When did this discussion become about you and how you teach? All I have said is that you cannot separate spirituality from Yoga. It is a full system of self-transformation. Nobody is going to get transformed by doing headstands alone 
Those doing only asanas and nothing else are doing un-yoga.
SD,
When did this discussion become about you and how you teach?[QUOTE]
This is how.
Quote:
To be honest as somebody who teaches Yoga you should not perpetuate these myths either. I am not alone in this view, even great Yoga experts such as BKS Iyengar agree that “just asanas” is un-yoga.
[/QUOTE]
Again, SD, how do you know my classes aren’t spiritual? I gave you a hint in my last post.
You said:
Yoga, the practice of asana, can be practiced with or without the spiritual component. It is done all the time. Anticipating your answer to that, my response is as long as they benefit, who am I to judge?
Since you’ve been arguing with me how Yoga can be divorced from its spirituality. Hence why I said you should not be perpetuating these myths.
This was a general statement and not reflective of my teaching style.
Not that I want to referee this but it actually takes two to argue and therefore no one is arguing with someone; they are arguing together. It is perceptually “accusatorial” (which says nothing of intent, mind you) to tell someone “they” are arguing and it shifts the balance of discourse and responsibility. It marginalizes conversation and transforms dialogue to monologue as the art of listening is exponentially reduced - if it is present at all.
I spent two decades arguing with referees from the sidelines of the basketball court. No thanks!
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;41586]I spent two decades arguing with referees from the sidelines of the basketball court. No thanks![/QUOTE]
Have you tried yoga? I hear it reduces stress.
I teach Pilates, and really enjoy it. PIlates, if you have a very good instructor, will make you strong and build you in a way that weights cannot do. In terms of the movement, it is lengthening and strengthening at the same time.
With that said, i encourage you to try it and see what you think. Be open. You can read everyone’s opinion, but the only one that matters…is yours! It’s your body, your experience, try a few places–classical pilates, contemporary style as well, and see what you think of it. going on that journey is the only way to know how you feel about the practice!
For me, I find that since I teach Pilates my yoga practice is very special to me, as it is all for me (and I’ve been doing it for almost 20 years!).
Also i could never do the things I do in yoga without the Pilates work. It would be impossible, as my core is so strong i can fly in arm balances that i could never do until practicing Pilates. But aside from that, Pilates is brilliant, and some is based on yoga–plus gymnastics, and boxing and a host of other things.
It is very physical, and is a practice of intelligence. I find yoga to be more spiritually centered in terms of what the instructor is saying, but again i could never do my yoga without the pilates…you see what i’m saying? (Essentially, one cannot exist without the other FOR ME. And when I do Pilates, it is very meditative, which is spirtual…and that is what I consider Advanced Pilates, a moving meditation.)
Even though I teach Pilates, it continues to amaze me at just how brilliant it is–from the machines all the way through the sequencing. It is absolutely fantastic, just as yoga is.
As for your yoga and feeling “unhappy” (for lack of a better word), perhaps you will come back around, or find another instructor or place to practice your yoga. I’ve been where you are, and in the end, everything completely works the way it should.
Please allow me to encourage you to be open, to hear your intuition, with faith that the rest will take care of itself. I certainly wish you well. PIlates can be just as transformative as yoga…it certainly has been for me.
Edited to add: this is my first time visiting here and reading through a little more, possibly will not be back. there is some bickering! 
that is cool for those interested, but that is not for me. in any case, i just wanted to add that trying different styles of yoga really helped me. i love to flow and also power. and just sitting in yin! yoga is each our own, whatever we make it. there is great beauty in just that. peace.
Can anyone shed some light on Pilates? Does it focus on flexibility as much as yoga. I am kind of looking for a practice that does what Yoga does, but with out all the magic that tends to be residual within it.
First of all, congrats on your workout routine!
It can go both ways really. I tried yoga just to try something new workout wise. After awhile I noticed it had a great effect on my posture. Then I noticed something weird. I was getting to be very calm and was able to deal with pressures.
Like you, I have a low tolerance for the more spiritual aspects etc. I understand where you’re coming from. But I can’t deny it made me a calmer person, and happier too. Stopped doing it and the stress just hit me bad. So I know it helped!
Pilates is a great workout and I advise you doing it, just to see if you like it. But if you really like yoga, and feel it calms you, stick with it. Just take all the mumbo jumbo stuff with a grain of salt. 
[QUOTE=Cher Z; Just take all the mumbo jumbo stuff with a grain of salt. ;)[/QUOTE]
Hello Cher Z can you tell us what this" mumbo jumbo " is that you refer to ?
thanks in advance
just take all the mumbo jumbo stuff with a grain of salt.
lol
I think we know what she means, and I fear that if she explains it it might lead to even more bickering among the group! lol
If she chooses to call it mumbo jumbo, then that’s fine, I think. If we disagree, we don’t have to voice it in this case.
The question is about what is more superior physically, not about what you call the spiritual part of doing asanas.
I honestly dont know what she thinks is mumbo jumbo , im interested to know what the poster means by this .
[QUOTE=charliedharma;41918]I honestly dont know what she thinks is mumbo jumbo , im interested to know what the poster means by this .[/QUOTE]
The stuff you have to put up with from people who claim yoga is not a religion but then turn around and spout religious “mumbo jumbo.”
Plus all the concepts that are supposed to be taken as a fact, without any proof, such as chakras and kundalini, “third eyes,” etc. etc.
Actually if you look at a map of the human nervous system, there are large nerve clusters in all the areas that are purported to be major chakras.
http://www.thegroundingtouch.com/page3/page5/page5.html
I haven’t done much research myself, but there have been great strides taken in exploring the scientific corrolaries to many of these things you call “mumbo jumbo”.
I recall reading recently that the acupuncture meridians have finally been given scientific validity as well.
So don’t brush it all off as “mumbo jumbo”, but I can see how it can be called such when it seems to come from a belief system rather than a solid scientific foundation.
Edited to add:
Thomas, I seem to recall that you are a Christian who practices yoga asanas - are we to say your beliefs are also “mumbo jumbo”?
I think we can refer to it as “mumbo jumbo” in a friendly, laughing way without being insulting as well.
I will assume that by “mumbo jumbo” she means the spiritual beliefs that are tied to the practice itself, and may be “preached” to you as you are practicing asanas.
“Mumbo jumbo” could mean a lot of things. If I dragged someone into my church and he had no clue what we do there, a lot of it would seem to be “mumbo jumbo.” It would make no sense to him unless explained.
New concepts ought to be explained and not presented as if they are scientific facts or decrees from God to be accepted without question.
To newbies in the yoga world, there is much “mumbo jumbo,” and there seems to be no desire on the part of the mumbo jumbolers to decipher or explain, and so we could be told to look out through our “third eye,” but excuse me, I only have two eyes…
Thomas has anyone really told you to look out of your third eye during a yoga class?
or in any other capacity ?
There are a myriad of teachers, gurus, books , and people on forums who are only too willing to share their experiences with you ,of course yoga is about ones direct experience and like any relationship takes time and effort to mature, the man who inspired this forum is as you put is a "mumbo jumboler " (according to your definition) and he has answered questions on the subjects you seem to find difficult.
No, I was not asked to look out my third eye, now that I think of it. I was asked to put my fingers where my third eye is, but I was hesitant, because I don’t like to poke myself in the eye.
From what I have read of chakras, kundalini, third eyes, astral planes, reincarnation, etc. etc., it will frankly remain “mumbo jumbo” to me, and I did not bring up that expression, but was sympathizing with another poster, who like me, understands that for some of us, practicing yoga means one must learn to overlook and ignore impositions of religion and strange beliefs, in spite of any assertions that it’s not religion and anyone of any faith may practice it, etc. So what’s the big deal if we call it “mumbo jumbo”? We’re inundated with it, and it’s nice to be able to vent about it. Just think of us as children who are too immature to understand it.
Thomas, doubting Thomas, when the Roman Catholic sect of Christians genuflect before the cross, making the sign of the cross with their fingers; the top of the cross is always at the Ajna Chakra.
Just a reminder Thomas Wooooooooo