Yoga Asana How-to Videos

If you like video asana instruction take a look at the offerings on Howcast. Look to the right sidebar of this page and select the pose you'd like to view.

Begin with Geometry

Ramanand Patel's website yogirama.com contains a wonderful description of his approach to yoga study in six levels. Initially the mind directs the body into the alignment of the various postures - the geometric level. The student moves on over time to the physiological, organic, pranic, sensory and meditative levels. I was particularly struck by this comment on the pranic level: "Even as the foundation of the prior levels is held, the mind now has to learn how to let go and stop interfering with the natural ease that is inherent in a healthy body. The nature of inner alignment changes as the mind learns to be alert even as it lets go of inadvertently held tensions." In my experience many of us need to ease up a bit on the willful doing of yoga and begin to become more sensitive to the messages our bodies send us. Using our mind and will aggressively on the body is not the way to proceed. Letting go of our ideas of what our body should look like and feel like is moving in the right direction. How can the individual determine where he or she is on the continuum of willfulness to inertia? Do we do more, try harder or do less and let go? I believe yoga practice can over time tune our awareness to the extent that making these distinctions becomes easier. The use of the will that is essential to the first level becomes an interference to the meditative level according to Ramanand Patel.

Sam Dworkis tells us how to "successfully do yoga ... not try to do yoga"

I am very happy to have found Sam Dworkis' website. In the past I have relied upon his book Recovery Yoga for tips for those, myself included, who may need to approach yoga slowly and carefully either as the result of injury, illness or a chronic condition. In his new web book The Mechanics of Yoga Mr. Dworkis explains how doing less correctly gets you more. So if you have ever been discouraged or afraid of injury take heart. Sam Dworkis can guide you along the path of yoga. Sam asserts "that you can substantially enhance your flexibility, strength, and endurance without trying hard. In fact, I'm fond of saying that you can become more flexible, stronger, and create enhanced endurance by hardly trying." These techniques are not aggressive and do not add additional stress to the body the mind or the spirit. As we move in yoga we can really benefit from the wisdom Sam has gained. He has some wonderful words for those who suffer chronic pain.

Yoga is the Study of Conciousness

"Pragnya is Consciousness. We have to practice yoga with consciousness." Read an interesting interview with Yoga Praveena, Arun H.S. who is pictured above in parivrtta janu sirsasana. Arun offers advice for those who have reached a period of stagnation in their practice. He reminds us that Patanjali recommended a change of direction in pranayama, a change of pace in asana and a deepening of faith in ourselves. "We lack faith in everything and in ourselves and so we look elsewhere. We should have faith." Arun will be teaching in the USA later this year.

The Link between Body and Mind

"The breath is the link between body and mind; it is the stepping off place from the physical to the mental. If your breathing is short and rapid, your mind will work nervously agitatedly. If your breathing is erratic your mind must be disturbed and anxious. But if your breathing is long, slow, smooth and even the wildly racing, mechanical nature of your mind will become tranquil and peaceful!" (Richard Hittleman from Guide to Yoga Meditation)
"Breathing techniques have been used for thousands of years as an essential element in virtually every meditative technique or healing practice."(William B. Salt MD, Neil F Neimark MD from Irritable Bowl Syndrome and the Mind Body Connection)
Breathing connects the autonomic nervous system to the voluntary nervous system. Stress can change our pattern of breathing without our being aware of it. Consciously controlling our breath can affect our stress level. In my experience focusing on the breath is a very simple way to focus my attention. When I've gathered my attention to the breath and away from other stimuli I can re-direct it to what I want or need to do next.
Breathing exercises can be oriented toward creating a relaxation response to reduce stress or used as a way to direct the power of attention or employed in an exploration of concentration and meditation.
This week I'll be teaching the relaxation response technique popularized by Herbert Benson MD.