Yoga Sutra 1.1

It's Wednesday, Hump Day, so now is as good a time than ever to go over the first Yoga Sutra!

1.1 Atha yoga anushasanam = Now


Now, after having done prior preparation through life and other practices, the study and practice of Yoga begins.

Listen

• atha = now, at this auspicious moment; implying the transition to this practice and pursuit, after prior preparation; implying a blessing at this moment of transition
• yoga = of yoga, union; literally, to yoke, from the root yuj, which means to join or to integrate; same as the absorption in samadhi
• anu = within, or following tradition; implies being subsequent to something else, in this case, the prior preparation
• shasanam = instruction, discipline, training, teaching, exposition, explanation; Shas implies the imparting of teaching that happens along with discipline

I know, I know...you're probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about and at what point I drank the Kool-Aid...

The first of the Yoga Sutras is trying to tell us two things: 

1. Everything that comes after (the sutras) will teach you what the practice of yoga is all about; it's like the definition of yoga.

2. The second purpose is to show you that in order to really start practicing yoga and get anything out of it (you know...Enlightenment, Self Realization, Knowledge of Self and all that other sexy, hippy, dippy, backpacker shit I hold dear) you have to be open and ready to receive. You have to be focused and put yoga first.

Am I blowing your mind yet?  No? Not to worry kids...we've only just begun.

Namaste, Brown Girls!

Yoga Etiquette

I don't mean to be a cranky mat rat, I really don't. However, there are certain things that make me NUTS at yoga. Here are 5 things that really crinkle my mat:

1. Make Room: I've never seen anyone get turned away from yoga, it's not that kind of party. That being said, don't just stare at me when I come into the room with my mat looking for a spot...or worse yet, pretend to be meditating. If your mat isn't touching your neighbor's then there's still room boo!

2. No Shoes Allowed: Come oooon! This is yoga 101. You must leave your shoes out front. No you can not bring them into the locker room. And please don't bring them into the studio to pile up by your mat. Gross!

3. Don't Be a Nasty Nelly: Um, there are no meanies in yoga, your screw face has no power here. At times I'm cranky when I come in, I can admit that. But I force a smile and stay quiet. By the time the class is over I usually have a serene (stupid) smile where my scowl once was.

4. Shut Up: Yeah, I said it, be quiet! Yoga is about looking inward, focusing, meditating and what not. I can't do that with you flapping your gums with your neighbor. SHUT IT UP! I'm trying to get my namaste on fool!

5. Keep Your Sweat To Yourself: I know, I know, I go to hot yoga, everybody is sweating like a little piggy. I guess all I'm asking is that you make an effort to be aware of your personal space, and more importantly mine. Sweat happens, I get it. The first time I may wince a bit but the fifth time I get the salty assault I'm going to...I'm gonna...well probably just lay there and reflect on it because this is yoga and it's all about letting go :)

Namaste, Brown Girls!

I guess I should start by telling you that I’m not quite sure why I’ve started this blog. A part of me wants to motivate myself to get off of my lazy but and practice. Another part of me is slightly obsessed with everything yoga even though I only attend practice in short spurts. One of my yoga teachers tells me that “everyone has their own journey”, sometimes it takes years for yoga to stick.

I guess the main reason I started this blog is that I’ve yet to come across any yoga blogs that are written from a young Black woman’s prospective. One that is not self-righteous and too new-agey and inaccessible. I read an article in Clutch Magazine about the reasons Black folks don’t practice yoga. I expected our hair or the price to be cited as an issue but I was perplexed to learn that some Black people wouldn’t even consider trying it because they think it’s a religion and that it involves rituals and idol worship.

I consider myself to be “spiritual” versus “religious”, but even growing up in a Pentecostal household, this concept was lost on me. I won’t speculate on what yoga is or isn’t, maybe I think it’s different for everyone. I’m by no means an expert but I thought it might be fun to take this journey together.

There are different types but I’m hot for Bikram Yoga, also known as hot yoga.

Bikram Yoga’s goal is all-around wellness. Bikram Yoga is performed in heated studios to facilitate deeper stretching and prevent injury while reducing stress and tension. Bikram aims to stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint, and organ of the body. Each component takes care of something different in the body, and yet they all work together contributing to the success of each other.

Why 105 degrees? Not to worry, I often ask myself the same thing when I'm in there.

Yoga changes the construction of the body from the inside out, from bones to skin and from fingertips to toes. So before you change it, you have to heat it up to soften it, because a warm body is a flexible body. Then you can reshape the body any way you want.

Class is done in 105 degrees so if you’re just starting out, or you’re a hot mess like me, lie down until the feeling passes, and to join back in when they feel ready.

Here are the 26 Postures of Hot Yoga:

Well, that's all I've got for now because I've got to drag myself to the yoga studio...I don't think they'd allow me to write this if I don't. We'll talk more tomorrow.

Namaste Brown Girls!