Comments on: Is yoga without tree hugging dead?

Question: Is yoga without tree hugging dead?

themel — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 03:37:44 -0800

A while ago, there was a web site called Yoga without tree hugging, which offered flash online classes and a bunch of information about Yoga in a framework that was rather accessible to a scientific minded person. It has since been closed down due to the mysterious explanation that is at the site. Is there anything similar out there? I kinda liked the site, but I'm highly allergic to Prana, Chakras and mystical bullshit.

By: mic stand

mic stand — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 05:54:26 -0800

Honestly, you're talking about stretching. Yoga is union and can be created through breathwork, focus, movement and extension of the body (which, if you believe, activate your chakras, lalala, not for you, no big deal).

Anyone who boasts practicing yoga without a spiritual connotation is not talking about yoga in the true inception of the term.

But, of course, definitions change, and the west has desensitized you down to the material realm, so yoga is mistaken for what you are looking for.

So, before you get too sick of me, I offer this advice: maybe someone can contact the owner of the site and host his flash classes and so forth somewhere else?

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 06:38:11 -0800

I know where you're coming from. I would look for something from David Swenson. He's pretty good about teaching the form without talking about fairy dust. I think you can get all the benefits from just having a regular practice, without even knowing what a chakra is, because it's really just a metaphor. If you practice with mindfulness, you're doing it right.

By: bolognius maximus

bolognius maximus — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:56:08 -0800

I like the Rodney Yee DVDs. He doesn't really get into that stuff. Just yoga, just do it.

By: mothershock

mothershock — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 08:45:05 -0800

I echo the David Swenson suggestion. His Ashtanga primary series DVD is excellent, and he's very pure, all about the work, not just the talking.

By: themel

themel — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 12:47:37 -0800

Thanks, everyone. I know that I'm missing out on the spirituality, but the simple schedule of exercises from Paul's web site truly made me feel better for a while, be it through (accidental) unity with whatever or just plain relaxation and muscle stretching.

By: spaceman_spiff

spaceman_spiff — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 15:33:15 -0800

One thing to keep in mind is that any good, well-rounded yoga class will include things like breath control and "mindfulness" or "awareness" work, even if it's not explicitly referred to as a spiritual practice.