Comments on: Ask The Yogacist: How Do I Know It’s REAL Yoga?

By: Ask the Yogacist: What Are the Rules of Yoga Teacher Gift Giving?

Ask the Yogacist: What Are the Rules of Yoga Teacher Gift Giving? — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:03:16 +0000

[...] Earlier…Ask The Yogacist: How Do I Know It’s REAL Yoga? [...]

By: The Kitchen Dispatch

The Kitchen Dispatch — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:27:52 +0000

Whether something is “real” or “authentic” is all in the eyes of the beholder. The yogi standing up there teaching probably thinks their practice is authentic, whereas someone else might not! But yes, having a historical grounding will help someone a lot and help take the practice from mere exercise (which is why most people start) to understanding the spiritual depths.

I think you’ve given excellent advice, and I guess to this I would add that it does one good to take classes from various teachers and studios to find a good fit.

By: Missouri Taxes Studios, Texas to Join in Licensing Battle, While Everyone Tries to Define Yoga

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:59:10 +0000

[...] go again, having to define and redefine yoga to sidestep a government stranglehold. Hey, maybe the real yoga shouldn’t be taxed and the fake-o stuff should foot the bill. Or perhaps our pal Bob W. had [...]

By: I’m still here! « lifebloom yoga

I’m still here! « lifebloom yoga — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:20:12 +0000

[...] YogaDork: How Do I Know it’s REAL Yoga? I’m all for telling purists and snobs to suck it (in a nonharming way, of course). [...]

By: sangos

sangos — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:28:46 +0000

Real Yoga = Optimized energy to annihilate the ego (before Yoga went American; Optimized energy to indulge the ego (after ……..)

Bottom line: Yoga’s a powerful tool which suits everyone’s reality! Take your choice.

By: Nikki Chau

Nikki Chau — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:22:01 +0000

You know, I can understand the xenophobia towards chanting and Sanskrit, but what’s the beef (or seitan) towards granola? It’s just… granola, good for breakfast, good for camping, pretty regular Joe American to me.

(But then again, I’m from the Pacific Northwest, we do love our crunchy granola here )

By: daydreamingmel

daydreamingmel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:09:36 +0000

My book to recommend would be Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi…it’s really wonderful and helped a lot of pieces fall into place with understanding my physical practice.
I started out with yoga classes at the gym. I discovered how much I loved it, how great it made me feel, and from there I went to India. After i came back I started going to “proper” yoga places & quit the gym, only to go back to my old class there last week (7 months on) and realise what an amazing teacher I had there and how lucky I was to find him. So while I agree that some yoga classes are probably set up as a populist marketing thing, sometimes you can find a real diamond in the rough too!

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:03:19 +0000

Love the answer – in a book. Can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about my own practice from my local library. Also, its so much about applying ‘off the mat’ what you learn ‘on the mat.’ Your mat can be anywhere you chose that fits you now. The time you spend on that piece of squishy rubber; the sweat, creaks, techniques, modifications, adjustments, om’s, minutes of nothingness, all add up to REAL yoga. Then you roll that puppy up and return to REAL life, hopefully as a better (physically, mentally, spiritually) person – who, of course, LOVES the perfect hummus recipe!

By: Svasti

Svasti — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:12:17 +0000

Yeah, like totally. It’s y’know, the Yoga of Food(tm). I’ll be running a workshop next year…

By: Bob Weisenberg

Bob Weisenberg — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:58:17 +0000

Svasti, finally we’re getting down to the ultimate truth of Yoga–great healthy eating!

Bob W.