u/JudgeBorn8370

Is it normal to feel so much more expended after a Led session ? Did this yesterday

In Mysore style, I keep getting the verbal adjustment of ‘breathing into’ a certain area. Does that mean to focus on that part of the body? Like send your awareness there?

And if you’re doing all of these micro adjustments is one truly still in their 5 breaths? Or are we supposed to micro adjust and then stop and then do the 5 breaths? I suppose not during a led session ?

These were the thoughts running through my mind today. I wonder with the busy-ness of this can you consider this a ‘good session’ / was I doing yoga ‘correctly’.

It’s ridiculous I know.

Hi does anyone have any intel on practicing mysore in Shanghai? Y+ is the only one that I know of but there are so many locations. Or does anyone know of any others to recommend? Thank you

I grew up in Christian schools so I must admit my programming is still very black or white: spirituality means ‘doing the right thing’ and ‘avoid doing the wrong thing’. And be a better person. I’m curious as to what walking a spiritual path actually means in the wider sense?

Recently I’ve been very interested in advaita vedanta and philosophy through the lens of yoga practice. I would like to say I am on some sort of path, though I’m not sure what yet. But the world is opening up for me in terms of beauty, bliss and overall okay-ness. Interested in the discussion.

When I go into kurmasana, and then get assisted, the outside part of my left thigh starts to feel reaaal weird almost like it could snap. The more I try to squeeze my knees in against my left arm, and then go down, that tighty weird feeling is worse. Not so much the right side. Is this my iliotibial band or something? What can I do to make this better? Thanks!

Edit: also, I always cross my right over my left leg. When I do it the other way around, I feel like my left leg doesn’t get over my knee enough so I don’t like doing it that way. If that helps. Baddha padmasana I do right in then left, I can only bind one side at a time not both.

I don’t see these things as mutually exclusive. Eventually one turns towards the devotional aspects as one goes deeper e.g chanting mantras, reading and studying the philosophy. Otherwise all it is is merely asana practice, a practice of shape making. And then does devotional then lean into the spiritual and where does one draw the line? People say yoga is older than sanatan dharma (‘hinduism’) but there is a lot of overlap. Interested in the discussion.

The best way I can describe it is being alone in a void and I could sense I was alone and I was scared. Not really an out of body experience. I had to blink myself out of it. Didn’t take long into the session when it happened.. is this the threshold of going deeper?

How’s it all going?

I thought I’d restart this again as a chai and chat space for practitioners to talk about their weekly practice. Whatever comes up. (Even better if someone well versed in the yogic readings can link the observations or questions back to the core texts.) I would hope it continues to be a safe encouraging space and helps others deepen their practice and find support in community. See how we go and if the series fizzles out so be it! Om shanti

Hope everyone’s practice is going well.

1. A thought occurred to me in savasana: Say you get to the point where you were able to stand up from urdva danurasana. Did you then progress to intermediate? Or did you wait or get held etc until you could do tik toks? Or did tik toks come after you’d done intermediate and primary for many more years or maybe some of you still don’t do tik toks?

2. What -should- you actually be thinking about/actually happens in your mind in savasana

3. I have not been able to do long savasanas of a minimum 15 mins. What should I do to make it up. It’s mainly time pressure not inability…
   Is this detrimental over time?
   Do you try to squeeze it in later on in the day?
   Does sitting meditation count towards savasana time?

Thanks

The Gita talks about doing one’s duty and not seeking personal reward. But in a capitalist society and as a working person, I work for my family and in the service industry, how much I get paid is linked to my service. My duty is a working mother to provide for my children. How can I perform what I was trained to do and my duty, while renounce personal reward in this modern world ? If I give someone a quote, and they don’t pay me or they under pay me, how do I practice compassion and let it go?

Practice reflections and seeking community -
Currently stopped at supta kurmasana. It takes me 1h 15 to get through it but I do feel the time pressure to wrap up as I have to get on with my day. 1h30 if there’s a bit of instruction in the Mysore room, proper savasana meditation and pranayama
Without going too much into it, I feel the practice working past the physical for sure. Yet I find myself thinking how much there is to refine in my practice let alone progress to the next pose.
I’m just interested to hear from the group

1. teachers - how do you gauge progress / what makes you move a student on? like is it a ‘perfect’ looking pose you’re after or? Eg if a student is only able to bind fingers and not catch wrists in a bind or can’t really reach hands in supta kurmasana, do you keep a student there or move them on?

2. People who have added poses on or extended their practice from half primary to full primary or even second series - have you noticed any differences : physically mentally spiritually?

3. How do you split the week if you’re practicing full primary? Do you do half some days and second half on others and full on days where you have more time?

4. Time is immaterial but I struggle at this point to see how I would ever get to the full primary without sacrificing ‘quality’ in some way. I’m a householder through and through with a pretty full life and just about manage a six day a week practice which I find sweet and not a chore at this point. Are most people yoga teachers who are doing the full primary or students with alot of free time, or did a really advanced practice when they were in their 20s and now are just paring back to full primary or just maintaining ?

Curious and contemplative, not competing. Thanks for sharing!

I’m a little uncomfortable writing this post. I’ve been doing a lot of reading around yoga beyond asanas, the concept of Bhakti and guru culture. I mean I love the practice and yes to me it’s alot deeper than just the physical. However nowhere in the scriptures does it ever clearly define morality. The observances and restraints seem to serve as mere suggestions. There isn’t an overarching Christian God like figure that metes out punishment if you do something wrong. And if we are all faces of the self /god and this physical body is just a flesh vessel, and one pledges devotion to the Guru because Guru is god , then it excuses alot of uncomfortable behaviour like c**** marriage, and abuse , human sacrifices?? Because the guru demands it. Or god demands it. even the SA of PJ .. does anyone get what I’m getting at? The yogic vibe is like an approach of detachment like oh well karmically you’re a point down but don’t dwell on it too much. Indian culture used to have questionable practices like throwing widows into the funeral pyre .. I mean if you really want to go deep into this.. where does all of this sit? Because if you identify as a yogi, then how do you reconcile with all this? Happy to be educated and corrected. Or just do the asanas and just stick to that.

Overthinkers assemble!: I’ve been contemplating the practice of Ashtanga. If the overall sketch and structure can be kept the same, and we allow ourselves certain deviations to sustain the practice long term, I’m assuming there is no ‘wrong speed’ of breathing, is there? Some days, the 5 breaths seem to take too long. I have to get the practice done within an hour so today I ramped up speed of breathing. Suppose it doesn’t matter? I haven’t come across anything in the yoga sutras or HYP that says anything to the contrary, so long as the dristhi is on the breath and it is controlled and timed to the movement of vinyasa? Thanks for comments.

What is it like practicing there? Planning to go for a week or 5 days while I am in the area. I think the shala is in a hotel? Any comments on staying on site? Thanks

I’ve noticed that advanced practitioners breathe soundlessly almost. How loud should ujayi actually be? I find breathing louder helps me engage the accessory muscles and bandhas more and also acts as a point of focus. I wonder if anyone has any deeper insights to this.

Contemplating going on a week long retreat/workshop overseas with one of my favourite teachers later this year. Would be my first yoga retreat. Beginner, doing bit more than half primary. (Supta
Kurmasana). Seeking experiences on what it’s like, what you did on your downtime in between mysore and workshop, and whether it’s added to your practice. Not looking primarily to relax or have a holiday. Some of these places are pretty outside of town and require significant lengths of travel and time off work so want to get some idea if it’s ’worth it’.

Contemplating going next year for the first time and also first time to India. Can anyone break down the logistics for me? Is it as straightforward as just booking the retreat buying my plane ticket and going? Will I need shots? Unlikely to have time to see much else outside of Goa so might for for 7-10 days. Please share your experiences, thank you!

Doubt inevitably creeps in. Long term daily practitioners, how do you deal with doubt in ashtanga practice?

I find myself wavering. To draw an analogy, it feels like when you are lifting up in navasana or uthplutihi and you are battling with yourself and the excuses your mind makes. ‘…why not..?’ And ‘…why/why should…?’ What’s the point of it all ..This is why I find the argument for modification and customisation such a slippery slope.

Say you had a bad run with painful knees, did he let you skip or allow you to proceed with modified poses til you got better or tell you to stop there or push through?