99% Practice

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feeds@yuku.com (LailaRowe) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:15:20 GMT

FOR WOMEN ONLY

Hello, I am a researcher affiliated with Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing. Please follow the link below to take a short survey about health issues and enter a raffle for a gift card to Amazon.com.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=o1ZeqncOa5rpk88l0g0O_2bA_3d_3d

Your input is highly appreciated!

Running & Ashtanga

feeds@yuku.com (leapintolotus) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:59:37 GMT

I noticed in the Stamina thread that one or two people mentioned that they run as part of their fitness routine... I just recently took up running for a charity event and am keen to continue it alongside my other activities but I'm a little worried about the effect on my muscles - I know runners generally have quite tight hamstrings, for instance, but if I was continuing my yoga alongside regular running, that surely shouldn't affect my practice? I'm worried that running regularly...

Practice after caesarean section

feeds@yuku.com (lastlostmonkey) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:36:38 GMT

Hi. Bit of a specialised question, but has anyone resumed practice after a caesarean section? I'm about to have a baby and it might have to be by c-section (baby's breech at the moment and may not turn). Among my (many) worries about the section is whether I'll be able to resume a normal astanga practice again. I was doing primary up to November, but have been doing more breathing etc. since then, rather than full asana practice. I hoped to resume about three months after the...

Are there any other nurses out there who practice Ashtanga?

feeds@yuku.com (sphinxboy) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:42:20 GMT

How does nursing fit into your practice?

Headaches!

feeds@yuku.com (Javaspeak) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:49:41 GMT

Okay, I know this sounds crazy--but does anyone else get intense headaches after they practice? Seems to happen to me pretty consistently. I've tried buckets of water--Gatorade--nothing seems to make them go away after I get them (I've experimented with all kinds of OTC stuff--Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc..)

Is it just me or does anyone else suffer from this?

Turned Around In Savasana

feeds@yuku.com (Ronin) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:34:22 GMT

i appologize if this has been addressed already. i take savasana with feet at the 'front' of the mat, but i occassionally see people take savasana with head at the front. i asked the one person i know who does this, if there is a reason and she was unable to tell me. anybody know if there is a 'proper method' in terms of which way you take rest?

Sore lower back after backbending

feeds@yuku.com (bentyogi) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:08:51 GMT

I have found lately that my lower back is a little sore during the day after my practice. It's okay during my practice but a few hours later it feels a little sore. I've only recently started assisted drop backs and also doing urdva dhanurasana 5 breaths x 3 times before them. I don't clench my buttocks, knees/thighs are parallel and feet pointing slightly inward. Any clues to what I could be doing incorrect? Am I doing too much? It feels fine doing it.

Bandhas

feeds@yuku.com (bentyogi) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:23:47 GMT

Tomas Zorzo, certified ashtangi, has said that primarily in the ashtanga asana practice we don't use uddihana banda. Mainly just mula bandha throughout the practice. He said you can use uddihana bandha in some postures like pachimottanasana etc but traditionally it's not always used. It is used primarily in Pranayama during the retention after exhalation. He said mula bandha includes root lock and lower abdomen from navel to pubic area. Uddihana bandha is entire abdomen. This is news...

Practice & Kundalini

feeds@yuku.com (bentyogi) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:23:47 GMT

Can somebody describe the relationship between Ashtanga Practice and raising of Kundalini? I don't know much about kundalini (yet to read gopi krishnas book and arthur what's-his-name's book). How does "kundalini yoga" differ to ashtanga in raising kundalini? I was told that all asana practices are working to working on the body in a way to raise/awaken kundalini whether it's intended or not. So there is no need to practice "Kundalini Yoga - turban...

The Art of Back Bending I & II as taught by Acarya V. Venkatesha

feeds@yuku.com (goinsideyoga) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:57:43 GMT

If you want to gain spinal conciousness, understand back bendings, open safely i teach Back Bending workshops based on the expertise of V. Venkatesha from Atma Vikasa Center of Yoguic Sciences in Mysore. The are 2 levels for this. Level I classes last 1,30h and 7 Techniques are taught. Level II sessions are 2,30h and also include Strengthening Exercises and BAck Bending related Pranayama. Please visit my website www.goinsideyoga.com for more information.

Emotions and ashtanga

feeds@yuku.com (BelleBeast) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:13:08 GMT

Why is it ashtanga sometimes brings up weird emotions during - and in particular after - practice? What causes this? I hear teachers mention it often enough, but never quite understood why.

How to build STAMINA

feeds@yuku.com (Javaspeak) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:22:32 GMT

Any recommendations for how to continue to build up the practice and at the same time, steadily increase stamina?

I've seen the great posts on trying to balance yoga and full time career/parenting--but after practicing for 3-5 days a week for six years--I am still always sore and find myself more depleted than replenished.

The upper body strength is better but the fatigue continues to plague me. I've tried to pay extra special attention to the breathing but I...

Left knee in padmasana

feeds@yuku.com (bentyogi) — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:49:23 GMT

My left knee is off the ground in padmasana. I do a lot of hip opening yet don't seem to be progressing in getting my left knee to the floor. Is it just time? Are hip openers the only thing to help get the left knee to the floor. I've noticed at the shala that this is common and wonder if those that have both knees down where once in the same place I am. Any thoughts??

Practice and a separate Career?

feeds@yuku.com (dalikiefer) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:15:38 GMT

This topic has probably been raised before numerous times, but I was wondering whether or not anyone out there whom consider their practice to be the most important part of their day also struggles to maintain a demanding career?

I have practiced Ashtanga Vinyasa for nearly five years and have been to Mysore twice but have recently began a degree in Nursing - I'm finding that my practice is suffering as a result of my studies and placements.

Does anyone else out...

Head Aches

feeds@yuku.com (vegetabodies76) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:44:50 GMT

Hello Everyone ...
I've been suffering with head aches the last few weeks ... got one last night that still hasn't gone away ...
I think perhaps I injured something during shoulderstand, urdhva padmasana, or pindasana ... I've been really sore in the neck, traps, and mid back muscles ...
Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice ...
I've been modifying these poses the last few practices ... should I avoid them all together??
Thank you!

hello from Tampa, advice for beginners?

feeds@yuku.com (chestnut805) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:17:36 GMT

Hello everybody!

My name is Caroline, new to the forum and excited to have found such a nice group of ashtanga enthusiasts!

I have been practicing yoga for alittle over a year now with a couple of month long breaks because of elbow tendonitis. I am wondering where some of you were in the beginning. Aside from Chaturanga Dandasana (which I drop my knees in) I can't do any postures that involve arm strength. I usually go through till Navasana and then fast forward...

help - need advice ?

feeds@yuku.com (lisadozknit) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:49:57 GMT

I am so happy to have found this board. For the last several months I began doing yoga and fell in love with it. I am a 46 yo mom with an 18, 13 and 2 year old! LOL I had done weights/ walking etc before the yoga. Since I began the yoga I have only missed 2 days since I began. I have been doing eion finn's dvd's and yoga shakti etc. 2 weeks ago I started a beginning ashtanga class , but was familar with it from doing short forms and studying Swenson's book. I have been doing the...

Hyper-Extended Elbows in Prasarita Padottanasana C

feeds@yuku.com (bentyogi) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:51:51 GMT

I was wondering what info/experience people can share regarding hyper-extended elbows (HEE) in Prasarita Padottanasana C. I have HEE and am having difficulty determining what is better to do with my hands in this posture (I know you will say - just see what works) But I'm having difficulty ascertaining that. I've read in Gregor's book that people with HEE should not press their palms together as this exacerbates the HEE. Other teachers have said to press the palms togethers and...

Women's things!!

feeds@yuku.com (yogalou) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:25:41 GMT

Hi

I'm interested to know if any other female ashtangis struggle with 'women's issues'.
I have found my period has become extremely light, almost non-existent, since I started a regular ashtanga practise 6 months ago. I've read about various celebrities reporting their periods stopping altogether following intensive exercise regimes or weight loss. Although i havent lost weight my shape has definitely changed since i started doing ashtanga.

I have...

lost pose !

feeds@yuku.com (Floss) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:34:31 GMT

Well I have just been given the first 3 poses of the 2nd series and am really working with my backbends, can now stand up from UD quite comfortably and standing dropback doesn't feel too far away, but I can't do supta kurmasana anymore ! Before I can easily grab mt hands and cross my feet in front of my head, now I can't seem to do either at the same time !? Is this because I am doing too much backbending ? I am wondering if I should be trying to put my legs behind my head ? (...