what yoga exercises do you do?

[island_sands]

adolphin has recommended me a yoga instructor here in Abu Dhabi, only 250dhs for ten sessions. (about 70usd), for one on one training. I have seen his results, greatly improved flexibility and also better performance in the water.

Apparently he teaches hatha yoga... from other people I hear Ashtanga yoga works better.

[Fondueset]

Ashtanga is a vigorous form of Hatha Yoga. People who like it always say it works better. It is named after Patanjali's Ashtanga (8-limbed) yoga however, depending on your reading of Patanjali, Hatha work is an aspect of Ashtanga - which describes Raja Yoga - Hatha embodying a different emphasis as a distinct path. Pattabi Jois - founder of Ashtanga Hatha yoga calls it thus in order to emphasize a practice which embraces the other limbs such as morality and meditation - but his emphasis is clearly Hatha Yoga. (he studied under Krischnamacharya - as did BKS Iyengar, Indra Devi, TKV Desikachar (K's son) and a number of others. All came away and developed their own approaches - sign of a truly great teacher.) Personally I like the way 'ashtanga' is organized into asana series with vinyasa (flow) between poses - structured breathing, bandhas and eye movements. It gives you something solid to work toward and on but there is also the possibility of forcing your body to conform to the practice. These elements are also not unique to Jois' Ashtanga.

The short point is that Ashtanga is a school of hatha yoga. I think its useful to point out that Hatha Yoga is very much about de-conditioning the body - reducing the physiological noise level and liberating energy stored as habit, conflict and blockage. It is important to approach it in balanced way according to time, place and person. It will make you physiologically more efficient.

The former bass player for The Police, shortly after he took up ashtanga hatha yoga, announced that, as a result, he could now have sex for at least eight hours continuously. Almost immediately he appeared on the cover of Yoga Journal and on TV, his oiled body clad only in some sort of genuine hindu underwear, performing basic asanas of the ashtanga first series. Being famous and ultra good-looking, nobody asked him how long he could go if someone else was involved..

[island_sands]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

The former bass player for The Police, shortly after he took up ashtanga hatha yoga, announced that, as a result, he could now have sex for at least eight hours continuously. Almost immediately he appeared on the cover of Yoga Journal and on TV, his oiled body clad only in some sort of genuine hindu underwear, performing basic asanas of the ashtanga first series. Being famous and ultra good-looking, nobody asked him how long he could go if someone else was involved..

Right that's it. Goes without saying Although if I were to have sex for 8 hours continously I would prefer someone to be there.


Thanks for the info Chris

[island_sands]

What this "art of living" course is trying to do is get everyone into the "present moment" - not think about the past, or future. Hence all the panting, hyperventilation, and arm movements while breathing in and out, and then people collapse in a heap afterwards.

IMO, the only time you can ever reach this point, is when you orgasm.

In the culture/tradition of the people who teach Art of Living, such a feeling can only happen between married couples. Perhaps I am being a little explicit here, but I see it as a way to experience euphoria (to a certain degree) without actually having sex.

Or perhaps I am uncultured and naive.

[Fondueset]

If you love freediving you've probably outgrown most of that other stuff.

I mean, euphoria is fun and everything - but its also a state and no state exists without its immediate opposite. There is also the release from our usual conditioning, habits blah blah - which liberates tremendous energy resulting in a sort of 'high' - the problem is people become addicted to the release - and the technology that promotes it - when its not really about the release but about a much more profound sort of shift. Idreas Shah in his book, The Sufis, says the Sufic attitude toward Euphoric states is that dwelling on them is essentially a dissipation of potential. I would say such states can serve as portals, insofar as they are moments when the mechanics of identity are suspended, but the point of interest is the discreet continuum between states.

[svetliy]

Just to add a bit to the topic: Iyengar has written excellent books on yoga and specifically pranayama. They are technical and detailed, with photos, and list the effects of every asana. His way of practicing yoga is different from Ashtanga, his asanas are static and pranayama is advised to be practiced under supervision and only after you have covered the basic asanas, whereas as far as I know in Ashtanga special breathing technique is incorporated from the beginning.

Iyengar's "Light on Yoga" can be a good start. I think it is available for a download somewhere on the web. There is also a chapter on pranayama in this book. It must be available for download on the web. If you were not able to find it..well,PM me

[island_sands]

What are the recommended inhalation times for pranayama? This guy teaches us to inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds and hold for 2 before starting again. And also doing in in the phases of hands on hips, chest and then behind the neck.

Then we had to throw our hands in the air, while inhaling, and pull them down fast for exhaling. 3 sets of 20 for that… by which time, I notice people getting a bit light headed.

[svetliy]

I am not practicing pranayamas yet,but it must be dependent on pranayama you are actually doing. For example ,according to Iyengar, in ujjayi pranayama (legs crossed, with feet on the hips, stretched hands with your palms up on your knees) you hold a breath after full inhalation for 1-2 seconds, than exhale for 2-3 seconds, pause for a second and then inhale again.
Hand manipulation is probably done to force your chest muscles move in right direction.dunno. have to ask gurus

[Fondueset]

Right, there are many types of pranayama - times, proportions and rythms depend on the practice. That is a good begining pattern and will emphasize relaxation - Sands. The arm movements help open the breathing spaces in the lungs.

Iyengar is very encyclopedic and thorough. The book is a good reference but can be overwhelming. Best to approach your teacher with an open mind, practice as taught and see what happens.

(FYI- Petoskey stones are on the agenda this summer - I have my agents hunting them)

[Adrian]

Chris is right, so many schools of pranayama, depends what you want to do. I had to google Petoskey stones to see what relationship they had with pranayama

[island_sands]

Hurrah!! I have a few different jars of different stones around my apartment, bit none as pretty as yours chris

I will work on the pranayamas, I think I prefer to do it at night instead of morning though, as I get too relaxed and feel like sleeping afterwards.