Keen on Yoga Podcast

  www.mrjamesnestor.com | @mrjamesnestor

James Nestor, author of 'The Breath, The New Science of a Lost Art,' discusses the importance of breath and the prevalence of breathing dysfunction in society. He shares his personal journey of discovering the power of breath to improve his own health. Nestor explains the concept of bad breathing and the impact it can have on overall health. He also delves into the role of carbon dioxide in breathing and the benefits of proper breathing techniques. 

Key Points

·      Breathing dysfunction is prevalent in society, leading to various health issues.

·      Proper breathing techniques, such as nasal breathing and diaphragmatic breathing, can improve overall health.

·      Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in breathing and can be used therapeutically.

·      Jaw structure has a significant impact on breathing, and industrialized foods have contributed to narrower airways.

·      Fresh air is essential for good health, and poor air quality can have detrimental effects.

·      Teaching proper breathing techniques in yoga and exercise practices is crucial for optimal health.

Adam discusses the difference between physical assistance and physical adjustments in yoga. He explains that physical assistance is essential for developing a yoga practice, while physical adjustments can be harmful and lead to injuries. Adam emphasizes the importance of endorsement, alignment, and breathing in physical assistance. 

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Key Points

·      Physical assistance is essential for developing a yoga practice.

·      Physical adjustments can be harmful and lead to injuries.

·      Endorsement, alignment, and breathing are key aspects of physical assistance.

·      Adjustments should be approached with caution and consideration of the potential risks and consequences.

·      A slow and steady approach to yoga practice is recommended.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Physical Assistance vs Physical Adjustments

13:31 The Importance of Self-Practice in Yoga

16:50 Endorsement: Supporting the Natural Shape of the Body

20:38 Alignment: Connecting the Body Together

25:49 Giving a Taste of Something: Holding in a Strength Thing

28:40 Cautions and Considerations for Adjusting Students in Yoga

34:03 Conclusion: Balancing Risk and Long-Term Well-Being

The conversation explores the concept of movement in yoga and its relationship to daily life. Peter argues that yoga should focus on improving overall movement patterns and functionality rather than specific asanas. He emphasizes the importance of sensory feedback and learning through repetition, like how children learn to move. Peter also introduces the idea of the neurological fallacy, which challenges the reductionist view of the body and emphasizes the interconnectedness of the whole system. 

www.peterblackaby.co.uk  

KEEN ON YOGA

👉 Website: www.keenonyoga.com

👉 Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga

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Key Points

• ·      Yoga should focus on improving overall movement patterns and functionality in daily life.
• ·      Sensory feedback and repetition are key to learning and improving movement.
• ·      The neurological fallacy challenges the reductionist view of the body and emphasizes the interconnectedness of the whole system.
• ·      Yoga should disrupt unwanted patterns and enhance desired patterns of movement. Challenging oneself is important for personal growth and avoiding stagnation.
• ·      Curiosity and exploration are key to maintaining a sense of wonder and engagement with the world.
• ·      Finding a balance between pushing oneself and being mindful of one's limits is crucial for overall well-being.
• ·      The role of the teacher is to guide students in becoming more aware of their bodies and their responses to discomfort.
• ·      Posture can be seen as a representation of one's history and patterns of movement.
• ·      The goal of yoga is to alleviate suffering and promote well-being.
• ·      Paying attention to discomfort and finding ways to make it more comfortable is essential for personal growth.
• ·      There are differing perspectives on the concept of emotions and desires being stored in the body. Our emotions are constructed based on our historical responses and the meaning we have given to them.
• ·      Paying attention to our responses to the world can help us adapt and change our emotional states.
• ·      Yoga is a practice of attentive noticing rather than therapy.
• ·      Understanding death can be liberating and allow us to fully live our lives.
• ·      Yoga texts offer valuable insights, but it's important to critically examine and cherry-pick the ideas that resonate with us.
•  

Gary Kraftsow shares his background and experiences studying with Krishnamacharya and Desikachar. He discusses the teachings he received and the impact they had on his life. He also talks about the relationship between Krishnamacharya and Desikachar and their teaching methods. Kraftsow explains the concepts of Viniyoga and Vinyasa and how they are applied in yoga practice. 

www.viniyoga.com | @americanviniyogainstitute

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👉 Website: www.keenonyoga.com

👉 Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga

👉 Work Enquiries: info@keenonyoga.com 

Key Points

Gary Kraftsow studied with Krishnamacharya and Desikachar and shares his experiences and the impact they had on his life.

Krishnamacharya and Desikachar were both revered teachers who adapted and made yoga practices relevant for practitioners.

Viniyoga is the adaptation of yoga practices to suit the needs of the practitioner and apply them appropriately.

Vinyasa refers to the sequence and order in which postures are placed in a yoga practice.

The teachings of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar emphasized the transformation of the body and the practitioner's highest potential. Adapt postures to suit individual needs and functional benefits.

The breath is essential in linking the mind and body during yoga practice.

Yoga is an integrated practice that includes yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Release valves are compensating mechanisms that occur when the body cannot stabilize a certain part.

Find a sustainable yoga practice that supports overall well-being and prepares for the end of life.

www.keenonyoga.com | @adam_keen_ashtanga

Adam explores the topic of community in the context of yoga, specifically Ashtanga yoga. He discusses the importance of community and belonging, as well as the challenges and drawbacks that can arise within a community. Adam also touches on the role of the teacher, the need for autonomy within a community, and the balance between a firm center and expanding edges. He emphasizes the importance of open discussion and the preservation of individuality within a collective.

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Key Points 

Community is essential in yoga, providing a sense of belonging and support.

However, communities can have drawbacks, such as strict rules and a lack of autonomy.

The role of the teacher is important in creating a healthy community dynamic.

Balancing a firm center with expanding edges allows for growth and dialogue within a community.

Preserving individuality and autonomy is crucial within a collective.

Open discussion and the ability to question and express doubts are essential in a community.

The modern yoga center can play a role in fostering inclusivity and community.

Community should extend beyond the yoga class and into daily life.

The concept of sangha, or community, has always been important in spiritual practices.

www.rodneyyeeyoga.com/ | @rodneyyeeyoga  

Rodney Yee is an American yoga instructor who rose to prominence in the mid-1990s when he was featured on the cover of Yoga Journal magazine and starred in some of the first-ever yoga instructional videos and DVDs with Gaiam/Living Arts. After his interview with Oprah in 1999, both Yee personally and yoga were catapulted into the mainstream spotlight.

Support Keen on Yoga

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Connect

👉 Website: www.keenonyoga.com

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Key Points

From dance to yoga

Starting with Iyengar yoga

Working with Richard Rosen

There was no such thing as a yoga career in those days

The need to study yoga

Creating Gaiam yoga videos

On Oprah in 1999

Sold a million videos the day after

Fulfilling the map of your skin

Being in a place where there is no you

Yoga and self reflection

The pyramid of yoga

Giving a touch of the yoga landscape

Even in a bad asana class something else happens

Staying relevant in yoga teaching

Questing for meaning

Teaching this new generation

It was easy for us to out do our parents

I’m inspired by anyone who is enquiring deeply

Adam discusses the concept of short forms in Ashtanga Yoga. He explains that while the traditional practice involves doing the entire series every day, it is not always practical or beneficial. 

Key Points

Short forms in Ashtanga Yoga can be a sensible approach when time, energy, or inspiration are limited.

Variation in practice is important to prevent stagnation and maintain enthusiasm.

Short forms should still incorporate the principles of posture, counter posture, building, and vinyasa.

Grounding and ending the practice with a focus on the parasympathetic nervous system is essential.

Practitioners should listen to their bodies and make adjustments to their practice as needed.

Daniela Bevilacqua, a research associate at the University of SOAS in London, speaks about the Hatha Yoga tradition, the past lack of research and the recent surge of interest in the subject. 

https://www.yogicstudies.com/ys-103 | @dhanya_83

Key Points

·      Hatha Yoga texts have been overlooked in the past, with more focus on the philosophical side of yoga.

·      The recent surge of interest in Hatha Yoga is due to scholars and practitioners addressing the textual sources with a different curiosity.

·      Tapas (austerities) and Hatha Yoga are closely connected, with tapas being a form of inner heat produced through austerities.

·      Sadhus practice extreme body modifications for various reasons, including spiritual devotion, burning karma, and the well-being of society.

·      Further research is needed to explore the historical development of Hatha Yoga and its connection to tapas. Sadhus claim to possess various supernatural powers, such as mind reading and walking on leaves.

·      Teachings and initiations within the sadhu community are often reserved for Indians and not foreigners.

·      Certain sadhu groups have a militant nature and have historically been involved in mercenary activities.

·      Female sadhus face challenges in a patriarchal society and often have to fight against societal norms and expectations. Women from educated, middle-class families are slowly gaining positions in Sadhu society.

·      Being fluent in Hindi and an outsider helped Daniela connect with the Sadhus and gain their trust.

·      Hatha Yoga in the Sadhu society has different layers of meaning, including tapas and manipulation of the subtle body.

·      Modern technology, such as smartphones and social media, has impacted the lives of Sadhus.

·      Daniela formed friendships with some Sadhus and continues to stay in touch with them. 

Dr. Ian Baker discusses the connection between Tibetan yoga and modern postural yoga, specifically Astanga yoga. He explores the origins of postural yoga in Tibet and the Himalayan world, highlighting the common elements and different emphases between traditions. He also delves into the practices of Tibetan yoga, such as Hatha Yoga, Tantra, and the subtle body, which focus on the circulation of prana and the transformation of metabolic heat into mystic fire. 

Connect with Ian Baker

👉 Website: https://ianbakerjourneys.wordpress.com 

👉 Instagram: @ianbaker108 

Connect with Keen on Yoga

👉 Website: www.keenonyoga.com

👉 Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga

👉 Work Enquiries: info@keenonyoga.com 

Key Points

Tibetan yoga and modern postural yoga share common elements and different emphases.

The practices of Tibetan yoga focus on the circulation of prana and the transformation of metabolic heat into mystic fire.

Tapas (heat) is an important aspect of yoga practice, burning away afflictive emotions and expanding our sense of self.

The origins of postural yoga can be traced back to Tibet and the Himalayan world. Tantric Buddhism originated from the exchange of knowledge along ancient trade routes, such as the Silk Roads.

The cultivation of inner fire, or tummo, is a common practice in various traditions, including the Wim Hof method and ancient Chinese Yangshen traditions.

Transformative heat is associated with powerful goddesses in both Hindu tantra and tantric Buddhist texts.

Tantra embraces a body-positive approach, celebrating sensory awareness and the potential of the human body.