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Version of Yoga Practice
(In Lieu of Coming to the Live Yoga Class)
The
ideal way to learn yoga is by going to a yoga class or
by one-on-one instruction. Next best is to be shown
examples of yoga and then trying them on your own by
watching a video or watching it on television.
Since
this is an internet-based course, some of you won't be
able to come to the yoga class that I put on for you.
But you can still learn to do yoga on your own from
right here.
There
are many places on the web to learn more about yoga. A
great overview of yoga can be found by going to this
website:
http://healthology.com/search.asp?keyword=yoga
Once
there, click on the first listing titled "An
Introduction to Yoga." You will get a "webcast" of an
interview between some interview person and 2 people who
are apparently interested in yoga. If you can't get the
webcast (due to limitations in your computer), you can
view the transcript. I found this to be a very nice
overview of yoga. It answers many questions for people
have who have never encountered yoga before, but sense
an interest to learn more about it.
Having viewed that webcast, I must add here that yoga is
something that can't be learned intellectually. You
can't learn yoga by talking and reading about it any
more than you can learn how to swim without getting into
the water and learning how. So we must make this a
"doing" experience as best we can, but you will have to
do it in your workout clothes ... not sitting at your
computer.
You
will use your textbook as the basis for learning some
common yoga poses. Go to chapter 22 and read through the
chapter. Toward the end of chapter 22 you will find
pictures of some very common yoga poses (there are a
whole bunch more in addition to these).
You
will also find value by going to the following websites
to work through this assignment.
http://www.santosha.com/asanas/
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/index.cfm?ctsrc=hg7
On 2
separate occasions during this week you are to
experiment with at least 10 different poses (and more is
better) according to the directions at the two websites
and chapter 22 of your text.
My
suggestion is that you disregard your fears, your
misconceptions, and your perceived limitations about
stretching and go for it, to your level. Follow the
guidelines, tips and pointers for proper yoga in the
textbook as you do these. I strongly urge you to try
(amongst the 10 that you do) the following: (and it's
even better if you do more of them)
It
may help to copy the instructions and print them out or
work with a partner.
Another website that I am currently constructing consists of several of the
poses that we learned in class. I took a few snapshots for you to see how they
are done. Don't laugh too loudly. Included here is the sun salute which is one of the very best all around yoga poses.
(Remember, this page is still in construction, but is off to a pretty good
start.)
http://faculty.weber.edu/molpin/yoga/yoga.html
(Realize that there are an enormous number poses and variations
to each one. These are just a few common ones and an
excellent start to a life of great yoga.)
If you didn't come to class and still want your points for the yoga assignment,
answer the questions below selecting at least 10 poses and the sun salute.
- Which poses did you choose each time?
- Which did you find difficult, easy, impossible?
- How did you feel before, during and after doing the yoga sessions?
- After actually doing yoga, describe how your perceptions have changed from what you perceived yoga to be before you did your sessions.
Turn this in when you next come to class. |