We hear so much about yoga and women. What do you think yoga has to offer men?
First of all, more men take yoga than you think. My classes are about 30 to 50 percent men. I do think yoga has a lot to offer men. I just think it's harder for men to begin initially because of the male stereotypes in our society.
Men are supposed to be strong and goal oriented and to identify physically and mentally with sports. But what many men discover is that the stereotype of a strong, independent male is very isolating and doesn't really work. They begin to look inward and begin to move toward relationships with themselves and with others. Yoga is all about relationships between the body and the breath, the muscles and the skeletal structure, between your physical self and your emotions, your mind and your body, yourself and your community. It gives men permission to stop and listen to their inner voice.
Many men prefer the rigors of contact or competitive sports. Can a yoga practice help them perform their chosen sport better? How?
I think so. Every sport has a unique vocabulary and we often find it difficult to translate the kinesthetic language of one sport into another way of moving.
If we've trained for years to be a gymnast, for example, our body responds a certain way. Certain muscles are always contracted; others are loose. The body sets up particular neurological and neuromuscular patterns that stay the same and serve us in that sport. We breathe a certain way; we move a certain way. We often injure the same muscles or ligaments in the same way.
Yoga brings the body back into balance, into its natural alignment. Yoga, with its full spectrum of poses-prone, supine, backward bending, forward bending-can teach someone where imbalances and physical weaknesses are and can help strengthen the body. Yoga can help enhance an athlete's performance in his sport by teaching how to breathe properly, how to relax and how to gain flexibility.
What advice can you give men who may be interested in yoga but don't know how to begin?
Taking a yoga class in a health club is a good way to start. I'd also tell them not to get discouraged. Most men are very competitive and have used their bodies that way all their lives. Suddenly they come into a yoga class and everyone can do the poses so much better than they can. They begin to compare themselves to everyone else and it sometimes feels downright humiliating. Often their first inclination is to give up. Staying with it will not only be good for their body-giving strength, flexibility, and balance-but also good for balancing their mind and emotions.
I want to teach men that it's good to come up against obstacles, it's good to be faced with what you see as your weaknesses. By doing that, you not only begin to understand who you are, but you begin to develop a sense of compassion and acceptance.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Yoga for Cancer Recovery
You are diagnosed with cancer, receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment, recovering from surgical tumor removal, or in remission. You may be dealing with symptoms or side effect, anxiety or emotional issues.
What can you do for yourself that will help ease your symptoms, give you more energy, calm your mind, and give you tools for accepting, loving and motivating yourself? Try yoga as an adjunct to your medical treatment.
Yoga is an ancient practice of integrating the body, breath, and mind. There are many different styles and ways to practice yoga. For cancer recovery, try gentle yoga, yoga therapy, restorative yoga, yoga for healing, and yoga for beginners. There are several books and videos for different age groups, levels, and considerations. Another option you have is to take a group class or work with a yoga teacher or yoga therapist one-on-one. Go with what motivates you to continue to practice.
One big motivation may also be your body. It may be calling for your attention with fatigue, less range of motion, or pain. In yoga, the body is addressed by practicing physical postures (also called asanas). These stimulate and balance all the systems of the body: musculoskeletal, nervous system, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive and urogenital. As we now know, the whole person is affected when something is out of balance, as a number of postures are practiced in a sequence to address the whole body.
Depending on what parts of your body are affected, what type of cancer you have (or had), and your physical abilities, your practice will be specific to you. You may not be able to safely or comfortably do the posture the way the teacher or someone else is doing it. That's okay. Modify or change the position so it feels good for you. You will find out what works for you, what you are able to do, and what helps you to move in a positive direction.
When you are practicing a posture, do what you can without creating more pain. You may feel discomfort, but going to the point of sharp pain is not going to benefit you. Sometimes the postures are easier if you don't try as hard - if you actually do less. Ask yourself if you can let go of something: it could be tension or holding in the body, or it could be an expectation or judgment you have about yourself.
An important aspect of yoga is the integration of the breath with the movement or posture. To get a feel for this, you can gently squeeze and release the hands with coordination of the breath with the movement. Next, move to raising the arms at the rhythm of the breath. Then move on to practicing the postures attuned to the breath.
Breathing practices (also called pranayama) are also done for the benefit of improving efficient movement and lung capacity, as well as promoting calm and relaxation.
Remember to start slowly, and create a practice that is comfortable as well as challenging enough to keep you progressing toward a healthier, happier life.
What can you do for yourself that will help ease your symptoms, give you more energy, calm your mind, and give you tools for accepting, loving and motivating yourself? Try yoga as an adjunct to your medical treatment.
Yoga is an ancient practice of integrating the body, breath, and mind. There are many different styles and ways to practice yoga. For cancer recovery, try gentle yoga, yoga therapy, restorative yoga, yoga for healing, and yoga for beginners. There are several books and videos for different age groups, levels, and considerations. Another option you have is to take a group class or work with a yoga teacher or yoga therapist one-on-one. Go with what motivates you to continue to practice.
One big motivation may also be your body. It may be calling for your attention with fatigue, less range of motion, or pain. In yoga, the body is addressed by practicing physical postures (also called asanas). These stimulate and balance all the systems of the body: musculoskeletal, nervous system, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive and urogenital. As we now know, the whole person is affected when something is out of balance, as a number of postures are practiced in a sequence to address the whole body.
Depending on what parts of your body are affected, what type of cancer you have (or had), and your physical abilities, your practice will be specific to you. You may not be able to safely or comfortably do the posture the way the teacher or someone else is doing it. That's okay. Modify or change the position so it feels good for you. You will find out what works for you, what you are able to do, and what helps you to move in a positive direction.
When you are practicing a posture, do what you can without creating more pain. You may feel discomfort, but going to the point of sharp pain is not going to benefit you. Sometimes the postures are easier if you don't try as hard - if you actually do less. Ask yourself if you can let go of something: it could be tension or holding in the body, or it could be an expectation or judgment you have about yourself.
An important aspect of yoga is the integration of the breath with the movement or posture. To get a feel for this, you can gently squeeze and release the hands with coordination of the breath with the movement. Next, move to raising the arms at the rhythm of the breath. Then move on to practicing the postures attuned to the breath.
Breathing practices (also called pranayama) are also done for the benefit of improving efficient movement and lung capacity, as well as promoting calm and relaxation.
Remember to start slowly, and create a practice that is comfortable as well as challenging enough to keep you progressing toward a healthier, happier life.
Yoga for your health and happiness
What is Yoga?
Since some years ago, many people were not aware of what yoga is. Some used to believe that practice of Yoga was akin to “magical performances” of the past such as bending bars and tearing plates, Breaking stones, walking on fire, remaining underground in a pit for several days, etc. In recent times, many people have begun to understand instead of wanting to know what yoga is, they are interested to know what among The different yoga practices should they follow for maintaining health, or for overcoming some common health problems.
Yoga is one of the very ancient Sanskrit works. It has two different meanings - a general meaning and a technical meaning. Both these meaning are not related with each other. In the general sense the word ‘yoga’ is deriven from the root “Yujir-yoge”, which means joining, coming together or union of any two or more things. The word ‘yoga’ has been used in the rigveda, one of the four vedas, of ancient test, to mean “unity of the intellect of the sages” or dheenam yogaminvati or “arrangement of verses” of Chhandasam yogam. In the Atharva veda, another of the four ancient texts, words such as ashtayogaih and shadyogebhih are used to indicate a plow pulled by eight for six bullocks respectively. Word such as viyoga, samyoga, agoga, prayoga, vinigoga, Sshayoga, are common examples of the use of the word ‘yoga’ even today in the general sense of ‘coming together’, derived from the root Yuji.
The technical meaning of the term 'Yoga' is derived from another root “yoji” (samadhau). Here the meaning of word is not “Union” ,but “a state of stability, stillness, and peace”. The word ‘yoga’ here indicates both the state of stillness and the means of practices which lead to that state. These practices include asanas, pranayama, dhyana, yana-niyanmas, etc. While in the Veds the word ‘yoga’ is used only in the general sense, there are texts ( such as the Bhagavad Gita) in which both the meanings are ascribed to that word. In the Gita, words such as buddhiyoga, Karmayoga are used which refer to the technical meaning . Many experts have said that at the time of Panini, the famous Sanskrit Garmmarian of the seventhcentury BC, both the meanings of the word – general and technical – yoga were already in use.
Since some years ago, many people were not aware of what yoga is. Some used to believe that practice of Yoga was akin to “magical performances” of the past such as bending bars and tearing plates, Breaking stones, walking on fire, remaining underground in a pit for several days, etc. In recent times, many people have begun to understand instead of wanting to know what yoga is, they are interested to know what among The different yoga practices should they follow for maintaining health, or for overcoming some common health problems.
Yoga is one of the very ancient Sanskrit works. It has two different meanings - a general meaning and a technical meaning. Both these meaning are not related with each other. In the general sense the word ‘yoga’ is deriven from the root “Yujir-yoge”, which means joining, coming together or union of any two or more things. The word ‘yoga’ has been used in the rigveda, one of the four vedas, of ancient test, to mean “unity of the intellect of the sages” or dheenam yogaminvati or “arrangement of verses” of Chhandasam yogam. In the Atharva veda, another of the four ancient texts, words such as ashtayogaih and shadyogebhih are used to indicate a plow pulled by eight for six bullocks respectively. Word such as viyoga, samyoga, agoga, prayoga, vinigoga, Sshayoga, are common examples of the use of the word ‘yoga’ even today in the general sense of ‘coming together’, derived from the root Yuji.
The technical meaning of the term 'Yoga' is derived from another root “yoji” (samadhau). Here the meaning of word is not “Union” ,but “a state of stability, stillness, and peace”. The word ‘yoga’ here indicates both the state of stillness and the means of practices which lead to that state. These practices include asanas, pranayama, dhyana, yana-niyanmas, etc. While in the Veds the word ‘yoga’ is used only in the general sense, there are texts ( such as the Bhagavad Gita) in which both the meanings are ascribed to that word. In the Gita, words such as buddhiyoga, Karmayoga are used which refer to the technical meaning . Many experts have said that at the time of Panini, the famous Sanskrit Garmmarian of the seventhcentury BC, both the meanings of the word – general and technical – yoga were already in use.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
