Mellow Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello! I would like to learn more about Yoga as Therapy. It seems like most of the Yoga training around here {Portland, OR} is for Hard-core Power Yoga types. I enjoy that flavor of yoga now and then - but I’m much more interested in Restorative Yoga {and possibly Yin yoga – I am learning more about that}. What is the deal with ALL of the Teacher Training for the Bikram types? I like my yoga gentle - not the super-athlete sort of yoga. It’s kind of turning me off, actually.

Is Kripalu a more gentle brand of yoga?

Thanks for any info - Madeline.

#2

I don’t get alll the fuss about bikram yoga judging by post counts in other forums, though i’ve never tried it.

I too have always liked my yoga gentle even when it was dynamic and maybe akin to jivamukti (i think that might be the label). The one-pointedness, focused mind and meditiative yoga, like holding poses much much longer ( sivananda) seemed to produce the deeper results and effect the therapeutic changes. No disrespect to heated bikram or quick vinyasa but i think my main problem with quick dynamic is my mind fails to keep up so there is little or no integration with the body. And ii need some help here

And i guess bikram might work therapeutically for some, with the heat and the consequent cardio and other effects this medicates, but for alot of folk llooking for physical therapy and this makes them feel worse i suspect they might be better off with some other sort. Maybe you could come up with a heated yin-type yoga( call it whatever though i don’t know enough about bikram to make informed comment) I’ve heard all thelegal wrangle stuff whiich is not good PR, though i won’t even go there , though i just have. Does’nt help it’s image.What is yoga?

I thought i heard soomewhere too much heat was not desirable though sayig that asana is traditionally practiced in india where the temp. is pretty heated and proably the same or similar.

I went to india on my own when i was 19, a comparative youngster and toured the himalayas.Amazing! It sounds like it might be , i think, very romanticto go there to learn the deeper asana and broaden your practice,perhaps stay in an ashram etc.(Though aobviously you would be effecting changes in yourself through doing real work on yourself!.) I hear the instruction and depth is very gd and high quality from what i haveread.

#3

Hi Madeline,

I am also very interested in yoga as therapy, but wouldn’t give myself out as a therapist, but do a lot of reading. The book by Mukunda on Structural Yoga Therapy is a good start and I have learned so much already.

Personally I feel yoga as therapy should be separate from this or that type of yoga. Point is people land in front of you and some of them do Sivanada, others do Bikram and another might do Ashtanga, so for me yoga as therapy should be independent from any style or school of yoga, and should embrace the thrapeutic aspects of yoga and allow the patient to integrate it for him- or herself in their own style of yoga.

Just my view on this, some of the yoga therapists here on the forum might give more insight.

#4

I’ve heard great things about viniyoga and kripalu.

#5

anybody watch inhale on oxygen ?
i would like ur opinions on where that fits in ~ power yoga or not ?

#6

[QUOTE=madeline_sweet;14853]Hello! I would like to learn more about Yoga as Therapy. It seems like most of the Yoga training around here {Portland, OR} is for Hard-core Power Yoga types. I enjoy that flavor of yoga now and then - but I'm much more interested in Restorative Yoga {and possibly Yin yoga -- I am learning more about that}. What is the deal with ALL of the Teacher Training for the Bikram types? I like my yoga gentle - not the super-athlete sort of yoga. It's kind of turning me off, actually.

Is Kripalu a more gentle brand of yoga?

Thanks for any info - Madeline.[/QUOTE]

No further than yesterday I was fighting with a cold. Today I am practically
healthy again.

Lynga Mudra helps a lot with body heating. It helps so much so you do not have to overuse it.

Another personal example. A relative of mine suffered badly of back pain, for a few years. Nothing helped.

She took a course with a Rishi, a real Rishi. He taught her a simple mudra,
to stay in Lotus with thumbs up. In less than one month, she was toatlly cured.

#7

Pranayama for Health

Pranayama can cure most diseases. Most important, according to Swami Ramdev, are:

Bhastrika
Kapalavati
Anuloma-Viloma

#8

Chase Bossart gives lectures on the yoga sutras at the Yoga Shala.
http://www.yogashalapdx.com/workshops.html

Any of his regular students would be able to connect you with a more relaxed yoga. He teaches in the Desikachar/Krishnamacharya lineage with an emphasis on teaching for the individuals needs.

Vic

#9

[quote=madeline_sweet;14853]Hello! I would like to learn more about Yoga as Therapy. It seems like most of the Yoga training around here {Portland, OR} is for Hard-core Power Yoga types. I enjoy that flavor of yoga now and then - but I’m much more interested in Restorative Yoga {and possibly Yin yoga – I am learning more about that}. What is the deal with ALL of the Teacher Training for the Bikram types? I like my yoga gentle - not the super-athlete sort of yoga. It’s kind of turning me off, actually.

Is Kripalu a more gentle brand of yoga?

Thanks for any info - Madeline.[/quote]

Hello Madeline,
I am so glad to see that you are well on your path! I remember one of your first posts, perhaps it was your first post, when you had talked about wanting to learn to teach the practice of Yoga. Your Yoga and Christianity thread still gets additions to it.

Check out IAYT.org for plenty of solid information on Yoga as therapy and various certification programs. In the States, I recommend studying with Mukunda Stiles, my teacher and mentor, as well as Richard Miller, Joseph LePage, Leslie Kaminoff and Aadil Palkhivala. I have studied with all of these teachers and can recommend them well. I am India now and have been studying Yoga therapy and Vedic chanting at KYM.org which is a brilliant school.

InnerAthlete is a student and graduate of Aadil’s Purna Yoga program and I am graduate of Mukunda’s SYT program. I would be glad to talk with you about SYT, as I am guessing that IA would be glad to talk with you about Purna.

Namaste,
Nichole