…and all will be revealed to you.

The first sutra says simply: "A mind free from disturbance is yoga."
Ah…wrap yourself around [I]that[/I] while in a pose.

:wink:
Namaste

#11

Beautiful!

#12

[QUOTE=aka360Yogini;20545]Dearest Yalgaar,

The first sutra says simply: "A mind free from disturbance is yoga."
Ah…wrap yourself around [I]that[/I] while in a pose.
Namaste[/QUOTE]

I think that’s the second?? yogascitta vritti nirodhah? (well almost the first :))

As I see it in yoga we shift from from ‘doing’ to ‘being’…

Advanced postures in terms of flexibility/strength ok

but shavasana is really difficult and I don’t ‘apparently’ need ‘to do’ anything…

…many say it’s the most difficult of all asanas!

Perhaps it could be worth while mastering!

#13

but shavasana is really difficult and I don’t ‘apparently’ need ‘to do’ anything…

— just thought it was worth repeating. ----

#14

Light on Yoga, by BKS Iyengar, contains a graded practice that goes on for 300 weeks. That shoud keep you busy for a while. A good Iyengar teacher could help, or a good Ashtanga teacher.

#15

[B]YOGA-MANO-VIJNANA-DARSANAM
Cosmic Pschology, The Absolute “I-am”

(The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali)[/B]

[I]Chapter 1 Samadhi Padah[/I]

  1. ATHA-YOGANUSASANAM
    Now the discipline of yoga is explained.

  2. YOGAS CITTA-VRTTI-NIRODHAH
    Yoga or union is the cessation of the thinking mind: “Who am I?”

Translation from [I]The Textbook of Yoga Pschology:
The Definitive Translation and Interpretation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras,
page 390,[/I] by Rammurti S. Mishra, MD (known as Dr. Mishra),
recognized authority on Sanskrit.

…and from B.K.S. Iyengar: (about the first two sutras of Patanjali)

[I]“In the first two sutras he (Patanjali) says that when the mind is stilled, the self rests in its abode.
If things were as simple as that, then Patanjali could have ended there.
But he goes on to amplifly those two sutras with a hundred and ninety-four further sutras
in which he defines the technical ways of reaching that state.”[/I]

                   -- from [I]The Tree of Yoga[/I], page 119

Thanks joga yuggler for clarifying…you’re right.
I sometimes group the two together (bad habit) as the first only…
I refer to the first as sort of a ‘sub-title’…as for the 2nd:
“A mind free from disturbance is yoga.”
(I can’t remember who translated it [I]exactly[/I] this way?)
Maybe Georg Feuerstein, PhD…?
Anyone know?

PS For any newbie yogins and yoginis…anything by Feuerstein
is great…a must for your library is his [I]The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga[/I], Shambhala, 2000.
:wink:

Namaste

#16

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;20518]

In order to learn the basic poses, their actions and alignments, in order to develop a foundation there, one really needs to study the art and that study simply must involve a well trained teacher.[/QUOTE]

In my opinion, these yoga instructors from Toronto are very well qualified.
They started their yoga training in India, Himalayas, from the age of 10.

http://yogagta.com/

#17

[I]Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

In order to learn the basic poses, their actions and alignments, in order to develop a foundation there, one really needs to study the art and that study simply must involve a well trained teacher.[/I]
Yes…Ditto.

To oak333:
With respect…I was surprised to see the
photo of a man in Sirsasana on the website homepage
you recommended as “very well qualified” from Toronto.
Is this photo supposed to be a ‘good’ representation of headstand?
Or are they trying to illustrate common mistakes in the asana…?
If he was my student, (the man in the photo) I would change
the position of the head immediately as it looks as if his [I]entire forehead [/I]is
on the floor (extending the neck) taking the weight, rather than the crown (top) of the head.
As the 4/5th cervical vertebrae have the greatest range for flexion and extension…
one needs to be extremely careful not to make this mistake.
This imbalanced position can lead to neck injury
by placing stressful compression on the cervical intervertebral disks…

From [I]Light on Yoga [/I]by BKS Iyengar, page 186:
“In Sirsasana the correct position should be mastered, as a
faulty posture in this asana will lead to pains in the head, neck and back.”

Also his back is very arched. (again, I’m discussing the photo)
One should lengthen up as in Tadasana–up-side-down.
Their should be a small circle of energy felt in the center of the crown of the head while balancing.

Even Swami Vishnu (founder of The Sivananda School), cautioned one to [I]not[/I] place the parietal part
of the head (frontal, near the forehead) on the floor during this asana.
“If the portion nearer to the forehead is used, the spine will suffer a curvature…”
[I]The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga[/I], page 91.

[I]Posted by oak333
In my opinion, these yoga instructors from Toronto are very well qualified.
They started their yoga training in India, Himalayas, from the age of 10.

http://yogagta.com/ [/I]

Perhaps you may wish to suggest (since you know them and posted their site link for us all to visit)
that they articulate their homepage a bit more effectively.
They may indeed be wonderful teachers…just not discerning web-designers, as “a picture tells a thousand words.”

A new student–someone like yalgaar (who started this thread)–can learn by your linked photo: what [I]not[/I] to do in headstand.

From yalgaar post: For an example, here is a list of some of advanced poses I found online, what should one be able to do easily and to what length duration/degree before one can attempt those: Headstand Pose ? Salamba Sirsasana

See [I]Plate 190 of BKS Iyengar demonstrating a ‘good’ Sirsasana from his aforementioned classic text.[/I]

Namaste,
Nancy

#18

[QUOTE=yalgaar;20461]How does one start doing advanced yoga poses? I have several books and videos that show advanced yoga poses and how to do them and the benefits of them. But I am not finding a single resouce that describes in details on how and when you know you are ready to attempt one?[/QUOTE]

I also practice from books (being unable to attend classes) and am slowly coming to really understand that the most basic poses are never ending. My ego and desired esteem from others have tortured me about making advances.

But it’s all in my head and I don’t actually NEED to do the headstand.

Brooke

#19

This site classifies the asanas by degree of difficulty.

http://www.santosha.com/asanas/

#20

As you have their web site, I might wish to suggest you ask them directly. It would be interesting to see their reply.

#21

Dear PemaTingdron

On what assumption you say that the man doing Shirasana is doing it wrong?

First of all accusation is supported by facts not by assumption. You say it looks that his entire body weight is on his forehead, but are you really sure about that. ?

FYI most of his body weight is on his elbows and shoulders.

Your comment has just reveled your ignorance?

You have 36 years of experience of practicing yoga. May I ask what have you learned or missed in yoga?

The man who is practicing Shirsasana was in terriable car accident on Highway, his sedan became hatchback. So for the facts, the rear of the car was struck. According to medical science this guy would have had whiplash because of rear end damaged. This guy had pain in his neck and in his back because of accident. He not only teaches Yoga but believes in it too. So he did not go to doctor, chiropractor or physiotherapist and was teaching Yoga next morning after accident. He practiced shirshasana and scorpio Pose after 2 days of accident.

Would PemaTingdron dare to do that?

Raise yourself beyond Asanas and open the vile of window of your brain.

OM Namah Shivaya!
God bless her!

#22

Sorry, but where is this person in this thread you are addressing or do I miss something here?

#23

[QUOTE=Pandara;22012]Sorry, but where is this person in this thread you are addressing or do I miss something here?[/QUOTE]

http://yogagta.com/

This is the person.

#24

Dear TorontoYoga,

Generally, the etiquette of forums (especially a yoga forum)
is such that we are all making joyful effort to assist each other.

Since your post is addressed to me, and is your [I]very first [/I]post, I am
welcoming you to these forums. Please be advised that a spirit
of respect is advisable. If you took the time to read my longer post,
I addressed your friend or student (Oak333) “with respect…I was surprised to see the photo.”

Since you have joined Yoga Forums now…perhaps this experience
has offered a wonderful opportunity for you to learn and share with other yogins.

In brief, this thread was begun by a beginner
who has posted many times in these forums. He
was inquiring about doing what he termed “advanced” asanas such as headstand.
My [I]intention[/I] is to help him.

To respond to your quote here:

On what assumption you say that the man doing Shirasana is doing it wrong?

First of all accusation is supported by facts not by assumption. You say it looks that his entire body weight is on his forehead, but are you really sure about that. ?

The “assumption” is your web-site photo which I [I]already[/I] explained. Am I sure about it?
Yes, I am letting you know how it looks. It is my opinion.
Many books and web-sites use photos to show asanas in “good’ form and 'not so good” form.

To reiterate:
See Plate 190 of BKS Iyengar demonstrating a ‘good’ Sirsasana from his aforementioned classic text, Light on Yoga.

[/QUOTE]

Again…to repeat what [I]I already posted[/I]:

[QUOTE]Perhaps you may wish to suggest (since you know them and posted their site link for us all to visit)
that they articulate their homepage a bit more effectively.
They may indeed be wonderful teachers…just not discerning web-designers, as “a picture tells a thousand words.”

Namaste,
Nancy

#25

[quote=aka360Yogini;21723]Yes…Ditto.

To oak333:

A new student–someone like yalgaar (who started this thread)–can learn by your linked photo: what [I]not[/I] to do in headstand.

[/quote]

I will criticize no one unless asked by him to do so, and then only with a desire to help.

    Yogananda-Metaphysical Meditations

You have criticized “torontoyoga” rather too much, even though the criticism was in a polite form. By the law of action-reaction you got from him a counter-criticism, even though not in a quite polite form.

We all here are dedicated to yoga and friendly to one another. Let us make
peace again. And we will always have to remember the motto above of Yogananda.

Namaste

#26

Peace to all…perhaps this thread can dissolve…

#27

[QUOTE=aka360Yogini;22159]Peace to all…perhaps this thread can dissolve…[/QUOTE]

Sure. After all karmas were redeemed.

Cheers.