thoughts

Here are a collection of various thoughts and ideas for the class, the practice of yoga, and how it interrelates to our lives.

You can also share your thoughts in our new message board.

Gifts of yoga

Sure, you've heard it before, holidays have gotten too commercial, and wouldn't it be nice to return to simpler times. By now, it almost sounds cliche, but it's true. You can give people the gift of yoga by doing simple things: buying them class cards at a yoga studio, buying a yoga book, or simply teaching your favorite yoga poses to your friends and family. If you approach with an openness, as in, "I'd like to share this with you", rather than as a preachiness, as in "You should do yoga because it's good for you," your friends and family will be much more receptive of your gift. Also, if you give someone a gift card to a yoga studio and actually go with them to class, they will be much more comfortable and enjoy the experience more. The gift of yoga is a very thoughtful one indeed, with the right intention.

Standing up for non-violence - stop the execution of wolves

More than 200 wolves have been killed in Alaska so far this year. Wolves possess no weapons of mass destruction, they are not linked to any terrorist organizations, in fact they are virtually no threat to us in any way. So why has the government of Alaska declared war on wolves? Why is it supporting specicide? I have been struggling to understand this because everything in my yoga studies on non-violence says this is completely wrong.

The wolves are not killed for food or skins, but merely because they are seen as competition to people who hunt moose. In violation of the Federal Aerial Hunting Act, the governor of Alaska is permitting people to execute wolves from helicopters. From helicopters, hunters safely chase wolves with no physical effort until the wolves are exhausted and then they execute them in cold blood. Up to 2,500 wolves may be destroyed this year (one-third of the Alaskan wolf population) because hunters want to make hunting moose easier and have no interest in having hunting be a challenge. Though I do not eat meat myself, I can accept that it is a conscious choice people make and that free range farms try to minimize suffering, but this is different. When I think about the cruel and inhumane ways these wolves are being murdered, my heart breaks over and over. They are also hunting bear in the same way, and that too sickens me.

Why should we care about wolves? First, how we treat animals speaks volumes about who we are as a society. Second, wolves in particular are amazing animals. So much of human sociology is based upon studying wolves. The concept of the alpha male and female originating with the studies of wolf packs. We still have so much more to learn by studying wolves. Wolves are strong, intelligent, incredible pack animals. Destroying incredible creatures in the animal kingdom is a huge loss for everyone. But even if they were not some of the most amazing creatures alive, what really gives us the right to destroy them out of greed and laziness? Nothing.

At the risk of preaching to you, please take five minutes to do something. Write the Secretary of the Interior and tell her to enforce the law. Write to your elected officials, the Alaskan state government, your local newspapers. Write to all the cruise ships, airlines and travel agents who specialize in Alaska and ask them to put pressure on the government (after all, people travel thousands of miles to see wolves and bears roaming Alaska). If you are planning a trip to Alaska, tell your travel company you refuse to go until they abolish this barbaric nonsense. Please take a stand for non-violence.

http://www.savealaskawolves.org/

Here are some notes from a recent interview entitled "Why yoga?"

1. Why do you practice yoga?

For me, yoga is the constant in my life upon which I can always rely. Yoga is always there to challenge my concentration, my strength and my flexibility. It helps heal my sore muscles, but, more importantly, it brings me joy when I have despair. Sometimes it may take me a ton of sun salutations to get there, but, when I allow myself the time, yoga always helps me work through frustration, guilt, anger, doubt, and all sorts of negative feelings. I notice immediately when I am not permitting myself enough time for my yoga practice - everything is off. That's not to say yoga is a magic cure-all, of course it's not, but it's this amazing tool that is always within reach. I can plunk a mat on a few feet of living-room carpet and after a practice, I always feel better. For me, yoga is my anchor, when I am feeling like I'm heading into the Bermuda triangle, yoga helps keep me stable.

2. Do you think yoga helps health problems such as stress, fatigue, certain arthritis pain? How do you see yoga as a health benefit?

Once again, yoga is not a magic cure-all but can be a very powerful tool. Studies have shown that a few moments of deep breathing exercises can reduce the stress hormones pulsing through our bodies. Deep breathing also provides fresh oxygen to the brain, which reduces signs of fatigue. Personally, I believe yoga helps people sleep better at night because a vigorous asana practice can tire the body and the meditative practices calm the mind, both of which encourage restful sleep.

Physically, yoga assists with posture, strengthening all the core muscles that help us stand up tall. It enables us to tone for our sins of the workplace by lengthening the hamstring muscles that stay bent at our desks. The balance work helps us prevent falling as often. Finally, the increase in muscle tone increases metabolism, which helps with weight management.

In terms of arthritis pain, many doctors recommend yoga as a means of prevention and relief, so I'm certain there's evidence that it helps.

3. Have you noticed more people joining yoga classes than previous years? If so, why do you think that is?

I have noticed a greater variety of people practicing yoga, which I attribute to two things. One, more research has shown yoga as a multi-faceted health benefit, so more doctors are advising patients to practice yoga and more people are discovering these benefits on their own. Two, the education of yoga instructors has increased dramatically as standards have become part of the yoga instructor's vocabulary. In the past, some instructors could only teach to very fit, very flexible students. Now, we see yoga instructors specializing in areas such as yoga for pregnant women or people with cancer. Yoga instructors have done their homework and are equipped to teach to a greater population.

4. Do you think yoga will expand to many different types of yoga, like punk rock yoga, and other trendy ways?

The word trendy is dismissive. I'll admit the name Punk Rock Yoga is purposefully attention-getting, but there is philosophy behind it. The philosophy is an egalitarian, self-empowering one: everyone can do yoga, everyone has the power to do their own practice, teachers are real people and do not look down upon their students, asana practice (the practice of poses) is an expressive, creative form, music is essential to yoga as it lifts the spirit and helps keep people concentrating on the present moment.

When we look at the original yoga sutras, there is so much openness, that people can interpret yoga, and specifically asana practice, in so many ways. However, we have seen people take a very open philosophy and narrowly construe it. For example, in India, women and certain castes were once excluded from practicing yoga. I do hope others expand the boundaries of yoga. For those who insist that theirs is the only way, I encourage them to re-read the original texts.

5. Do you think yoga can really be done anywhere with just your own body? Why is that? What about being able to concentrate?

I believe it's important to work with an instructor at first to understand some basic mechanics and principles of asana practice, but once a participant has a basic understanding, they really can do yoga wherever they choose. However, you do want to clear away distractions to aid your practice. For example, the computer should be shut off or covered, the tv should be off, and there should be enough space cleared away so you have the freedom of movement inhibited by books or piles of clothes. Some say that a true yogi could practice concentration in the middle of Times Square and I believe that's true. But, in the interim, it's best to clear away as many distractions as possible.

In our unbelievably crazy lives, I think concentration on a vision or a single syllable is essential to helping us tap into the depths of our spirituality. Concentration is one of the most challenging aspects of yoga, especially for our society, which is why I encourage the use of music, as it helps to drown out other noise. I believe in urban yoga. While it's great to retreat somewhere, if you are a bartender renting a downtown apartment, you still should be able to practice yoga. The music is tricky. People should choose music that lifts their spirits; not everyone is a Hindu, nor do they have to be, so not everyone has to listen to Hindu chants. Personally, I use darker music such as Dead Can Dance and Peter Murphy. However, rhythmic breathing has a hypnotic effect and puts the practitioner in a suggestive state. So if you choose the Electric Hellfire Club, for example, just be prepared that the words may resonate more profoundly.

Other thoughts

Grandmothers as gurus

I composed some words to say at my grandmother's funeral ceremony and in doing so, I realized something striking. The words "teacher", "love", "compassion", and "kindness" reverberated throughout my little speech. I realized my grandmother was the greatest guru I have ever had, even though she never put her foot behind her head. She lived and breathed the principles of yoga, without knowing it. We need to open our ears to gurus of all kinds. We need to learn from everyone everyone in our lives who have impacted us positively and keep their memories with us by living their teachings.

Get off the mat!

To say that you do not engage in activism or politics because you are practicing yoga is, I hate to say it, a cop out. The practice of yoga is to help us lead better lives and to help others around us. Many yoga practitioners and gurus are already active making this world a more peaceful place. It's time to take our strength and wisdom we gain from the practice and spread it to others. Write your representatives, sign petitions, organize peaceful demonstrations. Spread our beautiful philosophies around the world.

And yes, if it is legal for you to vote, you must!

Non-violence

To fully practice the principles of yoga, we need to bring our practice into the world. For example, to fully embrace the principle of non violence, it's simply not enough to sit on your mat and state, I don't hurt anyone, therefore I'm fully practicing that principle. Instead, we must as yoga practitioners understand that non-violence means non-violence for all, and that we must take non-violent action when we witness people suffering from violence. Martin Luther King Jr. was a yoga guru in terms of this principle.

Yoga and religion

Yes, Christians can practice yoga, for the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the original yogic text, does not define devotion as devotion to one particular form of God. Any path one takes as a path towards enlightenment, tranquility, freedom from attachments, and connection with universal truth is considered a valid path. In the strict translations of the Sutras, one does not have to worship a Hindu deity to practice yoga. One can regard Krishna as a guru, or a teacher, or one can regard Jesus as a guru. In the end, if the teacher is a righteous teacher, both those teachers can help you along your path which ultimately lead to the same place, according to the yoga tradition.

Chanting

Usually, Western yoga students have practiced yoga chants in Sanskrit without perhaps truly understanding the full meaning of the words. You can, in fact, create your own chants, or mantras, because the chanting itself is not an end, it is merely one of many paths we use to liberate our mind from itself. So any chant that helps you along that path is a good chant. Many believe a chant is an initiation, and you can only chant what a teacher tells you to chant. Patanjali suggests that it's best to work with a teacher, one who has walked the path and can help guide you, but in fact, it's quite possible to create your own chants and there is nothing wrong with that.

To that end, I would like to share a chant I have been using to help me in my practice.

My body is full of strength.
My heart is full of love.
My mind is full of peace.

If you have thoughts you would like to share with the world, please email me at info@punkrockyoga.com and I would be happy to post them.

Namaste, Kimberlee