I find, as I get along with my practice, that Asana filled with emotional content seems to be better asana; without it, exhalation deflates my chest and dampens my spirit more, and with it , I maintain the energy and spirit of inhalation with a high broad chest and have the relaxation and openness of exhalation. I am guessing that many here have noticed the difference emotion makes to how well you stretch and unify. I would be interested in hearing specifics and what styles emphasize this. Namaste
The joy of a breath and joy of being are ultimates and good classical music etc. can bridge that gap before you reach the former. I don’t normally listen to music while practicing but I may start… my breathing felt so good while driving and listening to Mahler’s Symphony #10 the other day and I have a sleep disorder ( not apnea ) that after many tests the cause is unknown but I often get sleepy on the road during longer trips…uncharacteristically, with the breathing and music, I had no trouble and arrived safely and with energy. Namaste
Hey, Tony. I agree. Good observations.
Tony, I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules, what works for the student and the teacher is different from class to class I think. If the music helps, then use it.
I attend classes with two different instructors (one is my Teacher and the other more just a guide) and one uses chants to inspire us and the other is quiet. I find both have their place.
I also find that certain asanas release emotion. Depending on where you are carrying your feelings, different emotions will be felt in different asanas. Opening the chest is one that often is noted to bring a feeling of wellbeing to people, I am glad to hear it is so for you as well.
There is a young lady that attends one of my classes that simply cannot restrain her giggles when we do any seated forward bends. And listening to her release brings a smile to my face every time.
Breath, air, usually invisible, sometimes audible, today is a bit humid with drizzily rain here.
Soft, life giving, sometimes powerfully moving treetops.
Jorge Bolet does a piano solo CD “reDISCOVERED” of some classical Liszt recital. It is a CD that joined me in a few yoga practices. When a particularly uplifting part of a CD coincides with a nice part of a practice it does seem special.
Tresors de Ganesha Revelation by Roop Verma is especially awe inspiring CD. You can probably google and sample these somewhere. Although, most of the time I don’t have music playing. Once in a while, I like to put a dab of Frankincense on my temples for the slight odor seems spiritual, magical, at the least, pleasant.
Best wishes, Gil
P.S. Similar to slow tai chi, exhaling in sinc with a hand slowly moving outward, then a slow inhale in sinc with the hand slowing coming back can feel air, life.
Thanks for the thoughtful replies.
When you emotional content… do you mean a wave of happiness or a wave of sadness? Sorry, I’m new to yoga and I want to learn everything…
I meant feelings in general and like Alix said above-there are different feelings associated with opening up different areas of the body- each has a chakra-a gyrating center of energy with it’s own characteristics. Asana has that as a goal-to open these up-Kundalini yoga especially. Sadness could enter into it as well, because, as many psychologists believe ( and masseuses ) we carry locked up tension deep inside from past trauma etc. and when these release sometimes they express themselves as the emotion associated with that trauma. For myself, I mostly am objectively experiencing how the inside of my body feels physically, trying to not try too much and have the ’ perfect ’ form, or at least, more perfect for me. Occasionally, like the other day I experienced the feelings inherent in the music and my yoga ( connection/union ) was enhanced as well, my chest especially where the heart chakra was. I felt open, loving, joy at being alive, maybe a little proud of living well with yoga. I believe there’s several comments on other threads about music and yoga but there is definitely some types of music more conducive to the liquid stretch yoga makes- I’m thinking of Andrea Bocelli- just for example, it feels like brings the energy up through the heart and head together, very fulfilling to the pose, like the pigeon, with it’s chest puffed out, heart out front-the power of the music and the emotion making your entire body respond as one instead of parts together. I am home schooled for the most part but I understand some styles of yoga emphasize emotional content- Anusara is one, I think. I’ll google that now. Namaste
Attitude
Attitude, according to John Friend, is the “power of the heart as the force behind every action or expression in an asana.” It is “the aspiration to reawaken to our divine nature, and the celebration of life.”[2]
That’s a quote from Wiki Pedia about Anusara. John Friend is the founder, it’s appropriate for this discussion . Namaste
Drawing on her extensive training in yoga therapy, dance, and meditation, Bija Bennett has created a groundbreaking yoga program that takes full advantage of the body-mind connection. Based on the classical eightfold path of yoga, Emotional Yoga offers a broad range of simple body-mind techniques that can positively affect our emotional well-being, including the dynamic interplay of movements, breathing exercises, meditations, lifestyle skills, rituals, gestures, and healing sounds. Each technique is presented in a way that is true to Bennett’s background in the tradition of Viniyoga, which allows the reader to adapt the program to his or her specific needs.
Hi Anne, I googled Bija Bennett , saw what you wrote above and watched her youtube video ; do you know what her classes are like ? How does she link the emotions to asana ? Her video didn’t show this and her website was mostly to sell stuff. The video was mostly implementing a focus on the left side as well on the right when, for example, you’re leading the particular pose with the right. Namaste
Music would be a great addition. Anything classical, Beethoven, Tchaikosky, etc.
Yoga to music is wonderful but ultimately yoga is the practice of moving into stillness - and quiet - and equanimity.
Amen.
Too bad that we often need very frustrating, alienating expereinces to appreciate stillness, quite and equanimity. Guess it’s just human nature.