Yoga Posturas » Learn Yoga » Some questions, please. . .
Some questions, please. . .
Question:
There are several Iyengar teachers in Nashville. The URL for the list is: http://comnet.org/iynaus/cert2.html#TN One of your earlier posts made it sound like Nashville was actually too far away to go on a daily or weekly basis, but if nothing else, perhaps one of these teachers has a weekend class that you *can* attend semi- regularly, to keep your personal practice on track so that you don’t hurt yourself through bad alignment, etc, *especially* starting out. I second the recommendation for "Yoga the Iyengar Way". It’s very helpful for clearly describing the asanas and therapeutics, but somewhat less so for meditation and yogic philosophy, if those are also your interests. Namaste, Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you for your offer but I am in the United States. Tennessee to be exact. If anyone does know of any perhaps near Nashville that I could contact, let me know. I am not close enough to go on a regular basis but would like to touch base with someone with some experience every now and then. Misty
Response:
There are several Iyengar teachers in Nashville. The URL for the list is: http://comnet.org/iynaus/cert2.html#TN One of your earlier posts made it sound like Nashville was actually too far away to go on a daily or weekly basis, but if nothing else,
<snip Thank you for the link. I will check it out. I am actually too far from Nashville to go to a teacher there on a regular basis. But maybe I can find an understanding one who would let me visit once a month or so and give me a little direction/instruction. Misty
Response:
Hi Misty, I would highly recommend taking occasional classes in addition to home practise so that you can get some feedback and guidance from a qualified instructor while you are learning yoga. As someone who tried to learn yoga from books, I found that there were several postures I had been performing incorrectly until I went to some classes! In addition to yoga books, you might find it useful to also use videotapes at home. I am also looking for good videotapes, perhaps someone here can suggest some? Good luck! Tanya – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you for the link. I will check it out. I am actually too far from Nashville to go to a teacher there on a regular basis. But maybe I can find an understanding one who would let me visit once a month or so and give me a little direction/instruction. Misty
Response:
That’s the sort of thing I was thinking of. It’ll do wonders for your practice, unless you’re *much* better at learning _physical_ things out of a book than most folks. Around here (CA) anyway, almost all of the teachers take drop-in students, at maybe $10-15 for a 1.5-hour class. BTW, I grew up in Tennessee – not that part of the state (I was in Memphis) but I had friends from Nashville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, McMinnville, & various other bits of central TN. Good luck! Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One of your earlier posts made it sound like Nashville was actually too far away to go on a daily or weekly basis, but if nothing else, <snip Thank you for the link. I will check it out. I am actually too far from Nashville to go to a teacher there on a regular basis. But maybe I can find an understanding one who would let me visit once a month or so and give me a little direction/instruction. Misty
Response:
Misty, <A HREF="http://www.yogajournal.com/toc/tocframe.html"toc</A <A HREF="http://www.yogafinder.com/cgi-bin/yogafinder"YogaFinder Home Page</A these are two links to teacher directories. If you don’t find a teacher there post again. There’s another list I can consult. peace, sandra
Response:
For any beginners out there, I would also highly recommend "Yoga the Iyengar Way" by the Mehta’s as an excellent book explaining in detail (and with large color photographs) the fundamentals of many of the basic yoga postures. Even though I’m fortunate to have many nearby teachers here in Boston, the book was a great reference to have in the room as my practice at home developed. Also, for those without nearby teachers, I think it would be a great compliment to working with videos. I admire those of you with the curiosity and dedication to undertake yoga without the support of teachers and/or other yoga friends around. I’m not sure I could have done it. Please keep us posted on the progress and obstacles you encounter. I know I speak for many of us on this group that we’d like to help in any way we can as you continue on your path of this life-affirming practice which has given so much to us. Tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m in a similarly remote position and am also a beginner. Having tried several books from the local library (which is itself an hour’s drive away), "Yoga the Iyengar Way" by S, M & S Mehta is the one that I found most useful and decided to buy.
Response:
If you are looking for a yoga teacher in the UK try our directory online at: http://www.kevala.co.uk/search/ Good luck with your search Simon
Thank you for your offer but I am in the United States. Tennessee to be exact. If anyone does know of any perhaps near Nashville that I could contact, let me know. I am not close enough to go on a regular basis but would like to touch base with someone with some experience every now and then. Misty
Response:
If you are looking for a yoga teacher in the UK try our directory online at: http://www.kevala.co.uk/search/ Good luck with your search Simon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Misty, Please go to a well trained teacher. The tradition does not matter, though Iyengar teachers have a great deal of knowledge on therapuetics and have access through the national org. to many resources. Don’t try and learn what to do solely from a book because invariably you will fool yourself. Yes, yoga can and will do wonders for your spine,but you have to make the committment to it with good intentions. Wishing you well, Matt Misty, Start by getting yourself a copy of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabit Zinn. I think it will reassure you and explain some things. Jon has also developed some audio tapes of his program that you may find helpful. this is yoga, but the focus is on pain relief through awareness. peace, sandra
– Web Developer, The Kevala centre http://www.kevala.co.uk
Response:
Thank everyone for their suggestions and book recommendations. i will try to find some of them. You’ve all been very nice, and I appreciate it immensely. I’ll study my books and when I feel that I know enough to practice safely, I’ll begin. Going back to lurker mode until I have experiences to share. Misty
Response:
Misty, If a student cannot find a teacher because of living is a remote area, then the only way to gain knowledge may be from a book. It is not ideal. Yes, I think that the book Tim recommends is very good. _Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha_ by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Pub. Bihar Yoga Bharati, Munger, Bihar, India, although more advanced has a lot which I am sure would be of help! Asanas are graded from beginner to advanced, with a description of each asana with variations: breathing, awareness, benefits and in some cases mantra. There is also a Therapeutic Index with recommended asanas, etc., for common ailments. The book can be ordered through bookshops, at least in England. But you could order it from India. Denis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For any beginners out there, I would also highly recommend "Yoga the Iyengar Way" by the Mehta’s as an excellent book explaining in detail (and with large color photographs) the fundamentals of many of the basic yoga posturesdone it.
Response:
Thank you for the suggestion. But I live in a small rural town in the south (USA). There are no classes within an hour of my house. I cannot find a teacher and cannot afford one. Believe me, if I could, I would. But there is no way that I can find or afford classes now. Thank you for the suggestions, though.
I’m in a similarly remote position and am also a beginner. Having tried several books from the local library (which is itself an hour’s drive away), "Yoga the Iyengar Way" by S, M & S Mehta is the one that I found most useful and decided to buy. Daibhidh An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, Alba (Isle of Skye, Scotland) Cum a’ Ghaidhlig Beo .d. in Reply-To should be .demon.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Misty, Please go to a well trained teacher. The tradition does not matter, though Iyengar teachers have a great deal of knowledge on therapuetics and have access through the national org. to many resources. Don’t try and learn what to do solely from a book because invariably you will fool yourself. Yes, yoga can and will do wonders for your spine,but you have to make the committment to it with good intentions. Wishing you well, Matt Misty, Start by getting yourself a copy of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabit Zinn. I think it will reassure you and explain some things. Jon has also developed some audio tapes of his program that you may find helpful. this is yoga, but the focus is on pain relief through awareness. peace, sandra
Thank you for the suggestion. But I live in a small rural town in the south (USA). There are no classes within an hour of my house. I cannot find a teacher and cannot afford one. Believe me, if I could, I would. But there is no way that I can find or afford classes now. Thank you for the suggestions, though. Peace, Misty
Response:
Misty, Start by getting yourself a copy of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabit Zinn. I think it will reassure you and explain some things. Jon has also developed some audio tapes of his program that you may find helpful. this is yoga, but the focus is on pain relief through awareness. peace, sandra
Response:
Misty, Please go to a well trained teacher. The tradition does not matter, though Iyengar teachers have a great deal of knowledge on therapuetics and have access through the national org. to many resources. Don’t try and learn what to do solely from a book because invariably you will fool yourself. Yes, yoga can and will do wonders for your spine,but you have to make the committment to it with good intentions. Wishing you well, Matt – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Misty, Start by getting yourself a copy of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabit Zinn. I think it will reassure you and explain some things. Jon has also developed some audio tapes of his program that you may find helpful. this is yoga, but the focus is on pain relief through awareness. peace, sandra
Response:
Hello again, I was the one asking for the FAQ. Seeing as there is none, here goes. . . I have peripheral neuropathy (nerve and muscle damage in all of my extremities) and I fell before Christmas and my chiropractor says that my coccyx has shifted to the left. Every time he shifts it back over, it goes back to the left. It and the PN are causing me an almost unbearable amount of pain. I want to start practicing yoga but am concerned about this. Does anyone have any recommendations on what asanas to try and which to not attempt? Is there any chance that yoga could straighten my spine back out? I have to shift my weight to one side because of the pain from the coccyx being out of allignment. Yoga seems to be the kindest form of exercise to an ailing body and I am hoping that pranayama techniques could aid in pain management. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you for your time, Misty
Response:
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