Modern Ways to Share Yoga

Like it or not, the modern yoga practice is evolving.  I used to be the typical American yogi.  I did home practices several days a week, and usually took a live class at least once a week for live instruction.  Since this was the 1990s in Lancaster county, I had videos instead of  You Tube and Yoga Glo, and I had a class at a local gym instead of a studio or a large festival.  

Since then, times have changed.  In some ways I was highly resistant, and some changes I embraced with open arms.  Here are a few of the changes to the American yoga culture as I see them.

Yoga Studios

Fine Spirit Yoga Studio in Ithaca, NY

 Even the availability of a variety of yoga studios is a fairly recent development.  There is now accessibility to a nearby yoga studio in nearly every town in America.  Easily accessible yoga studios with live teachers offer great benefits.  A live teacher can answer your questions, and correct your alignment.  A live teacher may offer alternative poses based on what they see in your body.  A live teacher can see your progress, encourage you, and lead you in the right direction. 

These studios all have their own teachers, styles, and a thriving community of yoga students.  Having several local yoga communities to choose from has been such a great development over the last 15 years.  Yoga classes are places where I can feel at home and find loving people with interests that are similar to my own.  Practicing in a loving, welcoming community can bring a sense of kinship with others off the mat too!

When I'm traveling, I love picking out a few yoga studios to visit.  In Ithaca, NY I visited several studios, but recommend Fine Spirit Yoga Studio and The Yoga School.  In Corpus Christi, TX I loved Crossroads Yoga, and in Austin I enjoyed a lively practice at Black Swan Yoga.  In Asheville, NC I found a thriving community (and improved my headstand) at  Asheville Community Yoga.  If you're in Lancaster County, PA, visit my home studios  West End Yoga and The Yoga Place in Ephrata.  I clearly spend a lot of vacation time finding yoga studios.

Electronic Classes

Out with the DVDs and VHS tapes (yes, I'm that old), and in with the You Tube and online services.  I have been suprised to meet several yogis who fully embrace the yogic lifestyle, yet have never set foot in a live class.  Many of them practice with free classes that are available on You Tube.  There are also several online services that offer a wide variety of classes for a monthly subscription.

Electronic classes are a great way to fit a practice into a busy life.  They offer the benefit of a wide range of practices that can be done any time day or night.  People without the background to develop their own home practice can find safe home practices that have been developed by a professional.  I discourage people from practicing exclusively online, because it is so important to connect with other yogis and assure safe alignment.

Media

There is now so much more to yoga media than a print magazine or two.  Yoga is everywhere.  It advertises yoga and non yoga products.  There are blogs, facebook accounts, podcasts and instagram accounts all dedicated to yoga.  Largely due to these influences, the media is now making an effort to  broaden the American image of a yogi.  Yogis of different races and sizes grace the covers of yoga magazines (although I'd still like to see more fetured male yogis).  The message is becomiong more inclusive (although my local yoga studios really already are that way).  

Some yoga purists may shun some or all of these types of yoga practices, but it is bringing the benefit of yoga to the masses, and how can that be bad?  I have dedicated students who have tried yoga based on facebook posts.  I have peers in the yoga community who have never set foot in a yoga class (and they're just as passionate as I am).  Maybe as yogis, we can find a way to be more inclusive and embrace the changes that are taking place in the yoga community that we love.  It's time to share the benefits of yoga with the world!  

If you're interested in ways that I'm contributing to yoga media (other than www.yogam8.com), check this out.  

My Articles for Do You Yoga 

        4 Awesome Benefits of Yoga for All Athletes

        5 Ways the #Selfie Encourages a Yoga Practice

        10 Steps to Have a Yoga Retreat at Home

        How Does Yoga on the Rope Wall Work

Instagram Account

Facebook Account

Namaste - Beth

Sexualization of Yoga, Who is to Blame?

Coworker 1 - "I did yoga every day when I was in the islands.  I did reclining goddess pose, I'll show you a picture later."

Me - "He does yoga too, maybe he'll show you a picture of himself in that pose as well."

Coworker 2 - "I don't think so."

Coworker 1 - "Do you know what that pose is?"

Me - "Yes, it's also known as supta baddha konasana."

Coworker 1 - "If you were Coworker 3, I'd tell you that's why you don't have a man.  You sound too smart."

I'll leave out the rest of the conversation, but I've been hearing about this photo for 2 days now.  I can only imagine what it looks like, bikini clad woman, laying down, submissive ... but just because it is a pose does not make it yoga!  

All of this got me to thinking, maybe the sexualization of yoga is not the fault of the media or the industry.  Maybe it has nothing to do with the instagram yogis out there trying to inspire others with a few photos.

What if it has everything to do with our culture as a whole?  What if the yogi displays a tender heart opening, vulnerable moment, and the world sees and mimics it as sex?  Is this the fault of the yogi, or society as a whole? The mimic takes a photo of a #yoga #pose, and suddenly that is what you find when you search the word yoga.  

The new young yogi excitedly posts a photo in an advanced pose for all their friends to see.  Maybe the pose has faults, but this is a practice, not perfection.  The problem is that suddenly the poses are what our society thinks yoga is all about.   "I can't do yoga, I could never put my feet behind my head."  Good, then don't try.  Yoga is about so much more than where your feet go.  

Here is a short video of the most challenging yoga sequence ever.  I adore this inspirational yogi.  Enjoy and be inspired!

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epwyyRgTGuk&w=854&h=480]

Namaste My Friends - Beth

Yoga in the Media

This ad from Yoga Reebok wants us to work harder.  "There are two ways to do things, the hard way or the easy way...it takes grit, sweat, resolve."  Check out the expression on the face of the model at the end of her yoga session (not the usual post yoga buzz I'm going for in my classes).  Reebok obviously wants to portray the fierce determination of a great competitor.  My biggest problem with this idea is that yoga IS NOT a competition.

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_aGeabK1k8&w=854&h=480]

That is not to say that you won't work hard in yoga classes, it's just that the size or complexity of the poses isn't the goal of yoga.  Some may easily accomplish a beautiful physical practice such as this, but it is not necessary.  A yogi can find calm while remaining determined in movement (or stillness).  A yogi can appreciate the subtle aspects of poses, making them seemingly new every day.  

I've lived "grit, sweat, and resolve", but currently, my yoga is teaching me to work smarter as well as working hard.  My yoga is teaching me to look inward and love myself.  Because of that, I've begun to ask for the things that I really want when I'm off the mat.  This has taken a great deal of work on my part!  

Yoga is life changing.  I've lived and loved the "work harder" phase of my practice, but you can miss something sweet if you just go for the "grit, sweat, and resolve".  Work smarter, find rest, work with focus, practice attention to detail, and find peace and stillness.  Yoga is an amazing mind-body connection, and not just beautiful poses.  

Students work in my classes, but I hope there is more.  I want my students to leave feeling amazing and finding a new connection with themselves.

Live, love and practice yoga!

Beth

More than a Yoga Body

Body image in yoga appears to be the new trendy topic.  Yoga Dork is selling "this is my Yoga Body" t-shirts, and Yoga Journal has teamed up with Kathryn Budig for this month's Body Issue  and social media campaign #loveyourbody.  Frankly, yoga is about so much more than the body, and it's getting a little old!

I don't mean to discredit the idea of learning to love yourself and coming to the mat the way that you are.  I have worked with those who came to yoga  because of stress, weight issues, injuries, recovery from cancer treatment, and a few who came to one class just to support me or their spouse (and ended up staying  because they loved it).  I encourage each student to look inward and meet themselves in their own space. I believe that the recent social media body image blast is attempting to send this very message, however I fear that it may be clouded in the delivery.

So, if yoga is not about how your body looks, then what is it all about?

1.   Yoga is about the body...  WHAT?  I'm the first to admit that I love a good alignment focused class.  I spend large amounts of time analyzing my own habitual movement and that of my students, family, and friends.  An hour with an Iyengar teacher or one of my favorite alignment based teachers will have me questioning everything, including the way that I stand, walk, hold my toes, etc.  These lessons are valuable and can prevent or treat injuries.

2.  Yoga is about the internal body.  Breathwork, postures, meditation and chanting can help balance the nervous system, relax tense muscles, strengthen weak muscles,  reduce blood pressure, decrease stress, and improve breathing.  I'm sure that we can all think of at least one of those areas that could use improvement. 

3.  Yoga is about the mind body connection.  I've had students show up in class announcing, "my husband said that I need to come to yoga".  I simply adore the times when students leave my classes with that blissed out yoga buzz.  You can see it in their faces and feel the energy in the room.  That is the heart of my mission, and it keeps yoga from being just another activity.

4.  Yoga is not just the time you spend on the mat.  I'm particularly fond of yoga philosophy found in the books that I've listed here, the Yoga Sutras, and many more.  

5.  Yoga helps create space in the body and mind.  Practicing yoga, paying attention, and observing without judgement can and should be taken off the mat.  Yoga has taught me to view things from a fresh perspective before reacting.  This has helped in my personal and professional life. 

In conclusion, come to yoga for the body, come to yoga for the other benefits, or come just to support your spouse or partner (it is so sweet to see loved ones practicing together).  Practice yoga, and do it often.  Seek out an experienced teacher, and learn to love the practice and practitioners as much as I have!

Namaste - Beth