Skip to main content

Yoga Journal 4/26

At my yoga classes, spirituality is a minor component that is expressed mostly by the instruction from the teacher. For example, she will talk about energy in the body, which could be referring to the soul. Additionally, pranayama is always practiced, which could be used to get in-touch with the soul. Besides the use of certain instructions and words from the teacher, spirituality does not appear to be expressed in other ways. Religion or things related to religion are never mentioned during the class. Based on  other classes that I have attended, I think that spirituality is typically a larger aspect of yoga than it is at the class I attend. I think this has to do with my instructor, and how she talks about yoga in a scientific and logical manner rather than in a spiritual way. If the teacher is a religious or spiritual person, that will tend to come through in their class. However, the opposite is also true. Therefore, I think that the extent to which yoga is taught as a spiritual practice depends largely on the teacher. The practice space may also convey spirituality (although my practice space does not) through the use of lighted candles and objects symbolic to religion, such as a picture of Buddha on the wall. The type of yoga may also be a factor in the spirituality of a class. For example, an ashtanga class will probably be more spiritual than a bikram class.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ashtanga Yoga- 2/22/18

If I had to sum up our in-class Ashtanga practice in one word, I would say challenging. The fact that it was challenging made it an enjoyable class, because I like exercise that challenges me and forces me to work hard. The most difficult aspect of the class was getting into some of the poses because they required so much flexibility, and I am only moderately flexible. The class stretched my entire body, especially my legs, which made me feel good afterwards. One aspect of the class that made a community atmosphere was how the entire class was arranged in a circle, with all of us facing towards each other. This brought a sense of togetherness to the class because everyone was facing each other instead of being in rows towards the front of the room. Another aspect of the class that made it feel like a community was how the class would look at each other for help for some of the moves. Because of this, we weren't doing yoga individually, but rather looking to our neighbors to see how...
1 comment
Read more

Yoga Journal 2/15/18

This week, I attended a different yoga class than usual. I attended class at the trlc with a different teacher named Jason. I immediately noticed that the class size was significantly smaller than the class I usually take. I was one of about five people at the class. The small size allowed Jason to tailor the class to what each of us wanted, which made the practice more enjoyable. The class focused greatly on arm and shoulder strength through poses like downward dog and holding planks and side planks. I am realizing that I tend to favor strengthening poses over poses that don't require any body strength, so I enjoyed this class and its focus on strengthening. The atmosphere wasn’t also different than what I am used to because the trlc is quiet, and the teacher played soft music in the background, making the space much more calming than the lodge with its noisy kitchen.
1 comment
Read more

Meditation Journal 4/5/18

I'll have to admit, I was not looking forward to our in-class meditation. Having never meditated before, I thought it would be painfully boring and that I would not get anything out of it. My mind was definitely changed! I really enjoyed the meditation because it gave me a brief 20 minutes free from the constant worries, stresses, and thoughts that are always flooding my mind. I did not realize how those stresses can have a negative effect on me mentally until they stopped for a little while. The feeling is hard to put words to, but it felt like I was mentally refreshed; like my mind was a clean slate to start over with. The closest thing I can compare the experience to is a runner's high, which I have experienced several times before. I never realized how focusing so intently can feel like you're not thinking at all. Now that I have a better understanding of how meditation works and why it can be useful, I can see why meditation is often incorporated into yoga classes. How...
Post a Comment
Read more