Three Short Notes On Yoga

A good thing:

I wanted to tell you about a DVD that was sent to me by Gaiam. I like Practical Power of Yoga with Collen Saidman and Rodney Yee because it's specially created for people who have no yoga experience. Their belief is everyone can do yoga. Whether it's in a chair, using props, or sitting on a mat, Saidman and Yee make it easy and fun.

Neither Rodney Yee or his wife Colleen Saidman contort themselves into difficult poses. They keep their explanation of yoga pretty simple, and stay away from any esoteric talk that often bogs down instruction and leaves students confused, or even angry. Yee has always been refreshing in this regard, and his ability to cut through myths born from the popular yoga culture is welcome and needed.

In a conversational, even playful tone, Yee and Saidman offer up simple poses to a studio audience with a variety of abilities in this 73 minute DVD. This as a great place to start if you're new to yoga, and want to play around a bit before going into a studio.

What about flexibility? One of the perceptions of yoga is that it's all about stretching, given the images constantly given to us. Though stretching is really important, yoga isn't necessarily all about putting one's toe over one's ear. Flexibility has two different meanings. There's the physical aspect and then there's the mental kind that keeps us centered and adaptable. Physical flexibility will greatly vary from person to person. That's why there are so many variations on poses. Mental flexibility is a different thing. It's what keeps us balanced in the face of change. Now that (to me) is the thing to acquire from all this stretching. After all, if life was only about physical flexibility, how is it that Steven Hawking can keep going?

Steven Hawking enjoying Zero G:
no flexibility or use of body, yet a most flexible mind.

Yoga-ing while sick: I've been struggling for the past few months. I first got sick while traveling over Thanksgiving. I did all the right things, amped up my vitamin C, got more rest, rinsed my sinus passages with saline, but just before Christmas I was sinking fast. I even stayed out of the studio and practiced at home so not to get anyone else sick. I had an awful lung infection, which necessitated antibiotics. I am super careful with them, and try to never take them. Unfortunately, they didn't work on whatever strain was ailing me. I was getting worse.

So I was switched to another one. The lung infection went away, but I ended up with antibiotic-induced colitis. This colitis thing comes and goes. I have to go get a bunch of tests soon.

Anyway, I returned to the yoga studio last week, and I have to say it's great. I especially love Peter's class. He has a very upbeat attitude and we always laugh during class. I'm back to 3 - 4 times in the studio, and every day at the home. Even if it's just 20 minutes of breathing exercises and gentle stretches. I feel really good after I go, and throughout the day. I have an overall sense of well being --even though there are times when the waves of colitis overcomes me. Knock wood, it'll be over soon.