Do you ever laugh during your asana practice? Obviously, it is rude to do so during class but during your own private practice? I was doing Revolved Side Angle during one of my home practices when I went down like the leaning Tower of Pisa. For some reason I just laughed but I wondered if it was inappropriate. Sometimes, yoga can come across as so serious.
I laugh all the time during my personal practices, whether it be asana, pranayama or meditation. Usually it happens spontaneously when I mess something up, or when I realize how hard I’m trying not to screw up. Once in a while I’ll try a new breathing technique and make a stupid noise! Nothing makes you giggle more than a good hefty snort.
[B]Really, let’s be serious though. Yoga really is a very serious thing. That’s why you should take laughing at yourself very seriously, and make sure it’s well incorporated into daily activity as consistently, and with as much effort as possible. [/B]
I think this is in the yoga sutra-s, right? YSP 1.12 - Abhyasa and Vairagyam, the core principles of reaching union. “Practice” and “Laughing at yourself”. Or at least, that’s how I’m going to interpret it here, because I’m feeling really scholarly today.
Also, describing yourself as a ‘Leaning tower of Pisa’ would make anyone laugh. Be sure that to share that with people who aren’t laughing enough in their practice.
I’m going to include this picture I made the other day, to memorialize how serious my practice is:
I used creative liberty with this, by the way.
I really never do this posture, and my cat is only 3/4 of that size (what a cow). :razz:
Do I laugh during asana practice? YES! How can I not?
Do I break into spontaneous laughter, at times, while teaching? YES! And my students follow with wonderful belly laughing. I truly cherish those moments!
And Suryadaya…love the above! Thanks…made me laugh!!!
Suryadaya, that picture is funny because it reminded me of the time I had a house fly zooming around me during practice. It is so hard to “zone out the outside world” when a fly was literally on my arm, nose, and leg the entire time. Even when I could ignore it I could still hear it buzzing. I was trying not to be angry which was making me more frustrated. Out of the whole room, the fly was attracted to me!
It just reminds me that life is not perfect and it is called practice for a reason.
a.mi - When I first started doing yoga, my yoga book said to devote your practice to someone before you begin. Since my cute little baby kitten was always sleeping on the microwave in front of me, I made him the focus of that love and attention.
This is a choice I have been paying for, every time I step on the mat, since 2005. He is NEVER more space-invasive than when I am within the rectangular confines of that rubber. I try, seriously try, to hate it - but who can hate that big loving face up in yours, or having something warm and furry wrap it’s paws around your neck in a giant hug during savasana?
A hardy belly laugh is good for the soul and should be done at least once a day. This is a philosophy of a dear friend of mine and it does seem to make life smile!
I started my teacher training with a laughter yoga session, led by certified yoga laughologist Patrick Welage, and it was a wonderful experience. As stated in my above post, I incorporate laughter in quite a bit of my classes and it is always well received. Dr. Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga, has a wonderful book and DVD package you can purchase through his website that is priceless.
When the person next to me keeps falling over in Ardha Chandrasana, I can’t help but howl in laughter. Is that rude? 