Yoga (was Warrior Diet question)

[Guest guest]

José ,

>Yes I think that is the better. When and how did you start yoga? Dis

>you do it by yourself?

>

I started yoga in the early 1990s. I read the book by Swami

Visnudevananda, _The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga_, and _The Tree

of Yoga_, by BKS Iyengar. Then, since I had free health club

memberships over all these years as a fitness instructor, I took

different classes and styles of yoga, but really jibed with the

methodical approach of Iyengar Yoga, which I took at Iyengar studios

eventually. I studied and then taught under long time Iyengar

instructors all over the place. I had the distinct privilege of taking

an intensive with Guruji's (BKS Iyengar's) daughter Geetaji (Geeta

Iyengar) when she came to visit the US in 2001.

I do practice by myself or with family now. I am not very near any

Iyengar facilities to take or teach classes. Also, I am done with

teaching fitness and yoga after 20 + years. I love activity, but it

takes much devotion to tend to students. It was a fun time, though.

Now I look forward to completing my first half marathon in autumn.

>I am wearing glasses. That is a main concern, isn't it?

>

No, I wear glasses as well, that is not a problem. Only certain

eye/health problems are of concern. You may well be fine with

sirsasana, but if you are not fit, you may have issues. That is why an

instructor is best, to see what you need to proceed first hand. If you

do try it without help, I would suggest having a wall near by behind

your back to prevent toppling over (remember to roll like a somersault,

not arch when falling from head balance should you do it in the middle

of the room!). But then I was doing gymnastics and back flips off the

diving board since I was 5, so I have been conditioned over time

probably more than most folks my age with a whole variety of

activities. Injuries are no fun, so it's best to proceed with steady

caution.

Finally, Iyengar yoga uses props for people who can't do certain poses,

like hanging from ropes for sirsasana. That way, the benefits can be

enjoyed even if the pose is not yet mastered.

To your health!

Deanna

[Guest guest]

Deanna:

To-day I am probably in a confessional mode. Off-topic, of course.

I once had lessons in yoga. I was about 30 years old. The teacher was

a younger lady. I went to her place twice in the week. There was

another young man in the room, but he was sort of an advanced pupil.

He never greeted, he never said a single word, as far as I remember.

He very silently " performed " his positions and I simply glanced at

him, when I had a chance. The teacher, however, was very articulate.

She was graduating in Psychology or Philosophy (I don't remember

which), and she often gave me sheets on yoga philosophy and even on

sanskrit. I was supposed to learn the devanagari alphabet, you know.

Well, actually I was only interested in the positions, but she seemed

to have a very holistic vision. She wanted ne to learn about

everything.

Well, I don't know how it happened, but I soon found that I was in

love with the lady. That was a nuisance, because I knew she had a

fiancé, and so there would be no chance for me. All I had to do was

leave. I did so after maybe two or three months, but as a passionate

young man, I wrote her a letter disclosing the real motive for my

departure. Of course she never responded. Probably she didn't

understand anything and concluded I was crazy or something. Looking

back, the letter was a mistake, but not the passion. Maybe I was in

love for some time with all my female teachers. I am

also " incorrigible " , you know.

So, that was it. Whenever I think of yoga, that sweet lady comes to

my mind. Now maybe I need a male instructor, although I certainly

have grown too old to fall in love again...

José

> José ,

>

> >Yes I think that is the better. When and how did you start yoga?

Dis

> >you do it by yourself?

> >

> I started yoga in the early 1990s. I read the book by Swami

> Visnudevananda, _The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga_, and _The

Tree

> of Yoga_, by BKS Iyengar. Then, since I had free health club

> memberships over all these years as a fitness instructor, I took

> different classes and styles of yoga, but really jibed with the

> methodical approach of Iyengar Yoga, which I took at Iyengar

studios

> eventually. I studied and then taught under long time Iyengar

> instructors all over the place. I had the distinct privilege of

taking

> an intensive with Guruji's (BKS Iyengar's) daughter Geetaji (Geeta

> Iyengar) when she came to visit the US in 2001.

>

> I do practice by myself or with family now. I am not very near any

> Iyengar facilities to take or teach classes. Also, I am done with

> teaching fitness and yoga after 20 + years. I love activity, but

it

> takes much devotion to tend to students. It was a fun time,

though.

> Now I look forward to completing my first half marathon in autumn.

>

> >I am wearing glasses. That is a main concern, isn't it?

> >

> No, I wear glasses as well, that is not a problem. Only certain

> eye/health problems are of concern. You may well be fine with

> sirsasana, but if you are not fit, you may have issues. That is

why an

> instructor is best, to see what you need to proceed first hand. If

you

> do try it without help, I would suggest having a wall near by

behind

> your back to prevent toppling over (remember to roll like a

somersault,

> not arch when falling from head balance should you do it in the

middle

> of the room!). But then I was doing gymnastics and back flips off

the

> diving board since I was 5, so I have been conditioned over time

> probably more than most folks my age with a whole variety of

> activities. Injuries are no fun, so it's best to proceed with

steady

> caution.

>

> Finally, Iyengar yoga uses props for people who can't do certain

poses,

> like hanging from ropes for sirsasana. That way, the benefits can

be

> enjoyed even if the pose is not yet mastered.

>

> To your health!

> Deanna

>

>

>