What's 'six-pack' in Sanskrit?
/
Dear Yogis.
I got an email this week that pleased my heart. The yogi said: ‘Maybe a class focusing on core strength and the good old six-pack might be popular... with all the lock down working from home – static sitting at my desk – strengthening the stomach muscles feels like a good move’. I couldn’t agree more. Let’s do it! I have exactly the thing for you.
Uh oh! Yoga is a spiritual quest, not a work out!!! I’ve seen a quote from Sadhguru and other yoga gurus who say if you want a six-pack, go and do something else. This is really silly. Why would they throw away willing students? Whatever it is you need from the practice, yoga can provide it while giving you space for mental pause and reflection. Besides, I reckon the original yogis had six packs and it was a totally unremarkable thing... just the way the body was supposed to be. It is modern living that has made us sit down for exaggerated periods and neglect the middle muscles and put value and judgment on this important group of muscles.
From a chakra point of view, the abdominal area and lower spine are vulnerable and unprotected parts of the body that we must protect and keep strong. Our emotions and passions are here. The chakra is the Manipura Chakra and it relates to our emotion and confidence. This is where our power resides. This can be an overdeveloped area where the sense of self is heightened and ability to crush others is active. It can also be the chakra that is blocked and brings lack of self confidence. Fears related to Manipura are fears of rejection/failure, criticism, and judgment. It can be balanced where you have self-respect and respect for others!
Pick your reason and perk up your pack!
Zoom Classes
What a week! Over half my classes had to be cancelled because of no internet connection. Virgin were powerless to do anything about it apart from promise me a weekend engineer while telling me it would resolve in 24 hours! Now that every sort of business relies on the internet, I’m sure this is a familiar story but I am sorry to have let you down. It’s the reason for the Friday Afternoon Yoga Email too! Anyway, the internet is back and faster than a proton in a particle accelerator. I have an Ashtanga class today at 4.30. Come along!
Yoga in the news
The New York Times has: Is This the End of the New York Yoga Studio? Many owners say the pandemic was the final straw for an increasingly untenable business, where even crowded classes could no longer cover astronomical rents. Yogis quickly embraced online yoga. Last year, one in five users said they had taken streamed or pre-recorded classes, but by this June, more than four of five said they were doing so.
Elle has; Why Yin Yoga Deserves A Place In Your (Very Stressed Out) Life. “Yin yoga might look like it's easy, however holding the poses for such a long time is actually challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, both physically and mentally." While other forms of yoga use props like blocks, bolsters, blankets and pillows to help eliminate discomfort, in Yin, props are actually used to bring an appropriate degree of stress to the body, so that you can soften towards your edge and your body's connective tissues can benefit from the pose.
CBC Radio has this perplexing story: This yoga instructor is fighting the rise of QAnon in the wellness community. Seane Corn never thought her duties as yoga instructor would one day include warning people about the dangers of an international right-wing conspiracy theory.
