How to determine if a particular path to yoga is not meant for you

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi,

I have been doing yoga on and off for past seven years. In these seven years I have tried two schools of yoga: sivananda and Iyengar. While with sivananda style of yoga (which includes asana, pranayama and Meditation) I feel very peaceful and happy, Iyengar style (including asanas only) often makes me anxious. I become very competitive, always think about perfecting asanas. In iyengar style I struggle with the practice but if I do it sivananda style my practice just flows…

Does that mean that iyengar style is not meant for me?? Or I am doing it incorrectly and may be focusing on wrong things.

Any help would be appreciated…

#2

It is possible to practice two different styles of yoga without conflict you just need to be sure where you are and why you are there. Some people (lucky souls) get everything they need from one style, others need to look more widely.

You could try setting yourself a sankalpa/resolve at the beginning of each class to avoid confusion and unreasonable expectation.

#3

I think your posts begs a larger question which is as follows:

If you are nourished by your Sivananda practice (and you say you are so I presume it is so) why have you taken on another “style”? Why would you continue a practice that, for you, results in anxiety and competitiveness?

It would be helpful in responding to you if there were a bit more information. As it stands I can’t fathom why a student would engage or continue a practice that makes them anxious.

#4

My first teacher was from Sivananda family. When due to change of place, I could no longer continue with him, I joined Iyengar classes. I didn’t know that two schools would be so different philosophically. I was inspired by the life history of Mr Iyengar and wanted to try his style of yoga. Initially I thought that anxiety would go after some time. But now 2 completely different iyengar teachers and 1.5 years later, I have realized I not at all feel peaceful at the end of iyengar class.But Iyengar classes are so famous. One can find so many people talking about its benefits. So I am just curious to understand why I couldn’t connect with the style.

#5

You are astute in your observations. To my way of seeing/thinking/feeling Iyengar was the greatest asana master of our time. That would be very difficult to argue. His refinement of asana over time is simply unparalleled. So the system of asana is brilliant.

Unfortunately there are two issues. One, it is a system of ONLY asana and two, many of the teachers learn how to engineer aligned poses but do not learn how to be compassionate with themselves and their students.

So the system is profoundly helpful. The conduit, on the other hand, can be extremely rigid, unwavering, filthy, and therefore taxing on the student’s nervous system. Imagine a physician who knows the body very well, is carefully studied … and yet has a lousy bedside manner. It makes the medicine infinitely less effective.

#6

@InnerAthlete: I can totally relate to Iyengar teachers being uncompassionate with themselves and students.
Going by what you have said, Does that mean that spiritual growth through Iyengar system is limited. If it is so, I wonder why word yoga has been attached to system.

#7

That is a very potent question. I don’t think it is for me to say what is limited in someone else’s practice or not. It is only for me to explore the vastness (or limit) within my own practice.

When we do observe limitations there remains the question of whether that is to be attributed to the system or to the practitioner, or to some other element in the equation (timing, intention, instruction, etc).

Yoga (the word) has been attached to many, many things. It doesn’t seem to correlate directly to the degree of spiritual growth possible. But that is just one view. Get others.

#8

Well Said @InnerAthlete

#9

I am a beginner student. I am in love with both systems. In Iyengar system I study the poses, and in Sivananda class I apply what I learn to get into alignment, which truly brought freedom (when breath, mind and body tuned to each other) and safety in practice. Sivananda yoga has great sequences, but less cues on precision (unless teacher has exposure to Iyengar system). They complimented each other.

I have had many health challenges, it was Iyengar system which help my healing tremendously. The demands of stern teacher awaken my consciousness and body, which earlier was dull and lacking in awareness. So much brainwork, hardwork, and homework needed to understand the Iyengar system with their strange cues (e.g. get muscles to hug the bone), home practice to train and commit memories in the cells of our body is a must, and not to let ego come in the way of progress and happiness.

Hope my experiences are of some help in your search for answer.

Kind regards.

#10

Thanks @antaraayaah for sharing your experience… Good that both systems are workig for you…

#11

doing yoga on and off for past seven years

If you will do yoga on and off then you will always be in dilemma. Clarity comes with regularity, and consistency is the first step of Yoga.

I become very competitive, always think about perfecting asanas

Perfection and competition are opposite poles. Perfection is for self and competition comes in relation with others. Yoga is all about self, other don’t exist.

Does that mean that iyengar style is not meant for me

Its not about the style but who is teaching you and how you are taking it make all difference. Person who is teaching should be wise enough and yoga should be his/her life and person who is learning yoga should be disciple and not student who is ready to give everything to yoga.