Core Yoga Beverly,MA

Yoga: Theory, Culture and Practice

Core Yoga

Tiffany Carroca

LesleyUniversity

Abstract

The theories and practices of yoga can vary in different parts of the world. This also holds true to different yoga studios in the same city, even on the same street. Every yoga studio you attend offers something unlike the other and you are bound to have a unique experience. Taking a yoga class at Lesley University is very different than a yoga class I attended at Empower yoga studio in Beverly Massachusetts. Yoga can be added into a workout as a relaxer and calmer in the middle of a workout, or can fully be a mental and serein experience.

Research

In class we had many discussions on different venues in the Boston area in which all forms of yoga were offered. I decided that it might be best to go and visit a site that people in the Boston area may have not heard of. I wanted a different perspective and would attend a yoga class in the suburbs. My parents live in the North Shore of Massachusetts, so I chose a sight in that area. I researched a couple of different places and came across some interesting venues that were in Beverly, Massachusetts. I chose the venue called Empower. I did so because I have heard about this specific place and knew the exact location of it.

Upon visiting the website I was very impressed with the location. The website was easy to follow and gave a lot of information with a break down of each class, biographies of each instructor, and very welcoming words. The motto of the location is “Discover the Power Within.” The website also talks about the venue being a very intense, physically challenging yoga practice in a heated room. It says further that it was based on a vinyasa flow that moves your body and your energy in which you will sweat immensely. The goal is to combine yoga poses and focus on your inner self to find balance, power, and more flexibility. One of the owners Tricia states that she wants her clients to focus on healthy and empowering lifestyles. All of the trainers have extensive training and their lives are highly influenced by yoga. There were biographies and experience of the trainers, and a very brief paragraph on how the studio was started. Tricia Philpot and Lisa Garlitz joined forces in 2003 and started Empower yoga to promote long healthy lives for their clients. Tricia is an instructor and Lisa deals with the finance aspect of the business, yet enjoys hot power yoga immensely.  The classes are open to anyone and they love to have new clients come to their classes.

I looked at a few possible classes, Power Hour and Core Yoga. Both seemed very interesting, but the Core Yoga class seemed a little more interesting to me. I liked the idea of yoga being mixed with some Pilates for a core yoga class. When looking at the website I initially thought that it was a Hot Core Yoga class because the Power Hour class was, but after the class I realized that it was just a warm room. The classroom was at 85 degrees, instead of 95 degrees, which a hot yoga class is. Due to the fact I happen to combine the descriptions of the two classes I did my research on hot yoga and not just a warm classroom. After reading the biography of the instructor for the class, Tricia, I knew that the class would be challenging and strenuous.

The first thing I did research on was a hot yoga class and what to expect. When I read more into this I found many articles on the risks and concerns many doctors and yoga instructors have with hot yoga. I knew it would be helpful to look into this. I did not want to put my health at risk by any means, and I found some vital information. The one thing that stood out to me was how body temperature worked and using a towel can affect this. It is not good to use a towel because it stops the sweat from evaporating on the skin (Funk). In order for the body to cool, the sweat must evaporate which then lowers the skin temperature. If there are fans in the room it can help, and humidity makes this even worse. If your skin temperature does not lower then more sweating will occur and increase the possibility of dehydration. After reading this article I knew that I needed to keep hydrated the day before and during. Also, the heat in the room heats your body and especially the core of your body. Hot yoga helps get blood flowing and muscles looser. With all this being affected you can become dehydrated, suffer heat exhaustion, and heat cramps.

            I did further research on hot yoga and found that it was similar to Bikram yoga. Bikram is ten degrees hotter than a hot yoga room, has twenty-six different poses, and focuses on two breathing exercises (Yoga Journal). It also mentioned that you really need full mental concentration. In the same article it mentioned that hot yoga could be very strenuous. Another thing I wanted to research was Pilates and Yoga. I was able to find one article that talked about the use of yoga and Pilates and what to expect. It article stated “In Pilates, you’re typically taught to strengthen the core muscles from a reclined position” (Bauman). After reading this I thought that maybe I would experience some positions like this. After all my research I thought that I was mentally prepared to sweat heavily, possibly have great breathing exercises, have a strenuous workout, and be introduced to some form of Pilates.

Experience

            I took a class on a Tuesday that started at 8:30 AM. I arrived to the studio at 8 AM just in case I needed to fill in any paperwork and do some research. The instructor arrived at 8:10 AM, and I was the first in the building after her. She was very helpful and welcoming. She asked my name, had me pay for my class, told me the materials I needed for the class, and continued to set up for the class. When I set up all my materials I began to just look around the studio and try to get a feeling of the atmosphere. The music was extremely loud and was playing an album by Chris Brown. I immediately got the sense that the class would not be very mentally based and quick paced. It seemed as though many people would not be joining the class. At about 8:25 AM the class filled up very quickly. There were about 25-30 people attending the class. The age range varied but it was mostly middle-aged women. Once the class started to fill up I focused a lot of who was in the class and how culture affected the people there. The first thing I noticed was the clothing women were wearing. I would say that 75% of the class were in lulu lemon clothing from head to toe. Headbands, sweatshirts, tops, and bottoms were all brand names, mostly lulu lemon. Everyone had their hair tied up very neatly, full water bottles, clean mats with special towels made for over the mats, a towel for personal use, and their own blocks and weights to use for the class. I felt that the women in the class were very influenced by culture and what yoga “looks like and should be.” I felt that the stereo-type of what America sees yoga as was defined in that exact classroom.

I had the honor of sitting next to a woman that was very willing to talk to me about the class and the studio. She said that most classes were women in their mid-thirties and had some ranging older and younger but not many. She happened to be in the higher range. Although she did not disclose her age, she told me she was the oldest in the class. I asked her why she decided to join a yoga class, and said that her daughters told her it would be a healthy workout for her physically and mentally at her age. She spoke very highly of the instructor Tricia, and said she was very focused, determined and an extremely motivating instructor. She said that the specific class I was taking was strenuous and fast paced. Not much yoga was involved and was highly focused on the core workout.

The class began with basic yoga positions. We stretched our backs with child’s pose and did downward dog and combined it with other stretches. It was hard to focus on breathing and mentally being in the class because we were only in each position for approximately five to ten seconds. I immediately knew that this would not be similar to the yoga that we do in our class. We then moved onto the “core” part of the class. Tricia said we are going to start with the hard stuff and go from there. Plank position it was and we were working out our legs and core. They were very quick and intense movements, with an attempt to add breathing exercises in. Everyone in the class was struggling in some way, people were verbally expressing this and Tricia was very supportive of this. I did not find that to be an issue at all, just not what I expected in a yoga class. After each set of “workouts” we would go into child’s pose, have a breathing exercise, and go into downward dog position and stretch.

It was difficult for me to follow some of the exercises and poses at the speed of everyone else because I was unfamiliar with the terminology she used. At one point, clearly picking me out, she said that if you are unsure of any pose to just look at the person in front of you. She kept saying things starting with “if you are new or unfamiliar…,” and I felt a little uncomfortable. There were many times that she would say those things and I would look at her and she would be smiling at me. I knew that she was trying to help me out and did not completely single me out with a specific name, but knew she was talking to me implicitly.  On the other hand, it was nice because she was focused on her new client and wanted the best experience for me.

I felt many of the poses were held for a very long time and many people had a hard time staying in those positions, especially myself.  The “breaks” from the core workout with the yoga was refreshing and very necessary. One exercise that stood out to me that combined both yoga and the workout was when we were in the side plank position. We stood in side plank position and moved our free arm under our arm that was supporting us up, but only using our core to help us do the movement. It was fun, yet difficult; I did enjoy the challenge though. The heat in the room did not sit very well with me as well. Although it was not 95 degrees, I am not used to working out in a room that is 85 plus degrees. I felt very tired at some points and would go into child’s pose or do a slightly refined version of the workout, which the instructor encouraged to all students in the class.

I personally enjoyed the intense workout with a combination of yoga, but I felt that the real practice and meaning of yoga was lost in the class. I feel the basis for the practice of this class was not yoga based, but more for living a physically healthy lifestyle. Although that may be goal in yoga, I feel that the spiritual portion of it was not emphasized much besides our last exercise. From the very second the class started I did not feel relaxed or feel as if I was in a serein yoga environment. In our class at Lesley it may be difficult for me to focus mentally at times, but the exterior environment is always peaceful and calming. Where as at the Empower yoga studio, I was so focused on finishing every section of the core workout aspect of the class that when we finished with a yoga pose my mind was still racing. Once I was able to relax with a yoga position and free my mind of how hot and sweaty I was, it was over taken within thirty seconds when I would have to refocus on the core workout part of the class. I felt that all of the women in the class were in there to keep in shape and have something social to go to with their girlfriends. I read an article from Alt HealthWatch that said, “Learning where your body is and what your body can do is what yoga is about, not reaching for an ideal or modeling after a picture in a book. If you are just flexible and not strong, at the end of your range you are going to tear a muscle” (Hot Yoga).  This quote stood out in my head from the moment I entered the class and set up my mat.

When I leave yoga class in school I mentally feel relaxed and a sense of happiness and calmness within myself. When I left this class I could not wait to shower and relax after. My mind was constantly trying to focus and I felt it defeated the entire purpose of freeing your mind, body and soul in a yoga class. The only point in the class that I felt relaxed was the last exercise. The loud background music was changed to soothing and serein music and my instructors voice went from shouting to calm, cool and collective. We placed a block on the top of our vertebrae; right below our nape and let our head relax back. We then took deep breaths and focused on our mental awareness. As we would breath I was able to feel stretching in my arms, legs, chest, and mostly my core. The breathing and music really helped me compose myself after a long workout. Overall I had a good experience attending Empower yoga Studio in Beverly, MA. I would attend the class again, but only if I was looking to get a good workout in and not a yoga experience. I hope to try out more yoga based classes at this specific venue.

           

           

References

Bauman, A. (2005). YOGA & Pilates. Yoga Journal, (186), 22.

Funk, L. S. (2001). "Hot" Yoga: Physiological Concerns while Exercising in the

            Heat. Yoga World: International Newsletter For Yoga Teachers &

            Students, (17), 6.

Hot Yoga: Concerns about Possible Harm. (2004). Yoga Studies, 16.

ROSEN, R. (2011). THE PATH OF THE YOGA SUTRAS: A Practical Guide to the          Core of Yoga,. Yoga Journal, (240), 113.

which yoga is for you?. (2010). Yoga Journal, (226), A4-A7.

Raja Yoga

Alexandria Baker

CSOCS 3452 Yoga: Theory, Culture, and Practice

Laura Douglass

22 October 2012

Inner Space, Cambridge, MA: The Journey of the Soul  

            On October 17^th I visited the Inner Space Meditation Center and Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts to attend a guided meditation session as well as participate in a discussion titled “The Journey of the Soul”. The Inner Space Meditation Center and Gallery is a brand new facility in Harvard Square that opened on September 22^nd of this year.

Inner Space is part of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization. Brahma Kumaris began in a part of colonial India, Hyderabad, Sindh as a ‘university’ called “Om Mandali”. At the time Om Mandali was very small and consisted of a small group of men, women, and children living in the surrounding area. An expansion of this group occurred after a wealthy elitist in the community, Dada Lekhraj’s began having a series of visions about the body of knowledge, the nature of the soul, god, and time in 1936.  These visions inspired others in the community and created a following of Om Mandali’s practice. A year after becoming established, Om Mandali moved from Hyderabad to Karachi. For about fourteen years, a group of almost 400 followers lived in a ‘self-sufficient’ community and dedicated their life to ‘spiritual study, meditation and self-transformation’. In 1950 Om Mandali moved to Mount Abu, a place that was known for its ancient heritage in ‘spiritual rejuvenation and empowerment’. After a few years in this location the university moved to their now permanent world headquarters, Madhuban which means “Forest of Honey’. In 1952, Dada Lekhraj decided that it was time to share his visions and knowledge of self-healing and meditation with the rest of India. He sent a few young women members on ‘service’ and their goal was to establish new study centers for Raja Yoga practice.  Eventually this practice gained wide spread popularity and now has countless centers dedicated to Raja Yoga practice worldwide.  

Brahma Kumaris strives towards development at the individual level, and acknowledges the ‘goodness’ of all people. Their purpose is to bring light to ones inner strengths and values through the practice of meditation. They are committed to bring about ‘spiritual growth and personal transformation’. The practice believes that spiritual growth and personal transformation is key for creating a peaceful and fair world. Brahma Kumaris centers are dedicated to helping individuals become their best possible self through positive energy and enlightened personal values. The driving force and backbone to these ideals is Raja Yoga.

Raja meaning ‘king’ and yoga meaning ‘communication’ is the connection between the ‘self’ and the ‘higher power’ or ‘god’. Raja Yoga is not considered physical exercise but rather a mental exercise to achieve an enlightened soul and to break the barrier between the mind and body. Raja Yoga is meant to connect the mind directly to the ‘supreme source’ of spiritual power. This connection creates a ‘peaceful personality, a strong mind and therefore a healthy body’. The difference between Raja Yoga and traditional Yoga is that Yoga exercises ‘focuses the mind on the body’. Most types of Yoga connect human-to-human where as Raja Yoga connects physical beings with the supreme source or higher power.

Raja Yoga focuses entirely on the human ‘soul’. The soul is thought to have three parts within it: mind, intellect, and subconscious, all are interconnected to create a whole. The mind creates ‘thoughts’ and the intellect takes these thoughts and evaluates them to decide weather or not to take action. The subconscious then takes these ideas and experiences created from the thoughts and permanently records them; this creates individual personality traits. There are many positive benefits of Raja Yoga that can improve an individuals overall personality and ‘soul’. Raja Yoga is meant to relieve stress and anxiety as well as create an over all sense of well-being. One can become more clear and focused which helps an individual discover their negative habits and allows one to correct them. This would then help improve personal relationships with others allowing for an enlightened self.  Some benefits such as the feeling of peace and calmness can happen right away during practice. In order to make this experience consistent, Raja Yoga needs to be practiced regularly (BKWSU).

When I walked into Inner Space a middle-aged Caucasian women sitting at the front desk greeted me in a whispered voice. I told her I was here for the guided meditation and discussion; she then guided me through the lobby toward the back of the room. I was shocked at how modern and updated the facility was compared to the messy and crowded shops that were next to the studio on the outside. The floors were spotless, pale hard wood and the walls were covered with stainless steel book displays filled with numerous soul searching books written by students that participate in the Brahma Kumaris program. I followed her up short set of stairs and entered a small room with dimmed lighting. On each side of the room there were a few cushioned chairs lined up, and in the front of the room was a section of hard wood floor just like the lobby. Above the hard wood flooring was a large painting of mixed orange and pink hues with no definite shape. The woman from the lobby left the room and I took my seat in one of the chairs. There were three other people in the room, two students, a young Caucasian women and a middle aged Caucasian man as well as the teacher, an older aged Caucasian woman, all of which were wearing casual clothing.

As the meditation practice began the instructor introduced herself as Rita Cleary, a student of Raja Yoga for the past twenty three years. Rita is currently the co-coordinator of The Learning Center for Peace in Watertown, Massachusetts. She began the practice by turning on music; it was a soft tribal sound with drums and flutes. Rita asked that we keep our eyes open during the practice so we are able to make peace with our surroundings and face the people, situations, and challenges we deal with from day to day. All she asked us to do during the session was to take deep breaths and relax our body. Unlike other meditation sessions I have participated in, I was not told to perform any exercises, chanting or abnormal breathing. She then told us relax our thoughts and release the negativity from our minds. I normally become very distracted during meditation due to the chanting and movement. I often find myself thinking aimlessly, the silence and stillness allowed me to forget all of my concerns and proceed to have a moment of inner peace and tranquility. While the moment was fleeting, I feel as if I had an out of body experience. I had never felt anything like this before. It was as if my thoughts and my body were entirely separate and I had absolutely nothing circulating in my thoughts. When coming out of this experience I felt happy and at ease for no apparent reason. I go though my life constantly stressed and filled with anxiety and for a small moment that all seemed to disappear. After some time of silence we were asked to go back into the lobby to participate in the discussion.

In the lobby there were now rows of chairs in a semi circle surrounding one chair in the corner. There were several new people that filled a majority of the chairs that were not in the previous meditation session. Most appeared to be Caucasian, middle aged individuals, both men and women dressed casually as well. Rita took her place and re introduced her self to the new group of people. She began by describing herself as a ‘seeker’ previous to beginning her practice, trying to find inner peace and happiness through shopping. Material items only provided a fleeting feeling of happiness for her. Through the practice of Raja Yoga, she was able to find an inner calmness and purpose.

Rita began the discussion by telling a story called: ‘The Journey of the Soul’. Souls once lived in a world of peace and nirvana in silence and absolute stillness. These souls were tiny points of living light that had no gender and were the children of the ‘supreme soul’. Each soul had a sparkle of its own, but the ‘supreme soul’ had the greatest sparkle of them all. The souls began to leave the silence and enter the ‘playground of souls’. After several months go by, the souls began to take into a body and co-exist in the physical world. The physical world was filled with nature and in pristine condition. They were the rulers of self and lived up to one hundred and fifty years old. When they got old they would shed their physical bodies like snakes but would not feel sadness because they knew they would continue on in a new physical body.  As the souls went through the physical death and birth their wholeness would weaken and they would forget their previous lives and live much shorter lives. One land and one language became many and fear, anger, and sorrow replaced happiness, peace and tranquility. They became the human body and forgot entirely about the soul within. The ‘heaven on earth’ soon became a ‘hell on earth’. At one point we thought of ourselves as souls and now have come to view ourselves as physical bodies. The ‘supreme soul’ heard the cries from the young souls and soon a few of the ancient souls would reawaken and remember who they were and who they belonged to.  We had come onto this earth at the highest possible stage of evolution and had decayed to the lowest level.

The Journey of the Soul allowed me to view human life in a completely different perspective then I ever have before. I have always contemplated an ‘after life’ and have wondered if such thing exists. I could never understand what happens to a person after their physical body dies. It never would make sense to me that your thoughts and feelings would disappear once your body had passed on. It is probable that our  ‘soul’s recycle the physical body they were once in and wipe clean all memories from their past physical life.

            I think the Raja Yoga meditation practice permitted myself to come in contact with true being. The feeling of inner peace and happiness is what most people strive for and I was able to do so for a slight moment in the silence of the meditation.  I believe a person is truly happy and enlightened when they do not have a fear of death. It is inspiring when an individual is a true believer of a life after death and are able to see something worth while past their physical life on earth. We have a choice to live in a world of negativity or work toward the highest level of consciousness. Now that I have come in slight contact with what I believe enlightenment feels like, I intend to work toward finding my inner soul and work toward living an enlightened lifestyle.  

Works Cited

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization. 2012. Retrieved on October 19, 2012. (http://www.bkwsu.org) 

Vinyasa Yoga

Robert Foley

Professor Douglas

Yoga Culture Theory and Practice

Fall 2012

Samara Yoga

      The Venue I chose to conduct my yoga project on was called Samara Yoga located in Somerville Massachusetts. It is a beautiful yoga studio with windows that let the sun come in at the perfect angel to brighten up the room. It is 1,500 square feet, warm and calming with mellow golden painted walls and shining hardwood floors. The studio has  classes ranging from vinyasa, anasura, dynamic flow, meditation, yoga of energy, and yin yoga. They also have an area for massages and acupuncture. Finally they have many specific services throughout the week that are seminars which help to become a better person. One example I can think of specifically is they have a workshop for personal development which is called “Radical self acceptance.” It is a class where it teaches people to become more loving of themselves using meditation and many other methods. The university of Loyola Marymount says that “The Yogic ideal is to achieve complete freedom and authenticity by transcending the limiting structures of the ego-personality and discovering the true spiritual Self within.” I am very glad I chose this particular Yoga Studio to do my project on.

     The Samara Yoga studio was named after Samara which is the fruit of the elm tree. The name was inspired by the location of the studio on elm street in davis square. The yoga that is practiced at this studio is conducted by  an eclectic group of creative teachers with unique backgrounds making it a special place in the heart of the diverse Davis Square. I attended the Vinayasa yoga class. According to Smith Body mind and Spirit “This focus brings a deepening of attention into the pose, the muscles and the breath” (Smith, 2007, p.26.)

     The Samara Yoga center is a relatively new studio it has been around for seven years. It was established in 2005. Nicoline Valkenberg the owner told me how excited she was to be able to open up a new yoga studio in her hometown of Somerville Massachusetts. Her goal is to create a space where people can find steadiness within impermanence and by doing so on the mat, she has found that “We can learn to ride the waves of life with composure and grace and enjoy the ride!” She is an amazing person to meet I felt truly blessed to meet such a great person. She told me that “Our inner and outer worlds are in constant flux, as our thoughts, needs and impulses react to the ever changing river of circumstances that surround us. We often resist and try to control the natural flow of life within and around us and become stagnant in our bodies, minds, and spirits.” JUst speaking to her was an enlightening experience because she really emphasized the fact to trust the inner world. The inner world she said was the most important thing in our life and that the subjective needs to be in balance with the objective. I feel lucky that I was able to have this experience.

     Samara Yoga center serves people from all ages, genders, and races. There were people who just tried Yoga for the first time and there were experienced people in the class as well. The attitude in the room was very positive and upbeat. I suggest people who have self esteem issues attend this class because it was quite calming One thing I did notice was that the yoga practiced in the class I took led by Nicoline was that she was great at combining the flow of each different practice. It was an hour and a 15 minute class which seemed like it ended way to quickly. The class would help people who do not like to be constantly nagged on how correct their form is. The teacher Nicoline I thought did a phenomenal job in having each person learn at their own speed. If you had a question she was more than willing to answer with a caring and benevolent attitude. Vinyasa Yoga which was the class I attended is for people who enjoy diversity. What is great about vinyasa is that there is no concrete, rigid way to practice.  According to fittoday.com they say that “Vinyasa yoga is a discipline that utilizes postures and breathing techniques. This form of yoga offers a range of health benefits to those who practice it, as it encompasses all areas of mind, body and spirit.” If people like an unprecedented style where there is freedom with flow then this is class to take. This class encumbers many different styles and theories which is a great sequence to learn. Fittoday.com also writes that “Vinyasa is a Sanskrit word that translates as "variations within parameters." I personally enjoy learning through empirical data instead of somebody telling me that this is a certain way to do something. I find learning by doing is much better because not everyone is the same so that you can cater the practice to your certain learning style. Once the process has been catered to your style this will accelerate your learning. The people who learn by doing instead of being told what to do are the people who should take this class. There were a lot of experienced people who were at the class I went to. I thought that this was good because then you can learn from them faster than being around only beginners.

        Yoga is influenced by the diverse creative area of Davis Square. There is quite a liberal welcoming vibe in the studio. The culture tended to be much more americanized. There were a lot of women who looked as if they were mothers. If I had to choose a demographic that frequents this studio I would say it is young professional women. The predominant group of people who frequent here are educated middle class  white late 20’s to early 30’s women. There are outliers obviously who frequent here as well. The practice of Yoga I would say is influenced by three factors that are imperative in American culture. The three factors I noticed in the yoga studio that were influenced by our American culture was doing yoga to increase sexual attraction, yoga for anti american culture, and finally for therapeutic reasons. The first factor I noticed was that people who attended the Vinyasa Yoga session was that there a lot of girls who did it to look attractive. I have no problem with this concept I personally think it is intelligent to try and better yourself. Many believe this is superficial but that is taking a positive thing that is beautiful and turning it into a negative one. Another factor that I noticed at the Yoga studio is that it was quite a liberal experience. Many people at this studio made it obvious that they were far left on the political spectrum. I don’t think there were many Romney voters in this company. The people were warm and welcoming, they were very interested in what my goals were for studying this Vinyasa Yoga class.

       A lot of the students in the class were anti American culture and were much more interested in esoteric concepts of higher spiritual thought. The ironic part was that they were all young professionals working for major corporations. It was the old Claim “I’m not religious I’m spiritual.” I find this comical because saying your religious and not spiritual is fighting the same idea. The idea that is being fought is the thought that groups destroy people, by segregating ourselves into groups it makes us lose connection to one another. The final thought that was influenced in our culture was doing Yoga for therapeutic reasons. I believe this is the reason why Yoga is becoming such a renown practice in our culture today. Yoga helps the mind body and spirit. Since we live such stressful lives with long hours and have to take care of others. It is difficult to constantly have to compartmentalize our lives balancing work, family, friends, and everyday life obligations. Our culture I believe could reap a large reward if everyone did yoga. Yoga helps people heal holistically. Vinyasa Yoga especially helps because it involves breathing practices. Our society could  benefit heartily if we could take a step back from the excruciating struggle of lifes everyday minutiae and take a deep breath.

     The theories of Vinyasa Yoga that are the basis for the practice are controlled breathing through movement. Vinyasa Yoga can be called “Flow Yoga” and it emphasizes being in the flow of the practice. I thoroughly enjoyed Nicoline’s style of Vinyasa because she would let you know when to inhale and then exhale. I felt an exhilarating sense of calmness practicing Vinyasa Yoga. After the first class I was so relaxed and at peace with everything it was truly a spiritual experience. I highly suggest to people who have been stressed in life or want to focus on something positive to take a Vinyasa Yoga class. It is a relaxing life changing experience at the same time. focusing on your breath makes your attention become centered and humbled. It teaches that there is more to life than trying to compete with others. Life should not be about competition it should be about creation. The breath has such a healthy factor that many people unconsciously have no idea about. The breath can help people realize that they are much more in life than just who their resume says they are or what the society says about their body. Breathing centers people and can make you realize that there is more to life. I firmly believe that Vinyasa Yoga is a practice that everyone should attempt in order to improve their life holistically. Forget the idea of taking a pill if you are sad or nervous. Try focusing on your breath and using that to your advantage. That is the most powerful practice a person can focus on. There is nothing more powerful than being focused on breathing. Breathing consciously can help you come into a state of mind that is not judgemental or having issues concerning being stuck in the past or future. The conscious breathing practices that are instituted in the practice of Vinyasa Yoga bring people into the present. They can help our species calm down and find the truth in life instead of worrying about material possessions or social status. I am extremely thankful that I had the opportunity to learn and experience a practice that is so healthy where it can improve the mind, body, and spirit.

Works Cited

Smith Body, Mind, and Spirit?

http://www.lmu.edu/Page12935.aspx

http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/vinyasa.htm 

http://www.samarayogastudio.com/

Bikram Yoga

Breanne Ghidotti

Laura Douglas

Yoga: Theory, Culture, Practice

October 22, 2012

                                                           

Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhury consists of a ninety-minute sequence that includes twenty-six postures, partnered with two breathing exercises. Each posture is practiced in a set of two, the first half being the standing postures, and then followed by floor exercises. The postures are done in a heated room so that deep penetration is allowed to be more affective when the body is more fluid, without risking any injury. These postures systematically work every part of the body, giving all the internal organs, muscles, ligaments, glands and veins fresh new oxygenated blood restoring the entire humanely system. One of the main goals in this technique is to restore health to the entire body removing all toxins from the body creating a healthy blood flow. This method is a serious work out for both the body and mind, making them both stronger and more flexible.

Yogiraj Bikram Choudhury from Calcutta, India is the founder of the worldwide Yoga college of India. He has been practicing yoga since the age of three and was learning the technique under India’s most-renowned physical culturist at the time, Bishnu Ghosh since the age of five. Learning fast under his guru’s lessons, and practiced Yoga at least four to six hours everyday, Bikram became the youngest regional yoga champion at the age eleven.  After having a weightlifting accident crippling him at age twenty, Bikram began to narrow his focus on the practices of yoga. He used the practice of yoga to help him recover from his physical injury with the help of Ghosh. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga’s ability to cure chronic physical alignments and heal the body. Using this as inspiration, he wanted the rest of the world to discover this practice. In 1937 he traveled to the United States where he founded the Yoga College of India and Bikram Yoga to teach his methods to other enthusiasts. Since that time, Bikram has healed and brought the benefits to millions of students worldwide.  (2)

There has been controversy on the theory of this ‘toxic body’ and why the heat is necessary. The theory behind why heat is crucial originated from Greek physicians during Ancient times. The Greek physicians raised their patient’s body temperature to help their immune system fight against infection. In Bickram Yoga, heat is essential, keeping the room at approximately 100-105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. The instructor regulates the heat by opening up the door and window periodically throughout the class and adjusting the heat when needed. As your body warms, your muscles become far more loose and flexible. Also, the heat opens up the pores, which induces sweat that then detoxifies the body washing away all the impurities in your skin and pores. In theory, this help with circulation and respiration. It is important to stay in the heated room for the entire 90 minutes. The health benefits of this series of yoga poses can only be received if you stay in the room and participate. (2)

Bikram Yoga is also promoted as a weight loss exercise, because of the intense heat. The heat is thought to increase metabolism, providing a greater calorie burn. Much of the initial weight loss is likely to do with the fluid loss during the practice. Without proper hydration, the body cells lose fluid that has the mass and the weight. Therefore, the theory that Bikram yoga presents instant weight loss are likely to be a result of dehydration, and will return when once fluids are reintroduced. However, like any other practice of yoga, Bikram Yoga can increase weight loss over time. The more it is practiced and challenged, the muscles will strengthen lean muscle mass and increase metabolism and calorie burn. In addition, is the theory of the holistic aspect of yoga, which includes proper diet, breathing and stress reduction, and acceptance of self, all leading to an improved appearance.

The more one is familiarized with this practice, the more beneficial it will be. The difficulty of the posture ranges in the personal physical ability. It is also very possible for beginners to be doing a pose wrong that could potentially harm your body. When your body is that warm it is capable of stretching past the normal tolerance, which then can become overstretched, causing muscle damage or torn cartilage. After stretching your ligaments to new limits, they may not be able to return to their original sizes and shapes, and will result in loosening of joints. Also it is very possible to experience short-term effects side effect such as nausea and dizziness. However, with an educated instructor, they will help prevent any injuries being fully aware of each student and their well-being when in a pose.

I attended a Bikram Yoga class located in Boston, Harvard Square. My instructor Jill was a white female, probably in her late forties. I was both intimidated and excited to attend this class. I’ve taken Bikram Yoga once before so I had somewhat of an introductory of what it was like. Since that class was a few years ago, I forgot how intense it really was. Walking into the girls restroom I momentarily forgot how less conservative women in this nature can be, as they fully expose themselves as they get into what little yoga gear that is worn in this practice.  I however didn’t quite feel comfortable enough undressing myself in front of everyone, even if they were all respectable, so I chose to undress in the bathroom stall. I put on my little yoga spanks, a sports bra and a wife beater and then headed to the ‘torture chamber’ as Bikram calls these studios. When I first walked my initial thought was “you’ve got to be kidding me” but I knew that this was far from any joke. I laid my mat down in the back row, lied down letting my body adjust to the heat and waited for the instructor and immediately took off my tank top not being able to bear an extra layer.

As I waited I was so consumed in everyone else, what they were wearing, how their body looked and who I was next too because I myself was self-conscious, especially being surrounded by mirrors. The class was very diverse, ranging from age, race and ethnicity, but a majority were white, young adult women. I was probably the youngest in the class out of the fifteen students who attended. I was a little embarrassed because when Jill, the instructor walked in she asked “where is Breanne?” and then announced I was a first timer, which disrupted my plan of hiding in the back hopefully going unnoticed. But in this practice the instructor was very engaged to each one of her students and was correcting their form throughout the session, not allowing them to fall back.We started with a breathing exercise called Pranayama breathing.  This is a standing pose allowing for deep breathing and learning how to control the breath. It helps get the body warmed up, expands the lung capacity and increases elasticity. I was amazed how much I was already dripping of sweat just by this one breathing exercise and was hardly working any muscles. As we continued on, Jill kept on emphasizing on the importance of focus and mental stability and as time went on I quickly learned how large the component of a focused mind is to properly execute each one of the twenty-six poses (asanas).

            Though Bikram Yoga is such a Physical practice, the mind controls what you can and cannot do with your body. Bikram calls the mind your “telecommunication system, the vehicle that sends messages not only to your body, but to the world around you.”(3) We have to learn how to discipline our minds, which is one of the most imports tasks in life. Bikram broke it down to five categories; also know as ‘five aspects of the mind.’ The first one being faith, we have to believe in ourselves as we feel the challenge of the pose, knowing that it is possible to achieve and conquer. We have to build faith by continually struggling towards our goals. It can take time to achieve this kind of faith, but as we continue practicing, we will see what we are capable of accomplishing, transcending and achieving. The second aspect is self- control. This is found in the time of need. Either when we’re too hot, tired and thirsty or all we want to do is run out the door, or stop the pose and drink water. I found myself struggling with this many times throughout the session. There were times when I just wanted to step out of the room and inhale a deep breath of fresh air because the hot air was suffocating-like. “Different from mere discipline, self control and self discipline is being able to use your own guidance, to chose a path that finds equilibrium between your mind and soul.” (3)

With concentration being the third aspect, it is also one of the most crucial aspects in whether or not you will stay balanced when in a pose. It take focus to stay balanced, to keep your muscles engaged and to keep your mind clear. As the challenge of the class becomes more difficult, your ability to concentrate becomes vital, ensuring that you can survive and enjoy the remaining of the class. Finding the concentration within the yoga room, when all other forces are pulling against your focus, is the meditation of Bikram Yoga. The fourth aspect is determination, which is primarily found seconds before doing the pose as well as the last 10 seconds of holding the posture. The more determined we become, the more we are able to see things through. Lastly, Patience is the fifth aspect of the mind, also one of the most essential to a successful yoga practice.(3)

Patience was a difficult task for me throughout the session. I easily became frustrated when I could not hold a pose, or even get into one. In Bikram Yoga patience is developed because you can’t possibly accomplish the postures in just one session. The most beneficial aspect of the mind to me was concentration.  I soon was so less concerned in my surrounding and really focused on myself looking into the mirror in front of me. When I was truly engaged with myself, is when I was able to achieve and hold a pose for the entire time. I felt a since at satisfaction every time I could internally feel this engaged connection between my mind and the body.

By the end of the session, I did feel as if I worked every muscle in my body. I had a better sense of how the entire practice worked with the mind and the body. Each pose has a purpose to better the body. We ended the class exactly how we started it, with a breathing exercise. The final blowing in firm pose, properly known as Kapalbhati is the last detox for the lungs. This breathing exercise is good for the internal organs and the abdominal. The skin and lungs are the best detox for the body, so with the combination of the immense amount of sweat and the deep breathing throughout the class, supports the theory behind the cleansing of the toxic body.

If I were to take this class a second time, I would benefit more by being more prepared. Bikram Yoga in Boston and Harvard Square gave helpful tips afterwards, so you could get the most out of your first few classes. They recommend taking your second class within 24 hours, especially if you’re sore. We have awakened and stimulated every system in our body within the first class. These systems receive 2-3 times the nourishment and healing when taking the second class the following day. If you take at least 10 classes as close together as possible, you will began to feel like a new person physically, mentally and emotionally. Some things I wish I new before taking the class was to be drinking lots of water throughout the day and coming to the class fully hydrated as well as coming to class on an empty stomach. Most people find they need to leave 2-3 hours between their meal and the class. As you become more familiar with the practice, you will learn the proper timing that is right for you. As you build your ability to focus your mind and still the body, the heat and struggle will soon disappear. (2)

Works Cited

1. "Bikram Yoga Richardson." Bikram Yoga Richardson. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bikramyogarichardson.com/history.shtml>."Bikram

2. Pyman, A. (2011). Bikram Yoga Boston & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square – Bikram Choudhury & Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga Boston Back Bay, Financial District & Bikram Yoga Harvard Square. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from http://www.bikramyogaboston.com

3. Yoga And the Mind." Bikram Yoga and The Mind |. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://ohmybikram.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/bikram-yoga-and-the-mind/>.

Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga:

My Experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M.J. Wyllie

CSOCS 3452 Yoga: Theory, Culture and Practice

Professor Laura Douglass Ph.D.

October 18, 2012

Abstract

The bulk of this paper is a look at aerial yoga from a limited experiential perspective.  I was able to attend one class at the Riverside Yoga Studio in Keene, NH.  The aerial yoga class was fun and unique.  The practice of aerial yoga appears to be relatively new and I could only find very limited information on the practice.  The information I was able to gather was from personal observation, the studio’s website and a few videos that were available on YouTube.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial Yoga: My Experience

I have been practicing yoga for several years, in which I have tried various hatha practices, at many different locations.  A couple of years ago, someone had told me about their experience attending an aerial yoga workshop.  I was completely unfamiliar with the concept at the time.  It was explained to me as a yoga practice done with silk scarves in the air.  I was very intrigued, but never pursued the class.  I felt this project would be a great opportunity to experience aerial yoga.  Luckily, I had remembered there was a place in Keene, NH that had such a class. 

I found the Riverside Yoga website and read a little more about aerial yoga.  Aerial yoga required the use of circus scarves that are hung from the ceiling.   The Riverside Yoga studio in Keene had four sets of scarves. Aerial yoga was not available on a walk-in class basis, because the class is limited to the number of scarves available.  Small classes also help ensure the safety of the student.

I reserved my spot for a Tuesday mid-morning class.  The studio is in an old mill building that has been converted into spaces for businesses to rent.  The large brick building sits on the river in downtown Keene.  I arrived at the studio about fifteen minutes before the class was to start.  The studio door was locked and there were a few seats.  There was information posted on the walls about the studio and classes.

The first thing that I noticed was a framed picture at the end of the hall in the outside waiting area.  The image showcased was the cover of a modern American Pilates magazine.  As we have discussed in class, yoga in the United States tends to focus on the physical aspects.  Magazines like that one emphasize our own cultural esthetics.  The lady was athletic and attractive.  She was wearing a sports bra and spandex shorts.  The photo showed off her ultra-tone tummy, long blonde hair and a big smile.  The woman shown did not accurately portray the average women, but rather an idealized image that we often see in our culture of what beauty and health should look like.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have thought twice about this image.  However, I immediately thought about the day in class when we were presented with a very similar image, alongside other photos representing yoga in other cultures.  The cultural representations were greatly varied.  I didn’t realize that I had previously accepted this look and physique without any question.  I had seen it as a normal yoga body type, because of my own cultural background.  I had overlooked this type of image, which I can now see serves as a marketing tool to sell yoga. 

I was the only person who signed up for the class that day.  I enjoyed the luxury of a private lesson, which catered to my personal ability.  Unfortunately, from the research perspective, it did not give me much material in regards to the cliental serviced by the studio.  I was able to access a few YouTube videos after the class.  From what I could see, the people doing aerial yoga were mostly women.  I didn’t notice much diversity amongst them.  However, that may have been more to do with where the studio was located, rather than the actual practice.

Justine was the instructor for my aerial yoga class.  I noticed her body structure right away.  She was very petite, thin and tone.  I asked her how long she had been teaching for.  She had been teaching sense April of this year, after completing the teacher training offered at the studio.  I told her I was taking the class, because I was interested and for a project I’m doing for a college class.  I asked if I could photograph the studio.  She happily agreed and offered to take photos of me in the postures. 

The studio was a good sized room with hard wood floors, brick walls and high ceilings.  There were bars around the room, like what I would imagine in a dance studio.   The four sets of red silk scarves hung from each corner of the room.  The large windows had several plants beside them and I noticed statues resembling deities. 

The studio space held a few shelves with various props, such as foam blocks and extra mats, associated with aiding the yoga practice.   Shirts with the studio logo and refillable water bottles were available to be purchased.  I had been accustomed to seeing items available for sale in other yoga studios.  Previously, I would have overlooked them.  However, I now wondered if this is a result of yoga being part of a money making industry in our country.  Would I  have seen items for sale if I were practicing yoga in India? 

Justine put on some music and we began the practice.  We placed our yoga mats across from one another, each under a set of silk scarves.  I lied down on my mat, while she spoke about the studios focus for that week, the second chakra.  I don’t remember everything she said, but I recall her saying the second chakra is associated with the color orange, the hips and pelvis, along with sexual and sensual energies.  

Justine demonstrated a few simple stretches, while I mimicked her body movements.  The stretches were done on our mats, but incorporated the scarves for support.  The next step was for me to learn the proper way to tie a knot with the scarves.  Depending on the posture, the knot had to be tied at different levels that we measured against our individual frames.  Before I left the ground, Justine told me that the scarves had been tested to hold up to 2,000 lbs.  I felt very secure in the scarves, but I feel some of my comfort came from my previous experience with yoga postures.  The scarves were the only new thing I had to learn that day. 

Some of the postures Justine did alongside me and others assisted me into.  The most interesting part of the class seemed to move rapidly.  I struggled to recall the details when I was through.  Perhaps, in order to achieve the poses, I was being required to be fully present in the moment.   

I made a few observations during the poses.  I wasn’t instructed to breathe in a particular way.  Since I was the only one taking the class, I felt comfortable to ask Justine questions while we were practicing.  I asked if there was a pattern of breathe associated with aerial yoga.  Justine told me to breathe in a way that was comfortable for me.  Some people hold their breath and it was important to remember to breathe.  She said she chose cleansing breaths, which were in through the nose and out through the mouth. 

Justine referred to the poses in the class by the English names, such as downward dog or pigeon.   I don’t know if English is typically used during aerial yoga or if it was her personal teaching style.  I didn’t think to ask her, but Justine did tell me she was new to teaching aerial yoga.  Maybe being a new teacher, she was more comfortable with English.  Regardless of the reason, I did notice the absence of Sanskrit during the class.

The class was challenging and fun.  It definitely required upper body strength to achieve many of the postures in the air.  When I was finished, I was very curious if this was a practice for any body type.  Justine told me that the main concern for the instructor is the health of the student.  The inversions can be intense and the instructor needs to be informed of any health problems.  As for body size and strength, she told me that the instructor would modify the poses to the student’s capability. 

 

The Studio, the Practice and the Founder

The studio I visited offered aerial yoga in addition to several other movement based classes.  Pilates, barre, yoga, structural therapy, as well as workshops and teacher training are all offered.  From what I read on the studio’s website, the studio focused primarily on choreographed movement to tone and strengthen the body; however, the approach was considered holistic.  The belief was by balancing the body calming benefits would be accessible for the individual.   

Riverside Yoga was founded by Elizabeth.  Elizabeth had a background in dance and teaching yoga.  I watched a video of Elizabeth and her colleague Susan. The ladies answered questions about the practice and demonstrated aerial yoga techniques.  Both women had been previously certified to teach yoga, when they decided to be trained in the Circus Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.  Together they combined their previous knowledge of yoga with their circus training to take postures into the air on silks. 

The Riverside Yoga website had a short write-up about Elizabeth.  I noticed an emphasis on empowering women and sexuality.  The write up about her began, “Elizabeth: Writer.  Artist.  Business Owner.  Gypsy yogini.  Dedicated to giving women a voice and dedicated to making spirituality sexy.”  In my opinion, “making spirituality sexy” is a reflection of our American culture.  Our culture is very candid in regards to sex and uses sexuality as a marketing tool.  I’m not saying that was the intention here; I’m merely pointing our beliefs are often formed from our cultural values and out society promotes sex.   

 

The website listed a number of things the business is doing to be environmentally friendly.  In our country, there has been a lot of emphasis on making green choices and using organic products.  I had watched a documentary on how big corporations are now more likely to include environmentally safe products on their shelves.  Earth friendly products appeal to today’s consumer.  Personally, I support the movement as well, but it is interesting to reflect upon.  Does a green yoga studio make it more marketable to the perspective student?

Conclusion

I considered myself an open minded person.  I was unaware of the depth my American upbringing had influenced my perception.  When I began my yoga practice, I had wanted to incorporate exercise into my life.  I thought of yoga as a form of exercise.  I knew that there were spiritual aspects, but that was not my focus.  I didn’t realize how my cultural values were entangled with my perception of yoga.  I thought I understood what yoga was, not what American’s considered yoga to be.  I had also overlooked yoga as a money making industry; despite the large amount of money I spend monthly to be able to practice yoga at a studio.  I was not looking at looking at yoga as a business nor had I considered I was the ideal market. 

My experience with aerial yoga brought several things to my attention.  My first reaction was aerial yoga was more like an acrobatic exercise.  Yes, I had done yoga postures, but it didn’t really feel like yoga.  Then I remembered the first time I did poses on the floor.   I was overly focused on learning the postures, but it didn’t take long for me to experience something deeper.  Yoga brought my attention to the relationship between my mind and body.  Yoga allowed me to stop thinking and become present with the sensations of my body.  In my experience on my mat, yoga is a holistic practice despite my conscious intention.  I wonder how an aerial yoga practice would evolve with time.  Would I eventually feel centered as I have felt from yoga on my mat?