What is it about yoga that is so damn fantastic? What keeps me (and so many others) rolling out our mats day in and out? I can think of many reasons why I do yoga, but when it comes down to it, I love yoga because of the way it makes me feel – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I'm sure many of you feel the same way.
I cherish my daily yoga practice and am so constantly amazed by what it brings to my life, both on and off the mat, that I’ve realized I want more than to just do it, but to talk about it too. It is like that feeling of being in love and glowing about every little detail to your girlfriends with a big, goofy grin on your face (and also equally important, venting when your love doesn't always live up to your expectations of it).
So, here I am, merging two of my greatest loves, yoga and writing, into what I hope to be a lovely, saucy coupling, venturing into my very first blog experience with cautious optimism. I feel like maybe I should have a big “Y” painted on my forehead and an armful of yoga straps to toss at the computer screen...
Anyhow, welcome! First and foremost, this will be a forum for which I can selfishly dish about my favorite subject, but I also hope it will engage and interest others out there with similar ideas, questions and thoughts about yoga, from new beginners groaning in downward dog (which don’t worry, you’re not alone) to seasoned practitioners and all of those in between. I hope you’ll share, discuss, ask questions, offer tips, commiserate, and offer your stories or favorite quotes. Feel free to agree, disagree, share your transformative stories or even vent about not so positive yoga experiences if you'd like. It doesn’t all have to be hippies, puppies and rainbows in here (though I'll warn you, there will be some puppies...)
So, here I am, merging two of my greatest loves, yoga and writing, into what I hope to be a lovely, saucy coupling, venturing into my very first blog experience with cautious optimism. I feel like maybe I should have a big “Y” painted on my forehead and an armful of yoga straps to toss at the computer screen...
Anyhow, welcome! First and foremost, this will be a forum for which I can selfishly dish about my favorite subject, but I also hope it will engage and interest others out there with similar ideas, questions and thoughts about yoga, from new beginners groaning in downward dog (which don’t worry, you’re not alone) to seasoned practitioners and all of those in between. I hope you’ll share, discuss, ask questions, offer tips, commiserate, and offer your stories or favorite quotes. Feel free to agree, disagree, share your transformative stories or even vent about not so positive yoga experiences if you'd like. It doesn’t all have to be hippies, puppies and rainbows in here (though I'll warn you, there will be some puppies...)
That said, each week, I'll write about whatever Yoga topic comes to mind (breathing, favorite poses, gurus, India, holy cows, ayruveda, the Yoga Sutras, yoga classes and DVDs, chanting, spirituality and philosophy to name a few ideas) and end with a question to encourage (again my optimistic side here) any further discussion and interaction in the cyberworld. Considering how many branches, layers of history, rich philosophy and diversity of experiences that are out there, I think there will be plenty to talk about.
I'll begin by answering the Question of the Week (found down below):
I’ve been practicing some form of yoga since I was 16, when my piano teacher handed me a Lilias Folan VHS that changed my life forever (I love you, Lilias!). After several years of practice, I traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for a month-long transformative spiritual "yoga boot camp” training immersion in 2001, which certified me as an instructor in Integral Yoga. I credit practicing and teaching yoga as the central reason I kept my sanity during the time I was working on my Master's thesis, which is an experience that finds you sometimes forgetting anything else exists.
Today, I practice a spiritual cocktail of Vinyasa flow, Integral, Sivananda, Jivamukti, and whatever else feels right on any given day, with my latest passion being Trance Dance Movement (more on that delicious subject later.)
I feel about yoga like I feel about religion and that is that no one path has to be THE right one and you can practice an eclectic buffet of many styles that fit your ideals and intuitive needs. It’s not for everyone, but that’s okay. My philosophy is that some people like peas while others like corn and still others just want some damn cake.
In the last 17 years since we first became acquainted, yoga has picked me up, rolled me out, dusted me off, nurtured and challenged me (often at the same time), taken me to amazing ashrams, to holy temples in India
Literally in sickness and in health, in richer and poorer, in good times and in bad (and sometimes worse), yoga has always been there for me with open, nonjudgmental, compassionate arms.
Literally in sickness and in health, in richer and poorer, in good times and in bad (and sometimes worse), yoga has always been there for me with open, nonjudgmental, compassionate arms.
Is it weird to say that it's one of the best relationships I have ever had?
All I know is that after all of these years, I’m more in love than ever. That’s not to say it’s always been smooth, easy sailing. Like any relationship, yoga and I have had our times of not speaking to each other. But that’s for another entry…
And now for you, the Question of the Week:
Why do you practice (or have an interest in) yoga?
And for your Yogic contemplation – introducing Banjo Mulligan! My pointy-headed, leaky-eyed, rescued beagle/whippet/we-don't-know-quite-what-she-is hound dog.
The epitome of the perfect yogi, she enjoys stretching out under me when I am in triangle or downward dog (ha), choosing the exact moment when I lay down in savasana (relaxation pose) to give me a full out tongue bath to the face (not so conducive to achieving inner stillness), and terrorizing squirrels...which, I guess is not so yogic. But she doesn't really seemed to be bothered by this inconsistency. And hey, even the gurus are sometimes inconsistent.
Until next week.
The epitome of the perfect yogi, she enjoys stretching out under me when I am in triangle or downward dog (ha), choosing the exact moment when I lay down in savasana (relaxation pose) to give me a full out tongue bath to the face (not so conducive to achieving inner stillness), and terrorizing squirrels...which, I guess is not so yogic. But she doesn't really seemed to be bothered by this inconsistency. And hey, even the gurus are sometimes inconsistent.
Until next week.
Namaste,
Amala
Great first post and I'll follow your writings over the weeks. As for your question of the week, I'm interested in yoga because so many people that I respect have spoken of it benefits. For me, I suppose the bigger question is, "Why haven't I put more effort into learning about yoga?"
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question, Madison. Over the years, there have definitely been plenty of times when my yoga practice and interest has waned and I think most practitioners have this experience. Like any relationship, there are ebbs and flows. I do find that the more I learn and research about yoga, the more grounded and complete the practice feels. It's always good to know why you're doing what you're doing, whatever that may be. Thanks for reading and I look forward to more of your interaction and questions.
ReplyDeleteYoga is my key to the gateway between worlds. Its the warm up that leads my mind to places I had only been as a child unaware of the importance of imagination/other realities. We don't grow out of that power to step between worlds; we stop using it. Yoga taught me that valuable lesson in 2004 when I needed a gym credit to graduate high school so I signed up through PSEO and took Beginning Yoga with Eva at Sinclair. If it weren't for my bull headed stubborn nature I would never have shit talked my parents into letting me take French instead of gym. That decision alone spiraled me into a much happier and powerful Amanda Winfield.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreeance with Madison, in that many people I respect and look up to have spoke of the benefits of the practice. I personally have practiced some, but always find myself to busy/lazy/stressed to put a lot of effort into it despite how interested I am in the subject. This of course applies to many other things in my life as well, however I firmly believe that if I were to allow the time for yoga in my life, I would find that I am less affected by the business and stress of everyday and would in turn be a much healthier and active human being.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that meditation and yoga have kind of an internal silence in mind. I have always admired the idea of being able to be completely zen, and literally shut the world out and find that silence, but I firmly believe I will never achieve it! My brain is a mad house! Even in my calmest hour, I truly believe most people would go crazy at the constant noise that runs through the halls of my brain. So not only is the idea of relaxation and self healing and calmness appealing, the quietness and peace of mind it claims to offer is challenging. I'm reminded of a quote from Ellen Degeneres:
“I was in yoga the other day. I was in full lotus position. My chakras were all aligned. My mind is cleared of all clatter and I'm looking out of my third eye and everything that I'm supposed to be doing. It's amazing what comes up, when you sit in that silence. 'Mama keeps whites bright like the sunlight, Mama's got the magic of Clorox 2.'”
All of this combined, the health and the challenges it presents, is intriguing to me!
Carrie Zwayer
@rifraf - I love it! Great explanation as an imagination springboard. Very Neverending story. :) I agree completely. It takes you to another way of thinking/perception. You are definitely a happy and powerful Amanda. LOL
ReplyDelete@Carrie - what a thoughtful response - you've given me some inspiration for future entry topics too, on motivation and meditation.
ReplyDeleteMost of us suffer from the "monkey mind" - the crazy brain chaos/chatter you (and I) and most everyone has when we try to calm ourselves down. The Buddhists and Yogis suffered from it too so they have lots of meditation and breathing techniques to help calm this hyperactive monkey! I'll make sure to bring those in here.
Thanks for the ideas (and for the great Ellen quote - I may have to recycle that. :)
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ReplyDeleteI like yoga-because it affirms to my body, that it is indeed just that-a body-sometimes weak, sometimes tired, sometimes strong, sometimes nothing of what I wish for it. A body-created with Love's (yes, God) best intent with eternal potential to be more than I believe it can be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know you didn't ask this-but I hate yoga-mostly because I feel as though, some who do it, do it in spite of that which I hold dear--a deep connection to Christianity that I feel is constantly misrepresented through a wave of intellectuals whom think that Christianity is something that it is not and Yoga is something more. (This is not a shot at any of you! I'm finally reading Eat, Pray, Love, which has ignited this dissatisfaction of misrepresentation.)
@Carrie S. You know, I wondered how you'd feel about Eat, Pray, Love. I thought maybe the same reasons I loved it might be the same reasons you didn't. :D I guess I don't see yoga and religious/spiritual practice as so separate. Even though yoga is NOT a religion, it can be a very spiritual practice coupled and inclusive with any other religious tradition, whether that be Christianity, Buddhism, whatever. I can understand your frustration with the way people define Christianity because people do the same thing with yoga. One person's yoga may be a totally different thing than my yoga, just like your Christianity may be completely different than my great-grandmother's version in South Carolina in the early 1900's. I think that's the beauty of religion - it is so individual and up to the perceiver. It's the same with yoga. How can we limit it to one tiny definition or manifestation? Hmmmm...I smell a blog entry. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you-that one person's "anything" might be totally different than another's. And that definitely seems to be the case with yoga--I really enjoyed reading the others' responses for that very reason. And I don't necessarily see religious/spiritual practice as separate either.
ReplyDeleteFor me, yoga has been a purely physical endeavor (that has always been the circumstance and intent behind it when I've done it) , which is not to say that I wouldn't be open to experiencing it has something else or something different, especially knowing many have experienced it as a more spiritual practice--perhaps you all could lead me to a space in which that might be possible?! (: I look forward to the next entry!
@Carrie S. Oooohh, this is my favorite aspect of yoga! :) The asana (postures) is only one of eight limbs of yoga, the meditation, breathing and ultimate oneness (samadhi) or as Christians would call it, atonement, are much more prominent in defining yoga. The problem is that in the west, only the asana/physical part has been emphasized as a form of exercise (because it is GREAT exercise!) and for some, that's all they want and that's their choice, but there is just SO much more to it is all. Okay, DEFINITELY an entry for this one! :D
ReplyDelete