How to Do Yoga Without Having to Keep Up With a Class

Going along to a yoga class seems like a cool thing to do, but don’t you get disappointed by the lack of attention when you get there? Or, the pace is too fast and you almost get too much attention, as you stick out like a sore thumb. Unless your financial wellness is so strong that you can afford a private instructor, you need a way to experience yoga’s benefits to your wellbeing without the competition that comes with packed classes. Luckily, there is one: Mysore self-practice.

 

Fitness expert Geraldine Beirne explains, ‘Ashtanga vinyasa is one of the best-known styles of yoga and has been embraced by millions of westerners seeking a toned body and a calm mind. But the popular “led primary” classes – where teachers call out the postures of a dynamic set sequence – can be intimidating. And all too often, classes can be packed, with students having no chance of their poor alignment being corrected. But there is an alternative. Mysore self-practice is the traditional way of practising ashtanga yoga and offers a highly personalised approach without the price tag attached to one-to-ones, and with all of the group energy of a conventional class. Here, you will be addressed by name, the teacher will know your practice inside out, and best of all, for me at least, this “class” is quiet – there’s very little talking and no new age music.’

 

According to Beirne, ‘Most yoga studios carry mysore sessions on their timetables, but many people are put off either because they don’t know what it is or they don’t fancy the idea of a three-hour class that starts at 6.30am. In fact, you can drop into a mysore session at any time and stay for as long as you wish. For beginners, this could be half an hour, and for the more advanced up to an hour and 45 minutes. It is a wonderful way for beginners and advanced practitioners alike to develop a self-practice that you can then take anywhere…Teachers do not lead the students through the sequence with generalised instructions or demonstrations. Instead, experienced students turn up and get on with it. Complete beginners are taught the sun salutations and then the first few postures of the standing sequence. When they have learnt this, the teacher adds a new posture when he or she feels you have memorised the sequence so far and you are competent (in so far as you can ever be competent) in it. And if you forget, the teacher is there to help you.’

 

But why is that a better way to do ashtanga yoga? ‘Practising in this way gives you the space to focus,’ Beirne notes. ‘The cue to move on to the next posture comes from your own breath, instead of a teacher’s instructions. Students can therefore spend a little longer working at their own pace on something they find challenging. In effect, you become your own teacher. If there is something you are unable to do, the teacher will give you an easier version…Everyone is working at their own pace, so it might appear – to a novice – that everyone is doing something different. This, arguably, might cut down on the element of competition and comparing which can creep into any form of group exercise. Little verbal instruction is given, and when it is given, it is whispered, for the benefit of the one person it is intended for…Students are required to face distractions and the wandering mind in order to come back to a focused state, instead of passively listening to a teacher or watching others.’

Categories: Ashtanga Yoga, class, focus, Mysore Self-Practice, practice, students, teacher, yoga

Could Tantric Sex Lead You To A Stronger Relationship?

Tantric sex is often associated with images of grand, eight-hour sex sessions spring to mind, or some erotic perversion of sex parties, but that isn’t actually the whole story. In our culture, tantric sex is shrouded in mystery, but what does it all mean and what can it do for you? The associations between sex and Tantra is actually a misinterpretation, one that reveals our preoccupation with sex in our culture. Tantra is actually an ancient practice which dates back to the 5th century in India and has been described as a celebration of existence in the universe – a way to improve not only yourself but also the world. Tantra is broadly defined as a spiritual method which focuses on heightening your experience of pleasure in the world, then sharing it with those around you. Historically, it’s been practiced via yoga, where mantras and movements are performed through rituals. Sexual rituals were only really performed by a minority of practitioners, even though that’s what has become linked to the method. Tantric sex, also known as NeoTantra, emerged as a rebellion against the organised religions, where sex was discouraged when seeking enlightenment.

However, Tantric sex teachers believe sex to be a sacred act where you have the opportunity to reach a higher spiritual state of being. It’s a way of opening your heart, making peace with your emotional self and embracing the power of your sexuality. Sexual energy is one of the most powerful energies for boosting your health, and using it consciously means you can tap into a source of youth and vitality. Those who practice tantric sex view the act as a way of truly connecting with their partner, rather than a means of self-gratification. There is no goal associated with tantric sex – the whole point is that you don’t achieve an orgasm. Rather, the goal is to focus on your feelings and the sensations you’re feeling during sex, making you really present in the moment, much as though you are meditating. Furthermore, Tantric sex is not always about intercourse. There can be other sensual experiences such as massage, prolonged eye contact, dancing and breathing exercises – anything which helps you be present with your partner and enables you to fully connect. Your sexual movements and breathing pace will be deliberately slow, and your orgasm is delayed – perhaps not even achieved.

Many people who practice tantric sex claim that both men and women are able to achieve multiple orgasms through practicing lingering and mindful sex. If your mind wanders, you need to bring your attention back to your breathing and the physical sensations of the moment, in order to be fully present. There are various positions and muscle contractions are advised to prolong your experience. And taking small ‘time outs’ to regain your composure when the arousal is becoming too much will help you control the time together and sustain the pleasure. Tantric sex teachers believe that Western society has an unhealthy relationship with sex and an unnatural attitude towards the act. In practicing sacred sexuality, people and the world as a whole can be transformed for the better.The aim of Tantric sex is the art of learning rather than succumbing to lust, and this helps you to achieve a sense of mindfulness and clarity, in addition to building a stronger relationship with your partner. Removing the pressure of ego and lust can help us reach this state a lot quicker, and that is what Tantra teaches us.

Categories: achieve, practice, practice tantric, present, Relationships, Sex, sex teachers, stronger relationship, tantra, tantric, tantric sex

Circumcisions: Are They Necessary For Good Health?

Circumcision is a process in which the foreskin on the penis is removed, a practice that has increased and decreased in popularity for thousands of years. In certain parts of the world, it is still a popular practice, such as in the Middle East and the United States, whereas in South America and Europe it has never been something men have done. In the Book of Genesis in the Jewish Torah, and the Christian Old Testament, we are told of God’s deal with Jewish patriarch Abraham – if Abraham his sons, his slaves and all descendants would practice circumcision, God would bless them with a kingdom on Earth. But this practice actually predated the even stated in religious scripts, and ancient hieroglyphs show that Egyptian men practiced circumcision. In fact, studies show that there are many cultures who have practiced this tradition; Mayans, Aztecs, Samoans and Ethiopians, to name but a few. For religious people, the reasons are clear. But why do people who are neither Jewish, Muslim or Christian continue to circumcise their offspring? It’s believed that as many as 75 per cent of non-Jewish, non-Muslim men in America were circumcised in 2007. For many people, it’s considered cleaner and healthier, but is this really the case? And shouldn’t a child be allowed to grow up with all of their parts in tact to enable them to make their own decision about such matters, without having the choice made for them?

There are valid reasons, medically, for circumcision; studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by as much as 60 per cent. But if it’s so effective in reducing the risk of this health epidemic, why is circumcision more popular? Opponents of the practice rightly point out that basic safe sex practices will also reduce these risks, without young boys having to go through such a painful procedure. But while it isn’t a cure-all practice, it could work as part of a larger plan. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and HPV. However, while there are arguments for the reduced rate of penile cancer with circumcision, this argument doesn’t take into account the rarity of penile cancer – there were just 1250 cases in the United States in 2008. The cleanliness factor is a common argument for circumcision, with the fact that it is easier to keep a penis clean and this encourages good hygienic practice.  In men who are not circumcised, keeping the foreskin clean is vital in order to prevent bacteria from growing.

 

Anti-circumcision activists claim that this practice causes unnecessary pain to infants, and it’s no secret that the process is painful. Modern pain relief and improved surgical procedures have reduced the pain to a minimum however. Circumcised men don’t have to worry about the painful maladies that can sometimes affect uncircumcised men, such as phimosis (which occurs when the foreskin won’t retract) or paraphimosis (where the foreskin, once retracted, won’t recover the tip of the penis). These conditions can often require circumcision in adult life, to help remove the related swelling and accompanying pain. There are a number of competing claims regarding sexuality as well, with some people claiming that sex is better with an uncircumcised penis, and vice versa. It should be left, however, up to each parent to decide what is best for their sons, and to weigh up the pros and cons on this issue. For boys who have been circumcised,  they will unlikely know or care either way, and the same with uncircumcised boys.

Categories: circumcision, foreskin, jewish, Pain, penile cancer, people, practice, sexuality, united states

Circumcisions: Are They Necessary For Good Health?

Circumcision is a process in which the foreskin on the penis is removed, a practice that has increased and decreased in popularity for thousands of years. In certain parts of the world, it is still a popular practice, such as in the Middle East and the United States, whereas in South America and Europe it has never been something men have done. In the Book of Genesis in the Jewish Torah, and the Christian Old Testament, we are told of God’s deal with Jewish patriarch Abraham – if Abraham his sons, his slaves and all descendants would practice circumcision, God would bless them with a kingdom on Earth. But this practice actually predated the even stated in religious scripts, and ancient hieroglyphs show that Egyptian men practiced circumcision. In fact, studies show that there are many cultures who have practiced this tradition; Mayans, Aztecs, Samoans and Ethiopians, to name but a few. For religious people, the reasons are clear. But why do people who are neither Jewish, Muslim or Christian continue to circumcise their offspring? It’s believed that as many as 75 per cent of non-Jewish, non-Muslim men in America were circumcised in 2007. For many people, it’s considered cleaner and healthier, but is this really the case? And shouldn’t a child be allowed to grow up with all of their parts in tact to enable them to make their own decision about such matters, without having the choice made for them?

There are valid reasons, medically, for circumcision; studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by as much as 60 per cent. But if it’s so effective in reducing the risk of this health epidemic, why is circumcision more popular? Opponents of the practice rightly point out that basic safe sex practices will also reduce these risks, without young boys having to go through such a painful procedure. But while it isn’t a cure-all practice, it could work as part of a larger plan. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and HPV. However, while there are arguments for the reduced rate of penile cancer with circumcision, this argument doesn’t take into account the rarity of penile cancer – there were just 1250 cases in the United States in 2008. The cleanliness factor is a common argument for circumcision, with the fact that it is easier to keep a penis clean and this encourages good hygienic practice.  In men who are not circumcised, keeping the foreskin clean is vital in order to prevent bacteria from growing.

 

Anti-circumcision activists claim that this practice causes unnecessary pain to infants, and it’s no secret that the process is painful. Modern pain relief and improved surgical procedures have reduced the pain to a minimum however. Circumcised men don’t have to worry about the painful maladies that can sometimes affect uncircumcised men, such as phimosis (which occurs when the foreskin won’t retract) or paraphimosis (where the foreskin, once retracted, won’t recover the tip of the penis). These conditions can often require circumcision in adult life, to help remove the related swelling and accompanying pain. There are a number of competing claims regarding sexuality as well, with some people claiming that sex is better with an uncircumcised penis, and vice versa. It should be left, however, up to each parent to decide what is best for their sons, and to weigh up the pros and cons on this issue. For boys who have been circumcised,  they will unlikely know or care either way, and the same with uncircumcised boys.

Categories: circumcision, foreskin, jewish, Pain, penile cancer, people, practice, sexuality, united states

Vinyasa Yoga and Health: The Subtler Side

Ten years ago, the practice of yoga tumbled into my life and never left. I had already spent years modifying my diet and performing cardiovascular exercise from an initial desire to be thinner; over time, I learned that there were other valuable benefits to exercise that I came to want even more. Energy! Focus! Mood boosting! And above all, the power to fight stress of all kinds – work; family and friends; anxiety and depression; major life decisions and changes.

 

Yoga took this revelation to a new level; I gained a deeper, more subtle, and more powerful experience of improving my own health. It brought together an awareness of the body and the mind, something I knew I loved – but also introduced the heart. Pattabhi Jois said that “Vinyasa” means “to place in a special way.” This can be attributed not only to careful alignment of our bodies on the mat, but to exploring our thoughts and the effects they have on us; choosing carefully when we express how we feel. With careful attention to the movements of our mind and heart via linking breath to asana, we can explore and refine how we see and hold ourselves, as well as how we relate to the world. As we learn to become more easeful in postures, we also develop an internal capacity for comfort with our external lives and who we are in them.

 

I would like to highlight three ways in which I’ve found Vinyasa yoga can become a playground for well-rounded, healthful living:

 

Strength. We learn to specifically align our bones so that we can derive optimal use of our muscles. We pull energy into our bodies to stabilize, ground, and center. This helps us endure longer holds, as well as retain our focus when we’d much rather leave the pose. This training in endurance can further allow us to diligently stay with feelings that are uncomfortable. Instead of pushing them away, we courageously “stay in the fire,” diving deeper into what is scary, and get to understand our fears better. Creating a solid, secure center is the foundation for developing receptivity to exactly how we show up, in all our forms, light and dark. We have to practice in order to build our mental and emotional “muscles” as much as the ones just below our skin.

 

Flexibility. The most commonly accepted reason to practice asana today is to find more physical flexibility. We make our muscles more pliable so that we can move through our daily tasks with ease and comfort. The same is true for softening our rigid thinking about “right” and “wrong” ways to tackle problems. We can get creative and find more nuanced, unique, and appropriate ways of handling life. We practice a sense of grace as we flow from one posture to the next, without holding on to how it should feel or look, and in the same way we can find a fluidity in our response when the universe hands us something we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves – a sudden financial struggle, an unexpected death of someone near to us, an illness that prevents us from carrying on as we’d planned. We find acceptance – whether it be of the uncooperative body part or the emotionally taxing family member – and soften into the truth that we must relinquish control where it cannot be held, that our own response is where the work belongs.

 

Connection. One definition of yoga is to “yoke.” This can be thought of in a few ways, one being a relationship between our bodies, our thinking, and how we feel. On a gross level we may realize that sitting in a slouched position at work reduces our physical capacity to breathe and subsequently drains us of our energy and motivation. We are left feeling sluggish and foggy, or over longer periods even depressed. On a subtler level, yoga shows us that we often round the shoulders down and forward as a way of shielding the heart from pain. Opening and lifting the chest, allowing space for our breath and life force to flood and move us, can ultimately be the path to shedding our armor, healing our wounds.

 

Another way to think of connection is in the context of our relationships. The internal work we do to become stronger, softer, and more responsive to ourselves translates directly to treating others with the same love-filled respect. We extend a sensitivity and empathy to others. And when others hurt us, we can retain our stability and fluidity in the face of pain. This is where we practice yoga off the mat – through the repeated experiences of relating, loving, and being hurt. We are patient and willing, but know when to firmly, courageously put ourselves first. We are vulnerable and intimate, bringing richness to our relationships. We give equal space to sadness or anger as we do to joy and love. We become resilient. We grow. Sounds like health to me.

 

Yoga helps us step into a deeper listening, to ourselves and others, so that we may be more efficient with our energy and relaxed in our experience. After some time spent with the practice, a lithe body, improved heart function, and injury prevention (among a host of other benefits) seem to be the cherry on top.

Categories: complementary wellness, energy, holistic, nbsp, nbsp yoga, practice, vinyasa yoga, ways, yoga