| santosha
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redroxco wrote: Did some yoga "al fresco" yesterday. There is a new park they opened up in town called "Majestic View" that overlooks part of USF&W National Wildlife Refuge and then west to the foothills and the snow capped Rockies beyond those. It really is well named!
Had been thinking about it for awhile and just gave it a bit of trial run. Ran through some basic Sun A's and vinyasa flows with some standing balancing asanas and finished up with headstand and continued practice on my handstand. (For some reason, practicing a handstand seems to be easier out doors rather than in a studio. I just seem to be able to get closer to finding that balance point.) Probably no more than 20 minutes total but it was really cool to do a Sun salutation and throw in a back bend at the top and look up at the sky or to come into crescent lunge and have my drishti be snow covered peaks in the distance! I'll definately be doing more of this through the summer and fall! :)
Not to mention there's nothing like a tree pose when you have an actual tree to gaze at, either! My only thing with practicing outdoors is that I have to feel protected enough so that I don't worry about people staring at me - public parks don't work for me...but I bet yours are much less populated than mine, and being a guy I would imagine you don't worry quite the same way I do about getting attacked while I lie in savasana in the park...
I find handstands easier outdoors for a couple reasons:
1. I'm not as fearful of falling into grass as I am onto a hardwood floor.
2. I find grass has a little bit of "give" to it that helps my fingers "claw" the ground - when I do find my balance point in handstand, indoors, I always have more pressure on my fingertips than I normally "want." By getting on softer ground, I think I can shift my balance forward a bit towards my fingers, et voilá - handstand! |
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Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:49 am |
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| Kirian
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Ahhh....red...that sounds amazing!
Ok guys - I am getting ready to take my first ever Yoga class. I have no experience in it at all. Here are my options for beginners classes for the studio I chose (they don't offer Hatha):
Kripalu Beginning Yoga
Students will be introduced to priciples of alignment, breathwork, and relaxation. A series of gentle primary postures and yoga basics will be taught with emphasis on increasing flexibility, stretching, spine lengthening and reducing tension.
Anusara 1
This class is for beginners and offers a gentle introduction to the fundamental principles of alignment and breathing. Primary poses and yoga basics will be taught. Emphasis will be on standing poses, stretching and strengthening. No yoga experience necessary.
Iyengar Yoga 1
For students new to Iyengar yoga or those looking for a slower paced, less rigorous class. Focus will be on standing poses to build strength and flexibility.
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They all sound good to me. I am looking for something that won't put me to sleep and will offer me a bit of a challenge. At the same time I would like to be able to do as much of the class as possible.
I did read over the link red posted about the various styles but am still not sure. Just wondering what your opinions of these three classes are. Thanks! :D |
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Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:49 pm |
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| santosha
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Of your choices, here is my feedback:
Kripalu is the form I'm least familiar with. I think it will be the most gentle of the three. Can't tell you much more.
Anusara has its roots in Iyengar, but is a bit more flowing and has more "feeling" to it - it's often called "Iyengar with Heart". I love anusara, find it a bit more challenging than Iyengar, and a lot more fun. Strong focus on alignment, which makes it quite safe, but then also more fun. But I have heard criticisms of some Anusara teachers that they are a bit too "hippy dippy" new agey californians (I can say this because I am Californian AND I've taken an Anusara teacher training, LOL)
Iyengar has a SERIOUS emphasis on alignment (anusara has some of this, but not quite as perfectionistically) and uses props to help achieve desired poses. Poses are held statically for a long time. Challenging often, less flow and more strength, say, holding a triangle pose for several breaths. Definitely a GREAT foundation for skills - and, depending on the class, you may or may not find it physically challenging. My first serious studies in yoga were in Iyengar, and I really think it gave me a GREAT base to branch off of. Some Iyengar teachers, if they are strict Iyengar teachers, can come off a bit cold and harsh, in my opinion. Mr. Iyengar himself has that demeanor, from what I've heard, but once you break through, he apparently is like a big teddy bear. I've never studied with him directly though, so i can't comment.
My vote would be
Anusara
then
Iyengar
then
Kripalu
Iyengar is probably the safest, the most technical, and has the possibility of being the most "boring..." But! I know several yogis (myself included, at times) who LOVE Iyengar.
Anusara has the most propensity to be "fun", in my opinion, but also the greatest room for "touchy feely" mumbo jumbo that could be annoying. Depends on the teacher. (Which, actually, is true for ALL yoga.)
And you could love Kripalu, I just don't know much about it....
But I think you would be fine with any of them, and more importantly, I think, is to find a teacher whose voice resonates with what you want from a yoga class. Find one who makes you feel safe yet challenged, encouraged, excited....
You'll know after class - if you didn't love it, try a different class.
Be sure to report back and let us know how it went!!!! |
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Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:43 pm |
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| Kirian
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Thank you so much Santosha for taking so much time to reply! I really appreciate it since I know how experienced you are in Yoga. Anusara does sound pretty good. Though I just took a peek at the schedule and it looks like the only beginner they are doing for this session is Kripalu. Should have checked that before I asked. I will have to call and find out.
Clases start on July 10th and I can't wait! No matter what I end up with I am really looking forward to experiencing Yoga. I am waiting to hear from them too because I may get a scholarship to take the class. If I do I would only have to pay 50%-99% of the class cost for the 8 week session!
I will certainly keep you informed! Thanks again for all the great info! :D |
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Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:32 am |
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| babice
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| Santosha -- did that book ever come out? :D |
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Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:08 pm |
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| Kirian
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:mrgreen: I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP! :mrgreen:
They are only doing the begining Kripaula this session so that is what my scholarship is for. It is a 50% scholarship so I only pay $52.00 for a 7 week class! YIPEEEEEE
Oh - I just simply cannot wait until classes start now! July 10th baby!! |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:11 am |
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| RedRox
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| Tres 8) !! What was the basis for the scholarship? |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:46 am |
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| Kirian
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Thank you! 8)
It was based on financial need. You also had to tell them why the class was important to you as part of the application. |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:40 pm |
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| santosha
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babice wrote: Santosha -- did that book ever come out? :D
Oh, who knows - I think the photographer ended up going on a drug binge or something - my connection to him was through my neighbor, who worked as his stylist, and she said he kind of fell apart right after that shoot - not much more info than that. I haven't seen my photo in any books lately, though - so I doubt it. I just worry that my pic will end up on some website for "buy a yogini bride" or "1-900-sexwithayogateacher" or something awful like that! :shock:
Kirian - congrats! I need a scholarship for yoga classes! I swear, it's the biggest paradox - yoga teachers get paid so little that they can barely afford to take classes anymore! Ironic, huh?
Teaching three classes today, haven't done that in a while - wish me luck! |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:39 pm |
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| RedRox
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Good luck! :)
I was wondering what happened with that photo shoot myself. I didn't even know it was slated for a book. Maybe you can somehow get the rights to the pics (and negatives) back from him? And FWIW, I haven't seen your pics on the 1-900-sexwithayogateacher site yet! ;)
While the mega-studios like I belong to have their pros and cons, they do provide free classes within their studio system to all their instructors. (I think they might provide health benefits of some kind too, to at least a portion of their instructors.) I kind of call my Tuesday class, "the instructor class" because it seems like half the room is all other instructors. I guess the only problem would be if they have to turn away paying customers and there always seems to be enough room for one more mat somewhere! Although it is a pretty crowded class, which I actually kind of like. We've been doing these rolling OMs where everyone does 3 or 5 OMs at their own pace and it builds an interesting wave like vibration and energy where it is a more continuous sound.
Kirian: That's great that they offer that kind of reduced rate and you were able to apply and receive it! Keep us posted! :)
My current block of unlimited classes is up middle of July before we go on vacation. If things don't change much financially before August, I'm not sure what I'll do about re-upping again. |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:23 pm |
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| babice
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Redroxco - did you know that if you go to Bikram training (I think it's like 3 months) and get certified, that you can take Bikram free at any Bikram studio? Cool, huh?
Wish I had the money and time to go do that. I'd open a studio up where I'm going to be moving.
Santosha - you crack me up! That's the type of thing I'd think of! :lol: Very ha ha! If I were you, I'd frame those suckers! They were GOOD! |
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Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:44 pm |
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| santosha
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babice wrote: Redroxco - did you know that if you go to Bikram training (I think it's like 3 months) and get certified, that you can take Bikram free at any Bikram studio? Cool, huh?
Wish I had the money and time to go do that. I'd open a studio up where I'm going to be moving.
Santosha - you crack me up! That's the type of thing I'd think of! :lol: Very ha ha! If I were you, I'd frame those suckers! They were GOOD!
Doesn't Bikram training cost some RIDICULOUS amount of money though?
FWIW, I can take free classes at the gym where I teach. When I taught at the studio, it was at the teacher whose class I was taking's discretion - but most let me take at a discount, at the very least. I think at more corporate studios they do have a set up where you can take at a significant discount, at the very least...but, alas, I don't teach at a corporate studio!
Just got back from teaching my third class today. I'd say, of the three, this one was my best...the second was VERY iffy, the first was decent. It's so interesting how the students' energies really affect my teaching - there were some, ahem, weirdos in the 4:00 class today that threw me for a bit of a loop. I liked this 8:30 group though, very fun, and I was cracking myself up telling corny jokes... :roll: At one point I even told them to make "cactus arms" and then I told them I always think about Snoopy and his cousin Spike who lives in the desert when I do cactus arms. They must have thought I was totally OFF MY ROCKER! |
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Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:23 am |
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| RedRox
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Or they might have thought about Snoopy and Spike doing yoga cactus arms together in the desert and gotten a good visual and a smile! :D FWIW, I tend to enjoy instructors who interject some humor into their classes.
Most teacher training programs seem kind of expensive to me, but I'm sure anything with the official Bikram certification behind it will be even more so. Gotta keep those Rolls and Bentleys in gas!
BTW, renamed this thread a bit to make it a bit more generic and a yoga hangout for the board along the lines of the Runner's Thread. It seemed like it was kind of heading in that direction anyway, and thought it might be nice to have a thread of our own. |
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Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:27 pm |
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| kellybeth79
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Snoopy and his cousin Spike... that is GREAT. Haven't thought of that in years, but what a cute image to have during yoga practice!
I have been really wanting to take an actual class again, but so many obstacles in the way. I need to focus on figuring it out, though.
I would love to be more active in this thread (though that is not my reason for wanting to find a yoga class =P) |
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Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:52 pm |
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| Kirian
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Hehehe...that is cute Santosha - would have had me smiling! :D
Red - love the idea for our own thread!
Ok guys, got a question for ya from a virginal yogini. What would be a good breakfast so that I maintain my engergy throughout my 90 minute long class? It is a morning class so I will be getting up, cooking, eating, taking Hubby to work and going right to class.
I just bought a nalgene bottle too so I am more than set with water for the class! :D |
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Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:02 pm |
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