April 2008 - Yoga Tap

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Yoga Tap - April 2008

The Theory: The Kriyas 3: Dhauti (Kunjar Kriya)

April 30th 2008 22:25

Dhauti is where we enter grotty and disgusting territory. It covers some areas of Yoga that people tend to skip over on the first encounter. However, as you progress beyond the basic Asana, Pranayama and Meditation, you may be more open to a full look at everything that Yoga has to offer and 'trying out' some of the lesser known segments of a full Yogic life. I have been practicing Asana, Pranayama and Meditation seriously for only around a year and a half, but have already become far more open to investigating the other aspects of Yoga. What the 'first step' has opened to me, inclines me to get even more involved. I am now open to exploring these other areas of Yoga, at least to check them out if not retain them on a regular basis. Hopefully, over the next 3-5 years I will step deeper into the Yogic lifestyle, because I recognize the benefits from the basics and I am convinced that going further and adding to my Yoga practice will be beneficial.

There are three main participants in the Dhauti category, none of which sound extremely pleasant procedures. Nevertheless, if you can recognize the benefit that they could provide, you may be willing to gradually step closer towards accepting not only their relevance but their practice. I am not quite ready to an extended fast, but am including 1-2 days a month of liquid-fasting at the current time. By the time I am ready for a full-fast, possibly in six months time, I hope to have come to terms with the possibility of practicing Kunjar Kriya

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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The Theory: The Kriyas 2: Tratak

April 28th 2008 03:36

Tratak offers the additional benefit of improving eyesight, along with its intended results of mind purification and improvement of concentration. It is one of the less gross Kriyas, not involving anything which might be considered disgusting. Beforehand, one needs to choose an object or drawing upon which to work. Suitable and popular possibilities include the flame on a candle, the OM Yantra, a grain of rice placed on a dark carpet, the moon, a flower, or the tip of your own nose. Once you have chosen an appropriate focus object, and placed it in a suitable position if possible - or yourself in such if the object itself is immovable - you can begin. The recommended positioning of a mobile object is three feet in front, at eye level.

Firstly, calm the breath. Try to breathe evenly and rhythmically. Next, remembering not to blink, focus your eyesight upon the chosen object and look upon it. Try to still your eyes, so that they do not flit about looking at other things, but retain their direction upon the chosen image. Your gaze should remain fixed and focused

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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The Theory: The Kriyas 1: Neti & Kapalabhati

April 23rd 2008 16:23

I must admit that when reading my first Yoga manual, the Kriyas was a section that made me screw up my face and read very fast, not taking too much notice as I did not aim to bother with such grossness. A few months later, I had practiced the Asanas, Pranayama, and meditation sufficiently to realize that eventually I would be taking a look at all other areas of Yoga - even the Kriyas. However, I did not actually get started until a friend of mine recommended a Neti Pot for assistance with my sinus problems. The suggestion came at a time when I was open to further exploration.

I am currently feeling somewhat adventurous and interested again, so began to take a new look at the Kriyas - with the POSSIBILITY of attempting, if not continuing with some of them. After having hurried through the sections of several other manuals borrowed from the library over the past few months, I took up the book I had actually purchased and opened it up to the appropriate page. I was delighted to find my reaction remained favorable, especially when reading that Kapalabhati was one of the Kriyas - as I already perform this within my personal Yoga routine whenever I do not have sinus problems! (I have described it previously in an earlier post, for those interested

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Dietary Alterations & Adaptions: vegetarianism

April 18th 2008 18:51

At no point in my current life have I been a 100% vegetarian. In my childhood, I did not even know it existed. The fact that my mother did not eat meat was just my mother, not a wider domain, at that time. During my teenage years, I learned what vegetarianism was, due to a friend I made at school being vegetarian, and also to my cousin turning vegan. Once again, it did not affect me, myself.

Once pregnant, I investigated healthy diets, but did not opt for a vegetarian choice so much as increasing my raw vegetables and fruits, canceling orange juice and coffee consumption, and indulging in vast quantities of ice cream for calcium and corn chips for fancy. Once breast-feeding and then transferring my young son to solids, I slid my way into what I considered a healthy diet. I would eat three meals per day. One oatmeal and honey with coffee breakfast, and two meat or seafood with 2-5 vegetable platters for lunch and dinner, with a dessert

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Dietary Alterations & Adaptions: hot drinks for winter

April 17th 2008 00:22

Where I currently reside, it is fall. The chilly pre-dawn mornings are arriving, where I spend the bulk of my workday seated and typing. As winter approaches, I wrap up more and more until I resemble a woolen snowman by mid-winter, wearing gloves, ugg boots, hat and coat…

At such an hour, a warm drink is a muchly appreciated companion. When I first became a freelance writer, poet & book author, I did not practice Yoga, or have any interest in a Yogic diet. I therefore drank coffee by the mugfull, not minding how many I drank. Providing it was made from freshly ground and brewed beans, I was satisfied that it was healthy enough to warm me up whilst working. Then, I started getting involved with Yoga

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Routine Alterations & Adaptions: Recent changes

April 11th 2008 21:37

I have made several changes to my regular routine during the past couple of months. Partly, this resulted from a change of lifestyle and season leading to practicing at a different time of day, and partly from health problems that arose.

Due to excessive enthusiasm with gardening, my back started to become sore again, limiting some of my postures for around a week. When performing any of the back-bend or spinal-twist asanas, I have had to bend/twist less than usual. I have recently been cutting the Locust and Scorpion from my routine, as well as the Plough. To counteract this, I have been spending a longer time in lesser stages of other spinal bend/twist postures

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Other poses, which I do not indulge in: Pada Hastasana

April 9th 2008 22:07

The Hand to Foot Pose, otherwise known as Pada Hastasana, is a position I may incorporate into my routine at some stage, but currently do not use. I often suffer stiffness when attempting to bend at the hip whilst keeping my back/legs straight, so I perform a similar stretch in my routine when doing the third move of the Sun Salutation, which I feel is adequate for my body, allowing my hip to move as far or as little as it feels it wants to.

To perform Pada Hastasana, stand with your feet almost touching but not quite, just a few inches apart. As you inhale, raise both arms straight above you into the air. Try to align them with your spine to create a single vertical line of your entire body. Check that your arms point upward and that your head is in line by seeing that your ears touch your arm

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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WOLLONGONG OPEN DAY - APRIL 2008

April 7th 2008 21:58

On April 13th there is to be an open day at the City Beach Surf Club in Wollongong. This will be a great chance for those new to Yoga or the region to make discoveries. The event lasts from 1pm through until 2-30. It does not cover many hours, but contains enough information to decide if Yoga is for YOU, especially if you live in the Illawarra district.

You will be able to observe a demo of Iyengar Yoga, listen to a lecture on the benefits of Yoga in relation to health improvement and stress management, and dine on gourmet vegetarian food. There should also be an opportunity to ask your questions, if there is something in your mind preventing you from commencing a regular practice

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Events & practitioners: THE SYDNEY YOGA CONFERENCE 2008

April 2nd 2008 19:37

From the 18-20th April this year, there is a Yoga conference & exhibition to be held at Sydney's Hall 2, Darling Harbor. For the price of $160 - $140 for Yoga teachers - you receive entry to the Yoga 08 Industry Conference, admittance to the Yoga Industry Dinner, and also to a concert from Sacred Earth. You can book for the conference at Really Long Link

On the Saturday and Sunday, there is to be an exhibition including demos and classes, provided by more than thirty exhibitors. You do not have to be a part of the conference to enjoy the exhibition - tickets costing $17 PD for the exhibition are also available. This ticket will also allow your entry to the Fitness Expo Event

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