What are the Eight Limbs of Yoga?

What Are the EIGHT LIMBS of Yoga?

The eight limbs refers to the eightfold path of yoga. BKS Iyengar says, "When the eight disciplines are followed with dedication and devotion, they help the practitioner to become physically, mentally, and emotionally stable so that he can maintain equanimity in all circumstances. He learns to know the Supreme Soul, and to live in speech, thought and action in accordance with the highest truth."

The eight limbs are as follows:

1. Yama:
Our attitudes towards others

2. Niyama:
Our attitudes towards ourselves

(for more info on Yama and Niyama,
see a previous blog entry)

3. Asana:
Practice of the physical postures

4. Pranayama:
Practice of breath control exercises

5. Pratyahara:
Withdrawal of the senses

6. Dharana:
Concentration

7. Dhyana:
Meditation

8. Samadhi:
Total absorption, profound meditation

Hello Friends!

Socially unacceptable feelings. We all have them; anger, frustration, sadness, jealousy, resentfulness, impatience, the list goes on. Since we all have them and experience them, why do we find it so hard to be honest about it and express these feelings?

I think it's particularly challenging in the yoga community, where part of our practice is observing the yamas and niyamas (see the previous blog entry), and part of practicing yoga and "taking one's yoga off the mat" is living differently out in the world. It's seems to me that many interpret this as "I'm not supposed to have these feelings".

I was talking with one of my teachers about my perceived pressure, as a yoga teacher, to be a certain way. She summed it up so well:

"I am very up front with what I am going through. I don't want people thinking for a minute I live in an ivory tower and I will not perpetuate the perfect-life-yoga-teacher crap. I think we should let people know we are getting pummeled, so they can see us recover."

It's not real for people to pretend they are always happy and perfectly content and peaceful. It's a load of crap. As humans we all experience these "negative" feelings. As yogis, the yoga is not in avoiding socially acceptable feelings, or in denying them, but acknowledging them (satya), and still maintaining good behavior.

For example, it's normal to get frustrated while driving in traffic. Instead of pretending your not annoyed by the guy that almost crashed into you, hopefully, you'll recognize what you're feeling, sense what's happening in your body (for example, where you are holding tension and gripping, what's happening with your breath), stay calm and let it go. Either that, or you could go into a road rage and follow them yelling and honking and using your car as a weapon. We've all seen those people too, and hopefully we can avoid the "negative" action that might result from the "undesirable" feeling or experience.

Yoga is not about cessation of the mind, or for that matter cessation of an experience, like negative feelings; it is about refining the mind and consciously directing our attention to accomplish what we desire, with the tools (the mind and body) that we've been given. Stay present in the now. You won't always live up to your personal ideal of perfection, but that's normal. Have a REAL experience, and live to the best of your ability. There's no joy without sorrow, no pleasure without pain. The contrast of the the nadir of human existence helps us appreciate the pinnacle of human existence. Use your practice to help you understand how to fully experience everything that Life has to offer. And we'll all be right along side each other, occasionally tripping down the path.

Warmly,

Liz Doyle
http://www.lizdoyleyoga.com/

What the heck are the Yamas and Niyamas???

Hi All!

I thought I would post this from July's newsletter as a refresher. Also, I there was a typo in the newsletter, listing both the Yamas and Niyamas as "attitudes toward ourselves"... I suppose that was a Freudian slip of sorts alluding to my extreme narcissism-- HA! So here you go:

What are the Yamas and Niyamas?

Yamas - our attitudes toward others:

1. Ahimsa: Non-harming

2. Satya: Truthfulness or right communication

3. Asteya: Non-stealing or non-covetousness

4. Brahmacharya: Appropriate use of sexual energy or moderation

5. Aparigraha: Non-hoarding

Niyamas- our attitudes towards ourselves:

1. Sauca: Cleanliness

2. Santosha: Contentment

3. Tapas: Self-discipline or correct habits

4. Svadyaya: Self-study

5. Isvara Pranidhana:
Reverence to a higher intelligence or the acceptance of our limitations in relation to God

Living in Greatness

This mind-blowing picture is of our own Bernhard Weigl. Who would have guessed that the unassuming, hard-working practitioner with a graceful practice is also a cover-boy for a kite-surfing magazine??? All I have to say is, this is why we work on backbends in class!

So back to the title of the article. I've done a bit of ultra running, and after completing a 5 day stage race in the Colorado Rockies a couple of years ago, I was a bit teary-eyed telling a class about it. I was emotional because it was challenging, and there was a moment when I wasn't sure I could do it, so finishing it meant something to me. Someone actually asked me that question: "Why would anyone want to do that?".

It really set me back. After I was done being offended, it got me thinking: why DO I want to do those kind of things? As it turns out, that night I picked up the Tao Te Ching, and opened it to the 25th verse:

"There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternally present. It is the Mother of the universe. For lack of a better name, I call it the Tao. I call it great. Great is boundless; boundless is eternally flowing; ever flowing; it is constantly returning. Therefore, the Way is great, heaven is great, earth is great, people are great. Thus, to know humanity, understand earth. To know earth, understand heaven. To know heaven, understand the Way. To know the Way, understand the great within yourself."

The point really is that you, I, we, come from greatness. We are gifted with this physical form and this is our vehicle to find our way through this life. How else to get a glimpse of the greatness from which we came unless we are doing things previously unimaginable? This is why I do "that".

Remember the first time you could balance in crow or headstand? Do you remember the thrill? Anytime you do something you thought was impossible, at least for you, you are reminding yourself of your greatness. And it doesn't have to be physical. Maybe you think that 15 minutes of stillness and contemplation is impossible for you. What if it IS possible? And I'm suggesting that you are capable of FAR more than you can ever imagine. Why not get a little taste?

From a yoga perspective, in my opinion, there's something valuable about challenging and complex poses and sequences. I don't think they are REQUIRED, but here's why I think they are beneficial:

1. They are FUN!

2. Through our accomplishments, we get a glimpse of that Ultimate Greatness, which is our source.

3. I believe that there is a connection between our physical body and our consciousness; and to maximize our capacity on every level, compassionately exploring our physical limitations and the maximum number of physical shapes our body can perform is stimulating on every level of our existence, and helps clear the energy channels.

Please understand that I am not suggesting that we do things inappropriate for us. And on any given day, year, or stage in life, something else will be appropriate, and learning to respect and honor that is part of the practice.

Why do you do what YOU do? Do you have a reason? Maybe Bernhard can chime in. I'm going to post this on my blog, because I know there are many inspiring people and scriptures from religions and spiritual traditions of all kinds, poetry, books, et al, and maybe there's something you can share that has inspired you to find your greatness. What helps you feel connected to your greatness?

What are your thoughts? Please, share it all on my blog, I want to hear from you. And I hope that you will all find inspiration to discover, remind yourself of and live in your greatness.

www.LizDoyleYoga.com

June 2009 Newsletter

Hello Friends!

As you likely know by now, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (the lineage holder for Ashtanga yoga) died Monday, May 18, 2009. He was one of Krishnamacharya's (commonly known as the grandfather of modern yoga) main disciples, two others being BKS Iyengar (known for a practice of refined alignment), and his son, TKV Desikachar (focusing on his father's more adaptive and personalized approach to yoga).

I had the opportunity this last month to spend a weekend at a TKV Desikachar workshop. It was remarkably intimate, and an interesting experience for me. It's always a special experience to be near one of these master teachers, they almost literally ooze the richness of their lineage.

What I came face to face with at this event was my own attachment to my expectations. I was disappointed. And I felt guilty and embarrassed by it. What does it mean to be near someone like this and wish you could have your money back? I kept wondering if somehow I was not esoteric, smart, or advanced enough to appreciate the value. I would hear people talk about this "amazing experience" they were having. Another woman explained to me, in detail, the detox symptoms she was having--stuff I had only experienced on extended fasts of over 2 weeks; and still, no big breakthroughs for me. I decided I'd better just keep my mouth shut, because I was the only one not "getting it".

So I made this confession of my inferiority to a fellow teacher and friend when I returned, and she asked me to describe what we were doing. I told her it was all experiential stuff, no theory, just simple, neutral chants repeated, then breathing while mentally repeating the chants (10 breaths at a time), with rest in between. Which meant we would lie down, breath 10 breaths while chanting mentally, then continue lying there to "rest". And I would lie there thinking "rest??? rest from what???".

My friend pointed out that my lack of a mindbending experience was likely because Mr. Desikachar was teaching to group, and therefore tailored it to the beginning meditator. In other words, because I have a regular asana, pranayama and meditation practice, I wasn't feeling the same things as those who were experiencing these things for the first time.

Who knows if that's why, or maybe I just didn't get it. What I did learn is that a little theory goes a long way. Some people have a better experience with a context in which to place their experiences. Not only that, it helped me remember that the effect of what I teach my students may have a different level of intensity for them than it does for me, and I can't make any assumptions about that.

In the end, 20 hours of chanting, breathing and moments of quiet stillness can't hurt and I came back feeling centered and relaxed. At the same time I learned something about refraining from judgement of my experience, or lack thereof. What I am or am not experiencing is just as valid as what's happening with anyone else (and vice versa). Moreover, I must remember that every one of my students is an individual that has a unique experience in any given moment given their circumstances. So three cheers for all of us as individuals, and the texture our individuality adds to the fabric of Life.


Warmly,

Liz Doyle
www.LizDoyleYoga.com
lizdoyle@msn.com
206.660.2321

Shower Yoga!

SHOWER YOGA:
Gomukhasana arms

A title to pique your interest, but it's not nearly as salacious as one might think. For those of you, like me, with really tight shoulders, here's a little tip for getting into the arm portion of gomukhasana: While in the shower, I soap up my back, hands, and arms, then work my arms into the pose. I usually start with my second favorite side first, and then let the hot water run over my shoulder, especially in the places where I'm really feeling sensation and stretching action.

It has helped me over time get my arms into this pose consistently with greater ease. Let me know what you think. And if there's a particular pose you struggle with, let me know, I'll cover it in my blog or a future newsletter!

Email questions, comments and requests to:
lizdoyle@msn.com

June 09 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SCHEDULE CHANGES

TEEN YOGA BREAKS FOR SUMMER

CHECK OUT THE CURRENT SCHEDULE HERE