February 2008 - Yoga Tap

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Yoga Tap - February 2008

Routine Alterations & Adaptions: Padottanasana

February 29th 2008 14:50

One pose I perform as a general 'whenever-I-wanna' stretch rather than as part of my routine is Padottanasana. I find this useful to perform after a period of gardening, especially before cooking or cleaning if such follows. It tends to relieve any tension caused in my back, hips or shoulders, which has built up from bending and working bent over in the yard.

To perform this asana, stand with your legs wide apart, feet facing forward. Reaching behind, clasp your fingers together and raise the arms slightly, keeping them straight. Inhaling, raise the arms further, pushing them out behind you until you can feel a mild pressure. Exhaling, tip forwards from the hip, keeping your legs straight. Keeping your balance focused in the legs, bring the head down towards the ground in front of you, pulling the interlocked hands out behind your head lowering them towards the ground to feel a minor pull in the shoulder region

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Routine Alterations & Adaptions: Frontal Savasana

February 27th 2008 18:02

One of the postures I at times indulge in, though not within my Yoga practice, is the Frontal Corpse Pose. Although I generally perform it when utterly exhausted after a sleepless night and in need of a pause between work sessions or work and chores rather than in my routine, it can replace the regular Savasana. As with other versions, remaining in the pose is generally recommended for a minimum of five minutes, preferably around twenty.

Instead of lying flat on your back, you lie face down, with your head turned to one side. Your legs should be slightly apart and the feet bent outwards to further elongate the body. Your arms should be close to your sides with the palms turned upward. Eyes are generally meant to be closed, but one information source instructs that the mouth should be partially open, whereas the others do not mention it

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Other poses, which I do not indulge in: The headstand

February 22nd 2008 18:52

Sirshasana is a pose I do not personally indulge in. Whereas some people find it fearful to attempt, others like myself find it difficult due to the condition of our body. My muscles are not yet firm and able enough to gracefully perform this position. I would be more wobble, less benefit, and no ease, so I leave it alone.

If you wish to try it out for your own practice routine, you should firstly kneel on the floor with your lower arms crossed so that hands touch alternative elbows. Pushing your hands out in front, lock your fingers in a central position and place the rear of your head into the pocket created by the joined fingers. Remember to use this triangular base for balance and support

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Routine additives & alterations: The wheel/crab

February 20th 2008 18:04

The wheel of Chakrasana is a pose very similar to the crab which I learned from TV in my childhood, whilst laughing at my innocent mother's futile attempts to struggle into the easy version. I could climb into the pose quickly if not properly, and I could also do the walking about within the pose which is where the name crab differentiates it from the basic wheel position. Currently, I am somewhat less agile than in my single-digit youth. However, I have often managed to temporarily get into the basic position, though I am definitely no longer able to walk about as if a crab!

There are two differing ways of obtaining this position, the easy and the advanced. For beginners, those who are less supple, and those who are older or unsteady, the easy method is recommended. Whereas if you are young, fit, bendy and able, you can establish this asana via the advanced route

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Diet & Fasting: Classic theory 2 fasting

February 18th 2008 19:57

The Yogic dietary system is not alone in recommending fasting as a practice. Many religions, including both Buddhism & Christianity, have either accepted or recommended the practice. The Yogic practice of fasting is based upon the intentions to purify, cleanse and revivify the body and to control the mind and spirit.

From the Yoga literature that I have read so far, it is suggested that you fast for one day in every 7-10, or for 3-4 days once every 1-3 months. The former building will power and body discipline, whereas the latter will fully rejuvenate and detoxify both the body and mind. It is not recommended to fast whilst pregnant, breast feeding, or whilst taking medication

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Diet & Fasting: Classic theory 1 the basic Yogic diet

February 15th 2008 17:01

From my readings of Yoga literature, there appear to be two main pathways to follow if taking Yoga practice beyond the mat and into the region of proper diet. The first attitude is to eat natural products only, limiting secondary products and concentrating on primary. The second attitude is to eat only a pure diet and include fasting. Whereas I am heading towards the former approach, I recognize the latter as the correct way to eat. I simply am not prepared to personally drop my favored foods that do not fall within its guidelines. Additionally, I cook for my teenage son who has his own fads and favoritisms, and need to take this into account.

Taking the first attitude, the easiest method to adapt your eating habits into an acceptable Yogic form is to firstly stop purchasing anything that is artificially flavored, colored, processed, or otherwise altered. Buy only pure, natural, unprocessed foods. Secondly, reduce (then abstain if possible) eating meat, fish and alcoholic items

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Diet & Fasting: Me

February 13th 2008 15:11

Whereas I have yet to perfect my diet, I have made major advances over the past couple of years. Though not all tie in with my Yoga practice, I recognize the classic Yoga diet instructions as superior to modern fad diets and government recommendations, neither of which I pay the least attention to.

My current diet is mostly based upon what my body feels a need for, and when it feels the need to consume. I tend to favor basic natural foods bought at the deli or Asian supermarket over packaged processed regular supermarket products. I also prefer to eat fresh fruit and veg. from my yard, which I know to be truly grown organically. (I use seed, mud, water, homemade compost from kitchen scraps, and nature's weather ONLY!) I have succeeded in lessening my chocolate intake and limiting my meat eating habits. I am at present exploring the effects of the three types of food listed in the Yoga diet literature on my own body

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Routine additives & alterations: Ardha Matsyendrasana & Matsyendrasana

February 11th 2008 19:08

I find most written instruction for the Spinal Twist confusing, and performing the regular version too complicated and uncomfortable. It seems to be a mass of inconveniently placed limbs and of no advantage to my personal routine. I therefore prefer to use the pregnancy version and/or sometimes the standing version.

To perform Ardha Matsyendrasana, kneel on the floor sitting on your heels, and then slip sideways to sit to the right side of your feet. Maintaining an erect spine, place your left leg to the other side of the right, the foot next to the opposing leg. Next, extend your arms out horizontally to the sides and twist leftwards before lowering your right hand to hold your left foot. The left hand should be positioned behind you on the ground. From this position, twist as far left as possible whilst exhaling and hold whilst looking over the left shoulder. Hold and release 2-3 times. Repeat the posture, trading left with right

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Bhadrasana and Sukhasana

February 8th 2008 19:04

In order to ease old and rigid bodies into obtaining the Lotus/Half-Lotus positions, two exercises technically labeled Bhadrasana are generally suggested. For both these poses, sit on the floor with your feet close to the body and sole-to-sole, knees outwards, and your spine straight.

To perform the movement termed Butterfly, grasp hold of your feet in your hands, and then raise and lower your knees. You bring them up towards your torso, then drop them back as close to the ground as you can take them, slowly and gently. This should be done several times. Alternatively, place your hands upon your knees and press them downwards towards the floor. Take several full breaths before releasing the knees and repeat a few times

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Padmasana, & Ardha Padmasana

February 6th 2008 16:35

As a supple and flexible-bodied child, I was able to slip easily into the Full Lotus position, otherwise known as Padmasana. My mother, concentrating on the television instructions, had much more difficulty. Although not entirely out of shape, my middle-aged body is not quite as agile as it used to be - though Yoga is assisting with this and I am far fitter than this time last year. When I seriously began to practice, a little over a year ago, I could easily perform the Half-Lotus, otherwise known as Ardha Padmasana. Padmasana itself however, can only currently be achieved for a minute or so - on a good day.

Whether executing the Full or Half pose, there are two much-mentioned methods of obtaining the Lotus asana. In one, you sit on the floor with your legs spread in a V, ensure your backbone is straight, and then gently pull one foot inwards to rest upon the opposing thigh with the ankle pointing towards your belly button. In the alternative method, you sit on the floor and bring both knees to the chest, pulling the legs up and in towards yourself, and then resting them bent in front of you, feet to floor. You then lower the legs sideways and bring one foot up to rest on the opposing thigh

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Events, Classes & Practitioners: Sundays in Brooklyn

February 1st 2008 15:46

I would not be writing for YogaTap.com, had I not become increasingly involved with both the theory and practice of Yoga during the past year. After my interest had been 'kick-started' by a friend, I soon discovered that not only the benefits that I searched for, but more important ones also, were locked away within Yoga practice. I had previously had no idea at all that Pranayama could make such a difference to my health and inner peace, for example. Although Yoga was originally introduced to me during my childhood, I did not at that time take it seriously. Despite minor interludes of considering practice since, nothing actually happened until approaching circumstances & encouragement from my friend combined, early last year.

This same friend was also responsible for my sticking my nose deeper into the theory, and subsequently practice, of Buddhism. I once had an image of a fat smiling Chinese chap and a bunch of monks who swept their path before them so as not to tread on bugs, and later on I had read the story of the Buddha's life, but had no real knowledge of Buddhism. Once I began to leave the shallows and enter the depths of Buddhist theory, mostly by reading a whole bunch of library books, I realized that Buddhism was pointed in the same direction as my own personal views. It related to love, truth, naturalness, etc. After exploring enough literature, online sources, and also discussing subjects such as meditation with my friend, I decided to wear the label Buddhist and to practice properly

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October 2008

3 Posts

September 2008

7 Posts

August 2008

8 Posts