Welcome to the Living Practice – February 2002
In Praise Of Yoga’s History by Sam Dworkis
Definition of Yoga by Neel Kulkarni
Website Review by Dr. KEV
Can Yoga Heal Me? by Megan Lurie McCarver
Om : An
Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy by Nitin Kumar
Yoga and
Childbirth by Judith
Yoga, a Great Tool! By Cheri Reeder
February’s Pose contributed by Yoga Journal - Adho Mukha
Svanasana
A Note From YogaEverywhere
Yoga eVents
Past Issues of the Living Practice
Dear
lovely viewers,
I so appreciate your loyal
support and kindness. “We” are growing at a rapid pace. It takes great courage and self discipline
to snuggle up against your boundaries while staying awake. The energy that we
continue to explore in our yoga practice pulses with life force and drive
manifesting in many forms, like our eNewsletter. Thank you so much for
participating and practicing yoga everywhere! Any way I can be of help to your
practice, please ask me. I support you.
Namaste,
Megan
In Praise Of
Yoga’s History by Sam Dworkis
Although "yoga science" developed over the course
of thousands of years in a culture and climate far different than our own, we
now have the luxury of scientifically investigating our bodies and minds in
ways that the ancient yogis could not have imagined…nor I suspect, much less
even cared about.
The yoga the ancients developed served them well. It
grounded them both physically and emotionally and enabled them to further delve
into the mysteries of spirituality.
However, as traditionally taught, “classical” yoga practices have been often injurious to our
western bodies and therefore potentially move us away from their intended
purpose; which is balance of body, mind, and spirit. They have none-the-less
awakened us to the benefits of yoga.
If I may make a quick analogy about the evolution of “yoga
science":
Like a high performance automobile, the body takes us where
we want to go. It can get us there and back with a minimum amount of
maintenance and without premium fuel. But in so doing, there is be a price to
be paid in terms of premature breakdown, costly repairs, or even its early
demise.
Yet on the other hand, when a high performance automobile is
properly attended to with appropriate and regular maintenance and by using
better fuels, the probability increases that the vehicle may last a lifetime
with minimal breakdown.
And in concluding this analogy; as technology improves which
affords us longer use of the vehicle before it finally breaks down, we pay
homage to all those who came before who contributed to its body of knowledge
and improved upon the understanding that makes its longevity possible.
Science is now exploring the validity of yoga exercise as a
tool to improve health and deepen spirituality; and like all scientific
endeavors, is an evolving discipline based upon improved technology and
knowledge. Nevertheless, yoga’s original underlying principles were, and
continue to be, applicable to enhancing health and spirituality. And although
we as westerners need to exercise caution when practicing, the movement toward
balance of body and mind, which leads us toward spiritual awareness, is to me
the very essence of yoga.
Sam Dworkis is author of ExTension (Simon & Schuster 1994) and Recovery
Yoga (Random House 1998). He instructs individuals and small groups in
Wellington, Florida, conducts yoga trainings nationwide, and may be reached
through his educational website,
Definition of Yoga by Neel Kulkarni
“Yoga has two parts, one the Final Result and the other
Practice of Yoga. Yoga Philosophy tries to explain the Final Result, which
cannot be experienced by Senses in the language understandable by the Senses.
Yoga Practice is to do in action what the Philosophy tells so that the final
result is achieved."
Neel Kulkarni, born in India, has studied Yoga in Classical
Style for over 31 years and taught for over 24 years in many countries and to
variety of audience. He completed his Health and Yoga studies in 1999,
and opened his Yoga School, which gives many types of Yoga Classes including Hatha,
Meditation, Chanting, Philosophy, and Sports. Neel holds B.S. and M.S. in
Aerospace Engineering from an International Ivy League and has worked as
Computer Consultant for 21 years in many countries.
Website Review by Dr. KEV
This month we have two wonderful sites to share with you.
First is www.sivasakti.com/ created by Horia Cristescu. The site
features a plethora of thoughtful info and instruction on yoga and tantra.
There is also a large archive of inspirational music and collection of yantras.
Next is www.yogaforpositivehealth.org/ from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research
Foundation (sVYASA). They are combining
academic study and practice of yoga with scientific research. They are
proposing to offer MS and PhD degrees in yoga through the Hindu University of
America based in Orlando, Florida.
Namaste,
-Dr.KEV
yogaclass.com/
Find all the best yoga sites linked at: yogaclass.com/links.html
Submit links to: doc@yogaclass.com
Can Yoga Heal Me?
by Megan Lurie McCarver
I
respond to many eMails per month asking big questions about yoga and healing,
for example Can yoga rid anxiety? Or how can yoga help me if I have cancer? Or
will I loose weight practicing yoga?
Thank
you so much for trusting me to ask such big questions. However, I do not have
the answer to these questions. It would be unfair to you, the viewer, to the
teachings of yoga and to me to answer such questions over the Internet. I can
relay to you that these frequent ongoing questions facilitate a deeper
understanding for all of us as to our struggle of human nature, our desires to
have controlled health and our acceptance to our limitations. Here, we get to
practice compassion, a deeper understanding of suffering experienced by our
loved ones and ourselves.
This is
what I can tell you about yoga and healing.
A regular practice tailored to your needs creates balance and harmony in
your system, building a platform for self-healing. Do not forget that body has
it’s own intelligence. There should be no expectations as to the end result to
“self-healing”, since we are constantly changing and trying to surrender into
the natural cycles of life. Sometimes healing is just not logical but it is
always forgiving.
Yoga
lubricates your joints and strengthens your bones. Your muscle becomes more
flexible and toned. Yoga circulates blood and oxygen through out your body at
an even ongoing pace. It strengthens and tones your lungs, builds digestive
fires in your belly aiding proper digestion. Yoga stimulates elimination and
internal cleansing techniques, balances your gland flow, and calms the nervous
system. It reconstructs neuromuscular pathways, opening more dialogue with in
the body and the brain. Yoga increase concentration, attention and awareness.
It teaches you to act clearly and not react. Yoga teaches you to be present, a state
of being which increases your energy level. And best of all it’s fun.
I can
speak to you of my own healing through a regular yoga practice. I began yoga
eight years ago. I was forty pounds heavier. Toward the end of my first year, I
met Gary, my husband to be. Falling in love was the best thing that ever
happened to me. Call it love, call it regular practice, I was already beginning
to get healthier. I was loosing weight at a steady pace, choosing lighter foods
and drinking more water. Today, eight years later, I glow, still in love and
practicing yoga regularly.
Megan is the founder and creator of www.YogaEverywhere.com.
She teaches several classes per week and is available to teach yoga for
corporate seminars and conventions. Her specialty is introducing people to the
yoga community in a gentle and kind
fashion. Please check out her 15 Minutes to Relaxation audiocassette tape
listed in YogaEvents.
Om : An
Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy by Nitin Kumar
In the Chandogya Upanishad it is said:
The essence of all beings is the earth.
The essence of the earth is water.
The essence of water is the plant.
The essence of the plant is man.
The essence of man is speech.
The essence of speech is the Rigveda.
The essence of Rigveda is the Samveda.
The essence of Samveda is OM.
Thus OM is the best of all essences, deserving the highest place.
A deeper insight into this mystic symbol reveals that it is composed of three
syllables combined into one, not like a physical mixture but more like a
chemical combination. Indeed in Sanskrit the vowel 'o' is constitutionally a
diphthong compound of a + u; hence OM is representatively written as AUM. To
read more click on www.exoticindiaart.com/article/om/
Nitin Kumar, www.ExoticIndia.com/ studied Sanskrit under renowned scholars and
is a qualified Mechanical Engineer by education. He successfully completed the
advanced course in Modern Art from the National Gallery of Modern Art, New
Delhi. Nitin also has presented his thesis for the India Art and Culture
curriculum to the National Museum of India.
Yoga and Childbirth by Judith
Well, it was 1974 and I had just given birth to my first
child. It was not a pleasant experience. I needed to get back into
shape and saw Lilias and her Yoga program and liked the idea. Of course,
everyone thought I was strange, oh well.
Forward seven years, and I’m about to give birth to my
son. I breath deeply and gently relax and go to "my
place", All the while I’m supposedly having a big contraction, OK, if
you say so. I bring myself back and my nurse begins to question
my methods. She's a lamaz(?) teacher and she’s fascinated. The
whole birth was "almost" enjoyable.
Finally, my doctor comes in and all but demands that I get
my "shot". I’m about to have my tubes tied and he refuses to go any
further until I agree. The baby is almost ready and he wants to do it
immediately after the birth. I agree and almost immediately the
contractions become stronger, and under the medication I cant seem to control
my breath and they want me to start doing the whole panting breath thing.
It didn’t help a bit. Anyway, thanks to my Breathing and Relaxing Yoga
routine, for the most part, things went well. And now 20 years later,
Yoga is in and I guess I’m not so strange after all, just trendy.
Judith lives in Texas and is the mother of Jennifer, Colin
and Nick. She recently started
teaching yoga to her granddaughter, Allyson, age six.
Yoga, a Great Tool! By Cheri Reeder
Yoga, a great tool for creating balance in life! Times can
be stressful, feeling rushed and overwhelmed? I found that I can bring that
desired feeling of balance and peace into my life even during the most
stressful of days. It only takes a few minutes, some calming music or chants,
the willingness to put your body in a few different positions, and breath. As I
balance on one foot in tree pose, it is easy for me to see how distracted I am,
and allows me to calm my mind down just long enough to hold still. Or as I roll
my head back and forth during a spinal twist on the floor, I can see how fast
my mind is working, and I slow the movement down.
This conscious effort to slow movement in my body down,
actually helps my mind to relax. As a feeling of peace comes over my body I
begin to have gratitude for my life, my health, and my day! Just like that I am
on my way to creating balance in my life, one day at a time. Life is full of
magic, Cheri, Yoga instructor, San Diego ~ for questions or a class to join
call (619) 743-3181