Not All “Yoga” is Alike
by Sam Dworkis
zone3
I smile when people say: “I tried yoga, but didn’t like
it.” This is like saying “I dated once, but he/she wasn’t my
type, so I stopped dating. I’m less amused when people say, “I
stopped because I wasn’t flexible enough.” But worse yet is:
“Yoga hurt, so I quit.”
Historically, very flexible people created classical yoga
in India many thousands of years ago. Although the early yoga
exponents could do amazing things with their bodies, most
classical yoga is simply inappropriate for our Western bodies
and lifestyles.
About a hundred years ago, yoga came to the West. Many
different styles developed…some stayed traditional, and some
adapted to tenets of modern exercise physiology.
Here are some of today’s yoga approaches with numerous
styles in between:
Yoga Styles: Some yoga is totally physical while others are
totally spiritual: Some approaches are so aerobically
challenging that only the fittest survive while others are so
slow and meditative that many quit due to boredom.
Teaching styles: Some are “follow-the-leader,” wherein
teachers demonstrate by practicing with the class while
students follow the best they can. Other teachers demonstrate
first, and then guide students into the exercises. Others yet
don’t even demonstrate; they just “talk” the students through
it.
Instructor expertise: Some teach only what they were taught
irrespective if they can do the exercises themselves. Others
teach basically only what they can do. In these classes,
students who thrive are able to adapt themselves to what the
instructor does. Those who can’t adapt quit.
Training: Most yoga instructors have taken some sort of
yoga-teacher training. Some trainings last a weekend while
others last months. Regardless, most instructors take periodic
training seminars.
A major problem is that yoga is usually taught by
good-meaning people who have studied basically one style of
yoga and that’s what they teach. Their students who can adapt
to that style thrive; those who can’t, quit.
For instance, what if a yoga style is designed for
athletically supple people and the new student is middle aged,
or out-of shape, stiff-as-a-board, previously injured, or
recovering from chronic illness? Most approaches are
inappropriate for these people; they are either too demanding
or too easy.
Because yoga varies wildly, new students should always
choose their instructors carefully. If you don’t feel
comfortable taking yoga with your first teacher, try another
school and other teachers. After awhile, you’ll develop a
better understanding of what style and what teacher is best
for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This article was written by Sam Dworkis, author of
ExTension Yoga and Recovery Yoga Books available on the right.
See his site at www.extensionyoga.com
.
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