Practice and all will come?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi,
I don’t really have a questions so I don’t expect answers just your comments:).
This post is about my practice (I know, MY practice already include my ego but I’m not enlighted:).
Sooo…I have a one year old baby which wakes up couple of times during the night which makes me tired during the day. Anyway I keep practicing (and sometimes I am really proud of myself and it will be so easy to quit) and the practice gives me energy. (not always).
I was trying to do Ashtanga but sometimes it’s too strong practice. But: when I’m tired (from not sleeping properly) it’s easier to do it cause my mind is half asleep too and cannot protest against it.
I tried different styles but there are not as challenging or challenging in particular postures only and it made me feel like I don’t wanna do this posture I want something easier…
For example: I practiced 2 weeks Ashtanga and I felt slight changes: that i’m improving, slowly but I can feel slight changes, tiny little ones, I can keep the pose for one breath and after 2 weeks I can keep it for 2 breaths…But than it makes me sometimes tired.
When I tried for a month doing different styles and sometimes there were nice but when I came back to Ashtanga I felt there is no difference in my practice or that I have moved backward…but than there is not so much space to play in Ashtanga - you just move through postures.

So I’m somewhere in the middle of the ocean, seeking…

#2

Try a vinyasa flow class …some vinyasa teachers have a great playful/creative/exploitative approach which you may enjoy…and try a beginner flow class or slow flow…

You can see some of my flows on youtube…so far I have not posted any teaching videos…I am just doing my own practice…and it is not beginners…but gives an idea about what you might find with a flow class…my channel name is yogacambodia

Keep exploring good luck.

#3

What does it mean to have a “playful” and “exploitative” approach to teaching yoga? I’ve heard “playful” before and I don’t know if it referrs to the teachers attitude to teaching yoga, practicing yoga or something else. I can relate to the idea of “exploring” and being “creative”, but I feel confused about “exploitative” and “playful”. Yogacambodia, I would normally direct this sort of question as a personal message, because I don’t want you to think I’m not liking what you said, but I wanted to see if being “playful” is something that others hear or do, and why.
P.S. I feel most of the time that I’m just playing at doing yoga.

#4

Yoga as a discipline was born hundreds and thousands of years back, almost in the infinite past. The various “styles” of Yoga is an invention of the last 30-40 years. Any particular Yoga style is someone’s studied view of how to approach Yoga designed expecially for the beginners. A style is an approach and not at all the whole of Yoga.

Not knowing this, makes one consider asanas, mind and enlightenment in the same vein. They are miles and lifetimes apart.

While learning to perfect asanas, it is important to know what the goal is. If fitness is the goal there is no need to be worried about mastering the mind, leave aside the enlightenment. Yoga for enlightenment is a trip to the moon, while Yoga for fitness is a walk to the mall next door. Though predominantly physical, asanas are to be mastered for releasing awareness from physical bondage.

Ewa, you tried different styles for a few weeks each. That is too short a period to know anything. Your first true experience of life beyond physical will introduce you to true Yoga. Your understanding of mind and its games will introduce you to the real obstacles to Yoga. When you will stop looking for the floating devices and realize that you are the sea, you will be a real seeker. Good luck.

#5

I still think that asana, mind and enlightenment are in the same tiny terrace house, I can’t seem to see them as miles apart, and yet there’s nowhere to go to unless they live away from each other is there?

#6

@Ewa Kat,

I guess my first question would be, “What is your intention in practicing yoga?” As Suhas said, if it is purely physical don’t worry about anything else. Just do the practice that suits you. And I agree that a few weeks exploring different styles is not long enough. Give it time.

Explore differing styles with an open mind and without any “preconceived” ideas about how it “should” feel. A slower practice enable you to become the pose, feeling and exploring it in its totality. And I’m a stickler for good alignment and this also allows you to constantly adjust, using your breath. As my practice matured and deepened over the years, I have gravitated to a slower practice and can honestly say a more enjoyable one. And as a teacher, a slower practice enables you assist your students more effectively. But again, if it is cardio exercise you want, there may be no need for a slower practice.

And to Ruth, I can’t comment on exploitative, but I will regarding playful. My home practice and my teaching style is playful. Is it creative? Yes, most often. Both seem to go hand in hand. We laugh, we explore and we create our practice in class. We don’t take ourselves seriously. (i.e. losing your balance in Ardha Chandrasana) If I sense it is needed, I will spontaneously begin laughing. They follow my lead and I see their shoulders drop from their ears. Playful is just having fun. There’s a time to be serious and a time for fun.

But Ewa Kat, I think knowing why you are practicing yoga will guide you to the proper practice.

#7

Hi Ruth…it is a typo!!! Exploratory! Expolrative is not an actual word according to spell checker and I accidentally clicked on the wrong choice.
And Playful…just playing, exploring and experimenting finding the way to move into and do asanas that suits you and your body.

#8

Ah, now I understand, I have trouble with spell check too. I’m so glad you weren’t into exploitation! x

#9

Only by practise you will realize if the cake is fake or not.

#10

I really like yoga. I regularly do yoga exercise regularly. It is very good for every one and you can keep yourself fit for a long period of time.

#11

Practice and all will come ?

I say it with all my might (picture Marc Cohn in Walking in Memphis) … yes !
Yes, yes, yes !

But … what is it to practice ? What to practice, and how ? And most importantly, why ?