tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post1996854790411218230..comments2024-03-25T17:38:55.490-07:00Comments on Dar Kush: Thoughts on YogaSteven Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630529492355131777noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-60332377865331999692017-01-03T01:03:22.961-08:002017-01-03T01:03:22.961-08:00Gnarly is surfer-speak for awesome or breathtaking...Gnarly is surfer-speak for awesome or breathtaking.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02254336590876529793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-86276287922090553822008-11-18T13:17:00.000-08:002008-11-18T13:17:00.000-08:00you said:"Regardless of what the teacher says, NEV...you said:<BR/><BR/>"Regardless of what the teacher says, NEVER allow your breathing to interrupt. You can slow it, or speed it, but never hold it. Period."<BR/><BR/>not true -- your average beginner should never block their breath, but a good teacher that understands the prana vayu may very well ask you to retain the inhale (hold the breath in) in order to build pran (not prana, but pran, a specific vayu under the heading prana, that is very inwardly directed and life-force building) -- same teacher may also ask you to retain the exhale (hold the breath out) in order to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm the mind as well as the energetic body<BR/><BR/>these are absolutely NOT things that should be tampered with by a beginner or one that hasn't had instruction and transmission of these ayurvedic teachings, but if you're ready or your teacher is properly trained and gives you such instruction, then enjoy<BR/><BR/>if you want to really explore how breath and bandha can be used to their fullest extent, do some training with rod stryker or someone certified in his Parayoga school -- it'll rock ya<BR/><BR/>note on ana forrest -- she ain't all that -- she still has to do 3 hours of asana practice every day to keep her head together -- if you're looking for a great teacher, find someone who can do a minimum of asana to support their meditation and pranayama, and still has something that you wish you had -- that's an authentic teacherUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00679543799983590844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-28655709318963643282007-12-19T07:03:00.000-08:002007-12-19T07:03:00.000-08:00Ana Forrest is definitely gnarly. Yeah, a touch-y...Ana Forrest is definitely gnarly. Yeah, a touch-your toes. But that's really a hip bend, doncha know. But you need flexible back and hip flexors to get it.Steven Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630529492355131777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-2620907532684486682007-12-19T02:52:00.000-08:002007-12-19T02:52:00.000-08:00"Gnarly women" - limiting the selection to America..."Gnarly women" - limiting the selection to Americans, mostly ashtanginis, mostly ones with whom I am personally at least somewhat acquainted:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.anniepace.com/" REL="nofollow">Annie Pace</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.ashtangamaui.com/" REL="nofollow">Nancy Gilgoff</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.ashtangacenter.com/" REL="nofollow">Louise Ellis</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.forrestyoga.com/" REL="nofollow">Ana Forrest</A><BR/><BR/>("Gnarlly" means something quite different in British rock climber slang, which is where I learnt it, and in that sense in no way applies to any of these magnificent ladies. But I think they are prime examples of Steve's definition)AlanLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04820194790550072204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-70679642885591398602007-12-19T02:44:00.000-08:002007-12-19T02:44:00.000-08:00"Flexible enough to put palms flat on the ground."..."Flexible enough to put palms flat on the ground."<BR/><BR/>Do you mean doing so in a touch-your-toes waist bend?<BR/><BR/>Doug G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-408755375002203132007-12-18T12:26:00.000-08:002007-12-18T12:26:00.000-08:00Kewl. Thank you.Oh and looooved Great Sky Woman.Kewl. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Oh and looooved Great Sky Woman.Elzabethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13546347357623249053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-28833615177775019322007-12-18T12:16:00.000-08:002007-12-18T12:16:00.000-08:00It is absolutely possible to do yoga without the c...It is absolutely possible to do yoga without the cultural trappings. Without the spiritual content, it can be addressed as a superior body-mind discipline by following the breathing, and never going beyond what you can manage without your breath getting choppy. Many teachers will talk spiritual stuff during class, but if you can learn to filter that out, what remains, (as Spencer Tracy said of Katherine Hepburn's body) is cherce.Steven Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630529492355131777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-33819992222080453872007-12-18T12:08:00.001-08:002007-12-18T12:08:00.001-08:00Is it possible to do yoga without all the spiritua...Is it possible to do yoga without all the spiritual stuff folks tack on?Elzabethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13546347357623249053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-45579169470923069492007-12-18T12:08:00.000-08:002007-12-18T12:08:00.000-08:00Barnes busting out the Valley Boy slang ...Barnes busting out the Valley Boy slang ...Daniel Keys Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12992599044462413412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-87079957776478922472007-12-18T10:39:00.000-08:002007-12-18T10:39:00.000-08:00Strong enough to support her own weight with her a...Strong enough to support her own weight with her arms. Lean-bodied. Flexible enough to put palms flat on the ground. For her age, obviously fit, healthy, energetic. Filled with life and sexual energy (you can feel it!). Clear-eyed, optimistic, centered, great sense of humor about life and its challenges.Steven Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630529492355131777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-47253285156955624322007-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:002007-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:00Thanks for the reminders Steve. Very useful points...Thanks for the reminders Steve. Very useful points from someone in Gnarly shape!steve vhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06837840489646908361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9339191.post-28665943636784365362007-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:002007-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:00Thanks for the info...but can you define "gnarly s...Thanks for the info...but can you define "gnarly shape" for me?Mark Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01994430001543710190noreply@blogger.com