Modified Ashtanga for Seniors and Others in 99% Practice Forum

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Modified Ashtanga for Seniors and Others

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tat tvam amasi

Re: re.

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Posts: 2286

Aug 3 05 9:00 AM

Forearm Modulator

> The Bombastic Fakir (although I wish you had grounds to
> call me a Bavarian Bore) speaks:

Sorry for the confusion CL. Both these monikers apply solely to the Empty Skull (or whatever the idiot calls himself). No offence intended.

But hey, don't quit the board. Sure it bounces up and down but isn't that like life (and the practise) itself.

Look forward to more posts from you.

doug

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fubarr ca

Re: baggage

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Posts: 335

Aug 3 05 9:07 AM

In many respects the message in many of these threads is that we all bring our personal baggage to the web and our practice. I think a point also is not to confuse the practice of yoga with our baggage. In the end yoga is very simple and the only reason to complicate it is to reach the absurd and then seek simplicity as a refuge. Sharing one's most recent revelation is ok but sometimes it comes across like a suicide bomber. Something i've noticed before is that when I turn a corner I eventually come across my previous footprints.

Cat Lover

re.

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Posts: 101

Aug 3 05 9:41 AM

How the heck am I supposed to know which Bombastic Fakir Faker Fucker you're referring to?

Now I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy, which is a compliment since I'm warm and fuzzy to begin with.

Cheers.

aani19096

Re: Backtracking to original question

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Posts: 463

Aug 3 05 1:14 PM

Quote:
I don't think anyone has yet pointed out (forgive me if they did and I missed it) that Guruji describes a modified sequence in Yoga Mala that should be followed for the elderly - this is essentially the sun salutations plus the finishing sequence.

Goswami:

Further, this is quite consistent with the practices of both Vanda Scaravelli (in her 80's/90's) and Iyengar now (in his 80's).

I read that Vanda would do just four poses in her daily practice during her last years--a spinal twist, padmasana w/ meditation, shoulder stand and head stand for longish periods.

Iyengar has a similar practice now-- with a backbend thrown in.

Makes sense that for us, slowly chugging through Sun A and possibly Sun B with tristhana, followed by closing, would be the best things in our twilight years (or even now, when short of time). Only thing missing in this is the lateral twists of the spine, although there is plenty of bending.

- Anand

jms

still,

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Posts: 1093

Aug 3 05 1:23 PM

i saw a video of iyengar (filmed at harvard?) doing standing, seated, arm balances, some insane backbend vinyasas, and ending with kandapidasana...

...this was filmed in the late eighties.

so you can do the math...

Cat Lover

re.

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Posts: 101

Aug 3 05 4:13 PM

Some time ago I read that Iyengar had to stop teaching at his shala in Pune due to a heart condition. He was advised by his doctors to discontinue yoga. It looks like he still practices, but nothing like what he used to do. (Gleaned, I believe, from a recent issue of Yoga Journal.)

Iyengar is just a few years younger that Mr. Jois, so in the eighties he was doing an advanced practice when he was in his late sixties.

I wonder how long (to what age) advanced ashtangis are able to maintain their practice. Ashtanga has been stateside for thirty or so years, correct? Nancy Gigloff was in her twenties back then. Mr. Jois stopped his own practice a long time ago. I'm certain I've heard of people practicing full second series into their sixties. But maybe enough time hasn't passed for this to be known.

spangled

Re: re.

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Posts: 3500

Aug 3 05 4:44 PM

This is such a worry with Iyengis and Ashtangis - will I be able to practice this thing when I'm old. It's a misconception. It doesn't matter.

fubarr ca

Re: re.

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Posts: 335

Aug 3 05 4:51 PM

I think it is only a worry for young ashtangis and iyengars. If you have practiced for awhile you see many ways to continue into the sunset. At least in your better moments. I remember a conversation with one of canada's elite alpine climbers when he was young (20+years ago) and he told me he was looking forward to the day when he could just do the classic routes and be done with the death routes.

YogaChickie

Spangled and Fubrrr...

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Posts: 548

Aug 3 05 5:06 PM

The whole concept of yogis thinking about what will happen to their practice when they get old, let alone worrying about what will happen to their practice when they get old is kind of funny. The yoga sutras talk about suffering being the result of the vrittis, and the vrittis being the result of our thoughts, beliefs, misconceptions, worries, memories, dreams. To quiet the vrittis, we practice yoga - bringing ourselves into the NOW, this moment, not worrying about what will happen in the future, especially since we have utterly NO control over what will happen in the future. There's no point in worry about what will happen to our yoga practice when we get old because we might DIE before we get old.

YC

suziecolumbus

practicing when old

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Posts: 561

Aug 3 05 6:02 PM

[The whole concept of yogis thinking about what will happen to their practice when they get old, let alone worrying about what will happen to their practice when they get old is kind of funny. The yoga sutras talk about suffering being the result of the vrittis, and the vrittis being the result of our thoughts, beliefs, misconceptions, worries, memories, dreams. To quiet the vrittis, we practice yoga - bringing ourselves into the NOW, this moment, not worrying about what will happen in the future, especially since we have utterly NO control over what will happen in the future. There's no point in worry about what will happen to our yoga practice when we get old because we might DIE before we get old.]

All that is so achingly true. Especially when you start practice at an already (relatively) old age. You wonder how much longer you can do it and why you are there in class with flexy bendy twenty somethings. But to quiet the vrittis--yes, that works. To realize there is no point in worrying--yes, that is something I have over some people who obsess and worry over every little thing. I used to. But since yoga, no longer.

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YogaChickie

Re: practicing when old

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Posts: 548

Aug 3 05 6:07 PM

My husband actually is a bit upset about the fact that I don't worry so much as I used to. He's always asking me, "Don't you care about this?" And I am always like, "Yes, I do care. But that doesn't mean I need to WORRY about it." The best example is when we are driving, and there is traffic...you can imagine....he's freaking, and I'm breathing, saying to myself, "there is nothing we can do about this."

Cat Lover

re.

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Posts: 101

Aug 3 05 7:38 PM

I'm not the least bit concerned about whether or not I'll be able to continue my ashtanga practice into my golden years. I'm still trying to figure out how to continue it into tomorrow! It does intrigue me, though, that such a challenging practice might be able to carry someone into old age.

shiningskull

Re: re.

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Posts: 556

Aug 4 05 6:38 AM

Just wanted to say goodbye.

YogaChickie

Shining Skul

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Posts: 548

Aug 4 05 6:52 AM

What?

okrgr

goodby

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Posts: 3232

Aug 4 05 6:59 AM

Top Doc

lol, that one is a mind bender.

spangled

Re: goodby

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Posts: 3500

Aug 4 05 7:24 AM

The vrttis tend to deal with the past (memories, prejudices, impressions) and the future (projections, concerns about what the future will bring). The past is especially powerful because the combination of events that make up our past is what shapes our superficial personalities of now, and our attitudes to tomorrow.

But of course the past does not exist, not now at least, and the future hasn't happened yet, so in Reality we are just surfing the endless moving Now. The paradox is that we still have to live in the world, so to a certain extent we do have to rely on past experience, and we do have to make plans for the future - while remembering that although we have free will over our actions, we have no control over the results - that's down to Ma! Jai Ma!

YogaChickie

Oh Spangled! Yes!

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Posts: 548

Aug 4 05 7:26 AM

YES!!! Now, why couldn't I put it that way?!

tat tvam amasi

Re: goodby

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Posts: 2286

Aug 4 05 7:34 AM

Forearm Modulator

> lol, that one is a mind bender.

Oh, he'll be back .... :rolleyes

doug

Cat Lover

re.

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Posts: 101

Aug 4 05 7:51 AM

Shining Skull, I'm so sorry you're leaving. But I understand why. Hard to believe some of these people practice yoga. Try to find what you're looking for through avid study of the Bhagavad Gita and the Sutras. An online environment such as this one is bound to disappoint. I've always appreciated your contributions here, but like me I think you might find that life is richer when unplugged from technology.

Much love and happiness your way. :love

smyyga

Re: re.

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Posts: 800

Aug 4 05 8:41 AM

The Yoga of message forums is to practise nonattachment to flamewars, insults, clueless idiots, assholes etc. (easy for me to say, I am a battle-hardened Usenet-veteran).

ps. I think this is a great board :rollin

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