Autumn Yoga as a Spiritual Practice - Thread for Yoginis of all Faiths!! - Page 2

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by eastkygal 

Anyone have any suggestions on how to bring forth repressed emotions or memories and work through them with yoga.  There are some things I need to rid myself of.  Some of them I'm aware of, but there are particular things that I am only suspect of, and am experiencing the emotions or residue from events that are either repressed or coming from an odd place in my subconscious.  OK... I probably sound a little hokey... but I think yoga can help.  Kundalini is my best bet.  Anyone do the Ana Brett Transformation DVD?  Would those kriyas be helpful?  Any other asanas, pranayama helpful in this regard?

"just take practice, all is coming."

You want to not only bring things up, but to do it at a rate that you can process. It is possible to bring things up so quickly that you CANT process them. People have brought things up so quickly that they needed residential care.

Are you active with a therapist?

A solid pranayama practice that includes retentions should do the trick. But go slowly, and set yourself up a support system first.

[eastkygal]

I'm not active with a therapist.  I wish I could be sometimes.  Can't afford it.  I began acupuncture a week ago, and am set to do it once a month, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep up that schedule because of finances.  All I know is that I need to release some things.  I'll have  to do it myself.  I totally understand taking it slow.  I guess what I'm saying is I am feeling some things more at the surface, and I need them to just fly away...  Wondering if I can help that along with yoga in a way that might be more specific to this particular goal then keeping up with the same practice I have.

[Imogen]

I must remember to pick up a copy of Yoga Journal next time I'm in the city.  I don't think that it would make a huge difference to my practice to be honest.  My needs are very simply regard to the actual practice itself.  Flexibility, calmness and being present in the moment and I am able to achieve all of that 

C

[pampered_mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastkygal 

Anyone have any suggestions on how to bring forth repressed emotions or memories and work through them with yoga.  There are some things I need to rid myself of.  Some of them I'm aware of, but there are particular things that I am only suspect of, and am experiencing the emotions or residue from events that are either repressed or coming from an odd place in my subconscious.  OK... I probably sound a little hokey... but I think yoga can help.  Kundalini is my best bet.  Anyone do the Ana Brett Transformation DVD?  Would those kriyas be helpful?  Any other asanas, pranayama helpful in this regard?

I don't think it sounds hokey at all.  I've found a number of things coming to mind that I haven't thought of in years.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by eastkygal 

I guess what I'm saying is I am feeling some things more at the surface, and I need them to just fly away...  Wondering if I can help that along with yoga in a way that might be more specific to this particular goal then keeping up with the same practice I have.

Some thoughts on minor tweaks to your practice:

1. practice on an empty stomach. No food for at least 2 hours before practice.

2. Set an intention at the beginning of your practice. This is REALLY powerful.

3. Rather than using a DVD, put on soft backgroud music, or a rolling OM cd, and ask your body what would benefit it the most that day. Make the practice about listening to your body.

4. If 3 is just too out there, try putting on your DVD, but turning the sound completely off on it and putting on other soft music so that you can tune in more thoroughly and not be using your mind to process so much. I think that it is difficult to practice yoga as a moving meditation while practicing with a DVD, but this can help.

5. Would it be possible for you to work a little with a teacher, even if it isn't very often, to make sure that you are doing your breath work correctly? Breath work is very powerful, but I learned from having a teacher watch me and tell me exactly what I was doing wrong, practicing at home more, and then going back and getting more feedback. Would that be possible in your situation?

6. Add some restorative postures to your practice. These are postures where you body is supported (usually by props) and you hold the pose for a long time (like 5 minutes).  For example, legs up the wall pose is simple. Just lay with your buttocks near a wall and your legs going straight up. You want to be far enough back that your hamstrings are comfortable, not really stretched. And just lay there. You can vary it by moving your legs into wide angle pose or coblers pose (soles together, knees out). If you add an eye pillow it's even nicer.

If you already do restorative postures, then try something else that is new to you. Some of my most powerful yoga experiences have been when I really shook things up. 

7. Do you always take savasana? I really recommend turning off your TV, and either putting some healing music or just having quiet. Add props (eye pillow, a rolled up towel under your knees etc.) to get REALLY comfy and feel very nurtured, protected, and relaxed. It's the most important pose, and 5-10 minutes is much more ideal than the brief period most DVDs provide.

Another idea, which isn't a yoga idea at all but just something else that works for me, is to write down the things I want to release, pray/cry over it, and then burn it.

peace be thy journey. Namaste.

[pampered_mom]

Linda on the move - I love your suggestions!

[Picard]

Eastykal - I think that within the Kundalini tradition, you may explore attending a white tantric yoga meditation session. Everyone that I have ever spoken with who did this found it very powerful in dealing with such things. I myself have not attended one. There was one this last Saturday on 20 November and unfortunately I could not attend. These events only happen infrequently (like once a year where I live), but it is worth checking into. Other than that, intuitively, I would think that daily Sat Kriya and Ego Eradicator/aura builder would work wonders.

[eastkygal]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions about working through the feelings I am having.  I appreciate them all.  Linda - I am already doing much of what you are suggesting, but you have also given me some new things to think about.  :)

So, does anyone here practice sadhana?  (Getting up for an hour or two of yoga in the ambrosial hours btwn. 3-6am?)  I'm thinking of doing this as I am often interrupted lately by my little girls as I am trying to practice and for my health at this point I really need solitude to practice.  I also am ready to more devote myself spirituality to being in scripture, meditating, and doing yoga with intention.  I think doing sadhana might be a path for me to explore.  The only thing that has stopped me so far is exhaustion.  I have adrenal fatigue and thyroid problems and am literally walking in a state of exhaustion 24/7.  If it weren't for coffee, I would not be able to function some days.  Also, during moontime, usually a day or two before it arrives, I have a debilitating headache.  I have to stay in bed and/or take strong prescription medications to ease it off a little.  If I am able to get up, I go to my chiropractor who is usually able to help me a little.  I know this is hormonally related, but they are so different than any other headache I have ever experience.  I have to be utterly still or I will continually shake and be nauseous with the pain.  Sometimes I think the spiritual path may be expressed through loosing attachment to what one may view as physical/mental comfort.  Maybe prying myself from bed to do this will led me to a place where I grow spiritually and heal mentally and physically.  Maybe it is the attachment I feel about this condition being the determinant factor in the way I live my life in many ways, that I need to release along with some emotional/psychological scarring.  I'd love to hear what you think.  Is it more important for me to sleep as much as I can?  Or do you think it will be beneficial to deny myself some of that?  I probably won't be able to manage and earlier bedtime most nights.  Nights are my only time with my DH.

[Sativarain1]

How's everyone coming along with their practice this month?

I've been really slacking, it's been very cold and by the end of the day I just want to curl up under a blanket... but I feel the need to get back to practice as it's been a good week.

[kittywitty]

Hi, everyone! A friend suggested Gurmukh's Postnatal Yoga DVD for me. I've been doing yoga on and off for 15 years now. I have never attended a class-just used books and movies. I also just got the Yoga for Anxiety book from the library and am looking to see if it will help out with my anxiety and ongoing spiritual crisis as well.

[omamasmama]

Originally Posted by eastkygal 

Anyone have any suggestions on how to bring forth repressed emotions or memories and work through them with yoga.  There are some things I need to rid myself of.  Some of them I'm aware of, but there are particular things that I am only suspect of, and am experiencing the emotions or residue from events that are either repressed or coming from an odd place in my subconscious.  OK... I probably sound a little hokey... but I think yoga can help.  Kundalini is my best bet.  Anyone do the Ana Brett Transformation DVD?  Would those kriyas be helpful?  Any other asanas, pranayama helpful in this regard?

Doesn't sound hokey to me. :)

Our bodies have been with us our whole lives, they store all of our experiences. Yoga can really stir up our awareness of what's happening in great depth, detail and vibrancy. 

Depending on where you are geographically, I would recommend looking into Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. There are practitioners all over the world and their yoga therapy classes on the rise as well.

If money is an issue, I would still contact them and see if they can work with you. I received my 200hr teacher training with them and currently training to be a certified practitioner. I have clients that pay, some that barter, and some that come for free. Check out their website for more info or to look for someone in your area.   http://www.pryt.com or I'd be glad to chat more about it.

[eastkygal]

Starting a Winter thread... Come on over and subscribe! :)