Responses to three questions for a media article

Series

1. Yoga as a View Practice and Tool - Part One a View
2. Yoga as a View Practice and Tool - Part Two a Practice
3. Yoga as a View Practice and Tool - Part Three a Tool
4. Q. Which habits - perhaps habits of mind......
5. Personal Commentary to Yoga Sūtra Chapter 3 verse 50
6. Personal Commentary to Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā Chapter 1 verse 17
7. Notes from my personal conversations with TKV Desikachar
8. Musings on the Student-Teacher Relationship
9. Musings on Yoga Student and Yoga Teacher Trainings
10. Trumperies and Tactics for the Discerning Gardener
11. Responses to three questions for a media article (This post)
12. Prāṇāyāma within Rāja Yoga and Haṭha Yoga
13. Medicine, Mastery and Mystery
14. The commercialised in-Corporation of Viniyoga is in danger......
15. The concept of the viniyoga of Yoga is a fundamental hallmark......
16. There are times when we feel compelled to ponder......
17. Further musings on Yoga Student and Yoga Teacher Trainings......
18. As his student my teacher worked at guiding me towards......
19. The first four verses in the Yoga Sūtra Chapter One are very significant......
20. Its interesting to remember this again a decade later and reflect on......
21. Yoga is about Relationship......
22. Observation on Modern Yoga Practice?
23. Yoga is a journey to be experienced. However, that journey not only......
24. Aṣṭāṅga Daṇḍavat Praṇām
25. Yoga is the art of......
26. One of the roles for a Yoga teacher is to hold a mirror to reflect......
27. I find myself reflecting on the notion of 'authentic lineage'......
28. One way it maybe helpful to reflect on the relationship between......
29. Vinyāsa Krama is pronounced according to its meaning as......
30. Its potentially complex these days when something taught......
31. There are some forms within the postural resources developed by......
32. Cale Vāte Calaṃ Cittam - As is the breath so is the psyche.
33. Even these days the influence of Krishnamacharya's teachings around......
34. Amongst the many concepts taught to me by my teacher......
35. It appears that Yoga folks often talk about the spine in Yoga yet......
36. The Westernisation of Yoga Āsana with its emphasis on structural focus......
37. TKV Desikachar and AG Mohan, the co-founders of the KYM.......
38. A day of clear clear blue, no past no future, just the present......
39. When working with the breath in Prāṇāyāma its perhaps less appealing......
40. Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 1-4 epitomise our Yoga Journey in......
41. The role of ritual is the engaging of the psyche......
42. Having recently seen a website for a company promoting teaching......
43. Often people have little distinction between exercise and Yoga.
44. For me there is an existential difference between teaching exercise as......
45. One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to practice......
46. One focus in my apprenticeship with my teacher was that the main priority both ways was on how to transmit......
47. It is the student in us that must realize 'Avasthānam'.....
48. Increasingly I observe Yoga teachers, even if not trained specifically in......
49. The Press tells us that over 20 million Americans 'practice' Yoga......
50. To help guide our Dhyānam Sādhana the Indian tradition offers precious......
51. Thus Yukti Anumāna or skilful inference through the process of......
52. Something I do feel the need to emphasise is that this training is neither......
53. My teacher taught me that a Yoga teacher needs four things around you......
54. I do feel that verses 10 and 11 Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two offer......
55. I also feel that 121 priorities must take precedence over workshops and......
56. Yet, whatever the advances in the medium of the manual, I feel as......
57. What is Yoga? - An interview with Paul Harvey on BBC Radio Bristol 1986.
58. I feel reflecting on the recent three posts on īśvara Praṇidhānā......
59. Is there an equivalent of "redemption" in the Yogic system?
60. Lot of stuff in the News recently around 'top shelf' magazine......
61. The aim of Yoga and Sāṃkhya is to be yoked to the more discerning......
62. Everything is there within Awareness.......
63. I was taught a lot about Prāṇāyāma through my 121's with......

I was recently asked to provide ‘expert quotes’ in response to three questions for a media article by a freelance journalist for MSN on a Yoga related issue. These are my reflections:

Q1. What are some examples of illnesses or ailments that can improve or be cured with the use of Yoga?

“It is not possible to give examples of illnesses or ailments that can be improved as it all depends on the matrix of the person who may also have certain combinations of problems. A student with cancer may improve or a student with a history of colds may experience little change.

The viewpoint of Yoga is to look at people as individuals and work from there rather than the more usual view of making lists of problems with flash card like answers to a specific problem. e.g.. Sciatica, High Blood Pressure, Insomnia, Osteo-arthrosis, Chron’s Disease, etc.

Yoga says that we are all individuals who also have from time to time chronic or acute illnesses or ailments. In this view one hallmark is that the practice must be adapted to the individual and their current situation and immediate potential rather than expecting the individual to adapt to the practice.

This means that two individuals with the same symptoms may need very different approaches to practice and lifestyle choices because of their history, mindset and opportunity and intentions for implementing change.

Yoga also tells us that nothing is destroyed so nothing is ‘cured’. We can perhaps reduce the symptoms to the point where they are dormant. Given the right sun, soil and moisture they can ‘sprout’ again. So cure is not a term that can be applied.

Yoga Psychology says being symptom free also implies that we still have to take care as the seeds can be re-activated given the right stimuli.”

Q2. Is there a certain type of Yoga which is more beneficial, when it comes to health, than other types?

“Any approach to Yoga which facilitates meeting with a student, developing an understanding of their unique background, looking at the opportunities for change which exist for the student in the immediate and near future, being able to propose a personalised practice appropriate to their situation and meeting regularly to both review and progress the practice according to the experiences and feedback from the student.

This is really only realisable through 121 lessons, though not of the type offered by many which are comparable to a group class for one. A more comparable example would be to consulting a homeopath, or acupuncturist, or medical herbalist, or counsellor, where there is time, attention and personalised support and treatment offered.”

Q3. Is there a certain type of Yoga that can prove especially beneficial to those with asthma, and if so, why is this type of Yoga particularly good?

“As the physical basis of asthma is experienced through its effects on the breath, any approach that sees the breath as the canvas on which the pictures of the poses are painted could be helpful. Along with an approach that has the integral and intimate use of the breath in practice as a first priority, the study and application of the principles of Yoga Psychology would be very relevant to working with issues that could well underpin the students history of symptoms and personal experiences.”

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