01-06-2011, 09:33 AM
Hi agatha,
I started doing yoga many years ago at the gym, just lightly delving in.
Now I attend an Anusara yoga studio in my hometown. Anusara yoga
It is a heart-opening yoga started by an American, John Friend. The philosophy and teachings are very aligned with the STO-radiant path, and it has been a blessing for me to take yoga to the next level. I find that gently challenging the body is a great metaphor for the spiritual path. Every time I go, my teacher Amy gives me a gem to ponder for my spiritual journey. Plus my body feels amazing after a session. Last night she was talking about the Rig-Veda (sp?) that gives four reasons for doing yoga, one of which is because you feel good....you feel alive the energy pulsing and tingling afterwards. It's a natural high. Helps me shut down my mind and just "Be" in my body.
Pranayama, yoga breathing, is a very important spiritual tool. Our breath is our body's direct link to Spirit. If you do breathwork things will happen. You will activate your physical body's energy, and your subtle body's energy. You may activate kundalini, like Monica and fairyfarmgirl mentioned. If you activate kundalini and feel overwhelmed, I would advise that you find support...either a teacher that you trust, or communicating on this board, or a yoga community. Take care that you find support that is feels comfortable and loving and STO.
I unfortunately had a bad experience when my kundalini activated, it was a preincarnative contract with the "teacher". Long story, but it was a major catalyst that I'm still recovering from and that was 3 years ago. So i would advise that if you are feeling dissonance with a teacher or community, don't place all your trust with them. That was my mistake, I wasn't trusting my internal truth enough , but it was very confusing, and I am compassionate with myself.
There is a really good website online that teaches yoga as a spiritual path. The teacher is Yogani and I feel a good energy from him, his saying is "The guru is in you" Love that empowerment! here is the link: AYP homepage
I haven't taken it up because I was so burned out from my prior experience, but I do visit the website from time to time and have read some of Yogani's material, and do some of the practices.
I hope this helps. Take care agatha, I wish you well on your yoga journey!!
I started doing yoga many years ago at the gym, just lightly delving in.
Now I attend an Anusara yoga studio in my hometown. Anusara yoga
It is a heart-opening yoga started by an American, John Friend. The philosophy and teachings are very aligned with the STO-radiant path, and it has been a blessing for me to take yoga to the next level. I find that gently challenging the body is a great metaphor for the spiritual path. Every time I go, my teacher Amy gives me a gem to ponder for my spiritual journey. Plus my body feels amazing after a session. Last night she was talking about the Rig-Veda (sp?) that gives four reasons for doing yoga, one of which is because you feel good....you feel alive the energy pulsing and tingling afterwards. It's a natural high. Helps me shut down my mind and just "Be" in my body.
Pranayama, yoga breathing, is a very important spiritual tool. Our breath is our body's direct link to Spirit. If you do breathwork things will happen. You will activate your physical body's energy, and your subtle body's energy. You may activate kundalini, like Monica and fairyfarmgirl mentioned. If you activate kundalini and feel overwhelmed, I would advise that you find support...either a teacher that you trust, or communicating on this board, or a yoga community. Take care that you find support that is feels comfortable and loving and STO.
I unfortunately had a bad experience when my kundalini activated, it was a preincarnative contract with the "teacher". Long story, but it was a major catalyst that I'm still recovering from and that was 3 years ago. So i would advise that if you are feeling dissonance with a teacher or community, don't place all your trust with them. That was my mistake, I wasn't trusting my internal truth enough , but it was very confusing, and I am compassionate with myself.
There is a really good website online that teaches yoga as a spiritual path. The teacher is Yogani and I feel a good energy from him, his saying is "The guru is in you" Love that empowerment! here is the link: AYP homepage
I haven't taken it up because I was so burned out from my prior experience, but I do visit the website from time to time and have read some of Yogani's material, and do some of the practices.
I hope this helps. Take care agatha, I wish you well on your yoga journey!!