Modern Yoga

* This is the Lotus pose that is mentioned*

In David Frawley's book, Yoga The Greater Tradition, Frawley talks about how every country has modernized yoga. "Over time yoga has become a movement of its own,related to, but often different from, classical yoga"(Frawley 25). The first major yoga guru to live in the United States was Paramahansa Yoganada, and he settled in 1920, but yoga was first introduced in 1893. When yoga was first introduced it was mainly a spiritual practice allied with devotion and meditation. Asana, the physical aspect of yoga, appealed to the outer-minded western audience. Asana became the face of yoga, and its most popular pose is the Lotus pose( as pictured). Yoga is more about how it benefits you physically now and many yoga teachers have forgotten its deeper, more spiritual meanings(Frawley 26).

I think that what Frawleysaid is very sad. Yoga is supposed to help you connect to other parts of you and, I believe, to God, but we have made it all about physical benefits. I did not know, though, that it was a spiritual practice. I'm glad that Frawley said something about it being spiritual because I learned something new. If more people new its real meanings and reasons they could probably get more out of participating in this practice.

Frawley, David. "Modern Yoga." Yoga, The Greater Tradition.2008.Print.

Pranayama: Developing the Power of the Breath

According to David Frawley in ,Yoga The Greater Tradition, " yoga teaches us how to develop more energy inside ourselves, one that doesn't require depending upon anyone external to receive it"(62). Being free from the bonding of other people and their support provides us with unlimited internal resources so that we can be truly happy. Prana is a yogic term for our connection through breath. Prana is said to be the vital energy that enables both the body and mind to function not only individually but correspondingly. The breathing exercises that one would do in a yoga class are an important mean of developing prana. For higher yoga practices one must have more energy, or prana. Frawley makes a great point when hes say, " Note that whenever we make an important effort in life, we usually take a deep breath first"(63).
I love how Frawley talked about breathing and yoga. I have always heard about how breathing is an important part of yoga but never really got why. Now I understand that it helps focus and center ones self to a point of relaxation. I especially loved how he said that we take a deep breath before we do anything important in our life. I never really thought about it until now but we do, and usually its to focus our minds on what to do and how to handle it.



Frawley, David. "Pranayama: Developing the Power of the Breath." Yoga, The Greater Tradition. 2008.print.

Yoga for your mind, on and off the mat

Bill Hifschmidt states that "Yoga is said to be a calming practice to help relax your body. It is also used to alleviate pain and tightness, to become more flexible and to become more in control of your body". What most people do not know is that yoga can not only do that but it can do the same to your mind. It gives people the opportunity to explore their mind and how they would respond to certain elements. Yoga can, also, help how you live and respond when off the mat. When you move and position your body into the different positions you are, in essence, creating different small-scale stressful situations. As you hold the position and concentrate your mind on your breathing you can observe the thoughts that run through your head. Eventually, Hufschmidt says, we will be able to notice when our mind creates reactions that are not the ideal first response. Once you reach that point you can then decide between different responses. One of them would be the automatic first response or the second one, one that is probably better, is more a loving or thoughtful response.

I personally agree with Hufschimdt. Yoga is said to be a calming practice to help center your thoughts so that you can think rationally. I am a technically trained ballet dancer so from my few experiences of participating in yoga-like positions I have felt what he is talking about. Even though I have not joined a class I would like to join one to get the full effect of its centering power. I do not really disagree with anything that Hufschmidt said.

Hufschmidt, Bill. "Yoga for your mind, on & off the mat." New Life Journal. BNET, Feb.-Mar. 2004.web. 25, Mar. 2010.