Question:

Funny how people are recommending plain old western exercise, like I was advocating in my List, for physical exercise and not yoga in alt.yoga? Ashtanga is "plain old western exercise" — right.  You keep telling yourself that.

Are you people, bicker? "People" is plural. Now, you are trying to tell me that there is more than one of you. Ha, … Hah, Ha!

Response:

Funny how people are recommending plain old western exercise, like I was advocating in my List, for physical exercise and not yoga in alt.yoga? Ashtanga is "plain old western exercise" — right.  You keep telling yourself that. Are you people, bicker? "People" is plural. Now, you are trying to tell me that there is more than one of you. Ha, … Hah, Ha!

I wasn’t one of the people who mentioned Ashtanga, specifically.  If you had followed netiquette and read the newsgroup a while you’d know that I never practice (and therefore never discuss) Ashtanga.  So your inane irrelevancy wasn’t even on-target. I’d suggest you get over yourself, but I have this image of you actually trying to figure out how one would pass over one’s self. —

Question:

Yoga is great if you want to  have great breath control, whistle loud and long, learn to relax at the snap of  your fingers. Walking is nice and speed walking even nicer just like tennis is faster to get done than golf. Weights are supreme if you plan to wear a strapless gown in December, which I do and want to put your shopping buggy in storage because you can easily carry all sorts of things. Stair climbing is  also a good way to burn calories and strengthen your legs. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Walking for aerobics, prevention of Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis. Weight training is also good for osteoporosis prevention. Yoga is great for flexibility.  I’d say do some of each. The atheletes who stay in the best condition vary their activities so as to work different muscle groups differently.  Then if they overdo it and strain something, they can shift activities until the injury heals and go back to that activity again. I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight. Bob

– Diva "Life is precarious, make sure you start doing the things that really matter, the things that will ultimately win you your immortality."

Response:

Walking for aerobics, prevention of Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis. Weight training is also good for osteoporosis prevention. Yoga is great for flexibility.  I’d say do some of each. The atheletes who stay in the best condition vary their activities so as to work different muscle groups differently.  Then if they overdo it and strain something, they can shift activities until the injury heals and go back to that activity again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight. Bob

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I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight.

The most important thing is whether you enjoy it.  Try all three and stick with as many of them as makes you happy Also, this may sound weird, but I’ve always found that if you’re a man who’s into the idea of yoga but finds it a bit girly (though it really isn’t!) then you should give Tai Chi a go.  Even though it’s very different from yoga, there’s something about it which seems to appeal to the kind of person that likes the idea of yoga, and it’s got a far more unisex image… M — "It’s the small gaps between the rain that count,  and learning how to live amongst them"                 — Jeff Noon

Response:

I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight. Bob

Why not all 3? You could lift weights 3 days a week at the gym, walk for about 30 min a day on the weight days, and an hour a day on the off days.   or throw some yoga in there too on 1 or 2 days a week.

Response:

I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight. Bob

Response:

I want to take up a new form of exercise as dieting alone does not seem to be working. I’m also one of those people who is all "fat and bones" with little tone. I’m debating on walking briskly for one hour, lifting weights at a gym where I work or yoga. I am interested in yoga because my wife has been taking it and has lost weight but am hesitant because it’s really a "woman" thing and most of the people my wife says, are women. I also don’t know how good it is as losing weight.

That’s because most men are idjuts.  (That’s a Tennessee term.) <grin I practice yoga three times a week at least.  It is a "man thing" — we let the women do it too if they really want to.  <grin  Seriously, there is nothing feminine about yoga — unless you consider strength, flexibility, mental-discipline and control "feminine" qualities. However, when you start practicing yoga, it is NOT an aerobic activity.  There are some advanced forms of yoga (Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram) that will burn fat, but it’ll take a typically sedentary guy a year or so to get into them.   Remember, though, that increasing strength increases BMR, and that helps you burn calories better.  Also, increasing flexibility (and balance) keeps you from injuring yourself during other physical activity. Having said all that, and in no way taking away from my VERY VERY STRONG endorsement of yoga, brisk walking can’t be beat for safe weight-loss. —

Question:

I’m interested in purchasing a good video instruction course for Power Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), and would like to hear recommendations. I have a copy of the Beryl Birch book on Power Yoga, but I really need to see the postures actually performed. I live in an area where live instruction is not an option.  I am a very fit individual and have dabbled in Yoga off and on for a number of years, so I wouldn’t consider myself at the beginner level. What I’m looking for would be a course that is physically challenging, but not too advanced. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TD

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Hello. There are several good videos on Ashtanga Yoga and Power Yoga. The Ashtanga one that I think is the best is the ones by David Swenson. He has one that is short forms, that has a 20 minute series, a 30 minute series, geared to those not familar with Ashtanga, and a 45 minute series. He also has a video of the ‘first series’ that is very good and would be the exact postures that you find in the Power Yoga book. He also has several videos of the more advanced series.  The videos can be found in the Yoga Journal or at his website at: http://www.ashtangayoganet.com/ For a good Power Yoga video, Brian Kest has a series of 3 very good videos. You can order these from his web site at: http://www.poweryoga.com/index.html The basic difference would be that the Ashtanga Yoga is a set sequence of postures that are practiced in the same order each time and do not vary (much) from school to school. Power Yoga tends to flow the standing postures together more and the postures are practiced in whatever order or flow the teacher decides on. Thus may not be the same from day to day or from school to school. Power Yoga is actually an offshoot of Ashtanga Yoga although sometimes Ashtanga is called Power Yoga (as in the Power Yoga book, she is actually doing pretty traditional Ashtanga Yoga). I hope this helps. Elladan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m interested in purchasing a good video instruction course for Power Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), and would like to hear recommendations. I have a copy of the Beryl Birch book on Power Yoga, but I really need to see the postures actually performed. I live in an area where live instruction is not an option.  I am a very fit individual and have dabbled in Yoga off and on for a number of years, so I wouldn’t consider myself at the beginner level. What I’m looking for would be a course that is physically challenging, but not too advanced. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TD

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Question:

I heard nothing but good recommendations about Shirley Daventry French at the Vancouver YMCA!

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I am looking for Hatha Yoga classes in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.  Anyone out there know of any??????

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So, how many Hatha Yogis are there reading this NG? I have been practicing Hatha Yoga for a few years now.  What keeps me interested is with every different Asana, I find a new muscle group to tweak. I have heard about Ashtanga Yoga.  Looks very intense.  Does anyone have any info on this style? Bruce

I’d say stick with what you know. The shadows will reveal themselves to be trees once the sun rises. The supreme will offer what you need when the time is right. — "You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."– Mark Twain

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hi, I started hatha yoga 1 week ago and I like it very much. This ng is important and informative (since I came here 1 week ago). As with any newsgroup you have will spams, sex ad, racist articles, and such. Feel free to email me. jack – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -So, how many Hatha Yogis are there reading this NG? Rodney, I don’t think we need go elsewhere & start another NG. Surely there is room for us all here. Perhaps we can even share a little energy among all these different views. There is after all a way to skip what doesn’t speak to us. Post your views & tell us what you study. still practicing, sandra

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: So, how many Hatha Yogis are there reading this NG? NONE – reading NGs is merely CHITTA and a distraction from serious practice : I have been practicing Hatha Yoga for a few years now.   : What keeps me : interested is with every different Asana, : I find a new muscle group to tweak. You may like the ashtanga system which in an integrated practice : I have heard about Ashtanga Yoga.  Looks very intense.  Does anyone have : any info on this style? Its a style that is growing in popularity and you will find many sites on the net my own is quite a good starting point and puts the Ashtanga Vinyasa style into context vis the Viniyoga & BKS Iyengar traditions and also with respect to the classical ashtanga of Patanjali. see http://www.ajna.demon.co.uk/yoga/ashtanga.htm NAMASTE Ian — Tel: (+44) 0468-038-027         http://www.ajna.demon.co.uk                 "Blessed Be God For All His Gifts"                 ASHTANGA – OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI HE

Response:

Brought to this country by Patobi Jois. Ashtanga can be explored through the videos of Richard Freeman, & the book POWER YOGA by Beryl Bender Birch. It is a vigorous flow of poses in a series. Great for some, but sort of one size fits all yoga. Hope the helps.

Response:

: Brought to this country by Patobi Jois. Exactly which country would that be now ? I thought we were in the yoga zone of the wired world myself; a place where K.Pattbi Jois of Mysore is unlikely to visit. ( Tho some of the correspondents to this NG may call him GURU-GEE ) snip :  Great for some, but sort of one  size fits all yoga. Hope the helps. As taught by many of the students  K.Pattabi Jois it dose have that weakness however that is the implimentation rather than the form which should be thought of as a scales in music or bardic verse where rythme and stucture carry often more than the words. Ian — Tel: (+44) 0468-038-027         http://www.ajna.demon.co.uk                 "Blessed Be God For All His Gifts"                 ASHTANGA – OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI HE

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Well you know I’m here,  sometimes it does get discouraging seeing all the porn posts and endless hoohah about minutiae but then you find a note from somebody who is just starting or has a question about some kind of asana that is a special favorite pf yours and you think "hey I can help that person"  Then it is worth it.   And sometimes when you contribute you get a note back saying thanks or, saying that really something you said really  helped and then it seems worth it Believe it or not I did a note on nasal cleansing months agao and somebody inquired about it  just last week,  wow,  real interest in something I said,  and contact with a grateful person who wants the knlowledge that i happen to have. I will continue to hang around! Tom

Response:

So, how many Hatha Yogis are there reading this NG? Rodney, I don’t think we need go elsewhere & start another NG. Surely there is room for us all here. Perhaps we can even share a little energy among all these different views. There is after all a way to skip what doesn’t speak to us. Post your views & tell us what you study. still practicing, sandra

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You know what they say " Hatha a yoga is better then none" — Steve Russell                    " Who are you going to believe, me or http://www.umuc.edu/~srussell                           — Groucho Marx

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You know what they say " Hatha a yoga is better then none" — Steve Russell                        " Who are you going to believe, me or http://www.umuc.edu/~srussell                               — Groucho Marx

You suck.

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        I was so pleased to find this board, till I read it. Many of the postings have less than nothing to do with yoga. I want to hear from those who practice or teach hatha yoga, any style. It is nice to communicate with & support each other.         Subjects of interest to me lately include, keeping personal practice strong, advanced asana practice, relating asana practice to spirit off the mat. I am also interested in hearing from teachers who offer specialized classes. I offer a class for women recovering from sexual abuse, it’s yoga in a safe group.                 I’m looking forward to making some new yoga buddies

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        I was so pleased to find this board, till I read it. Many of the postings have less than nothing to do with yoga. I want to hear from those who practice or teach hatha yoga, any style. It is nice to communicate with & support each other.         Subjects of interest to me lately include, keeping personal practice strong, advanced asana practice, relating asana practice to spirit off the mat. I am also interested in hearing from teachers who offer specialized classes. I offer a class for women recovering from sexual abuse, it’s yoga in a safe group.         I’m looking forward to making some new yoga buddies

    hello (or should i say Namaste),          I too practice Hatha yoga and LOVE it.I live in south carolina and began taking yoga about a year ago. I am 30 years old and have never in those 30 yrs found anything that has helped me as much as yoga has, in ever aspect of my life.As far as keeping up my practice at home I try to .I have set up a room in my house just for yoga complete with alter and all but sometimes i am slack. see, I should be in there right now.I attend class once a week though and that helps keep me focused.I hope to always attend class.I can do some advanced postures.Could probably do more if I practiced more. What advanced postures can you do and which ones are you working on?I am working on the scorpion now.Its been tough to find my balance point in that posture.It will be nice finding a computer friend into yoga!                                  hope to hear from you,                                                         B.E.C. ps have you ever been to the Sivananda yoga pge on the web it is very nice you should check it out if you haven’t already do so.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  x-no-archive:  yes I know the feeling, but I don’t think the "netiquette" that use to prevail on usenet and the web exists much anymore.  2 years ago, if someone posted an off-topic message, they’d be politely emailed the first time, sternly emailed the second time, and their service provider notified the third time. Now, with 10 million children and childish users able to spam the world through AOL et al, we all suffer for it.  I think of it this way…remember when driving your car was a cooperative experience (you go first, then I’ll go)?  Now it’s an exercise in life-threatening pettiness and self-absorption (not US, of course B-] ). Usenet and the web are pretty much the same way now, to (over)use the info superhighway comparison. So, just ignore the spam, bless the intolerant idiots, and forgive the children.  Most people here are looking for the same thing, and the fools leave quickly if you don’t get them into a feedback loop.       I was so pleased to find this board, till I read it. Many of the postings have less than nothing to do with yoga. I want to hear from those who practice or teach hatha yoga, any style. It is nice to communicate with & support each other. <SNIP

       Bob, I like your postings and enjoy the way you "put" things. Thank you for your great insights.

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   I know the feeling, but I don’t think the "netiquette" that use to prevail    on usenet and the web exists much anymore.   Any nice forum you want on the internet these days has to be moderated to keep the rude out.  You don’t have to make a moderated newsgroup and monitor every post.  You can start a mailing list very easily with my file below ( I did ) and boot out whoever acts up.  You can also screen subscribers, or mute subscribers who are rude, or monitor indvidual subscribers ( versus everyone ) who are rude. Just A Thought Steve                        Starting A Mailing List 1. Get the faq for doing so at ( & a list of mailing list providers ): http://www.cs.ube.ca/spider/edmonds/usenet/ml-providers.txt 2. To get a free host write a proposal describing your group and    post it to a list of hosts at the address below.  Be sure to    ask for a reply by email.  Send your proposal only once. 3. Prodigy provides free mailing lists for deserving groups.  Email    a proposal to:    or view the www page at:    http://goodstuff.prodigy.com/LISTS/ 4. Esosoft provides the cheapest mailing list set-up ( under $5 )    with some of the best software.  Write to: — Steve Russell                     " If one is to do good, http://www.umuc.edu/~srussell       General good is the plea of the hypocrite,                                     the scoundrel and the flatterer."                                     — William Blake

Response:

   I was so pleased to find this board, till I read it. Many of the postings have less than nothing to do with yoga. I want to hear from those who practice or teach hatha yoga, any style. It is nice to communicate with & support each other.    Subjects of interest to me lately include, keeping personal practice strong, advanced asana practice, relating asana practice to spirit off the mat. I am also interested in hearing from teachers who offer specialized classes. I offer a class for women recovering from sexual abuse, it’s yoga in a safe group.      I’m looking forward to making some new yoga buddies

For information about yoga outside the newsgroups you might want to stop by         http://www.santosha.com You’ll find instruction, illustrations and other material about asana practice and much more. Best regards, Satyam

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Question:

I’ve studied Yoga for 16 years.  I wrote a book on meditation and how to impower yourself through this practice.  Write for a free book and I’ll e-mail you to you free plus meeting times.

Does yoga help improve your height?

Response:

You asked "does yoga improve your height?" Well, yes and no, I think. I hit 5′2" at the age of 12 and have never budged–not even 1/8". Until now. I’ve been practicing yoga (ashtanga) for a year and a half and when I was with my family over the holidays I noticed I wasn’t the shortest anymore. All the women in my family are short (5′2" to 5"5") but now I’m somewhere in with the 5′2-1/2" to 5′3" ones! I don’t think I’ve actually grown, per se, but rather that my posture is greatly improved and my spine is more correctly aligned. Some of this is the purely physical response to my yoga practice and some is a result of an improved mental/spiritual way of being which is reflected in the way I carry myself. I would never recommend doing yoga just to "grow" because that would be focusing on the wrong thing–end point vs. the process–but it sure is a nice benefit!

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