I experience irritation and anger when the yoga teacher starts us on meditation after a few minutes of warm up. I feel that we should be doing much more yoga and asanas and only towards the end move into meditation and pranayam. Is my irritation and anger unreasonable and how can I overcome such feelings and be at greater harmony with the class.
Maybe he is trying to make you mad, so that you should realize and start controling your hate;
Predisposition towards a sequence such as ringing the stress out, exhausting the body through asana, transition into pranic flow control then ready for mediation all seems natural and motivating for a while but then one realizes predisposition only means it?s easier not necessarily more beneficial.
The REAL cause of your anger is not the teacher or meditation. The practice of yoga often provides us an opportunity to take a step back and evaluate the true source of our emotions. Your teacher is merely a messenger in this instance. If the postman delivered a letter to you than angered you, would it be unreasonable to get mad at the postman?
You may consider finding a different class and teacher. No need to torture yourself.
Anger in meditation is as clear as a bell while anger in asana can find a cloudy expression masked by the physicality of the practice.
Remember, no meditation = no yoga. Even in asana and pranayama samadhi can be present
There comes a time when classes cannot fulfill our needs as Yogis and its time to find a cave. Either literally or with sacred seclusion in meditation. Which is to accept the reality of the moment. And that is the approach Id recommend to your irritation. Dont give up do give in.
And if the class is not working for you find one that does 
[QUOTE=pps1234;63691]I experience irritation and anger when the yoga teacher starts us on meditation after a few minutes of warm up. I feel that we should be doing much more yoga and asanas and only towards the end move into meditation and pranayam. Is my irritation and anger unreasonable and how can I overcome such feelings and be at greater harmony with the class.[/QUOTE]
Dear Friend:
It is appreciable that rather than justifying anger, like a true yoga aspirant, you are giving more importance to overcoming it.
regards, anand
Almost all of us experience anger at some point or the other. This disturbed mind is akin to a rudderless boat in a stormy ocean, being tossed around from place to place without it being able to focus on the task or destination ahead. Besides symptoms of high blood pressure, ulceration etc., anger is invariably accompanied by stress, which is often referred to as the silent killer. The medical community is also coming around to the views that stress forms the basis of about 90% of all health disorders. Significantly, yoga teachings provide solutions and also show the way to make these solutions a part of our personality.
Marina Im interested in your comments and maybe we could start a new thread on the subject of focus and anger. I feel that focus is not mutually exclusive of aggression and control. I know from my experience and from many other meditators that forceful concentration produces a rebound negative emotional effect sometimes hours later.
Recognizing anger is a wonderful opportunity to become conscious from ware it arises, perhaps the source like other negative emotions can be traced to the ego?
[QUOTE=pps1234;63691]I experience irritation and anger when the yoga teacher starts us on meditation after a few minutes of warm up. I feel that we should be doing much more yoga and asanas and only towards the end move into meditation and pranayam. Is my irritation and anger unreasonable and how can I overcome such feelings and be at greater harmony with the class.[/QUOTE]
Certainly from the perspective of Yoga this is worth exploring. There’s nothing wrong with emotion, in fact there is nothing at all in Yoga philosophy that contends one should be devoid of feeling. On the contrary. Of course misinterpretation of Yoga philosophy abounds but that is another matter.
As has been pointed out, anger manifests in the body and can lead to a state of dis-ease. But the work can be to simply observe the feeling(s) without a rote reactivity to them. Can you do that? Can you allow yourself this AND observe it without being in it?
Since I am not you it would be arrogant to tell you what this is for you. I can tell you that from my experience anger comes from the ego and the ego in fecund yoga practice is at risk, threatened, “dying off”, if you will. And so it will kick and scream and attempt to remain in control. It does not like that which connects to the spirit and I’m presuming your opening sequence is designed to connect to the spirit.
When we practice in class or in a group setting we relinquish, to a degree, our personal practice in favor of the group practice. It is often in that way, in that setting, that we can explore ishvara pranidhana - the doing of the practice for something greater than ourselves. Of course this is not the first of the five niyama for a reason and it would be challenging to do this with no foundation in saucha, santosha, tapas, and svadhyaya.
You may of course find a different class or teacher. Sometimes that is the appropriate path. However it is more likely that whatever this is that has come up will follow the student rather than the teacher thus the phrase wherever you go, there you are.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;63989]
You may of course find a different class or teacher. Sometimes that is the appropriate path. However it is more likely that whatever this is that has come up will follow the student rather than the teacher thus the phrase wherever you go, there you are.[/QUOTE]
This is true. But also, wherever you go, that that irritates you may not be there 
[QUOTE=pps1234;63691]I experience irritation and anger when the yoga teacher starts us on meditation after a few minutes of warm up. I feel that we should be doing much more yoga and asanas and only towards the end move into meditation and pranayam. Is my irritation and anger unreasonable and how can I overcome such feelings and be at greater harmony with the class.[/QUOTE]
I do start my class with meditation. I know that it is sometimes boring for the beginners, but the teacher task is to explain the benefits and technique of meditation.
May I ask you…why and what makes you angry? Is it “wasting” the time in meditation because you want to move into asanas? or is it something else? please take a few seconds to find an answer for me:) thank you
I believe your on the right track. Traditionally, exercise of any form can help with depression, anger, aggression, Traditionally, exercise of any form can help with depression, anger, aggression, etc.
No doubt! Yoga is for the anger management and stress relieve… You just need to learn it and practice the healthy yoga poses upon your choice. the Deep breathing techniques really are powerful to get in shape and be more energetic.
How about do your favourite yoga exercises at home before you go to the class, just in time for the meditation to do you good…?
Every problem is the solution…
Anger is ego obstructed. The ego is selfish. Selfishness closes one in. In hungarian, the word for anger and poison, are the same. Frustration comes from the ego not following the course of it’s desire. The ego is a spoiled child. It likes to aquire things, control things, get things the way they are good for it. When it meets resitence, it tries to overcome it. (like, it wants asana, and can’t get them) Anger generates energy of will. The energy of will seeks a course. When the course is blocked, it will lose momentum. It loses direction. The ball of the ego, sustained by the energy flowing in the plotted course of desire, deflates. Depression and sadness sats in.
Anger shows that the poison what kills the ego, is present.
Brancusi said: the wise man, from his inner poison, makes healing potions for others.
Is the ego evil ? No. Selfishness, alone, is evil. Is love of self evil ? It is, if it stops at myself. The only way, to be redeemed of this evil, is to extend it upon others. Thus, love thy neighbour as you love yourself is justified completely. Selfishness is unjust. Sharing is just.
You see, you need not get to shed the snakeskin of your ego. After all, it’s what make you unique, a person, an individual. But know it for what it is.
In this given example: why not try to talk to the teacher ? And if you think, the teacher is wrong, why do you follow him/her, in the first case ? Follow worthy teachers, whom you are able to respect and look up to, whom you realised they are more wise, knowledgable than you, and your opinion won’t come in your way. And even if it will, as a good teacher will encourage that, you’ll have the trust and will to listen, and you will recieve.
Don’t waste time with useless compromises. Go for the best. Aim high. But for that, you need to find something to look up to. Something what is more than yourself. We need to find somethong greater than us, in order to grow. Ask yourself, are there in my life, people, whom are better than me ? What can I learn from them ? If not, find them.
Yoga is a good way to let out your anger. A way to cope that is not only beneficial but a great way to keep healthy.
[QUOTE=CityMonk;63996]I do start my class with meditation. I know that it is sometimes boring for the beginners, but the teacher task is to explain the benefits and technique of meditation.
May I ask you…why and what makes you angry? Is it “wasting” the time in meditation because you want to move into asanas? or is it something else? please take a few seconds to find an answer for me:) thank you[/QUOTE]
Yes … I do think about the “waste” of time involved and get irritated by the continual auto suggestions and instructions delivered by the teacher during the meditation phase. The whole process makes me rebel and I tend to get cynical and question it. E.g. why should I imagine and focus upon a bright golden lotus or why do you want me to imagine my spine like a clear glass tube slowly filling with oxygen and my thoughts go … ok ok … lets move on please. This is what I go thru when our class is asked to meditate. Lately, I tend to ignore the meditation and instructions and do some pranayama and simple asanas while the class is busy with the meditation routine.
You may find this article helpful. It is called “When Yoga Makes You Angry”. It talks about yoga but I think the same ideas apply to your situation.
I can’t post the link but try searching ‘world yoga network’ and ‘when yoga makes you angry’
Good luck.
TL
[QUOTE=TattooLady;64999]You may find this article helpful. It is called “When Yoga Makes You Angry”. It talks about yoga but I think the same ideas apply to your situation.
I can’t post the link but try searching ‘world yoga network’ and ‘when yoga makes you angry’
Good luck.
TL[/QUOTE]
thank you …