Why Are Pigeons Proud?

“And now lift your shoulders back, into the proud pigeon pose. Stand tall, proud pigeons.”

What the hell does a pigeon have to do with yoga? And what should a pigeon even be “proud” about?

My instructor, Heidi, said. The class erupted into a murmur of quiet, uninhibited chuckles. There was something about the name of the pose that seemed to strike the crowd—which in fact seemed to be 95 percent comprised of individuals and couples that were over the age of 50, with a few exceptions. This type of behavior is not something I would imagine that type of crowd to do, especially in the class that I was standing—well, outstretched with one leg behind and one leg bent in front of me—in. I chose to partake in the hatha yoga class at Everybody’s Fitness in Auburn, Massachusetts, the gym my mom has a membership at.

As my mom and I arrived at the gym not two minutes late, we quickly put our shoes and belongings into a locker. My initial reaction was negative. The gym smelled of fresh equipment and there was a protein shake bar—both things not atypical of a gym. These quintessential “gym” characteristics are actually what drew me to taking a yoga class there. I wanted to see what Yoga Journal preaches to the masses. I wanted to see the people that do yoga to stay “in shape” or stay “flexible.” I wanted to observe and study those individuals and see how the practice differs from my small knowledge of the practice of yoga. I was especially interested in the class because it was titled “Hatha Yoga,” something I am currently studying in class.

My mom and I proceeded to ascend the freshly carpeted stairs leading to the yoga room. We were a few minutes late and I did not know what to expect. At our destination, we found a dimly lit room with a few candles in the corners on small tables. The floor was speckled with assorted colors of yoga mats. Just as we began to ponder where we should mark our location with mats of our own, we were greeted with a warm and friendly “Welcome! Come in, there is plenty of room!” This of course, was our instructor, Heidi. Instantly I felt comfortable and I set my black mat down close to the center of the room.

Class began with a sun salutation. There were a few differences from what I’ve been taught in class here at Lesley University, such as extending the arms out to the side instead of out in front of the body, but most of it was a harmonious agreement of movements with what I have already learned. We repeated the salutation many times slowly, the last time a bit faster. We moved through standing movements to seating movements. We worked with balance as well. Heidi was sure to announce names of the poses and she made sure that everyone had a version to execute. My favorite part of class is always balance work. It is incredibly centering to be standing on one leg and have the realization of your plumb line running both through your neck out the top of your head and through your feet through the bottom of the floor. To me, this type of pose is very powerful and I love the feeling of the opposing limbs working off each other to keep my foot from faltering or me from falling. Another favorite part of the class was Heidi’s insistence that we all stay “humble.” She would demonstrate a pose and if it was more difficult she was remind us to stay humble to the boundaries of the pose. This really kept me grounded and reminded me of why I was standing there in the first place. Heidi also would remind us that the poses can be hard for even her, and she reminded us that if we fell out of one or could not quite get it, to keep trying. We continued stretching and holding poses on the floor.

So let’s rewind back to the title of this paper and take a deeper look at to me, the most striking moment of the day and decipher why in fact we were all proud pigeons. Well I can tell you this. As hilarious as all thought this title for a pose might be, it makes a great point that coincides perfectly with what I’ve been taking from my recent experience with yoga. Here is a diagram of what the pose looks like:

The full pose is titled “Eka Pada Rajakapotasana.” Eka meaning “one,” Pada meaning “foot/leg,” raja is “king,” and kapota translates to “pigeon or dove.” The pose focuses on using gravity to open the hips as you sink deeper into the pose. It is said to control sexual desire because there is so much blood flow through the pelvic region when in the pose. Before even knowing anything about the pose besides the way it felt, I really could identify with the men and women I was among that day and it really translated to what I had been feeling about the study of yoga overall. At that moment, everyone was in agreement no matter how the pose felt—good, bad, difficult, easy. Each and every person there was very happy and it was quite evident. None of these people were there to get some crazy workout, or be able to touch their feet to their head. They had absolutely no interest in that! They were just there, enjoying life and channeling that enjoyment through their yoga class. It was quite refreshing and just as pigeons are overlooked and walked by day-to-day in the city, I felt people like this are often overlooked. To me, there is so much beauty in a person of any age, size, shape, gender—you name it, finding peace in their far too busy or scheduled lives and finding time to laugh, or to relax. To me, that is what Westernized yoga is about. It is about finding time to let go of any type of inhibitions or fear of embarrassment and really feel like a “proud pigeon,” just for a few minutes. It is about taking time for yourself and getting that inner happiness from no one else but yourself. The poses feel great not because someone told you to do them, but because you were taught how to do them and allow yourself to bend or move into them and feel their strength, comfort, or tension. Yoga is about taking in information and processing it the way that it will benefit you.

Prior to taking this class I had taken a few notes of what I thought it would be like and what I thought I would find. I was completely wrong. I was sure that I would find people who had the “wrong” idea about yoga and had no idea what it was about. I, in fact, had no idea about people who practiced yoga at gyms and in fact, they definitely had the right idea. They were there to feel happy. This brings me to when we all began to work with back bending poses. As a classically trained dancer, I am flexible and I have pushed the concepts of how to balance so much that they are near natural to me now. When it was time to work with back bends, I immediately felt no fear in executing a backbend. This was optional and I was open to the invitation of the pose. It was not until I lifted my hips up and stretched my arms and legs that I noticed something: I was the only person in the pose. Everyone else was doing a more simplified version. Then I noticed something else. Everyone in the room must have been at least 50 years old. There were a few younger girls there, but the class was mainly comprised of older men and women who did note even seem slightly concerned with how ridiculously flexible doing these motions could make you. They seemed to want something more—happiness.

After all, isn’t happiness something in the traditional practice of yoga that one must strive for? I felt so honored to be taking a class among such people. And at this moment I thought, “This is yoga!” meaning that right now, these people being happy and comfortable enough to laugh a little bit and learn was what yoga was about, especially westernized yoga.

We finished with savasana, deep relaxation or “corpse pose.” It was relaxing and a great way to end the class. I felt fantastic and I found it easy to relax and center my mind after all the movement we had just done!

Overall, the only “gym-like” aspect was that Heidi would occasionally remind us of what muscles we were using to hold a pose. Other than that, the only other tie to a gym was the fact that the room was in a gym. I was incredibly surprised. I was not too sure how I would like it, especially because I tend to see the fitness aspect of yoga as a slightly negative, commercial thing. I have always refused to wear yoga pants or buy a mat because even before knowing what yoga was about, I always felt that I did not absolutely need any of those things to actually practice it—and that is entirely correct.

After talking to the instructor a bit after class, my mom and I began to descend the stairs back to the locker room (not after a very sweet “have a super day!” from Heidi.) We met an older woman on the stairs who asked me if I was a dancer and then thanked me for being a great example in class and “beautiful” to watch. The lady was sweet and we talked for a bit about class.

I have nothing but positive things to say about taking hatha yoga at Everybody’s Fitness gym! The place, the people, the instructor, and everything about it radiated warmth and happiness. It was just what I needed to shape my misconstrued thoughts about Westernized yoga. I definitely plan on taking this class again.

Sources

Everybody’s Fitness, Hatha Yoga, Auburn MA

Yoga Journal, http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/863, © 2011 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc.

Yin Yoga, http://www.yinyoga.com/ys2_2.0_asanas_swan.php

Down Under Yoga Studio in Newton

Down Under Yoga is located in Newton Highlands. It is a small place filled with great people. Having done hot yoga for a while where the teacher was probably on some super strong caffeine or energy-giving product I was not looking forward to doing any fast yoga. My plan was to go to a class and do as much relaxation and breathing practices as possible. Of course, I ended up going to a vinyasa class by accident, which I fell in love with. As I went downstairs to the yoga studio I was greeted by friendly receptionists who took care of everything. They showed me the lockers, yoga mats and so on – they were also very excited to know that this was my first time and that I was doing a project on their yoga studio. Right before the class started a different teacher came in and said she will be doing the class today because Justine (the director of the studio who was supposed to teach vinyasa) could not make it in. By the end of the class I was very glad this different teacher, Coeli, came in because she took it slow and went through each pose as if we were doing research. It was probably the most clarifying class of yoga I have ever taken. In the morning before the class I was very grumpy and upset because my long term boyfriend decided we should break up- I was in no mood to do anything, especially yoga, but I felt amazing when I got there and my day was great after that. It is interesting to see how yoga not only works on the physical but most importantly on the mentality, also how it makes people feel and how important it is for our development.

Vinyasa yoga is a fast paced breathing yoga which definitely works on the strength of the body but also finding the right balance. “Vinyasa, which means breath synchronized movement, tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of poses called Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath”(Magazine of Physical Therapy, 2001, pg.1). This two hour class went over all the basic vinyasa movements but did not do any hand stands and other advanced poses. In yoga working to perfection is very important but it is not the goal. Yoga is meant to be enjoyed but also taken seriously. One can feel the difference if he or she stands in a pose correctly or if something is not right because it can be felt in the muscles and people are tense and stop breathing if they feel uncomfortable.

Down Under Yoga was founded in 2004 by Justine Wiltshire Cohen in a parish hall in Newton Center. She studied yoga with John Schumacher in Washington D.C., but after marrying a Newton-boy she moved here and began teaching. As people passed on the information about yoga in the area more and more people began coming and yoga teachers joined. For two years Justine was looking for a permanent place and thanks to friends in the area she was able to open a real yoga studio. It took a lot of work to renovate and now offers classes everyday almost all day long. There are free classes available for people with disabilities and money is raised through fundraisers where one can come to a free class but also teaching programs are held and many events to teach about yoga, India and other things that yoga classes do not have enough time for. “What began as six friends teaching in parish hall, has grown into a rich teaching environment, honored by the participation of several of America's most senior teachers including Barbara Benagh, Claire Este-MacDonald, Coeli Marsh, Patricia Walden, Natasha Rizopolous, Peentz Dubble, Chanel Luck and Shiva Rea” (Down Under Yoga). This place offers something for everyone thanks to different types of teaching, teachers and styles. The feeling at the studio is very light and friendly and it is apparent that no mean or negative person would be hired at this place. Everyone who came to the studio that day seemed happy and relaxed. Family, women, men, young and elder enjoyed being in the same room together and no one felt better or more experienced, we all did what we could thanks to the help of the instructor and her assistant. On their website one can find photos and information of every instructor as well as the history of the place and what they believe in. One of the most interesting points of their beliefs among believing that teachers continue to be students, challenge and individual attention was: “We believe that yoga studios should act in ways that are consistent with the teachings of yoga. We will never sell plastic water bottles that go into landfill (because ahimsa means “do no harm”). We will never sell $150 yoga pants (because aparigraha means “identifying greed”). We will never accept offers from companies to promote their gear in exchange for free publicity or products (because satya means “truthfulness”). We will never brand, trademark, or pretend we’ve made up a new style of yoga because humility is the whole point” (Down Under Yoga). This is very important because if the studio teaches about these traditional yogic beliefs they should also be able to follow them. This is my favorite point because it shows that even though they are a modern yoga studio for Americans they still follow Eastern beliefs that have so much wisdom in them.

This place really does serve everyone. Depending on the hour and the type of class everyone can find something they enjoy mostly. More intense classes and some that focus on relaxation and breathing techniques. The one thing about this place that I did not like was that it is based in Newton so it seems as everyone could afford the high prices of yoga. For me paying $150 for 10 classes is definitely too much and completely not on my level of affordability. Because it is in Newton, this place is still packed and so I do not think they will ever lower the prices. It is nice that they have some free classes but too bad they are very early in the morning on week days. I was happy to see so many elder people being so flexible and strong. Going back to the statement I made about everyone being able to find something that suits them I remember seeing a class on the schedule for pregnant women. This is absolutely amazing that pregnant women can also practice yoga and make pregnancy a little easier for them. I do wish the classes were a bit cheaper and that yoga was more available to people that cannot afford yoga.

The yoga instructor, Coeli, was a great teacher because of how she focused on teaching us how to do the poses correctly. She had us do it incorrectly first to see how that feels and then with the assistant's help she showed us how it should be done to have the best results. For me it was most important that she kept repeating that we should breathe. Every time she said I found myself hold my breathing and feeling tense. Coeli's knowledge on how to do everything well comes from her past and present. She is the founder of the Teachers Study Project, a professional training and mentoring school for yoga teachers in Cambridge (Down Under Yoga). During the class she shared stories about her life and told us how she got into yoga. It happened when she was thirteen and had an operation done on her back. The doctors had her lay in bed for months but one of the doctor's wife told her about yoga and that she should come after she regains some of her strength. At the time yoga was not something cool to do, it was more for hippies, and so Coeli kept it as a secret from her friends and family. She also talked about her teaching yoga to kids and how amazing it is to see how they develop thanks to yoga. When I interviewed her she shared how Americans like to abuse things and when abusing yoga it works like poison, there is simply too much of it. She believes we must discover the art of being enough and that we should stop where we feel most comfortable without pressuring ourselves to be perfect. Another thing she shared with me when I asked her about the Western modernizing yoga was that different cultures have different needs. “...most styles of ‘modern postural yoga’ emphasize the physical benefits of a¯sana (for example, weight loss or flexibility), as well as their effects in terms of ‘stress reduction’ or ‘relaxation’”(Smith, 2007, pg.32). This quote supports well what Coeli was saying because she believes yoga is the way it is in the States because that is what we need. People in this country are having problems coping with stress caused by expectations and the need to always have more and more. I think we prefer to focus on the body and add the mind to it while in the Eastern part of the world the mind is most important and the body's function is to keep the mind stable, for example through yoga.

“Studies show that yoga decreases levels of salivary cortisol, blood glucose, as well as plasma rennin levels, and 24-hour urine norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. Yoga significantly decreases heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Studies suggest that yoga reverses the negative impact of stress on the immune system by increasing levels of immunoglobulin, as well as natural killer cells. Yoga has been found to decrease markers of inflammation such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and lymphocyte-1B”(Alyson and Sue, 2010, pg.1). These are just some of the physical benefits of yoga but to me most importantly it improves ones spiritual side and keeps us mentally healthy and happy. According to Down Under Yoga Studio's website yoga has many benefits, such as increased flexibility, strength, greater aerobic capacity, amelioration of chronic diseases and an improved state of mind.

Being a Diamond Way Buddhism practitioner it is interesting to learn about yoga and its culture. These Eastern teaching are very much connected it is apparent that they all work on our 'self' in a very positive way. Although the way we reach enlightenment is very different and I know I have found my way in Karma Kagyu Buddhism, I still enjoy learning about other traditions and seeing how they beneficial they are for people. I can see how Buddha's teachings are part of yoga because we learn to let go of things and how to be present but in yoga through using our bodies in an intense way and I think focusing very much on it. Breathing in Buddhism is very important because it calms the mind and helps us focus on the meditation. During yoga classes I have learned many ways of breathing and it is great how I can use it during meditation sessions.

I believe yoga can be seen as a positive psychology system because it allows us to simply let feelings and thoughts pass without evaluation, we focuses on the here and now, and learn to enjoy whatever comes. Yoga can be beneficial to everyone but as Coeli said it is important to not overdo it because even the most amazing things can become poisonous to our body and mind.

“We are what we repeatedly do” - Aristotle. If yoga is what we continue to practice and we feel good at all times while doing it even if it is difficult or uncomfortable at times then I believe one can reach a state of harmony and balance. Yoga has existed for thousands of years so it must be something good if it continues to be powerful and has moved to the West.

References

A Brief Guide to Yoga Styles. Magazine of Physical Therapy (2008). Vol.16, Issue 4, pg.30-30.

Alyson, R. and Sue, T. (2010). The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Vol.16, Issue 1, pg. 3-12.

Smith, B. R. (2007) Body, Mind and Spirit? Towards an Analysis of the Practice of Yoga. Body Society. Vol. 13, Issue. 2, pg. 25-46

Devotional Yoga at the International society for Krishna consciousness of Boston

By Annie LoPresti

Introduction

In exploration of Boston’s diverse yoga practices, I selected the International society for Krishna consciousness of Boston. I chose to participate in their unique form of yoga because it focuses on chanting and, in the case of kirtana, ecstatic movement. This vibrational meditation interested me far more than pose-oriented yoga. I was also quite intrigued by the Hare Krisha culture and wanted to learn more about their beliefs and practices. It is with this curiosity that I collected both experiential and literary information, and present it now in relation to the theory, practice and culture of Hare Krishna yoga.

Theory

The sacred text of Krishna devotees is the Bhagavad-Gita. It features a long conversation between Lord Krishna and the great warrior, Arjuna, in which Krishna explains the perfection of yoga. The word “yoga” in the Bhagavad-Gita means something quite different then we immediately expect. It is the tool of devotion, through which one can surrender completely to Krishna and serve him in every moment. This devotion is achieved by completing the following aims of Krishna’s yoga system:

1. Control the senses

2. Purify one’s activities

3. Connection to Krishna

(Prabhupada, 1)

By controlling the senses, one practices detachment from the material world. Krishna stresses that the material world is suffering, and as long as we live in it we will only be feeding the desires of the body and expecting rewards for our labors. This will never bring true happiness (5). The Bhagavad-Gita states that one can only be happy by performing all actions with Krishna consciousness (9). The absorption in thoughts of Krishna will eventually steady the mind (19). This entire process of control and purification is intended to revive one’s consciousness of our eternal relationship with Krishna; the ultimate goal of life (44).

There are four basic types of yoga through which one can complete these yogic aims and devote oneself to Krishna.

1. Karma-yoga

2. Juana-yoga

3. Dhyana-yoga

4. Bhakti-yoga

These types of yoga are not separate, but steps that one might climb towards perfect yoga, or devotion (7). Each holds different opportunities to serve Krishna. The International societies for Krishna consciousness were developed in order to help aspiring devotees find these activities” (9).

Indeed, ISKCO of Boston helped me find an activity of bhakti-yoga (devotional service) that suited me; chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. The mantra is as follows:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna / Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama / Rama Rama, Hare Hare

This mantra can be chanted as a large group, accompanied with music and dancing (kirtana), or it can be performed as a meditation (10). I chose to participate in morning meditation because it posed a greater personal challenge than kirtana. It is thought that by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, one receives all the benefits of the highest form of yoga (13). Most importantly, purifies the atma (the mind, body and soul). It purifies because the “transcendent sound vibration is nondifferent from Krishna” (12). Swami Prabhupada, the man who brought Krishna Consciousness to the west, says that no part of us can remain impure if Krishna is within us. Therefore, we are purified of the material world when we chant his name and think of him. (12)

Swami Prabhupada calls bhakti-yoga the most effective yoga for this age. He recognizes, however, that meditative yoga is extremely difficult for most people, thus highlighting kirtana as best form of devotional service of our time(13). It is appropriate for him to be so sensitive to the time and culture in which devotees are practicing, as some of the yoga forms are simply no longer possible. For example, Hare Krishna meditation is meant to take place in complete solitude, preferably in the jungle, forest or mountains, on a tiger skin or deer skin (17). This is not practical (for most westerners), thus the expectations of devotees shift.

The desired result of bhakti-yoga, and all other Hare Krishna forms of devotion, is to achieve personal realization. This is described as a quiet mind, no longer agitated by the attractions of a material world. All material things and people are seen with an equal mind; dichotomies dissolve (30). In this realized state, one recognizes the greatness of Krishna and the eternal relationship that exists between them, and thus surrenders entirely to Krishna. This is the perfection of yoga.

Practice

Swami Prabhupada outlines simple, specific guidelines for meditation. One must keep the body straight in its sitting position, with eyes half-closed. To avoid falling asleep, it is important to keep the tip of one’s nose in sight. Without diverting the attention from the nose, one begins to control senses and purify themselves by focusing on Krishna and chanting Krishna’s name. Then, one entirely devotes oneself to Krishna Consciousness: thoughts of Krishna.(10)

The Bhagavad-Gita explains that meditation is to be done in complete solitude. As Swami Prabhupada makes explicit, this is a difficult feet when living in the center of Boston. I noticed this difference in the yogic practice of ISKCO Boston. At least ten people were meditating in the temple when I attended the morning meditation. Despite the company, each devotee was engulfed in extremely individual meditations. This was clearly heard in the layers of completely separate chants. All were saying the same words, but in their own way and in their own time. In this way they seemed to achieve the required solitude despite the populated room.

I quickly scanned the room to observe how people were practice the meditation. Several people walked slowly, back and forth, murmuring the mantra and clicking a sort of prayer bead. One women strung flowers that would later become an offering. Most devotees sat cross legged on the floor or up against the wall. I got a square of carpet and sat cross legged and straight, letting the thick, beautiful drone of sacred sounds pour through me.

I wanted to simply sit within this vibrational ocean, but I knew that one of the purposes of Hare Krishna is to chant so that others may chant. It is in the chanting, not simply listening, that one connects to Krishna. And so I began to chant quietly. I experimented with the way I said the chant, and how I breathed around the words. I eventually found a rhythm of chanting that had more powerful vibrations than the one I began with. While I chanted, my eyes were closed, open, sneaking peeks at others, and stretching all around when they got restless; I hadn’t read the pamphlet about proper meditation technique yet. It was difficult to control my mind because I didn’t feel like surrendering it to Krishna, or devoting anything to Krishna. I don’t see the point of such devotion. Instead I slowed my thoughts by focusing on the vibrations and sensation of the chant.

I felt the chant full and rich in my belly. I imagined the chanting (particularly the consistent chanting of the recording) to be roots grounding me into the earth, and its vibrations as a swirling gold stretching up my core and out the top of my head, connecting my inner Divine to the Great Divine. I felt the boundaries between myself and the devotees around me dissolve, as we all became the buzz of the mantra.

This luscious experience was like the canvas beneath my mind’s paint. My mind abstractly floated here and there, not clinging to any thoughts in particular but dreamily avoiding the present moment. The sensations of my body also splattered distractingly across the peaceful canvas. My foot had quickly become an unrecognizable chunk of swollen flesh, and was not responding to neural commands. I experimented with moving beyond the body’s suffering, as Krishna encourages. After working with this for a while, I took care of myself and moved to sit on a deliciously comfy bench. I thought this was acceptable since the walking yogi’s took care of their physical capability by walking, and because discipline is not my top priority of practicing.

I had no concept of time. After hundreds of Hare Krishna’s droned from my belly, the devotees around me swiftly dropped into deep bows on the floor; it was time for the offering. I don’t know exactly how they knew it was time, but I like to think that the meditation was over because the woman had finished stringing the flowers. Everyone bowed to a man I had not noticed before. He was sitting on a platform; in the center of an elaborate alter. He seemed almost unalive for he was so still. I later concluded that he was a deity, because a sign explained that the temple was closed between 12:30 and 3:30pm while the deities rested. I was very unfamiliar with bowing to a human as if they are holy, but didn’t have any strong feelings about it. I curled on the floor and bowed until my forehead hovered above my hands. I gave gratitude to the Universe for the experience, and for the day. As I left the temple I saw devotees arranging the offering in a confident, familiar manner.

I had the interesting feeling that the practice did not cease as I left the temple. All who I came in contact with seemed very calm, kind, and present. I imagine they were interacting with me with Krishna consciousness, which means it was indeed a yoga practice. This is one such observation that revealed the absoluteness of this Hare Krishna culture.

Culture

Hari Krishna is an extremely devoted population. Indeed, the entire religion is based on complete and constant Krishna consciousness and the spread of Krishna consciousness (9). Therefore, if one is truly a Krishna devotee, their yoga practice is the most important and part of their lives. I witnessed this in the temple during meditation. Every devotee treated the meditation as sacred and vital, but they also came and went as they needed to (such as going to work). Krishna does not wish for the yogi to cease working or living, but to “work for Krishna, eat for Krishna, sleep for Krishna, and dedicate all activities to Krishna” (8) .Therefore, the devotee’s practice of yoga never actually stops, so long as they are focused on Krishna (9). If they are a “good” yogi, this will show in every interaction of their day. It may appear as serenity, kindness, acceptance, or other traits of a spirit connected to the Supersoul.

Almost everyone in the temple was Indian. This is unsurprising, as the Hare Krishna spirituality originated in India. I imagine that the Indian culture – its values, roles, norms, expectations, beliefs – has greatly shaped the Hare Krishna culture. Although you can take the Hare Krishna culture out of the Indian culture, I don’t think you can take the Indian culture out of the Hare Krishna culture. Some examples of this could be the belief in reincarnation and karma, the ornate offerings to deities or god figures, the emphasis on detachment, devotion and discipline, and the centrality of meditation and chanting.

Conclusion

The Hare Krishna spirituality is very interesting to me. I enjoyed reading the texts, which have a friendly, hopeful feeling about them. The literature, combined with my personal experience, helped me to feel the deep love and devotion of this yogic culture. Although I don’t share their beliefs, I recognize that our Diving is the same Divine and honor the practices in which they nourish their Divine connection. The Hare Krishna chant touches me deeply and has become one of my own practices. I look forward to attending future kirtanas and Prasadam feasts, and continuing to experience the beautiful culture of the Hare Krishna.

References

Prabhupada, S. (1966). The Perfection of Yoga. Los Angeles: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Yoga at Lesley

Nichole Smith

Yoga at Lesley

Yoga is generally known to give a person better posture, better flexibility, and more toned muscles. This is the stereotypical look at yoga; that it is a more relaxing form of working out. Yoga at Lesley fits this stereotypical definition to a tee. Yoga at Lesley is generally geared towards a women’s workout, toning core muscles and working towards better posture. Now that Lesley has provided a space geared especially towards yoga, it has become a very popular workout session for students, especially female students, to attend. This class at Lesley has known many different instructors, trained in different types of yoga, though hatha yoga has been the most predominant form Lesley has seen.

Lesley, in its remodeling of some buildings, has provided a large space for the practice of yoga, which also doubles as batting cages for the baseball teams. This large space is open with a wall of mirrors, looking again like the stereotypical yoga studio. It is provided with the bare necessities as any yoga class needs, a large flat space, and some yoga mats. The space at Lesley works well for the practice of yoga, especially for the size of the class that attends.

The history of yoga at Lesley has definitely had its ups and downs. When first attending the class years ago, it was never a sure thing that there would be a weekly class because of the lack of proper space. Most often the Alumni Hall was used as a large room, as the space currently used was the fitness center. After this Lesley did away with yoga, either because there was no proper studio space or because there was no teacher willing to do night sessions, as day sessions for students are not practical. Just recently the remodeling of buildings in Lesley’s Quad Campus has lead to a new and larger fitness center in another building, leaving the old space open. This space was modeled to be a yoga studio, and an area for batting cages. This space was newly floored, as to not be as hard as the cement it was, and to be a large comfortable yoga studio. With yoga being so popular, the studio was made to encompass the large amounts of students which would attend the yoga sessions. After this studio was created, Lesley found a teacher of yoga with years of practice, and weekly yoga sessions were reintroduced at Lesley.

Yoga at Lesley serves the entire Lesley University community. This includes undergraduates, graduates, and faculty. Most commonly, the people who attend yoga at Lesley classes are undergraduate females, including both non-athletes and athletes. During my first session of yoga, there were two male athletes practicing with the other twenty plus women in the room. The class was their first yoga session ever and they found it very difficult. It was definitely not the type of workout they were accustomed to doing, and even the poses were something their bodies were not accustomed to doing, so the short one hour class was a more strenuous workout for them, then it was for the ladies in the room, whether new to yoga or not it seemed.

Yoga at Lesley is greatly influenced by the culture of the people who attend the class, as well at the teacher herself. I found that the teacher focused a lot on poses that concentrated on the workout and strengthening of the core/abdomen muscles. I also noticed that the teacher geared these classes towards areas she felt she needed to work out on herself. She had commented several times on her need to work this area, the abdomen, and on after much thought about the class and poses we did, I found that we were definitely focusing on areas of the body she felt she needed to tone on herself.

I also found the teacher pushing her ideas on the class. Throughout the sessions, the class got lectures and talks about how to treat others, especially people who are not friendly toward us, in a nice manner and to surprise them by treating them like your friend rather than an enemy. Further, whilst doing a triangle pose, the instructor began talking about reading our auras and getting in touch with them, which at this point was a bit odd. She then continued to tell us how we are not our bodies, how we are one within the universe and we are just within our bodies for this time being. At this point I felt really odd about how she was trying to push her beliefs on the class, and was getting somewhat uncomfortable with what she was saying.

The class is also greatly influenced by the people who attend the class. Since the majority, about ninety-eight percent, of the class was female and only two attendees were male, the speed of the class and the poses were geared toward a female intermediate level workout rather than a novice class for a wide range of yoga practitioners. The classes mainly worked with the chair, plank, downward-dog, and warrior poses, repeating them continuously at a very fast pace. These poses can be quickly learned, but the English word for the pose is very different from the Indian, so when she began calling out the poses in Indian, some newcomers, including myself, and the men in the class found themselves falling behind because of confusion in language. It is definitely a yoga class which builds upon itself, so missing a week of class can throw off a practitioner and have them guessing what happened last time, which new pose or name of a pose was learned last time.

This class is also geared toward the culture of its surroundings- a university. So the class is meant to be a time to relax and take away some of the stresses of school. However, personally I found that to be a difficult thing to do. Though my mind was definitely off school, I generally do not want my yoga sessions to be over quickly, and both classes I felt like I just wanted the class to be over, or to get to the relaxation part at the end. However, I found it very difficult to attempt to relax any time in this class. I quickly found this to be less relaxation, getting in touch with your mind, and focusing on your breathing yoga, and more focusing on working out the muscles, toning the core, and not thinking about all the homework that needs to get done yoga.

Since the teacher is especially trained in the Iyengar method of yoga, this is the theory and method of practice for this class. However, I found the class to be lacking some of the three aspects of the Iyenger method. The first aspect, correct body alignment, which allows the body to develop in a way which the student will not suffer injury or pain when practicing, was partially focused on, however, the instructor did not focus on correcting the body for any mistakes in poses, which is a big point within this aspect. Injury or pain, especially for the beginners in the class was not as much a concern as trying to get the pose correct, and with no help or corrections, the pose could lead to injury.

The next aspect is correct sequencing so there is a cumulative effect of the body. This is an aspect which I think was actually achieved, as the sequences of the poses, thought done very fast, felt natural going from one to another, from downward dog to plank, and so on. Through this sequencing I did feel the effects on my body, both during the class and for some time afterwards. I think this aspect of the Iyenger method was met and was successful.

The third aspect was not as successful. The third aspect is the concept of timings, so poses are held for a considerable length of time so the effects of the pose are felt throughout the body. As I have stated, yoga at Lesley is a fast paced workout class, so I do not think this third aspect is taken into consideration. The poses are not held for long periods of time, other than the beginning of the class when first learning the sequence of the poses. During the most active time of the classes we were moving from pose to pose with mere seconds between the poses. I do not think this aspect of the Iyenger method was successfully done in these classes due to the pace of the class.

As a whole yoga at Lesley was definitely an interesting experience, both a learning one and a physical one. It is most definitely geared towards a female intermediate level, and not just a class you can easily jump into without experience. Though yoga at Lesley had a rocky start to it for the past few years, it has stayed very popular within the Lesley community for its great physical benefits as well as its stress reducing benefits. These benefits are influenced from the type of demographic the classes see which influences how the class is taught and which positions and poses are concentrated on, which gives specific benefits the practitioners are looking for. Overall yoga at Lesley is a great experience and good for anyone in the Lesley community looking to experience yoga as American’s view it: as a healthy workout.

Kundalini Yoga Boston

Gaby Zlocki

For the midterm project, I attended a class at the Kundalini Yoga Center in Inman Square. I had heard about the positive effects of Kundalini Yoga in talks by one of my favorite teachers, Ram Dass, who refers to it as a tool for increasing consciousness. Kundalini Yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on the seven chakras (centers of energy in the body), the arc line (the sixth chakra, or third eye), and the aura. Kundalini Yoga is meant to extend consciousness, teach practitioners how to have a wider understanding of their relationships to the universe, and connect those who practice to the infinite. It differs from other forms of yoga, in that it works specifically on activating and controlling the kundalini energy, which is "the essence of human consciousness" according to Yogi Bhajan.

Kundalini Yoga was brought to America by Yogi Bhajan (whose quotes you can find on the teabags of Yogi tea). Yogi Bhajan became a master of Kundalini Yoga at 16. He left India with the goal of bringing Kundalini Yoga to the West, and gave his first lecture in a Los Angeles high school gym in 1969 at age 39. He focused his attention on the drug culture of the sixties, and attracted masses of individuals who came to him looking for an alternative to the spiritual experience of drugs like LSD (popularized by former Harvard professors Ram Dass, and Timothy Leary). He generated teachings, trained certified Kundalini Yoga teachers himself, and created 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization) centers across the country, which aim to create a global community of Kundalini Yoga practitioners.

Located in Inman Square in Cambridge, MA, Kundalini Yoga Boston is attached to a small art gallery and holistic boutique. I noticed the studio by the lotus flower in the window when I drove by in my car. "Kundalini Yoga Boston offers yoga classes, gong meditations, workshops, private lessons, small classes, Aquarian Sadhana, experienced teachers, and live music" (Kundalini Yoga Boston). The entrance and lounge were bright, sunny, and full of beautiful, colorful art. The dressing rooms were clean and spacious, and the cashier accepting money for classes was turbaned, smiling and polite. According to the Kundalini Yoga website, "We’ve set up a cozy spiritual space with you in mind, so that your mind, body and soul may have the divine opportunity to unify and become One." It certainly was beautiful! I also appreciated that the woman who I paid for the class with gave me a tour, and provided free mats and towels (a rara avis in the yoga world.) The class was sixteen dollars, but the class was small with only four women.

According to the Kundalini Yoga Boston website, Kundalini Yoga Boston was founded by Cindy Ludlam and Siri Ram Kaur. Cindy Ludlam/Siri Bani Kaur has practiced yoga for over 12 years in many different styles, and is also an art teacher with an MFA from Boston University. She currently exhibits artwork across the world, and teaches at the Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, a post-graduate college preparatory program. Her co-founder Siri Ram Kaur "served in the secretariat of Sikh Dharma for twenty five years and worked for eight years as the Editor in Chief of Aquarian Times Magazine" (Kundalini Yoga Boston). She is a certified K.R.I. Kundalini Yoga teacher, and was one of the first White Tantric Yoga teachers to be chosen by Yogi Bhajan. She also has a background in art. She received her BA in Art at Simmons College as well as the Thomas J. Wallace Memorial Award in Studio Art. She is taking time off from her graduate degree at Simmons to focus more fully on the studio and gallery. Their combined history in art explains the combined yoga studio/art gallery.

The link between yoga and creativity is being researched by some academics, including Jeff Davis, faculty member at Western Connecticut State University, who published the book The Journey from the Center to the Page: Yoga Practices and Principles as Muse for Authentic Writing in 2004. Davis states, "Yoga won’t make writing easy, because, well, writing is difficult. But Yoga is helping thousands of writers to facilitate and design their own creative process - rather than to be at the whim of random flashes of ‘inspiration,’ moods, or energy peaks" (Lifestyle News, 2007). Davis recently performed a study on the effects of regular yoga practice on the creativity of MFA Writing students, and has traveled to speak to other MFA programs on the positive effects of yoga on creativity. Yogi Bhajan was not unfamiliar with the connection between creativity and yogic practice. He claimed, "When the artist is acting sensitively, as a channel for the life force passing through him, his art... touches the essence of creation. In this sense, all art is the worship of God." Kundalini itself is referred to by Yogi Bhajan as "your creative potential" (Bhajan). People can experience kundalini, and become completely present and alert "when the energy of the glandular system combines with the energy of the nervous system to create such a sensitivity that the totality of the brain receives signals and integrates them" (Bhajan).

Although I didn't attempt to utilize my creativity after leaving Kundalini Yoga Boston so that I could experiment with Jeff Davis's theory, I left definitely feeling relaxed. The class, as well as most classes, was ninety minutes long, and meant to cater to the mind, body and spirit. Classes consist of "yoga kriya (a sequence of postures, breath and sound integrated to allow the manifestation of a particular state), pranayam (breathwork), relaxation and meditation" (Kundalini Yoga Boston). During the practice, time is spent in the following way: five to ten minutes are spent to warm up; thirty to forty minutes are spent on yoga kriya; and ten to thirty minutes are spent in meditation. During classes, there is usually recorded or live music, or a gong meditation. I experienced the gong meditation, and it was very relaxing and soothing.

Although there were an abundant amount of positives about my experience, it was not without its negatives. My teacher was a bit strict, and reminded me of my childhood ballet teacher, except in a white turban sipping tea. I was confused and annoyed at times with the situation, having never done this particular yoga practice before. The chanting was either too long for me to remember or so loud that my voice cracked. I have asthma, and the quick breathing and heaving of the chest was too fast. I felt myself and the other beginner lagging behind the teacher and the two experienced yogis in the class. Also, I split my pants.The class was a comedy of errors, and at times I wondered what kind of person I was for bringing myself to this class and making myself sit through it.

But afterwards, I was on top of the world. I'm not sure whether it was because I had made it through an unpleasant experience, whether it was because I loved the gong, or whether it was because I had given myself the gift of sitting still and appreciating my body, my mind, and my spirituality for an hour and half. But I felt good. Really good. Those invincible "I can make it through anything" waves I felt once I left the yoga studio caused me to wonder why I was hesitant about returning. Was it because I ripped my pants? No, I know how to sew, and they were falling down anyway. What made me throw out the schedule when I got home even though I had felt the beneficial results of the yoga practice?

Scientific research has supported the connection between yogic practice and meditation and the benefits its supporters claim. Benson, and Jon Kabat-Zinn have performed research in mind-body medicine, and made some interesting discoveries. Benson and his colleagues researched the meditative practice of Tibetan monks called tum-mo, which is done in a very cold environment, to see if the monks can increase their body temperature and wet a sheet draped over their body with perspiration. Benson et al. found that the practice resulted in lowered blood pressure, oxygen consumption, heart rate, and metabolic rate, which implied a state of relaxation (Chaoul & Cohen, 2010). Kabat-Zinn created a program of mindfulness meditation, yoga postures, and body scan for populations with chronic pain, which is now known as Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, and has been found to be useful for reducing psychological and physical effects of some chronic illnesses, as well as changing brain activity and biological practices (Chaoul & Cohen, 2010).

I liked the product, but I didn't like the packaging. The practice was just what I needed, but the way it was presented seemed inaccessible to me. It didn't seem like I could come as I was, and be accepted just showing up occasionally. Practitioners of Kundalini Yoga emphasize that to feel the full effect of Kundalini Yoga, and to create transformation, a regular practice is necessary, not an occasional practice. Also, the population of the studio consisted completely of white women, some of them in turbans. The turbans were intimidating. Would I have to wear a turban eventually with this practice? The reason for the turbans, according to Yogi Bhajan, is to create optimum energy by regulating the kundalini flow through the sun energy that enters the body through the hair, which is encouraged to be kept uncut and tied on top of the head in a covering. Head coverings are intended to allow the wearer to better command the sixth chakra, or third eye, and create a focus on the circuit between the hemispheres of the brain, and tunes the neurological system (Bhajan).

More of the teachings of Yogi Bhajan can be found on the tea bags of Yogi Tea. I've drank Yogi Tea, and I found Yogi Bhajan's teachings on the tea bags inspiring. My roommate even put them up in our kitchen. Yogi Tea was founded by followers of Yogi Bhajan, who would make a chai tea for his students after his classes, which he called "yogi tea." Yogi Tea seems to be a symptom of a spiritual syndrome in the West, where if you buy more--lessons, classes, teas, workshops, turbans, conferences, bra-tops--you will receive more spiritual and health benefits. There are so many different methods of increasing consciousness, but none of them want anything to do with one another, and it is unacceptable to be a member of more than one. These spiritual traveling groups might have more to benefit one another than they realize, but they choose to remain separate at risk of losing their existence, validity or cash flow. Although I can appreciate the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, and I can understand how he has become the treasured guru of others, I'm not sure if he is my guru, which makes frequenting Kundalini Yoga difficult for me. If I can accept Yogi Bhajan as just another teacher along the path, and Kundalini Yogi as just another path, I might be able to come to practice at Kundalini Yoga Boston occasionally. But I'm still a bit questionable about the turbans.

Sources

Bhajan, Y. (n.d.). Kundalini yoga faq. Retrieved from http:// k.b5z.net/i/u/2175232/i/Kundalini_FAQs_revised.pdf

Chaoul, M. A. & Cohen, L. (2010, June). Rethinking yoga and the application of yoga in modern medicine. Cross Currents, 60(2), 144-167,286

Kundalini Yoga Boston. (n.d.). A spiritual place where mind, body, and soul become one. Retrieved from http://www.kundaliniyogaboston.com

Lifestyle News. (2007, October 19). The next wave of yoga research: creativity?. Retrieved from http://www.prleap.com/pr/98937/

You Can't be You Wrong

By Jamie Jancarik

For this assignment I went to the Arlington Center. Here I attended the class BREATH•FLOW•STILLNESS, a class of yoga and meditation. The class is taught by Cynthia Gramer. Cynthia tries to create classes that meet the needs of the students in each particular class, so each class is different depending on who her students are; in the case of my class, it was all people who were thirty and older besides myself and Jade, who joined me on the adventure. She also incorporates a mix of Anusara, Yin, Vinyasa, Restorative and Forrest yoga into her classes (Hartranft). In addition to Cynthia’s class, the Arlington Center offers a wide variety of classes ranging from Yoga for Children to Anusara inspired classes. It also hosts a plethora of events and other wellness activities such as Nia and spiritual counseling.

The Arlington Center is directed by Chip Hartranft. Author of The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali, Chip is dedicated to bringing the tradtions of yoga and Buddhist meditation to America. He has been around the Boston area since 1978 and practices Krishnamacharya traditions (Shambhala Publications 2011). He also created BodyMindConnection which is a healing program for people under stress to use the mind body connection to relive the body of stress (Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Inc).

I wished that I had had more time to visit and observe the many events and classes the Arlington Center has. It amazes me the amount of programs it hosts and the age range the classes have. I also would have liked to have tried something other than yoga there. Their workshops in particular seemed interesting such as the Buddhist Psychology Lecture Series. The seminar focuses around themes between Buddhism and psychotherapy; two credits are even offered at the end for continuing workers in the human service field (Hartranft).

Before going to the class I had many expectations; most of them were contradictory. I was hoping for a class that would enlighten me and teach me something new and exciting. I was expecting a class full of old ladies and maybe a man or two. I was also expecting the class to be completely about breathing and meditation, with very little movement at all; I must have forgotten the flow part in the title.

My experience at the class may have been affected by the transportation getting there, which was very stressful. It started out that the shuttle I thought left from Brattle Campus at 8 actually left Doble Campus at 8, which would have meant that I would have been late to meeting Jade, so the morning started out with a power walk to get to the bus stop. Then the bus was late, extremely late. Both of us thought we were going to miss the class and didn’t know what we were going to do about it. Luckily we didn’t, but I came to class extremely stimulated which did not help with the meditation.

Cynthia opened the class with a theoretical question: do we really know anything? She spoke about awareness and really being there. I felt like most of the people in class found this insightful, but I found it rather repetitive since many of my classes at Lesley push the thought of mindfulness. The statements about mindfulness were also repeated throughout the entire class as well. Her statements were also conflicting with one another. One of her quotes was “You can never be you wrong” but then at the end of class she said something to the affect of at the end of meditation she realizes that she never really knows herself.

Hearing these contradicting thoughts sort of reminded me of Krishnamurti. When he says “And there can be order only where there is total self-denial, when the “me” has no importance what so ever” (Krishnamurti 1993 p. 22) reminds me of not really knowing oneself. But being you is still important to meditation because only you can decide what is right, no mentor or teacher or anyone else (Krishnamurti 1993 p. 19).

I’m not sure if my reaction to Cynthia was good or bad. Her contradictory statements did confuse me a bit. Also, it seemed as if the class was centered around her and her thoughts rather than on the breath. She also seemed to look down on me and Jade, as if she was better than us because she knew more about yoga than us. It might have only seemed that way because she assumed we were either sophomores or freshmen when we are both juniors. However, Cynthia was a very helpful and caring woman. One of the women in the class had bad knees so she helped to create a bed so that she would not have to lie on the floor and risk not being able to get up. She is also a hugger, a really big hugger. Before we left she hugged each and every one of us. Although it seemed a little weird I really appreciated the warmth that the hug meant.

The class is centered all around breathing while moving, although that is not a surprise. We worked on moving with each breath from position to position. Each movement was suppose to be natural to our breaths, although this was slightly difficult when we were learning what each movement was and had to control our breaths to be the same. This also reminded me of Krishnamurti. Krishnamurti says that if you must meditate you are forcing yourself to meditate and therefore are following some sort of system (1993 pg 19). Cynthia did not want us moving in unnatural ways for our bodies. She told us to take whatever we learned and to adapt it to our own needs. So rather than following someone, I was doing what felt right.

During the class I was very excited because she mentioned a more yogic word for breathing, although I do not remember the word she said. I thought that the class would use more yoga theory rather than the Americanized version. That was until she said to go into downward dog and child’s pose. It was a nice mix, but I was hoping for more non-Americanized yoga. One thing I was very excited about though was when she said the name of the alternate nostril breathing and deep relaxation and I recognized what it was (I still don’t know how to pronounce it though never mind spell it).

While in class I found my mind wandering more than usual. I think it had something to do with how much she was talking. Cynthia kept talking about letting go of thoughts and just bring the mind back to breathing, but that is rather hard when I was taught to listen to those who are talking to me; it was also hard to tune her out. There was also om’s being chanted in a background tape she had playing. If I had been in the right state of mind they probably would have been useful, but instead they were distracting. They also stopped randomly during our deep relaxation, so the sudden quietness seemed to be louder than the oms.

The best part about the deep relaxation was that she had us all grab blankets at the beginning of class in order to cover ourselves. I am always cold during the mediation so it was nice to have the blanket. However, I did not enjoy the end of the meditation. She had a gong, which was fine, but she also had a singing bowl. For some reason it really resonated horribly with me; my head felt like someone was pushing from the inside to get out. Normally singing bowls are relaxing to me, but this time it just seemed really wrong for my body.

I’m not sure if I had a positive or negative experience. The class, for me, was just another class. There was nothing really special about it. It was relaxing, which was nice, but it did not give me any feelings besides “well that was nice.” Talking it over with Jade did let me think deeper about the class, but nothing really resonated with me a lot. I was hoping for some big insight, and was disappointed to have found none. I also felt like I learned nothing new. Ninety-nine percent of what I did in that yoga class we have done in our class or I have done previously in the few yoga classes I attended in high school.

Reflecting back, there are a few things that I would have like to have been done different. I would have liked to class to have not been centered around her personal thoughts. Concepts are always nice to think about in the back of the mind, but the class seemed really centered around Cynthia. I also would have liked to have practiced more type of breathing. In the beginning of class ujjay breathing was mentioned, but it was more of a technique to focus on the breath rather than my thoughts. I would have rather learned more types or breathing instead of working on the flow of the breath which is stressed in a good chunk of yoga classes.

Besides having things different in the class, I also wish I had chosen a class that was not so parallel to our class. If I had taken a class with a new concept, it would have been a better learning experience. I also feel like I would have gotten my sense of “enlightenment” if I had attended a more different class

Work Cited

Hartranft, C. The Arlington center. Retrieved from http://www.arlingtoncenter.org/index.html

Krishnamurti, J. (1993). This light in oneself: True meditation. Boston: Shambhala.

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Inc. Chip Hartranft. Retrieved from http://eomega.org/omega/faculty/viewProfile/a297fbefa0e706f18d1ac21a6332cfee/

Shambhala Publications. (2011). Chip Hartranft. Retrieved from http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/author/648.cfm