Say someone knows enough about yoga asana to safely lead a group of people in demonstration and participation. Let?s assume 85% of the participants have no experience with any parts of yoga and their original intent for attending is; stress relief, flexibility, balance or body conditioning. I would like to get a general, introductory collective thought in laymen?s terms as to what yoga is or not from this forum. So I?m imagining a short verbal spiel along with a one page hand out. The idea is not to do anyone a disservice by allowing them to think they are doing anything but yoga asana. The other 15% of the people would be dealt with on an individual bases. I?ve been using my own thoughts but thinking I might I receive some additional ones here.
You are looking for an ‘elevator speech’. Here goes:
[B]Yoga asanas were designed to reduce stress, increase strength, improve mobility, and create balance. Yoga integrates the mind, body, and the breath into a moving meditation. Over time the practice of yoga changes the quality of the mind. As the mind changes we experience self-knowledge and freedom[/B].
P.S. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to write this down.
Thanks Flex that?s what I was looking for, I guess it was good enough since no one else had comments, I should get out more often, I never heard the terminology ‘elevator speech’ before had to Google it.
The silence may be the equivalent of a collective ‘hhrrruummphh!’. I know that 85% of yoga practitioners in this neck of the woods do so as part of a fitness routine and a nice way to de-stress, but that ticks some devotees off who find that view a bit shallow. My thing is: if that is your entry to yoga, no problem. It could open the door to more, if you are so inclined.
Yes I agree, its? all good, for many westerners the progression seems to be yoga asana at the local gym, check out the local yoga studio, research the internet, add meditation into the mix, perhaps curiosity into Buddhism but yes it?s a starting point. If they don?t get intimidated, the Forum gives them a great opportunity to become conscious more. Intellectual vs. intuitive yoga has been my meditation lately.
The silence may also be ten things other than hhrrruummphh.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;56849]The silence may also be ten things other than hhrrruummphh.[/QUOTE]
… 
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;56849]The silence may also be ten things other than hhrrruummphh.[/QUOTE]
I’m all ears
Here Ray…
“Yoga is a vast system, given to humanity by ‘we don’t exactly know’ for the purpose of mindful evolution of human beings. That system is not static but instead adapting to meet the needs of humanity in its current context just as it did in its past context and hopefully will in its future context. One of the tools within that vast system is the physical practice known as asana. That is the sliver of the forest we’ll be focusing on today as it is often the one most readily available, easily palpated, and simply conveyed.”
Thanks, precisely penetrating, properly pertinent, particularly poignant…than again I didn?t expect any less from you Gordon.