Yoga

[edward]

As I can recall, Mystress has earlier written that after K awakening, it is beneficial to do poses that which the body feels like doing, instead of following a fixed sequence.

I have noticed that some asanas makes me ungrounded, like headstand and shoulderstand, and I have also read some articles that states that these asanas might be harmful for the body. I also intuitively feel that some asanas might inflict injuries in the long term.

However I love doing yoga a few times a week, and feel that in the long term it is beneficial do it, so that the body does not become stiff.

Gradually I have become fearful of inflicting injury when doing yoga, and I'm thinking that maybe only doing poses that which "feels right" is the key for a healthy beneficial practice in the long run.

If anyone experienced with yoga, or Mystress, can write how to feel oneself into appropriate yoga poses, instead of doing a fixed set of postures or following different sequences, I would appreciate that.

So what I'm basically is looking after, is how the body can choose the yoga poses for me, instead my mind choosing the yoga pose or sequence.

Or maybe the answer is to just follow the body's chakra guidance?

Edward

[TwinDragon]

I usually just feel my way into my yoga postures... I play some yogitunes music etc, and just relax and follow the movements that my body desires to do Don't know how to explain how to do it... But I just follow my body Sometimes I like to get my body in sync with the music too! But this would propably seem weird for anyone watching

[edward]

I find music disturbing when doing yoga

When I came to think about it, I have for around 2 years always tried to make the perfect sequence or have written down plans and schedules specifying what kind of poses I would do on a specific week day.

But it never becomes perfect or something that I follow. Usually I end up doing yoga 1-2 days a week, some weeks I don't do yoga at all and only lift weights, or some weeks I am just lazy laying on the couch and only going for walks with my dog.

And maybe this is the body's rhythm. Since I don't have any muscular pains in the body and the body functions mostly fine, this approach I already have, by doing yoga and lifting weights when I feel like doing it, may be the perfect approach.

I have bough a rowing machine, and it is sitting there in the kitchen waiting for me to use it.


Edward

[edward]

It sure helps posting questions here.

I have figured out that I have lots of trigger points in the body (muscle points that hurts when self-massaged by a foam roller or a lacrosse ball).

So I will first locate the trigger points, self-massage them, and then follow up with an asana that stretches the same muscle. In this way the body can guide to which asanas it wants to do.

Only doing yoga is not enough for keeping body healthy. It must be combined with trigger point self-massage.


Edward

[Mystress]

 I just start with a basic sun salutation and about halfway through or less my body starts stretching on its own.

[astoe]

Hi Edward,

interesting thread. I think I understand what you mean. I had the experience of shakti guiding me a couple of times, however that's not how the everyday practice is. And I am more interested in the rule than the exception. 

I think first of all you are very right when you say that some yoga poses might be harmful. Probably better to avoid all the overbending towards the back and the headstand stuff.

The issue with the trigger points is very interesting. I recently met a guy who showed me effective self massage practices to relax sore points... and I am impressed. It helped me releasing stuff I had been carrying for long - well the time was also ripe.

As far as I am concerned the ideal practice integrates the levels from gross to subtle. So I'd start the day with stretching muscles, then do short sequences of yoga (I quite like the 5 tibetan rites - quick and dirty , followed by more internal yoga and finish with meditation. Takes quite some time though.

true, this is a pretty structured practice and at some point I may not need it anymore, but for the time being it is fine. Also it is a guideline and reduces the chances to wander off and merely being involved in "spiritual tourism". I feel this is especially useful when the practice is very early in the morning when I may feel sleepy.

Anything you feel was helpful to release trigger point pain?

cheers,
a

[edward]

After advice from both my osteopath and psychologist I have decided to stop practicing asanas. There are more and more asanas that I can't practise because they just have negative effect, and even simpler asanas just makes my joints hurt also.

My osteopath says it's best for me to only do weight lifting because my body type, mesomorph, is more suited for lifting activities than yoga.

In India, most people who do yoga are old people, sick people or people who are recovering from an illness. They don't use it as a fitness activity as they do it here in the west. 

Now I think of asana practice as a cough medicine, it's good to take it when one is coughing, but it could have adverse effects when taking it when one is not coughing.

And if doing pranayama after awakening, can have a negative effect, then I suspect that asana can be negative in the same way.

Regarding trigger point massage: I generally massage my butt-muscles and all sides of the thighs before doing squats and deadlifts, and that gives me more energy during the workout.


Edward