How Can We Make This Group Work For Us?

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Permalink Reply by Tawni on August 6, 2008 at 5:11pm

Hi Uti! I just joined, and was very happy to. I would love to share ideas! I am new to the group, so I wasn't sure yet how it worked...but I will definitely post something soon. I'm having some breakthroughs right now in my practice, and am tapping into some profound energies as of late...due to the raw diet, books I've read and other info, etc. It is all rolled into one. Thanks for asking, you were probably just what everyone needed at this time, to put yourself out there.

Hola Samastha, Zuchino Bavanthu... (I hope I spelled it right) ~Tawni~

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on August 6, 2008 at 5:29pm

nothing that I can think of specifically. Maybe if someone could suggest a good Yoga video for a new mom would be great. It might have already been covered but would still like some suggestions. I am discovering that only being roughly 7 weeks into it that inverted poses are a bit strange/not as comfortable as before.
Thanks

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Permalink Reply by ॐ Melanie ॐ on August 6, 2008 at 8:42pm

What about if we did a weekly "posture clinic forum" of sorts where we took one posture and disected it, etc?

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Permalink Reply by Uti on August 6, 2008 at 8:53pm

This is an encouraging start. Please keep the ideas coming.

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Permalink Reply by The SaladMander on August 10, 2008 at 4:17am

That sounds good.

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Permalink Reply by sheri on August 6, 2008 at 9:28pm

Hi Uti... well, for one I think that it would be nice to describe the different types of yoga and the names. I think it would be nice to know who is doing what. Most people who are new to yoga put it all under one umbrella when in fact there are different types. It might be nice, too, for people to let others new to yoga what their practice is like on a weekly basis so those new to yoga can get a better understanding of what a solid practice is like. I know there are extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other, but it would be nice to get an overview. That's just off the top of my head.. I'll think more on this..

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Permalink Reply by Lucky Penne on August 7, 2008 at 2:39pm

Hi, Uti -- thanks for asking! I just completed El-bo's 'July 31-Day 80/10/10 Experience' at Gone Raw (Fantastic! See profile page/July blog post for details) and haven't yet gotten back into the swing of things here on Ning, but knew I'd need this group once all was said and done :D This month's focus is on adding in the fitness component to my new routine, so you have perfect timing.

My oldest daughter introduced me to the fine art of yoga years ago, but I have only dabbled in it since. Nike did her homework on the subject when she first got interested in learning yoga and picked up YJ's set of DVDs with Natasha Rizopoulos. We really like Natasha's style, and I've recently added Bryan Kest's Power Yoga 123 series to our collection, on the recommendation of Natalia Rose. Very nice.

Since I'm still very much a novice, I also hope to read more reviews from experienced members on the types of practice and programs they most enjoy and why (IRL or DVD.) Glad to be here! :D

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Permalink Reply by Anne Gacquerelle-Campion on August 9, 2008 at 8:23am

Hello Uti, I just joined your group. Since going raw (last year in october), my desire to go back to yoga deepened. I used to practice yoga 10 years ago in the US, then stopped for 2 years, then started again for one year (in Paris), then stopped for 3 years (in Brussels), then started again in NY and hurt my left hip (an Iyengar class that was too much for my level so my own 'fault' and the problem was probably there before this yoga class anyway), and finally just started again 3 weeks ago at my gym where I enrolled 2 months ago (in Sydney). Classes there are not 'enough' even though I really enjoy them. They last only 45mn (too short) and I can really only attend one class a week (due to the hours not matching my schedule). So I have just found a yoga teacher I haven't met yet but I intend to try her classes out. I NEED to do yoga now, it is calling me. AND it replaces my osteopath sessions (for the hip....). I'll be glad to share how it goes. And thank you for this discussion.
Anne

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Permalink Reply by Uti on August 10, 2008 at 2:27am

Anne, I agree with you on the length of classes. 45 minutes is too short. A good length for a class is 90 minutes which allows for some sharing before and a breath practice to start the hatha portion, leaving a good solid 45 to 50 min. of actual asanas and a final relaxation period of 10 minutes or more.

There's a practice I do which is called a "beginning practice". I've been doing it for over 10 years now at least once a week. There is always a new level to explore with each of the poses, so I never get bored with it because I'm always bringing a new being to my mat. It's a wonderful practice for healing the body from all the abuses of sports, work injuries, and the physical traumas life occasionally hands us. The person who originated this practice had been a body builder and runner for many years and he used the practice to heal himself from severe back injuries where the doctors said surgery was the only hope.

I've taken classes which were very athletic and focussed on flexibility, which I am not very. There was little breath consciousness, which is 90% of an asana, and the students were muscling themselves trying to get the pose "textbook right" to the point of injuring themselves. For me, yoga is not about using the body to do the pose, it's about using the pose to open and heal the body --- the pose doing you.

Classes are great and a place to give and get feedback, but as my Baba says at the end of every class, "True gains come in a personal practice." I've found that to be so true. The more I take home something from a class and explore it in my practice, the more I shift and change and heal.

So what I would look for in a class are: emphasis on the breath in the asanas - softness, gentleness and loving kindness towards the body - and an instructor who guides each student to their beginning place in each pose, thereby avoiding injuries.

I look forward to hearing more about your new class experience. Please continue to share with us.

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Permalink Reply by artwings on August 10, 2008 at 3:06am

"I never get bored with it because I'm always bringing a new being to my mat. "
SO BEAUTIFULLY SAID!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Gacquerelle-Campion on August 10, 2008 at 4:35pm

Thank you Uti, beautifully said and wise. I needed that.
Anne

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Permalink Reply by artwings on August 11, 2008 at 12:18pm

What geographic location are you thinking of David?

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