This photo was taken by Chona last year in Yoga Manila Alabang. I believe Hoze and I were outnumbered 1:10.
Three months ago, someone emailed me saying they wanted to feature me for an article on sports and activities that men do. I told them I'd get back to them after a week as I was in Singapore for an academic conference. When I finally had the time to answer their questions and emailed them back, they said sorry because they were pressed for time and have already laid out the issue.
I thought of writing a full article myself but writing is something that does not come to me naturally so until now, the idea is still sitting in my notebook.
Let me just share with you my thoughts.
***
How long have you been practicing yoga?
8 years. (Since 2002)
How long have you been with Yoga Manila?
18 months (since January 2009)
Are there many males who get into yoga? Why do you think so?
According to the 2008 Yoga Journal Survey, only 27.8% of men practice yoga. In Australia, it's about 15%. We don't have published data in the Philippines so I'll base it on the number of male students who enrolled in my PE2 Yoga classes in UP which is about 30%. However, I think more and more Filipino men are getting into yoga because we have come to realize that this ancient discipline is beneficial to us in many aspects.
I've read that you are passionate about Ashtanga yoga. What exactly is Ashtanga and what got you hooked to this type of yoga?
Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic form of hatha yoga that focuses on purifying and strengthening the body through the constant interplay of asanas (yoga postures), breathing, and concentration. Hatha yoga is a subdiscipline of yoga which focuses on making the body clean, strong, and flexible, so that the practitioner can sit for a long time in meditative asanas. The primary goal of yoga is to keep the mind clear and centered. When the mind is clear and balanced, we can make better decisions and avoid unnecessary stress.
Ashtanga yoga was taught to Sri Pattabhi Jois by his teacher Sri Krishnamacharya in the early 1920's. It is said to have been based on an ancient text called Yoga Korunta. This type of yoga has several fixed series of poses that are to be practiced in proper sequence. The first series is called "yoga chikitsa" which means yoga therapy and was designed to strengthen and purify the physical body. The second series, also known as the intermediate series, is called "nadi shodhana" which means nerve cleansing, and was designed to purify the nadis, or the energetic pathways in the body similar to the blood vessels where prana flows. Pattabhi Jois used to say that only the first 2 series are important. The rest is just for demonstration. When practiced correctly, ashtanga builds up internal heat which stimulates detoxification and purification in the gross and subtle levels. As a physical activity, ashtanga is a complete mind-body workout which integrates breath awareness, gazing points, core stabilization, and movement-breath coordination techniques. Remember though, that ashtanga is a spiritual discipline which uses asanas as a tool for us to become happier, peaceful, and have a more positive outlook in life.
The primary reason why I got hooked in this type of yoga is because of it has a set structure or syllabus, and teaches self-responsibility which is very empowering. As a practice, it is very challenging both in the physical and psychological levels but at the same time invigorating because of the breath focus. The goal really is not to achieve the perfect pose but to breathe deep and rhythmically from the moment you step on your mat until you finish your practice. This focus on the breath will eventually help you become more aware of how you react to things in your day to day life. In the beginning, of course, one needs to learn about proper alignment because just like any other physical activities, practicing the asanas with poor form can lead to injuries.
What are the benefits of Ashtanga yoga to men? Please explain these benefits and how long it takes for the benefits to take effect.
Men tend to be very competitive and in general seek more challenging activities. That is why sports appeal more to men. Ashtanga is good for us because it provides that same challenge but at the same time teaches us to be aware of the breath and to make it calm even in the middle of a difficult pose. Most of us also have very tight hamstrings which predisposes us to low back pain. The fundamental poses of ashtanga yoga focuses on forward bends which on the musculo-skeletal level, elongates the hamstrings and stretches the back of the body. All those breathing and focus in ashtanga also brings clears the mind, relaxes the body, and improves the circulatory system.
How long? Patanjali said, "satu dirgha kala nairantarya satkara sevitu dridhabhumih." Success in yoga can be achieved when practice has been done consistently over a long period of time. It really depends on your commitment, regularity and intensity of practice, as well as diet and the state of mind.
My advice is, try it for 10 sessions, at least 2-3x a week. Commit to it for 4-5 weeks. Then you can experience the benefits for yourself.
How do men prepare for Ashtanga yoga?
It's not a sport or competition that you really need some form of preparation. Just come with an open mind and with no expectations. My teacher Paul said, "practice, focus, surrender." Come to class or stand on your mat, focus on the breath and what you have to do, and surrender to whatever comes out of it. Let the breath move your body.
Is practicing Ashtanga for men different from how women practice it?
The sequence is the same but I think the strength and endurance component of the practice men will find easy but not the flexibility. Nevertheless, the physical component is just the tip of the iceberg. We can discover a lot more only if we agree to try it. Again, my advice is to experience it for yourself.
Yoga is the ability to remain focused, centered, and calm. Ashtanga is a tool for us to experience challenges on the mat and to teach us to remain calm by controlling the breath so that we may be able to transfer it off the mat and onto our lives.
Namaste.
***
Read the article "Why Johnny, Ting, and Choy do yoga" by Joseph Cortes.
No comments:
Post a Comment