I am lacking direction and guidance, do I need it?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I have been attending vinyasa flow hot yoga classes for a few months now, but have committed to attending at least 3 classes a week and practicing the other days from home. My motivation is purely spiritual, and to grow my abilities to their greatest capacity, and to fully understand my purpose and relationship with the universe.

I do not always have classes with the same instructors, although I try to stick with the same 2-3. These classes are the only time I can interact with like minded people (where else are they??) and there are only brief chances before and after class to ask the instructor questions. It can be hard to ask questions with a class of 30 people when next class comes in minutes later.

I’ve had some amazing experiences lately, and I wonder if I am supposed to continue down this path on my own, or if I am better off with someone much wiser than I to consult. As I hear about all the various types of yoga and meditation I become overwhelmed because I feel I am missing out on something, and with no one to ask advice from I get a bit less motivated. I am the type that needs a very high level road map with basic explanations of all concepts before I learn detailed information about any one concept. Without this I tend to panic because i am obsessively organized.

Any suggestions?

#2

Get a copy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and [I]read it[/I]. Then go back and read it again. Then get another copy and read that too. The road map is available, but it’s not all that clear sometimes.

#3

[QUOTE=Asuri;46738]Get a copy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and [I]read it[/I]. Then go back and read it again. Then get another copy and read that too. The road map is available, but it’s not all that clear sometimes.[/QUOTE]

I actually ordered that yesterday. I will anxiously await its arrival :slight_smile:

#4

That is a powerfully composed posting ™, thank you from bringing it forward.

At various YJ panel discussions I’ve heard many of the more popular teachers discuss the concept of answering student’s questions. And while my teacher has but 15 minutes between this session and that, he feels it is part of the joy of yoga to be available to the student who makes themselves available to the practice. If you have questions during class simply pick up your mat and walk to the front of the class. I believe the teacher will show their colors at that point and it may be revealing in terms of continued study with that person, or not.

I’m so lightened to hear that your intentions are to connect with spirit. I have noticed my own weariness from hearing only of muscle contractions, calories burned, endorphins released and the like. Once in a while it is nice to talk about more than the bait When the intention of the student is to look into the vocalization of the heart, hear the call of the soul/spirit/source, and respond to that call through life choices, spirituality is the product. Its important to have a few tools to stop listing to the vital and mental noises and get to the larger calling, but a high level road map, based on my experiences over the last decade, those of my peers, and those of the students, isn’t required.

When you are willing and able to bring the mental into the heart and do the same with the pelvic (energies) then you will facilitate and enhance the dialogue with your life’s purpose, its mission, the reason for your being, according to Yoga, not according to me or other “systems”. It does require setting pettiness and fear off to the side and loosening one’s weave on their belief system so that some other things may get “in” and be processed. But it sounds like you are already aware of such a knitting.

The classical texts of yoga - the sutras, the vedas, the upanishads, the gita, the hatha yoga pradipika…these are all shaping elements for an APPLIED philosophy of Yoga though please beware of the man of only one book - no matter which book it is An unapplied philosophy (for the purposes of Yoga) is pointless. Memorizing a text is a parlor trick, living by it is integrity.

#5

Trademarked,
I have no advice for you, I have some of the same desire, to grow and blossom spiritually. I married a man who does not have this goal, but he is more spiritual than he realizes. As a result I’ve stopped my spiritual seeking in an effort to spare him discomfort - isn’t that silly? But I have only recently accepted that I have sacrificed a piece of Who I AM to do this.
How does this fit your question? I don’t know, but it prompted me to say this, so I’m going to keep going. Your seeking for spiritual growth without all the focus on what teacher said what, and what book speaks about this and that - just pure spiritual growth using the tools that make themselves known to you, this speaks to me.
Thank you.

So, having said that bit, my answer to you is - the correct tools will make themselves known to you as you seek. The more purely you seek with an acceptance that you will have provided to you what you need, the more quickly and clearly those tools will be made apparent to you.

I think I’m speaking to remind myself as much as to encourage you. :slight_smile:

I don’t think it applies to your needing a map though, maybe your lesson is to learn to grow without a map?

#6

Wow, I appreciate the wise responses! It gives me much to think about. I will keep pushing forward!

#7

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;46780]

The classical texts of yoga - the sutras, the vedas, the upanishads, the gita, the hatha yoga pradipika…these are all shaping elements for an APPLIED philosophy of Yoga though please beware of the man of only one book - no matter which book it is An unapplied philosophy (for the purposes of Yoga) is pointless. Memorizing a text is a parlor trick, living by it is integrity.[/QUOTE]

Man of only one book? I can’t help but feel like that was directed at me, so let me list a few more books in my repertoire.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
Samkhya Pravachana Sutram
Samkhya Karika
Bhagavad Gita
parts of Srimad Bhagavatam
Several Upanishads
Most of the Christian Bible, Old Testament and New.

This is just to name a few. I’m well educated, and I’ve read lots of books. I believe I answered the OP’s question directly, and I stand by the advice I gave. One of the problems in trying to learn about this stuff, is that there are a lot of people talking and giving advice who really put their own spin on things, to be polite. The closer you get to the real sources, the better able you are to pick out the spin. But the road is not without peril. These texts were written in a different time, a different culture, and a different language. They can be very easy to misunderstand when taken out of context. So if you really are interested, then you also need to learn something of the language and the context that they were written in. Every journey begins with a single step, and I believe that Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is a good first step.

#8

Asuri,
Keep in mind, you are putting your own spin on your advice as well. :slight_smile:

It’s up to Trademarked to decide what will suit him as he heads down his own path. Discernment is key. Your advice may be the best he’s gotten so far, who knows?

#9

[quote=Asuri;46827]Man of only one book? I can’t help but feel like that was directed at me, so let me list a few more books in my repertoire.
[/quote]

You were nowhere on my mind Sir.

#10

@Joanna63

I admire you faith.