Kate's Yoga Blog

Prompt: Yoga is described as a breath-based practice. How much attention is given to the breathing in your yoga practice space? How is breathing explained and taught (yes, taught)? What is your experience with pranayama? Response: In my practice space, breathing is used for a couple of purposes. In the beginning of class, we do an exercise to bring consciousness to our breathing. We first focus on even breathing, then we inhale using the sacrum, next the belly, and next the chest, paying attention and constricting each space as the inhale moves upwards. Conversely, we exhale back down these three parts and slowly release the contraction. This exercise is repeated multiple times before the physical practice begins. Even breathing through the nose is maintained through the practice for the purpose of building heat within the body, and we practice "lion's breath" at the end of the physical practice, loudly exhaling through the mouth with tongue out to release this heat.

Prompt: Discuss the ways in which meditation is used in your practice space (or not). How important is the meditative aspect of yoga and how (if it is important) is it presented? What is your impression of meditation? Response: Meditation is typically used at the end of my practice. After the movement is over, we are asked to focus only on our breath. There is sometimes a guided meditation focusing on the chakras and the movement of energy gradually continuing up the body. In my practice, meditation is more of the winding down part of the practice in preparation for the end, and while it is sometimes emphasized, more importance is given to the physical practice. Meditation comes very hard to me because my mind is constantly racing. Guided meditations that give me something to continually focus on are easier, but sitting with my breath and not giving into distraction for any length of time is very hard. When I manage to do it correctly, however, it leaves me feeling very good and ...

Prompt - Think about the ways that yoga has been defined in word and action in your practice space and other experiences. What do you believe accounts for these definitions here in the United States? How does the definition differ from the way yoga is defined in India? Response -  Yoga is often defined as a spiritual practice centered around bettering oneself. In the classroom, topics such as self care, spiritual well being, relaxation, and physical fitness are highlighted. The US has marketed yoga as such, thus producing these types of definitions surrounding yoga in the west today. Yoga is marketed as a form of relaxation, a way to attain physical beauty, improve success, sleep, and sex appeal, and generally as a miracle cure all for the stresses and woes of American society. So naturally, when students flood yoga studios in search of these things, instructors ensure that those are what they will be getting by using them in their classroom dialogue. Yoga in India is also a spir...