Day 4

date: 9/22/2016
time: 6:30
instructor: Laurie Green
style: Flow Plus

I don't feel, at least in this class, like yoga is framed as more than just exercise. In this class, specifically, it feels like a workout. I am pushing my body to the brink of its limits to fit into postures and positions that are beneficial to my strength. In fact, I think Laurie specifically talked about gaining strength from this class. In Steevee's class she'll go on small spiels about how this position can be calming or how that position opens chakras but Laurie doesn't insert moral-of-the-stories into her practice like that, which in a way may be better in that it allows the practitioners to come to their views about their practice and positions on their own, if at all. In general too, I think Americans look at yoga as almost strictly physical. Almost every time I talk to someone about yoga they respond with something along the lines of "I'd like to do yoga but I'm not flexible enough" (a sentiment expressed by my brother not even 15 minutes before I started writing this post, as a result of me telling him I was about to write this post). Nobody, in the handful of years I've been casually practicing, has ever said that they're not spiritual enough or open-minded enough or mindful enough or disciplined enough to practice yoga. The focus is physical. "I can't do a handstand" "I can't do splits" "I can't put my foot behind my head" "I can hardly touch my toes". I, of course, tell every negative nelly that "hey, that's just what yoga is for, becoming flexible!" which of course perpetuates the idea that yoga is a purely physical experience, but it also leaves people feeling more capable of partaking in yoga practice. I think the American approach is just the same as Nick Rosens approach. Very few Americans turn to yoga to work on their spirituality or their mental health or any of the various "other" aspects of yoga, but a majority of those who turn to yoga for a good weekly (and maybe even daily eventually) workout wind up stumbling into the other benefits of yoga, pleasantly surprised more often than not.

side note: I just saw the prompts in the syllabus, so I'll start using them now!

Day 4

date: 9/22/2016
time: 6:30
instructor: Laurie Green
style: Flow Plus

I don't feel, at least in this class, like yoga is framed as more than just exercise. In this class, specifically, it feels like a workout. I am pushing my body to the brink of its limits to fit into postures and positions that are beneficial to my strength. In fact, I think Laurie specifically talked about gaining strength from this class. In Steevee's class she'll go on small spiels about how this position can be calming or how that position opens chakras but Laurie doesn't insert moral-of-the-stories into her practice like that, which in a way may be better in that it allows the practitioners to come to their views about their practice and positions on their own, if at all. In general too, I think Americans look at yoga as almost strictly physical. Almost every time I talk to someone about yoga they respond with something along the lines of "I'd like to do yoga but I'm not flexible enough" (a sentiment expressed by my brother not even 15 minutes before I started writing this post, as a result of me telling him I was about to write this post). Nobody, in the handful of years I've been casually practicing, has ever said that they're not spiritual enough or open-minded enough or mindful enough or disciplined enough to practice yoga. The focus is physical. "I can't do a handstand" "I can't do splits" "I can't put my foot behind my head" "I can hardly touch my toes". I, of course, tell every negative nelly that "hey, that's just what yoga is for, becoming flexible!" which of course perpetuates the idea that yoga is a purely physical experience, but it also leaves people feeling more capable of partaking in yoga practice. I think the American approach is just the same as Nick Rosens approach. Very few Americans turn to yoga to work on their spirituality or their mental health or any of the various "other" aspects of yoga, but a majority of those who turn to yoga for a good weekly (and maybe even daily eventually) workout wind up stumbling into the other benefits of yoga, pleasantly surprised more often than not.

side note: I just saw the prompts in the syllabus, so I'll start using them now!

Day 3

date: 9/20/2016
time: 6:30 pm
instructor: Steevee
style: Yin Yoga

I wasn't a big fan of tonight's practice. After experiencing a difficult physical practice last week, Steevees class fell a little short as far as challenging me physically. While Yin yoga may be good for mindfulness practice and stress relief, it's definitely lacking when it comes to physical challenge. I also found myself to be a lot more easily distracted than usual; my mind kept wandering off and thinking all kinds of irrelevant things where my mind usually gets in the zone pretty easily in yoga classes. At one point Steevee said certain positions we were putting ourselves into might draw up old memories for some reason and as she said it I realized I was thinking about old memories at that moment, so I thought that was pretty cool whether it was coincidental or not. I think I'd like more physically challenging classes for now, until I need the stress relief of softer calming classes.

Day 2

date: 9/15/2016
time: 6:30
instructor: Laurie
style: Flow (Plus)

I realized tonight, as I sweat my a*s off in an "intermediate" level class, that I have been doing some pretty weak yoga thus far. I've always used yoga more for relaxation purposes than for a physical workout, and in regards to physical benefits I've always looked at it as a flexibility thing more than a workout. Tonight that was challenged. The flow form Laurie taught tonight was engaging and challenging in a way that I haven't really experienced in yoga before. Tonight's class was definitely more physically focused than spiritually. It was definitely a different experience than my usual yoga practice, but I liked the challenge and it made me realize that I want to learn how to do headstands.

Day 1 (ish)

date: 9/13/2016
time: 6:30 pm
instructor: Steevee
style: Yin Yoga

I decided to start off my yoga assignment for this class with a class and an instructor I've been going to for a while now. I've attended many of Steevees on campus yoga classes, and have enjoyed all of them. The reason I've stuck with Steevee is not just because I like the moves and forms she teaches but because I like her personality and the approach she has to yoga. As I've said to others as I recommend her class, she isn't the spacey-hippie type of yoga teacher we, as Americans I suppose, have come to expect in yoga teachers. Steevee is certainly a calmer person than some, but she has a sassy personality and makes jokes and comments throughout the class that make her students feel comfortable. Although she didn't get into history in this most recent class, I believe she is aware of the newness of the physical practice of yoga. Thinking about some of the discussions in class, I think Steevee is one of the individuals who look at yoga as an all-around life changing practice. She recommends poses to do when stressed or needing something in our lives. She recommends quick little forms to do every day to boost our physical alignments and thus our chis/energies and thus our overall health. I think Steevee herself allows yoga to be a spiritual practice for herself, but she does not preach or talk about spirituality much in the class. Last nights class was a very good class for me personally. Physically I wanted to stretch out some sore muscles and I definitely did. I brought two of my friends to the class who have never tried yoga which made me happy. I did wind up falling asleep a little bit as we held one posture, which has never happened to me before. I don't really use yoga as a spiritual practice for myself. Without getting too far into it, I'm not one to be very religious (hell, religious at all) and I don't like to force deities and related beliefs into things like my yoga practice. I personally practice yoga because it is good for me physically and because I do believe it has an effect on my energies and thus various aspects of my life (reduces stress, makes me feel more in tune with my body and mind, makes me feel simply good). I like Steevees approach as a non-spiritual but effective-to-energies practice.

side note: I should probably get a new mat, my crappy $5 one probably won't survive the semester