You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “Is asana practice a totally over-rated part of yoga?”.
Is asana practice a totally over-rated part of yoga?
June 9, 2009 By 8 Comments
About Kara-Leah GrantKL's the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Yoga Lunchbox, mother to a toddler and passionate about both writing and yoga. She lives in Wellington, teaches yoga and is excited about heading make into the workplace. She also loves to cook while blasting dance music and reliving her go go dancing days.
It is not over-rated. Asanas lead to a healthy body. It is easier to focus on the other eight limbs when you are healthy and pain free. The other limbs are a personal journey that the student must take on their own. You can mention them and do a few exercises in class but if the student doesn’t “take it to the street” then there is nothing a teacher can do about it.
Hey Shanna,
Great to have you kick off the discussion – you raise some very pertinent points.
I wonder if one was to practice primarily Bhakti yoga, with kirtan and mantra, would it have as healing an effect on the body as asana practice does?
In my classes, I do find it possible to teach pranayama and meditation, so covering off on a few of the other limbs. We always chant to end class, so that adds in mantra as well.
Like you say, in the end, it is up to the student what they decide to practice in their own life. How much can we push and provoke as teachers to get students to open up to the full practice of yoga?
Blessings,
KL
By the way, love your article on why astanga yoga is for any level student.
You know KL, this wise teacher said once that “I came giving you what you want, so that you would learn to want what I have to give”. Sometimes you have to start with the more easily understood physical stuff and let the Asana build their focus and fortitude and then you introduce stuff to them.
I am glad you liked my article
It is true that oranges are good for you. But you know, there are mangoes and pears out there too. My point is that any mono-diet will inevitably lead to an imbalance. Sometimes I feel that yoga is portrayed in this skewed ‘orange’ manner, hence my outrageous remark.
Look, if one practices Hatha Yoga only, the ego is likely to becomes gritty and inflexible. This can be seen and more palpably felt in oneself and others. Why? Because there is an imbalance. According to Yoga psychic-physiology we have 5 koshas, 5 main pranas, not to mention chakras, tattwas and sharir’s…..
Yoga is a multi-faceted science working with the gross and the subtle. Balance can be sought through the development of ‘Head, Heart and Hands’ or in Yoga terms one could say through the practices of Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma incorporated into asana practice.
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2001/bmar01/harmony.shtml
Hatha Yoga if anything is a slow and arduous path! Granted the prana does flow, blockages are worked through, benefits in spades and yet the body is a ‘treacherous friend’. Like an aging car, bits fall off, paint gets scratched, you need new parts….what form will Yoga take for you then?
The heart however is of a different mold altogether. I can recommend Jack Kornfields’ book ‘A Path with Heart’, for broadening your anahata radar and deepening your connection.
Patanjali’s Raja Yoga is indeed a road map leading one to the highest of the high. It is a path of steady climb and frankly the first 2 limbs are meat enough for most. They challenge me daily!
Om and Up Yogi People
Hey Shanna,
Great quote. I’m definitely learning to want more – bring on the Bhakti, Jnana and Karma yoga!
Hey Tyag,
Great analogy, and thanks too for the links and references.
Hatha yoga definitely isn’t enough for me, I need more Bhakti to work with anahata chakra. Will be looking into that book!
Blessings,
KL
I have witnessed, on enough occasions to believe in the truth of it, that the manifestation of a yogic, or realised person is not dependent on any formal knowledge or experience of Yoga at all.
It makes you wonder, why is it that some people can be born like this, while others are compelled to take such an epic journey.
The article is excellent, in general terms, but like any idea, no matter how clever and well thought out it may be, risks creating a pattern of thinking that narrows the mind, leading to a false answer.
In my life, I’ve found it to be utterly futile and counter-productive to judge anyone on (for example) their religious beliefs (or lack thereof). The knowing of the person is not what they believe, but who they are because of it. If it is true in this context, I also believe it to be true in terms of a Yoga practitioner. Whether your practice is to meditate every morning and night, or to practice Asana every day, who you are is still who you are. Non judgement is a gift when you receive it, and a virtue when you give it.
Hello!!!:)
Since reading this article i have tried meditation and have taken it up. Then i got a book from the library called A woman’s book to meditation by Hari Kaur Khalsa and found some great meditations.I started with 3 minutes, and now 5 minutes. I have tried meditation before, but found it boring…I know it’s not much but thats how long i can manage atm. So thanks for this article. It opened me up 2 other aspects of yoga.!
Peace
Hey Bruce,
I’ve read through your comment a few times, and I’m not quite clear on exactly what it is you;re saying (in relation to the article anyway. I do get what you’re saying!).
There’s definitely no judgment on what a person does in their yoga practice – but more a suggestion that it’s easy to get sucked into the wonders of asana and forget all about the other yoga wonders out there… especially if your yoga teacher only focuses on asana.
And as Tash then shows, sometimes just that prompting to expand out the practice is enough to open someone up to something that may really resonate.
So Tash, stoked you’re giving meditation a go. Five minutes regularly is a beautiful start.
Thanks both for commenting – Bruce because you’ve always got such thoughtful comments to add, and Tash because it’s so great to hear of a personal experience in relation to the article.
Blessings to you both!
Kara-Leah