We are proud to present this post by published author, conflict mediator, meditator, devoted yogi & philosopher at heart, Jeanette Bicknell to Spynga’s Blog Your Truth this week.

How many of you read the New York Times article a few weeks back on Tara Stiles?  Click here to have a read!

Stiles, whom the Times called a “yoga rebel” does things a little differently than many other teachers.  In her classes there is no chanting “Om,” no Sanskrit names for the poses, no setting of intentions and no discussion of Patanjali.  The focus is strictly on the physical aspects and health benefits of yoga rather than on anything spiritual or philosophical.  Stiles’ critics say that yoga is not just a set of exercises; it is a lifestyle and a profound spiritual practice.  (They’re also very upset with her promoting yoga for weight loss, but that is another story.)  In her defense Stiles says, “People need yoga, not another religious leader.”

Reading about the controversy reminded me of the truth of the saying that fights within the family are more brutal than fights among strangers.  Everyone in the debate cares a lot about the reception of yoga, so they get emotional and lash out.  But what I found most interesting about the response to Stiles is the way that her detractors slipped so readily into making rigid distinctions between the physical and the spiritual.  In saying that yoga is a spiritual practice rather than physical exercise they encourage the idea of a dichotomy between the body and mind.  In a way, it is to be expected that they might speak like this.  Dualism, the idea that the body and mind are different substances and strictly separated, has long been a mainstay of western thought. 

Yet it is also a little surprising to hear yogis talk in this manner.  Practicing yoga should encourage one to question the dichotomy between body and mind.  You don’t have to be able to get your foot behind your head to realize that the physical and mental aspects of yoga are intimately intertwined.  One of the deepest rewards of a strong physical practice is mental sharpness and equilibrium.  Similarly, our mental outlook and emotional state can have a profound effect on our physical practice.  The days when you’re best able to keep a clear head, focus on your breathing, and banish distractions will be the days when your physical practice is at its strongest.  The days when your mind can’t keep from wandering – hey, I haven’t seen her in a while!  Cute outfit!  That reminds me I need to pick up my dry-cleaning… – are the days when your balance postures are wobbly and your plank pose lacks integrity. 

All of this talk about physical and mental connections might sound airy-fairy.  Yet there is an increasing body of scientific evidence that bears it out.  For instance, mental imagery – imagining the performance of a specific action – has been found to improve the actual physical performance of musicians, athletes, and even stroke survivors with hemiparesis. 

I’ve been lucky enough to study with great yoga teachers.  Some presented yoga as an intense physical workout and others were more in the Sanskrit-and-Patanjali mode.  I think it comes down to a question of emphasis.  Some of us are eager to learn about the esoteric aspects of yoga, and some of us are more comfortable with a practice that stresses physical discipline.  Either way, we’re all doing yoga and all of us will enjoy both mental and physical benefits.  So the question I started with, is yoga a physical workout or a spiritual discipline, is misleading.  We can choose to understand yoga as one thing or the other.  But when we come to our mats, the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga are not really separable.

Jeanette is a philosopher, mediator, and business ethics consultant.  Her professional website is:  www.pdrc.ca.  She practices yoga at Spynga The Yoga & Cycling Studio in Toronto.

 

Meditation.  It’s always struck me as yoga’s very cool, very intimidating cousin.  Over the years, I’ve tried to hang out with her a few times, and somehow we just don’t seem to connect.  Yet I want her friendship so bad!  Am I doing something wrong?  Why is it so hard to just sit once a day, totally still, and watch my thoughts and my breath?  Doesn’t sound that hard, right?  But every time I try, a whole garbage bag of chatter explodes in my brain, drives me totally crazy, and convinces me I’m just not cut out for this relationship.

Pretty soon I‚Äôm flitting back to the mat to stretch and balance and lunge…which is great!¬† Of course it‚Äôs great.¬† Yoga is such a comfy friendship at this point, I‚Äôm cool with not being that ‚Äúgood‚Äù at it, I‚Äôm cool with just going for it on my own terms because I‚Äôve figured out yoga‚Äôs not going to judge me.¬† ‚ÄúJust do the thing!‚Äù she says, and I listen.¬† With meditation, it‚Äôs different.¬† It feels like she‚Äôs making fun of me.¬† ‚ÄúWho do you think you are?‚Äù she says.¬† ‚ÄúDo you really think you can get this mess under control?‚Äù

About a month ago, I decided we’re just going to hang out and see what happens.  For better or worse, I chug a cup of coffee in the morning and then I sit on two folded blankets my grandma crocheted.  I sit for twenty minutes.  That’s it.  I’ve decided to give up trying to impress Meditation, and just be myself.  Which means that for all the gentle steering of my thoughts back to my breath, there will still be lots of making of grocery lists, there will still be worrying about what I said to that guy at that party three weeks ago, there will still be wondering how I would look with red hair.  Whatever.  I will sit.  And I will breathe.

But here’s a little secret: I’m not in it alone.  From the Korean Zen Master at the Zen Buddhist Temple, to a friendly guide at the Shambala Centre, to my yoga instructors here at Spynga, certain cues, certain gentle suggestions, have stayed with me, become part of my body, and have finally enabled me to embrace this friendship I’ve wanted for so long. 

I deeply appreciate Spynga’s commitment to quiet, ancient practices, and am truly looking forward to the teachings of Josh Cohen this Fall as he introduces Spynga clients to “A Triad of Bliss: Qi Gong, Meditation and Restorative Yoga.”  I have decided to practice no matter what, but also to never stop learning, because if there’s one thing meditation can teach us, it is that we are always yet never alone.

Putting a little OM(G) in your movie crazed week will keep you limber, energized, and feeling your best at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Starting with a quick pre-fest downward dog is a way perfect to get more oxygen flowing to your star-crazed brain and ready to move. Begin on your hands and knees so that they are positioned shoulder and hip distance apart. Curl your toes under and lift your hips back and up towards the stars. If you feel much of the weight in your shoulders or hands, bend your knees a little and draw your chest towards your thighs. Take 10-15 breaths here which will allow the blood flow to reverse and will instantly power your mood. Being upside down is the celebrity secret youth potion, don’t cha know.

Excitedly waiting to catch a celeb while standing in line for a film, is a great opportunity to stretch the quads and hips. Standing tall, shift your weight to your left foot and begin to bend at your right knee. Drawing your foot back, reach down and grab the right ankle, while slowly bringing the heel towards your right (butt)ercup. To intensify the stretch, allow the right foot to draw back into your hand to create some resistance. Find a few breaths and lift your chest as you hold the position. Remember to even out and proceed to the other leg. Please move with caution if you are in heels that are more than 1 inch in height.
Nourishment is vital. Waiting in the cue for WATER and snacks, is a fine time to open and stretch out the shoulders. Bring your hands behind your back, interlace the fingers and imagining you have Brad Pitt’s hand on your upper back and you never want to let it go, squeeze the shoulder blades together and stretch the arms straight down towards the red carpet. Breathe and smile brightly.

Once in your coveted seats, allow the feet to rest up and attend to your back.  Checking to make sure your iphone is turned off and your shoes are shined, with both feet firmly planted on the floor, hinge the upper body out of the hips and reach your hands to touch the floor.  Relax here and breathe for as long as you can, or at least until your friend nudges you to sit up because you are missing Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz walk to their seats.  As you come up, bring your hands over your head and interlace the fingers, flipping your palms to the ceiling to stretch the sides of your body. Don’t worry, everyone is waving to celebs this week so no one will think you look odd.

A trusty twist is a good cocktail detoxifer if water isn’t always your drink of choice this film fest. Sitting tall and keeping your hips grounded on the seat, begin to revolve your chest from the lower belly to the right. Let your gaze follow so you don’t miss a thing as the audience piles into the theatre. Once in your max-twist; breathe deep for about 10 second. Repeat on the other side. 
OM(G).. was that Ben Affleck that just walked by?