New to Yoga - Can you explain my experience?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I am new to yoga, practicing about 1 month. I’m not new to the concept because I’ve played around with the idea of it several years ago. At that time, I was part of a church that ‘chastised’ me for doing yoga, saying everything from it’s a false religion to I would get possessed by demons if I meditate. Needless to say, I left that church.

I am now focusing on my spirituality and have experienced some things while practicing yoga. I have no one to really ask because I live in an area of the country that isn’t exactly blooming with yoga teachers, etc.
Sometimes, when in a pose, (Cobra, specifically), I have found a deep overwhelming emotion well up from within my chest. And as I allowed myself to go into that emotion, it felt as thought I were ‘brushing’ up against myself. I have never read anything of the sort, nor do I even know or understand what happened. It almost makes me wonder if I haven’t joined the loony bin, except I am a very intuitive person and my intuition lets me know there is a definite answer for what happened.

I also link yoga deeply to meditation and have been meditating for the same time. Sometimes I find in my meditation, an ‘urge’ to go into a pose, child’s pose for example, and find a relaxing calm that comes of it. I’ll feel this warmth, or sometimes coolness, flow through my body. I have so many more questions about this, but I’ll leave it with this:

Is this normal and experienced by others?
How can I learn more about what is going on inside me?
Are there any ‘tips’ you can give me for meditating that would encourage whatever it is I experience to continue?
Thank you so much for the patienct to read this. I appreciate your feedback and guidance.

#2

Sara,

Congrats! You sound like a very conscious person. Your experiences are very normal. Perhaps most people don’t feel these sensations, but then again you are not most people. Often times during practice emotions are released and brought to light. Even more often this happens when you confront your fears, however in this specif case i think otherwise.

I assume you are not familiar with the energy centers in your body. Often times they are called Chakras. There are 7 of them in your body and they reside at different parts of your body. The lowest being at your pelvic region and the highest at the crown of your head. It is said the when your practice Yoga you are clearing the energy pathways (Nadis) in your body allowing for a clear path or flow of your body energy. Most people have their enrgy stuck at the lowest level, it leaves them craving material/physical needs. (wealth, power, sex, etc.) As you climb this ladder you will find that your desires change, and from what you explained it sound like you are tapping into the heart chakra (Anahata Chakra) which is the center for love, kindess, honesty, compassion etc.)

All that being said (and i’m no expert) it sounds like you are doing good. Your practice is showing results! Many people devote years and years to their practice and claim to not have the experiences that you do. To me what you describe as “deep overwhelming emotion” is a good thing, you are learning more about yourself and how your body works.

I would recomend a few things. First, keep practicing, soon enough you will experience more new and amazing things about yourself. Second, read some books. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga is something that would help you loads. Also (if you want to jump into the deep end) try to find the Hatha Yoga Pradipika if you want a very solid and detailed explanation of many yoga practices, meditation techniques, experiences, etc. Lastly, i think its important to realize that meditation can be anything you want. For instance, Tich Naht Hahn (a well known Buddhist Monk) travels the world teaching about Walking Meditation and mindfulness. If you understand that everything can be meditation you can tap into these amazing body energies all the time, not just in your cobra poses. Keeping this state of consiousness open all the time will help you make good decisions, keep on the path, focused, alert, healthy, and most of all happy!

I hope this info helps. One other thing I would do is try to find a good teacher, someone who has at least 5+ years of regular practice.

Peace & Good Luck - :slight_smile:

#3

Hello,

I got that when I first started, it was quite an emotional thing. After a while you learn to expect this more and so you are more “in control” for want of a better way of saying it. You feel it, and really learn to use it during your practice and in your life. I don’t mediate apart from during yoga. Yoga has been the best form of meditation for me.

Reading the sutras can help explain things much better, although they take a while to get through! And you’ll need a pencil to underline things as well! A more accessible thing other than light on yoga is the tree of yoga by the same same author, Mr B.K.S Iyengar. That book really helped when I first started.

I agree with finding a good teacher. Mine is very inspirational and an awesome yogi all round.

Although remember that asana is only the vehicle for yoga!

#4

Thank you both for replying. I have an overwhelming thirst for knowledge and understanding. I will definitely check out the books you have recommended.
I have only recently read about Chakras, but I have been so busy trying to learn everything else I want to that I have only had a brief intro to it. When you mention the chakra around the heart, that is the exact area of my ‘body’ it seemed as everything was coming from.
I really enjoy meditation. The weird thing for me is that when I really seem to get into I seem so far from my surroundings that I almost feel as thought I am floating upside down. Whatever it is, I don’t feel connected to the earth. I love those sensations. I also read an article about ‘third eye’ meditation. I cannot pretend to fully understand exactly what was meant, but when I followed the directions of that particular meditation, I felt surrounded by a ‘glow’ or ‘warmth’. It was so amazing. I would love to experience that again and so far I haven’t.
I feel like a hungry person - starved, dehydrated - stumbling upon this tremendous smorgasborg beyond my wildest imaginations.
I am pretty lucky - I am a very intuitive, sensitive person. Sometimes, it makes it hard to watch TV. If I seem someone getting hurt I nearly feel it myself.
I’m sorry to ramble on. If you only KNEW where I lived…
It is a very conservative, narrow minded place and I have always felt a little out of place…
Thank you for your input. It is a big help in getting the knowledge I really desire. :slight_smile:

#5

Saharabloom,

You may wish to post such an inquiry to Mukunda at the Spirit’s Path portion of this site. His initail post “Spirits Path - a sharing” outlines much of value. I have a backlog of prior questions to post there, so watch for other’s experiences to be posted. You are not alone!

Namaste,
Chandra

#6

Tere is a very nice website with a very nice yoga master who cn answer your questions. He writes with the name yogani but choose to stay away from public life.
A lot of experiences similar to yours are explained in a simple Q/A form at

http://www.geocities.com/advancedyogapractices/

There is also a forum...

Hope this is useful.
I am not an experet but you can write me at patelvipulk--at--hotmail.com and we can share our expereinces in our spiritual journey.

Vipul Patel, Allentown, PA