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Ask the
Yogi
Thoughts to Frequently Asked Questions about yoga from a modern
American Traditional Hatha yoga teacher's perspective (now that is a
mouthful!)
Question
I'm 25, going to be
26 in the end of May 2007. I have a few questions about Hatha Yoga? Can I
perform Yoga when I have a soar throat or cold? My mum who is her late 50s has
lower back pain. What yoga exercises could suggest for her? What exercises for
me as well, I also experience slight back pain? My body is inflexible. I would
like to make very very very flexible so that I can take up Dancing (Bollywood
Hiphop). I have tried to practice dance steps before, but have not done a great
job due to inflexibility. Could Yoga help in this? What's the time period I have
to wait to perform Yoga after a heavy meal?
- Arun from Dallas,
Texas USA
Answer
In general, if you
have a common cold, I recommend you rest and recline. Read books about yoga, the
Yoga Sutras and Poetry. If you must do yoga, practice restorative poses from the
Iyengar Lineage for healing. When you are finished with your cold, ease back in
to your physical practice of yoga (asana practice).
Yoga strengthens the back muscles for proper support which then
reduces or even eliminate pains in the back. Please check your local yoga
studio, perhaps the Iyengar Studio to master the foundations of the Hatha Yoga
practice. This school may be in your neighborhood.
Dallasiyengaryoga.com .
Yoga will cultivate greater flexibility, confidence and
coordination. With practice, dancing Shiva presents himself with moments of
grace in all Yoga practioners.
Before I answer your last question, ask your self Arun, why are
you eating “heavy meals”? The practioner must examine all areas of their life
style. Eat light meals and then practice yoga two hours later. Good luck,
find a teacher you can trust and have fun! 7/13/07
Question
DEAR YOGI,
I REALLY ENJOY YOUR WEBSITE. I AM A YOGA PRACTIONER AND ALSO AN AVID ICE HOCKEY
PLAYER. FROM PLAYING A LOT, I HAVE PAIN IN AND AROUND THE PSOAS AREA. I HAVE
TRIED EVERY STRETCH IMAGINABLE....SOME WORK AND RELEAVE THE PAIN AND THEN IT
COMES BACK AND THEN THE STRETCHES DO NOT RELEAVE THE PAIN.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ANSWER.
MR. CANADIAN BACK PAIN
Answer
Hi Mr. "Canadian Back Pain',
Happy New Year and thank you for your question.
I am curious as an avid ice hockey player, could you have over
stretched ligaments in your hip region? My gut sense is that every
stretch imaginable is not going to give your relief as you have
experienced. Have you considered refining and strengthening your
supporting muscles to support your over stretched hip flexors?
With respect, I am not clear on "an answer". What I am clear is that
is is a bummer to be suffering.
Here is what I would do ... I would seek out a senior Iyengar
trained teacher in your area. Depending on your financial budget,
either hire them for a private class to address your concerns or
attend their group class and let them know ahead of time what is
cooking. Please follow up with me when you get relief.
See you on the path!
Namaste,
megan mccarver
1/07
"Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
You will not find me in stupas, not in Indian shrine rooms nor
synagogues, nor in cathedrals:
Not in masses, nor kirtan, not in legs winding around your own neck,
nor in eating nothing but vegetables.
When you really look for me, you will see me instantly... You will
find me in the tiniest house of time.
Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?
He is the breath inside of breath."
– the Kabir Book translated by Robert Bly
Question
I am a new
teacher, probably teaching for about one year now. One of my
students has very loose joints. She says she is double jointed, but
all of her
joints are very
mobile. How can I help her stabilize her elbows, shoulders, and lower
back etc. She hyper-extends and I am trying to help her feel this and
strengthen these areas.
One of my friends suggested using belts around the arms, perhaps above
and below the elbows. Am going to try this on myself today to see if
it helps.
Blessings,
Yoga
Instructor
Answer
Namaste Fellow
Yoga Instructor,
Great question.
What comes to my mind is the three concepts of alignment, engagement
and achoring. When teaching yoga to “loosey gooseys” (super flexible or
loose jointed students), proper alignment is essential in each asana.
Then teach them which muscles and opposing muscles are used to
maintain their proper alignment in each asana. Lastly direct their
attention to anchoring their poses to the ground, wall or other
surrounding props.
I encourage you to
seek out an Iyengar teacher who you admire to study with.
As a teacher, you
will learn proper usage of props including blocks, blankets and straps
first hand on your own body. With the proper teacher to provide
ongoing guidance and compassion, you then can share your knowledge
with your students.
So I hope I was
able to share some insights to you. Keeping questioning and exploring
answers. Please email me in any new answers you discover on your
journeys!
With love,
megan
mccarver
7/06
Question
I'm a yoga
instructor ... I teach Vinyasa Yoga ... in the final relaxation, I
have them lie in corpse pose for 5-6 minutes then turn to their
right side and curl up
like a baby and
continue resting w/their eyes closed and minds free ... I've always been
taught to turn to the right side ... I used to know why, but now it's
escaped me...why should one lay on the right side of the body as opposed to the
left. Thank you for your answer.
Yoga Instructor
Answer
Namaste Fellow
Yoga Instructor,
Great question.
This is what I have learned so far about exiting Savasana...
1. Rolling to the right side of the body is rolling away from the
heart (less pressure and weight on the rested and open heart).
2. Pausing on the right side allows the students natural blood
pressure to
reach it's potential homeostasis.
3. Resting on the right side allows the energy to be redirected in the
present moment as needed and circulated appropriately.
Now my dear and respected friend and teacher commentary … Rolling to
the side, either side, is for yoga wimps and promotes tamas
.... stretch, reengage your
mind and breath,
come up strong and THEN see how your day goes! In fact, come up strong, do
some kriya and pranayama and then you can actually say
you practiced Yoga!
Plus, rolling to the side to come up misaligns your balance...!)
So I hope I was
able to share some insights to you. Keeping questioning
and exploring answers. Please email me in any new answers you
discover on your journeys!
With love,
megan
mccarver
7/06
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Megan's Credentials
 Megan
Lurie McCarver, MA, is a certified Yoga instructor in both
Hatha and Kundalini styles of yoga and has been teaching yoga since
1994. In 1993 she co-founded Santa Monica Yoga & Bodyworks, founded
YogaEverywhere.com in 1999, and is the author of Keyboard Yoga and
Print and Go Yoga at iVillage.com. Megan has always made it her goal
to educate and enrich lives in a loving and kind way. In keeping with
her philosophy, she is proud to turn the online world on to
YogaEverywhere.com. Currently Megan is teaching private and corporate
classes in Southern California Beach Cities area with classes and
special workshops in the Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach YogaWorks
Studios.
Megan believes that yoga, when regularly practiced even for five short
minutes a day, can create more love, peace and happiness in this
world!
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