Archive for January, 2010
In the winter, my tendency is to slow down and go inwards. The chilly Montréal air and long nights make me feel like spending a lot of time indoors ~ and correspondingly, my yoga practice has become slower and more restorative. I hold the postures, breathe, and allow whatever thoughts to arise.
The Inner Life of Asanas, a collection of columns by Swami Lalitananda originally published in ascent magazine*, is the perfect guide for this kind of internal process. The short essays in this book are based on the practice of Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, a reflective approach designed to illuminate the physical, psychological and mystical dimensions of key yoga asanas.
The book is made up of 26 postures, which have been organized into 5 thematic chapters: Awareness, Choice, Action, Devotion and Union. Each posture is structured with a short reflection/anecdote related to a greater theme, followed by a practice – a description of how to do the form of the pose (very basic and applicable to all systems of Hatha Yoga), keyword prompts and questions.
For example, the section on dhanurasana (bow pose) features an anecdote by Swami Lalitananda about service and putting ideals into action, relating the pose itself to the image of a bow. “I think about the bow and how it is created from a strong but flexible piece of wood, tempered and shaped to serve its purpose.”
She then gives us questions such as “What is your purpose? Can you find the place of balance where you exert effort and let go at the same time?” The practice itself is very loose and fluid, with no directions for timing or sequencing. The only expectation is that practitioners are working with a pen and paper, to capture their responses to the postures and the questions. Continue Reading
The winner of the YogaDorks for Haiti T-shirt design contest!
So yesterday was Yogis for Haiti day, a call to action initiated by the excellent yoga activist organization, Off the Mat and Into the World. It was an invitation to the global yoga community to practice in support of Haiti relief efforts. Yoga studios were encouraged to be part of the event and commit to donating a percentage of their earnings to Partners in Health. I didn’t participate because I only found out about the event on Tuesday, which wasn’t enough time to get organized, and I’m not a studio, and I don’t teach yoga on Wednesdays.
But even though I didn’t sign up for the official event, it was enough to inspire me to donate all contributions from my weekly Thursday community class to Doctors Without Borders, in support of Haiti relief (the class is always pay-what-you-wish, and all funds are donated back to rad’a, the space where I teach). I’ve been watching the yoga community’s response to the crisis in Haiti, and it has been really inspiring. This initiative and Project Haiti: Yoga 4 Trauma (which is a long-term plan for bringing yoga therapy to Haiti) are among the more united calls to action. On a smaller scale, I’ve seen some fundraising classes in my community, and there have been other, more creative responses, such as YogaDork’s excellent T-shirt design contest.
Yet, I also see that it’s difficult to rise to action as a united yoga front. And I can speak for myself in saying that I’m still kind of overwhelmed by the whole earthquake situation. I’ve been on a roller coaster of emotions since the news broke two weeks ago, and it even silenced my blogging. What could I say after such a tragedy? What could I offer? Blogging about yoga felt so very trivial compared to that kind of catastrophe. I have felt emotional overwhelm, powerlessness, media saturation, and finally “compassion fatigue.” I felt like I all I had to give is money (and some old clothes), and it isn’t enough, and there are so many logistical barriers that my teeny little contribution won’t even reach those who need it in time…
And then I came to see that this self-defeating way of thinking doesn’t serve anyone. I also began to feel a responsibility as a yoga teacher and member of my community to step forward and give what I can. Yoga. Not only for the people of Haiti, but for the people in my own community, who may have been feeling the same emotional drain and conflicted feelings as I have been, and may be in need of a little nurturing. And so, this afternoon I’ll be offering a heart-centred class with an emphasis on developing compassion for self and others. It may be just a small token, but it’s something.
What has been the response in your yoga community to Haiti’s suffering? What has been your personal, emotional response?
If you’re not able to make it to any of the yoga for Haiti events happening in your community, but still want to contribute in a yogified way, show your love with the official YogaDorks for Haiti shirt! All proceeds go to the Red Cross!
The great yoga vs meat conversation is rearing up again – this time, in a New York Times dining section article called “When Chocolate and Chakras Collide.” It’s a look at the “yoga and foodies” trend currently sweeping through NY City studios, pushing boundaries (and buttons) by serving up meals with meat and wine after yoga class. . It’s not a question of whether or not food belongs in the yoga studio, but whether bacon and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon belong there, and it brings up lots of sensitive issues around yogic eating habits and ethics.
Calling his mission “yoga for the Everyman,” [yoga teacher] David Romanelli, 36, plays Grateful Dead songs during class, wears sweat pants rather than spandex, and has already experimented with offering chocolate truffles after chaturanga instruction. “It’s a way of getting people in the door,” he said in an interview. “The world is a better place if people do yoga. And if they come because chocolate or wine is involved, I’m fine with it.”
The past decade has produced thousands of new foodies and new yogis, all interested in healthier bodies, clearer consciences and a greener planet. Inevitably, the overlap between the people who love to eat and the people who love to do eagle pose has grown. In 2007, a combination yoga studio and fine dining restaurant, Ubuntu, opened in Napa, Calif.
Yoga retreat centers now offer gourmet cooking classes and wine tastings; New York yogis trade tips about which nearby ashrams (Anand) and studios (Jivamukti) serve the best muffins.
But not everyone agrees that the lusty enjoyment of food and wine is compatible with yogic enlightenment. Yoga purists say that many foods — like wine and meat — are still off limits. Others, like Mr. Romanelli, say that anything goes, as long as it tastes good. The debate is exposing rich ores of resentment in the yoga world. [NY Times]
Dayna Macy, a managing editor at Yoga Journal, claims that the ethics and politics of food “is the hottest of all hot-button issues in yoga” (and we all know there are a lot of hot-button issues in yoga!). And it’s been coming up in public conversations quite a bit lately (as food, in general, has ~ and yoga, for that matter). Sadie Nardini wrote a provocative piece in the HuffPo last summer which brought forth a very irreverent and questioning stance. Even a new blog, Meat and Yoga, explores the relationship between two apparently contrary acts.
I have to admit that I fall into the ‘bacon and wine camp’ of yoga. I was vegetarian for 15 years – I stopped eating meat way before I started practicing yoga – and only recently reintroduced meat back into my diet on recommendation from my naturopath (and I never did stop drinking wine). My meat consumption is moderate, only 3 or 4 times a week, usually chicken or fish (or bacon, but that’s only on weekends ~ and ohman, am I ever happy to have bacon back in my life!) and I don’t eat red meat or processed meat.
It’s no wonder that I align myself with the “left-handed” path of Tantra, of all the different yoga traditions. What I find fascinating about this debate is that it’s such a collision between tradition and modernity. Where do you align yourself? Is enjoying a little meat and wine with compatible with yogic enlightenment? Have you ever felt judged for your eating habits? Let’s hear what you have to say!
It’s January 27 and do you know where your New Year’s resolution is? Remember, that goal you’d set for yourself in a drunken fit of festive cheer just before the clock struck midnight, back when 2010 was just a distant dream…?
Yes, that resolution. So imagine being Robyn Okrant, who committed to something even bigger than a resolution on January 1, 2008: she challenged herself to do everything that Oprah Winfrey told her to do. For a whole year. She called her project “Living Oprah” and she blogged about her efforts, of course. That blog was recently published as a book, also called Living Oprah and I just finished reading it.
Robyn Okrant is a writer, performer and yoga teacher based in Chicago (Oprah’s hometown). I related to Okrant on many levels, being part of the same demographic (mid-30s) and profession (that strange mix of writing, art and yoga). I have to admit that I wish I’d thought up this idea! A self-confessed pop culture junkie (as y’all know), I am fascinated by Oprah, for many of the same reasons as Robyn. I find Oprah’s rag-to-riches story, her rise to fame (based mostly on intuition), her influence on women and her mastery over the art of making a personal brand completely compelling.
For the whole year, Robyn made her choices based on Oprah’s directives. She heeded Oprah’s wisdom through a daily diet of The Oprah Winfrey Show, O: The Oprah Magazine and oprah.com. And 2008 was a particularly interesting year to take on such a challenge. Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth was the Oprah Book Club choice, one of the most exciting and relevant US presidential elections ever took place, and the global financial system collapsed. Continue Reading
Okay y’all, check this out: during a Jan 18 appearance on a San Francisco television show (which I can’t seem to embed; click here to watch the full video), Rainbeau Mars demonstrated an immunity boosting yoga routine – then shamelessly plugged her Adidas Yoga strappy shoe things. It happens during the last minute, so you have to watch 6 minutes and 24 seconds of a yoga demonstration on the two television show hosts, who dangerously attempt to practice without warming up and while wearing socks. People, do not try this at home!
It’s more than a little painful to watch. After they finish up the routine and discuss an immunity boosting soup recipe, the following conversation occurs:
TV show host: Now if i wear those yoga shoes, will my yoga moves be better?
Rainbeau: … yeah, sure… they’re like little grips. I got adidas to go sustainable, so this is my signature sustainable thing.
So what do y’all think? Is it ethical for a yoga teacher to plug her products on television? Is this a service or disservice? And will the right yoga shoes improve our “yoga moves”? Let’s hear your thoughts!
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