Yoga and Meditation Thread

[pepper davies]

I did a search, but couldn't find a yoga/meditation thread. Over the past couple years both have become an important part of my life. Anyone else get down with some yoga?

[wayoutwest]

I wish I had a regular yoga practice. I haven't found a teacher I like and that I can afford. I don't know enough yoga to do it on my own.

I used to have a daily zazen practice, but I have become lazy and apathetic. Planning on (seems to be a trend) revitalizing it very soon. I should just do it. When I sat every day, my life was measurably more enjoyable. I really dug the way I operated. I attribute almost all of that to zazen. Just has to become a ritual, once it's that, it's not immediately, and constantly, boring.

If anyone is interested in zazen, check out

. Other than having your posture personally adjusted, you won't need much more instruction than that.

I did a search, but couldn't find a yoga/meditation thread. Over the past couple years both have become an important part of my life. Anyone else get down with some yoga?

What's your practice like? (frequency, style, history)

Do any meditation?

[lerrr]

I have practiced zen on and off for the past two years, more self guided before that but I can say that having a teacher or a group to practice with regularly is really beneficial. Has anyone been on a retreat?

[po_boy_fuuma_hatesbargerz]

I tend to approach meditation and zen/yoga from a purely scientific / focus standpoint.

Here are some pop culture-esque resources that I think were pretty relevant:

Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi – Flow : The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Winnifred Gallagher – Rapt : Attention and the Focused Life

Mindfulness in Plain English – (which I'm reading right now, and kind of pissed at myself for having bought on amazon when I just found the full pdf right here)

Anyways, sorry for the digression, but I have had a personal pet research project on focus and attention for sometime now and find it extremely interesting.

Some web resources – zenhabits.net by leo babuta

[Eccles]

personally practice an hour a day including 20 mins of meditation

and hour and a half weekly class

since beginning I cant imagine how I lived without it

I have learnt yoga nidra although im not aware of every strand

i'm curious as i feel somewhat of a novice

[blm14]

I've had a roughly twice weekly yoga practice for like 10 years, now, almost. Can't live without it.

[pepper davies]

Great to hear from you guys . I still feel completely uneducated in all facets of spirituality within my practice. I really need to start reading some more books and consider a retreat soon. Can anyone recommend any books?

[blm14]

books are fine for meditation, but I would recommend that you go and take lessons for yoga. They don't have to be private, but having an instructor and other people to look at is tremendously helpful.

I liken yoga to a martial art, there are many similarities. One would not begin martial art training just on a book.

[wayoutwest]

Great to hear from you guys . I still feel completely uneducated in all facets of spirituality within my practice. I really need to start reading some more books and consider a retreat soon. Can anyone recommend any books?

I think Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is the best book on Zen. I would caution you on taking zen study seriously while having a meditation practice. Consulting a teacher is a good idea. It can be some pretty heady and cerebral stuff. Not to sound alarmist, but it can definitely affect you in some profound ways.

[pepper davies]

Thanks for the recommendation wayoutwest. I'll definitely check it out. And blm14, I've been taking classes at a few different studios, and was more just saying that I felt like I was just getting a workout rather than an mind strengthening or whatever you want to call it.

[fobsquad]

glad you started this thread! i haven't taken any classes but learn some routines from my hindu friend's parents. i started it more as a meditation/spiritual rekindling rather than a workout. but i defo believe yoga's benefits transcend beyond any understanding.

i feel that pranayama (breathing) is most important. make sure you're always breathing through your nose. sounds obvious but becoming very self-aware of your [prana] feels damn good.

look into Ujjayi breath and circular nose breathing for some basics

[Lendo]

I need more of both of these things in my life. I had a pretty regular yoga practice years ago, and took refuge in a Tibetan Buddhist center in NorCal. I miss both dearly and am trying to make space again in my somewhat insane life to do so.

[pepper davies]

Bumping this thread! Need inspiration!

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[blm14]

seconded.

david swenson, founder (I believe) of ashtanga. I show this video to people to don't believe that yoga requires muscular strength and is only about stretching.

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I'm going to a class in 3 hours and another one tomorrow