Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Musings: Yoga on and off the Mat




One must start a journey by taking that first step.

Life is a journey whether we acknowledge it or not.  Challenges are daily.  How we address these challenges is a true test of our character mentally, physically and spiritually.  Yoga for me has been an unfolding to reveal my "true" nature.  My Yoga practice is and will continue to be more than just the Asana (Yoga postures).

When I teach a class it is always to the student's abilities.  Asana is the focus of the Yoga class but my long term students know that I infuse the philosophy and Ayurvedic medicine whenever and wherever possible.  When you are practicing a Yogic posture the time of day, your mental state of mind, the season, what you ate before class, your age, gender, dosha (body constitution), and more come into play.  It is not just about the Asana (posture) but about you and everything that effects you.  And what is even more fascinating is that by paying acute attention to the asana, you bring the mind, body and soul into harmony and balance.  You are in the present moment.  That is a present or gift you give to yourself! 

Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences that really need to be taught together.  

If you are unfamiliar with body types (doshas) within the Ayurvedic science then I  recommend you read my previous post on the doshas that will give you some general info and a test to see which body type you are.

Ayurvedic knowledge is like the key that opens up the door to so many more possibilities.  Once you learn your primary and secondary doshas then you can look up foods that balance your body constitution.  You don't have to remove foods that exacerbate your dosha but just watch, for example, how your body feels when you eat red meat on a hot summer's day and you don't live in air conditioning.  Red meat heats up the body and if you are a Pitta type then that would not only make you very uncomfortable because the body gets very hot  while you are digesting it, you might even become angry due to the excess heat produced.  (Pitta types are supposed to think happy thoughts since we have a tendency to anger quickly.  Good to know!)

I will have to say that knowing doshas helps me deal with people in general.  And it is fun to just know the different doshas and watch people act accordingly.  Fascinating study, really.

Also, I revolve my teaching around the seasons (more cooling type poses in the summer and warming poses in the winter).  But if I have a bunch of Kapha types, I might have a more dynamic class since they need to move and they have a long endurance once they get going.  So once again, I teach to the student needs and abilities while keeping other variables in mind.

So there are many facets or layers available beyond the pursuit of the picture perfect asana.  I hope I have whetted your appetite to the possibilities.  There is a plethora of information available about this subject matter these days, which is great.  Maybe you have already started your investigations.  Here are some of my favorite authors on Ayurvedic medicine:

Dr. David Frawley
Dr. Robert Svoboda
Dr. Vasant Lad

Every once and awhile someone, usually a student of mine, will ask me how often do I practice Yoga.  I usually get a big smile on my face and reply, "All the time.  I am practicing Yoga right now."  Of course, the student is talking about the asana only.  What I am wanting them to understand, and you as well, is that Yoga does not end once you are off the mat and out of the room.  Yoga, the truest teachings, are with you teaching you moment by moment.  Even if the only teachings you take with you off the mat are paying attention to this present moment and using the breath to bring the focus back with every inhalation and exhalation.  If that is all you have learned.....then your teacher did their job.

Namaste`

~Cat

Cool link about the liver below