Meditation/Asana
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I did a little searching, perusing for old threads, and I decided this question wouldn't be totally trite because its a bit broad the way I am presenting it... Basically, until I get my own place (which won't happen for a year to two years, since I must graduate college and then find a decent job), I feel that my spiritual practice at home is basically limited to meditation/yoga. In other words, I'm not going to engage in ritual, at least to any degree of complexity, and no, you can't convince me to 'just be honest and open' about it, either. Everyone around here thinks I'm crazy, which means I basically have to wear masks all the time. Until of course I've purified myself, in which case I'll just be like an empty container and my ego will dissolve and I won't need to wear masks anymore...
In any event, I'm a little...hmm...concerned, about the 'correctness' and therefore efficacy of my yoga/asana/meditation practices. This is the only practice I've taken up. I can honestly say, as incorrect as my posture/breathing probably is, I have still noticed a definite transformation in my being and my moment-to-moment consciousness. I'd say for the past 5-6 months I've been meditating 1-2 hours a day. I just do the God position since I find it easiest, sitting with a straight spine in chair, with eyes closed. I do slow deep breathing all the while...and I do various things. Sometimes I visualize the golden lotus opening and closing over the heart in synchronization with inhalation and exhalation of the lungs, sometimes I concentrate on the tatwas as described by Crowley... And I have about 5-6 'spiritual' things I spend time meditating on every day so I don't forget about the divine... Like infinite space.. etc. Hmm...
So, the point is, I know that these meditations have definitely transformed my consciousness for the better. I can just notice it, its quite obvious, actually. Just walking around the other day.. I was at some like festival we have in town every 6 months. I went to it last time, 6 months ago, before I started meditating. And when I was walking around at this festival, everything looked about the same, you know, but 6 months of meditating 1-2 hours a day had elapsed, and I know this doesn't sound like major business, just 1-2 hours of meditation a day, but I could readily discern that my consciousness had changed in a marked degree. I don't know if I should rightly attribute this change entirely to the meditation, because as I've said, 1-2 hours a day doesn't seem like a such a big deal. One way or another I know that I've developed a greater spiritual center in me, a greater awareness of the present moment, general calmness, less prone to frustration...greater 'control of thought' I suppose.
But I want to make sure I'm doing this stuff right... I looked around and there's like one or two places in town where they teach yoga, but one of them is just this free session they give at booksamillion that sounds kind of wimpy, and the other is like at the Gym so I'm sure its probably more exercise-oriented "yoga" and not really the spiritual discipline. I guess I shouldn't judge before I check it out, but I'm somewhat discouraged already about the potentials of meeting anyone who can really teach me in this area as it stands. Therefore I made this thread. Maybe someone can give me some practical advice..to ensure I'm doing these asana/meditation practices as well as I can? I really care about executing these practices as effectively as possible, especially considering the fact, as I said before, that this is really the only spiritual practice I will actively engage in for a year or two at least.
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I am a certified level 2 YogaFit instructor. I started taking yoga at the YMCA about 5 years ago. My instructor there was fabulous. While the Y is about excersize, and most of the class is asana's and flow she was highly trained in Anusara as well as Yogafit. I have met some wonderful Yogi's through these classes.
If you are concerned about doing asana's correctly, getting your postures correct for your body then you should possibly look to the Iyengar teachings. They are highly educated in regards to anatomy and physiology, using props and tools to accomodate the body.
I encourage you to check out all the studio's, bookstores ( I teach in a bookstore;) and gyms. each teacher is different, each brings something different to the mat. I have one class that I would love to take, but I just dont mesh with the teachers style, and I end up frustrated and confused so I had to stop going (for now.)
IMO any yoga is better then none, and being in class lets you pick the teachers brain, see how other people form and flow and is a nice way to be social if you desire.
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Have you read Mahatma Guru Sri Paramahansa Shivaji's Eight Lectures on Yoga?
hermetic.com/crowley/eight-lectures-on-yoga
729?
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@rein said
"I've read the first 4 chapters.. I'll have to read the second part.. "Yoga for Yellowbellies""
Lots of good information there & in Part I of *Liber ABA *...& don't miss the Yoga section of Gems.
729
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@Iugum said
"One of my favorite pieces on Yoga is The Equinox: Vol 1 Pt. 4 - The Temple of Solomon the King. It is very detailed and covers the basics as well as the deeper aspects of mysticism. I highly suggest it."
I missed that one! ...excellent suggestion, btw
he-equinox.org/vol1/no4/eqi04011.html
729
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Figured it was better to add on here than start a new thread: does anyone know how common it is for seating positions (easy pose, half lotus) to induce pins and needles aka legs fall asleep after 15-20 minutes? Is this a sign that something's wrong, or do you gradually grow into it?
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@Escarabaj said
"Figured it was better to add on here than start a new thread: does anyone know how common it is for seating positions (easy pose, half lotus) to induce pins and needles aka legs fall asleep after 15-20 minutes? Is this a sign that something's wrong, or do you gradually grow into it?"
93: Extremely common. Try persisting for a bit, but don't push it. What is best is to continually and gradually sit longer and longer, not push yourself hard once a week. Sitting for 15 minutes at first is a good start - soon you wont get pins and nedles until 25 minutes, then not until 35 minutes or not at all, etc. Good luck. 93 93/93
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93
I found I have the same kind of experience here.
a couple of years ago I could barely sit for 5 minutes without going numb, these days I sit for about 25 minutes before my legs go numb, (I do have to lay around unable to walk for a couple of minutes afterwards though)Having said that I still have days when i cannot sit for more than 10-15 minutes, it depends on lots of factors i suppose, but in general there is a trend towards progression, albeit very slowly.
93 93/93