wanna talk all things yoga with me??!!!

[masuki]

namaste
i am wondering if there are any fellow yogis or yoginis out there in mumsnet world? i am totally loving my yoga journey right now, from asana to pranayama to meditation to study and would love to share any of that with some of you....

for anyone reading this new to the world of yoga, it is just the most wonderful empowering healing healthy expansive philosophy, the most beautiful practice out there (yes i am slightly biased xxx)

please roll out your mat, bring your hands together in namaste and bow as we practice and chant together

om shanti shanti shanti
om peace peace peace

Namaste yoginis
It's great to read your inspiring thread

If any of you are interested in finding out about Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga, I am thinking of organising an Ayurvedic cookery workshop for Mums (with little ones in tow) sometime after Easter. If this appeals you could have a look at my website: www.simpleayurveda.co.uk for details and get in touch.

om shanti

I'm finding it fascinating that yoga in the West is so purely physical, when the physical, asana side of yoga is a relatively new side of it in actuality! I am so enjoying moving deeper into my understanding of yoga, and excited by the knowledge that there is so much to learn!

I'm currently doing very gentle practices after I got rather over-excited about doing standing back-bends and have hurt my sacro-iliac joint, which is a weak area for me anyway. I'm really enjoying them, though, particularly feeling my back improving every day

flamingo sorry to hear about your back. There is a book by a man whose name I can't remember now about the development of yoga as a physical practice in the west. It's called 'Yoga Body', looks v interesting to me and not quite the salacious read the title suggests.

I'm interested in the common areas and not common areas between Buddhism and yoga I think. Am currently reading Jack Kornfield's talks on the noble eightfold path for householders (Buddhism not yoga) which is free as a PDF on the Buddhanet site and really finding it clicking with me (grammar, sorry). If anyone had any crossover recommendations I'd love to hear them. Om shanti mamas.

Thank you, Philbee. Will look that book out. My back is getting stronger all the time - I'm loving how nourishing yoga is even when you don't do all the 'get as bendy as possible' Western stuff

I've just bought The Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar, that I will have to read when I start my training next year, and I can't wait to get reading it - am just finishing off a book about the menstrual cycle and then I'll start devouring the yoga book

Please let us know what you learn about how Buddhism and yoga can be linked. I'm also interested...I feel very drawn to Eastern spirituality.

I sure will let you know - although I fear it may take many years... Hmm. I think I like the idea that Buddhism can be stripped down and the bells and chanting removed, and the basic core is very simple, and very similar to the basic core of yoga. I'm not dead keen on the chakras and nadis and stimulating your liver and all that, I want to think of my morning asana practice as more like a basic, physical version of my meditation practice later in the day, the first focusing more on concentration and the second more on awareness, and then the third aspect being mindfulness during the day. So I'm interested to see if I can actually make that work within the idea of it still being yoga, or whether there's some contradiction there.

How do others see their yoga practice? Do you have a physical asana practice and other bits too?

flamingo it's by Mark Singleton. Let me know how you like Heart of Yoga. I have only ever flicked through it and felt a bit daunted.

Thanks, Philbee. I'm reading it as I'm going to be training as a yoga teacher in the tradition of Desikachar and Krishnamarcharya...think I'd be very daunted too if it wasn't for the fact I know it's meant to be deep, deep learning for me IYSWIM.

I used to see yoga as something just physical, then as something physical and a little bit spiritual, now I see it as a vital link to my spirituality - a chance to check in with my spiritual side, a lead in to meditation and prayer. And I'm also just on the cusp of starting to understand the real meaning of yoga and integrate it into my whole life. I've become a vegetarian, for example, and I'm trying to think like a yogi...or a buddhist...or a 'any of those spiritual traditions that are so wise and profound' person

hope you don't mind my resurrecting a zombie thread but i just had to post about something that happened to me this morning. I had been practising the sun salutation at home every other morning and have not really been to many yoga classes at all, although I'm very bendy due to my sporting background.

Anyway, this morning I joined a yoga class and we performed the sun salutation several times and I found it so moving to perform it in a group that I was actually moved to tears as it was such a profound experience...I can't really say why but I know I have found my new thing, it's not just a form of exercise is it? I so can't wait to learn and practise more!

Hello

Such an interesting read. I had my first yoga class last week and loved it. At the end of the session I felt amazing. My mind was at rest, my bones felt fluid. I felt so happy. I am delighted to have given it a go and will be continuing!

This may be of interest to you both. Hopefully we will soon have a whole new topic just for yoga!

hi playingup I think it's all about the flow...

I love yoga too. I have to hide it from my family unfortunately as my sister particulary hugely disapproves.

how interesting whiteline, why does your sister disapprove if you don't mind my asking?

She is a christian and feels that yoga is Satanic. The Hindu roots, the awakening of the Kundalini or serpent ( satan).

I've just started yoga and a love it and am experiencing feeling happy after and sleeping well.

Hi everyone, this is my first ever post on mumsnet as a new mum-to-be! Exciting. Anyway - I thought I'd suggest coming to my new Pregnancy yoga class. I'm a traditional hatha teacher and I've just specialised in pregnancy yoga having trained with the legendary Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. What a fantastic experience! So now I am putting feelers out to all pregnant women from 12-weeks to full term, living in North London, who might want to try my gentle, nourishing class!

All info can be read here: mahadevicentre.com/pregnancy-yoga

I can also answer any questions on here if you like and we can talk all things yoga, pregnancy and...combined!

Namaste yogis!