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Hey Bud, are Yoga and Marijuana a good mix?

2009-02-11T18:52:00.003-05:00

Someone that I have known for many years uses pot quite regularly. It seems to me that her use of the drug is more than recreational, and although I have a hard time accepting that pot is addictive, watching her and her husband smoke it as often as they do almost makes me reconsider that notion. Since this person is a yoga instructor, I started wondering about the implications of someone with the responsibility of teaching others about yoga and meditation and her respect of the values of yoga as I understand them.

My personal take on whether it should be a crime to smoke weed is that we have more important things to worry about than if someone wants to get high, and ranks waaaay below my concern about the morals of a person who would legally end the life of an unborn baby because it was an inconvenience- which is a whole different discussion...

I didn't find much about yoga instructors who smoke pot, but did find some interesting discussions on the subject that I thought were worth sharing.

First, a comment from Michael on Yoga.com/forums

Hi Slyder,

Welcome. You may want to read the part of Michael Pollan's book, "The Botany of Desire," that deals with cannabis. His notion is that plants (botany) have seduced humanity in order to propagate their species.

He describes some of what's known about "the people's pharmaceutical." Simply stated, all humans have cell receptor sites that are only activated by THC. In other words, the molecular receptor will only house a molecule of a particular shape, and that's cannabis. What happens when the cannabis receptor sites are filled, when a THC molecule is lodged into the receptor site? He describes that it blocks the nerve pathway to the memory stores in the brain. What happens when we can't access our memories of things so well? Everything looks fresher, "That's the reddest apple I've ever seen." We forget how many red apples we've seen and this one becomes special. Same is true for all the senses and our capacity for organizing sensory information. Hence, the moment seems to come forward in our perceptions, and the history of our understanding of things seems to recede into the background. Pollan calls it humanity's "relaxation" fix: we're disconnected from the burdens of reality for a while, then we return to the rat race (his words). He also writes about apples (for intoxication from apple jack), tulips (for beauty) and potatoes (for sustenance).

Cannabis is a legitimate pain reliever. When Jimmy Carter started the Compassionate Cannabis Project when he was president, 20 or so very ill patients were allowed the opportunity to access government pot.

A conference was held on the west coast several years ago to consult on what's happened to those folks over the past decades. Only a half dozen or so of them are still alive, all still very ill and disabled. They have their choice of any pain killer on the planet, including all of the morphine's and opiates, but every one of those patients choose cannabis as their primary source of pain relief. Most do not use any other means. Chronic pain seems to be helped by smoking cannabis. But, it's the counter-cultural icon of the culture wars, so it's not likely that legality will change any time soon. Further, it's illegality and widespread use does a tremendous disservice to our youth. If they can ignore laws about cannabis, what makes any other law worthy of obeying? I personally think that if it were legalized, many current young user would probably stop, as going against authority is part of growing up.

Using cannabis to meditate is equivalent to looking to a child for wisdom. A child may appear wise, but lacks the experience to understand who s/he is, and bears no responsibility for the whole community. The world is such an attractive place, no wonder it pulls so many away from our hearts and true understanding.

IMHO, Michael
http://www.yoga.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=24004&start=1

And then there was this by InnerAthlete on Yoga Forums...

The use of marijuana or tobacco, meat or sugar, wine or water would depend on the purpose of ones practice and thus the purpose of ones life and their perceived actions toward those purposes.

Some do not see a purpose to Yoga beyond "it feels good" or "I burn calories" while others use it to raise the flag of their spirituality up the pole to see who will salute. And there are many positions in between, some more free from Ego than others. This is the continuum from which the question is answered.

For me my practice is about feeling more, becoming more sensitive, more aware. That feeling, sensitivity, and awareness germinates in the central nervous system. My work, in my practice, for my life, my dharma, is to work organically to be more connected to the central channel - the sushumna nadi, the soul, the heart center.

Those things which prevent the nervous system from it's job, things which alter, block or things which do the work for me instead of me training the organic body to learn, these things I do not put in my system. Marijuana (neurotransmitter release inhibitor) is included. I don't drink alcohol (though I used to) by choice, not because I have a problem with it. I do not eat red meat as a choice, not because I'm an animal rights activist. For these same reasons I do not drink coffee and am now trying to eliminate refined sugars.

So for me, at this stage of my life, my practice, my path, marijuana is not necessary. For others it may be.

"Hapiness is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose"

Just to turn the other side of the "it helps me.." coin; some people also say they can drive perfectly fine when intoxicated and others "feel" it is a coffee, and not sleep that is in their best interest relative to fatigue.

Another larger question, when using mind altering substances is the pendulum effect. "Am I hiding", as it can be very easy to receede from life using THC (or alcohol or pharmaceutical grade cocaine). At that point one is again out of balance, just in another direction.

Some may be able to "unhook their mind" but they're not actually doing the work now are they? Therefore when they come down the only way they can "evolve", if that it the experience leading one to evolution, is to roll another. The unhooking you mention IS the work and it's difficult. Change is difficult, growth is difficult.

A psychadelic experience (carlos castaneda teachings of don juan) can certainly open pathways and I've "been there and done that" though a good 25 years ago. But as a daily practice I don't think "it enhances yoga" can really be put forth as a solid concept. It enhances something (other than the munchies offered above) but I don't think it's yoga that is being enhanced.

You are quite right though, to each their own. If a weekly joint helps you, the toker, to evolve, if it brings something to your life, if you can look back and see that you've changed, grown, matured, that is something. If you have let go of attachment and aversion, if your sensations are heightened around the clock, if you are more mindful of words before they leave you lips, your language has refined and thus so has your mind, you've connected more deeply with your purpose for being here and you more authentically express outwardly that light this is YOU within, then you are being served by your life choices.

http://www.yogaforums.com/forums/f16/marijuana-and-yoga-1618.html

Some very interesting insights. Like most opinions, there will never really be one that fits all.

Yoga for MS Patients

2009-02-11T05:55:00.003-05:00

If getting out this winter is a challenge, or maybe you need to spend some time at home but would still like to get a good Yoga workout in, then YouTube has something that might help...

In case you're unfamiliar with Yoga as a benefit for Multiple Sclerosis, this is a good video to watch that may help you decide if Yoga makes sense for you to discuss with your doctor.

www.MyYogaTime.net

Yoga Pilates Body Studio for Kundalini Yoga and more!

2009-02-11T00:35:00.010-05:00

Kundalini Yoga classes (Taught by Rick Powell)
are designed to build strength of will in a relaxed and comfortable setting. A typical class will begin with a meditative warm-up emphasizing the flow of breath and your awareness to it. Then move into physical asana which includes rhythmic movements of the body and the breath. The class employs various Pranayams(breathings), Mudras (hand gestures), Bandhas (locks), Mantras (words of power), and visualizations to attain fast results. This is followed by a Kriya, a specific sequence of exercises designed to bring about a specific metabolic change. Each Kriya has a goal, be that cleansing the liver, calming the nerves, or strengthening the heart, etc. Kriya also assists the ability to meditate. Although there is a specific function of each Kriya, every Kundalini Yoga class will help balance all the chakras and systems. Class will finish with a resting pose, a few good stretches, and closing mantra.

While looking for a Yoga Studio in Johnson City that offers Kundalini Yoga, we were surprised and pleased to find that Yoga Pilates Body Studio offers that and more. We were especially please to learn that Rick Powell was a teacher there. As some of you may be aware, Rick is an experienced instructor who has taught many in our area, and there are very few in our area (if any) who are truly competent to teach this form of yoga.

Yoga Pilates Body Studio offers:

HOT YOGA: our premiere power yoga flow class in a room heated to around at least 95 degrees, typically 100!

Beginner Hot Yoga: a beginners class for those not ready for the regular hot yoga class but still want to utilize the heat

Kundalini: a transformative branch of Yoga that uses postures, breath, meditation, and mantra, to cultivate an Awareness of Self

Pilates: a little less yoga flow a little more core

Yogalates: a combination of challenging power flow yoga and the core focus of Pilates

Pilates-On-The-Ball: a Pilates class using Resista-balls to tone your whole body, especially your powerhouse. This class is a great combination to the Pilates Mat Class.

Private/Semi-Private: Taking a class privately will bring your practice to a whole new level of understanding

www.MyYogaTime.net

GuruGanesha Singh Live Oct. 29th

2008-07-31T22:35:00.008-04:00

“Devotional music stalwart GuruGanesha handles the guitar with effortless grace, slipping easily between chordal rhythms and mellifluous leads. A self-confessed Deadhead, he has a near clairvoyant ability to goad and guide the group’s inspired jamming on the music’s open-ended structures.” - Alan di Perna, writer for Yoga Journal, Rolling Stone, Guitar World

Wed, Oct 29, 7:30pm
Endicott Performing Arts Center
102 Washington Ave, Endicott
Tickets: $20.00 advance / $25 door
Online: www.SpiritVoyage.com

www.MyYogaTime.net

The Snatam Kaur Talk Board

2008-07-02T01:44:00.005-04:00

If you haven't visited Snatam Kaur's website, I'd like to mention that not only do you get to listen to some beautiful music (flash player at the bottom of her site), but you'll find some new things that enable us to have a greater connection with Snatam. There are currently only a few sections in her "forum" but they are worth participating in and reading. As the description states:

"this forum is for connecting with your spiritual community. This is not meant as a forum to ask Snatam Kaur questions, or to write to the band directly. We pray this serves to make connections in the community. "

The active parts so far are:

Concert Experiences
Have you been to a recent Celebrate Peace Concert? Please share here.

Ra Ma Da Sa Meditation Experiences
This is the meditation Snatam Kaur is doing in her concerts for healing. Please share what's been coming up for you here.

Snatam also has a blog called "Notes From the Road" which shares their experiences on the road and is updated from time to time that is very interesting to read. Hopefully she'll soon be sharing her experience as a mother-to-be!

www.MyYogaTime.net

Snatam Kaur Featured Artist in New Movie

2008-02-25T01:25:00.009-05:00

Ocean of Pearls Premiering at The Miami International Film Festival

As a Sikh man with a full beard and turban, AMRIT SINGH is often the target of racial profiling. But when he sees his dreams of becoming Chief of Surgery at a state-of-the-art transplant center dwindle because of his appearance, Amrit goes against a tradition he's maintained his whole life and cuts his hair. Hiding this decision from his girlfriend and family in Toronto is only the start of a series of compromises Amrit finds himself making as he deals with hospital politics and health care injustices. When his compromises result in the death of a patient, Amrit begins to reexamine the value of the religious traditions he'd turned his back on.

It has been a long road of over ten years for director (and physician), Dr. Neelam, who has wanted to make movies for as long as he can remember. His purpose in making this movie was two-fold. One was to bring awareness about Sikhs and Sikhism to the general public. He says “Growing up in Toronto, we went through a lot of discrimination. After 9/11, it got worse. I feel movies are a powerful medium to bring about awareness and hopefully reduce hate crimes.”

The other purpose was for Sikhs themselves. “Even though there are millions of Sikhs worldwide, there are hardly any films that depict us in our proper way. Usually, we are absent in Hollywood films or comic relief characters in Bollywood,” he states passionately. “It’s important for us to be involved in visual media to break down barriers as great African Americans such as Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry have done for their community.” One small way to get “involved”, he states, is to come see the movie and bring a few friends. The test audiences, made up of mainstream Americans, enjoyed the movie so much that over 75% of them said they would recommend it to their friends.

“Ocean of Pearls” is a love story and a spiritual journey of a young Sikh physician, Amrit Singh. He wants to succeed professionally and desperately wants to fit in. But is his religious background holding him back? Hoping for a new start, he embarks on an ambitious pursuit of success, but soon learns that he must first define his own singular identity before he achieves peace. The story carefully weaves in bits of information about Sikhism and the challenges facing Sikhs today without sounding preachy. The same holds true for the problems facing our health system. “Most Americans do not realize that even if you have health insurance and earn good money, an accident or a health crisis can bankrupt you,” emphasized Dr. Neelam.

“Ocean of Pearls” is a story not just for Sikhs as it seeks to answer questions of how one struggles to balance romance, spirituality, ethics and family in today’s complex society.

The actors include Omid Abtahi, Navi Rawat, Ron Canada, Ajay Mehta, Heather McComb and Brenda Strong. The music is beautifully composed by Pinar Toprak, Karsh Kale and features vocals by Snatam Kaur Khalsa.

www.MyYogaTime.net

Studies show yoga has multiple benefits

2008-01-05T00:22:00.005-05:00

Reuters | Wednesday, 02 January 2008

Yoga induces a feeling of well-being in healthy people, and can reverse the clinical and biochemical changes associated with metabolic syndrome, according to results of studies from Sweden and India.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar.

Dr RP Agrawal, of the SP Medical College, Bikaner, India, and colleagues evaluated the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation in 101 adults with features of metabolic syndrome.

In the study, 55 adults received three months of regular yoga including standard postures and Raja Yoga, a form of transcendental meditation daily, while the remaining received standard care.

Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and "good" HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the yoga group as compared to controls, Agrawal's team reports in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

In the second study, published online December 19 in BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dr Anette Kjellgren from the University of Karlstad, Sweden and colleagues evaluated the beneficial effects of yoga-like breathing exercises on healthy volunteers.

Fifty-five adults were advised to practice "Sudarshan Kriya," which involves cycles of slow normal and rapid breathing exercises. The exercises were practiced for an hour daily, six days a week for six weeks, while 48 controls were advised to relax in an armchair for 15 minutes daily.

At the end of the study period, feelings of anxiety, stress and depression were significantly lower and levels of optimism significantly higher in the yoga group compared to the control group, Kjellgren and colleagues report.

Yoga induces a "relaxation response" associated with reduced nervous system activity and a feeling of well-being probably due to an increase in antioxidants and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, they suggest.

Yoga not only helps in prevention of lifestyle diseases, but can also be "a powerful adjunct therapy when these diseases arise," co-investigator Dr Faahri Saatiglou, from the University of Oslo, told Reuters Health. "We do not emphasise this point enough in our Western health care."

www.MyYogaTime.net

Yoga Relaxes Body and Heart

2008-01-05T00:01:00.002-05:00

Two studies by Indian and Swedish researchers respectively have brought to light the health benefits of yoga; according to their findings yoga has the ability to reverse the clinical and biochemical changes associated with metabolic syndrome and relax the body as a whole.

The first study conducted by Dr. R.P. Agrawal and colleagues at the SP Medical College, Bikaner was focused on assessing the benefits gained from yoga and meditation by patients with metabolic syndrome. The condition is a cluster of heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high blood sugar. 101 adults with metabolic syndrome were covered by the researchers.

Split into two groups, 55 patients were put on a daily regimen of regular yoga including standard postures and Raja Yoga (a form of transcendental meditation) for three months while the remaining participants were placed under standard care. The researchers kept tabs on various health factors of participants in both groups through out the study period.

At the end of the three months, the researchers found that the yoga group had significantly lower waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides, and higher levels of “good” HDL cholesterol compared to the control group.

In the other study, Swedish researchers led by Dr. Anette Kjellgren at the University of Karlstad, evaluated the benefits gained by healthy volunteers from yoga-like breathing exercises. They advised 55 adult volunteers to practice “Sudarshan Kriya,” a form of yoga which involves cycles of slow, normal and rapid breathing exercises for an hour daily. They did this for six days a week for six weeks. 48 other volunteers were placed in a control group and asked to relax in an armchair for 15 minutes daily.

After six weeks, the researchers found that the yoga group volunteers reported significantly lower feelings of anxiety, stress and depression while feeling highly optimistic compared to the control group volunteers.

According to the researchers, yoga most probably reduces nervous system activity, increases antioxidants and lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which create a feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Yoga not only helps in prevention of lifestyle diseases, but can also be “a powerful adjunct therapy when these diseases arise,” co-investigator Dr. Faahri Saatiglou, from the University of Oslo, said. “We do not emphasize this point enough in our Western health care.”

Findings of the Indian study have been reported in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice while the Swedish study has been published online in BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

www.MyYogaTime.net

YogaPhile: Lisa Edelstein

2007-11-18T15:00:00.002-05:00

The web site iYogaLife has done an interesting interview with Lisa Edelstein where she talks about her belief that her regular yoga practice has helped save her back. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
The first time I took a yoga class I didn’t relate to it at all. But 9 years ago my doctor told me that I was going to need spinal fusions (sawing the bone off my pelvis and putting it in my neck) for the rest of my life because every few years my discs would go like dominoes. I was in pain so I started doing Bikram yoga. Within 3 months, I was pain-free. After 6 months, I never had a neck injury again.

A lot of pain is emotional more than physical. I read a book on back pain and realized that what was hurting me the most was the way I was handling stress.

I don’t like saying I “opened my mind” to yoga because that sounds really hippie-dippie. I really just had to be hungry enough for another solution.
You can read the entire interview here...

www.MyYogaTime.net

MyYogaTime Guide to Yoga Styles

2007-09-29T14:03:00.004-04:00

There are many styles of yoga and usually the differences are about emphasis on: strict alignment of the body, breath and movement coordination, flowing from one asana (posture) to another, or holding the asana. Yoga is a personal preference and not one style is better than another. Teacher-student relationships are more important than the style of yoga. Many benefits come from all styles of yoga such as: flexibility, strength, muscle tone, relaxation for the mind and body, calms and gives focus to the mind, increases body awareness and so much more. To help you decide what is right for you here is a brief explanation of some of the different styles of yoga:

Ashtanga yoga is not for beginners or someone who wants a slow approach to becoming fit. Also known as Power Yoga, Ashtanga yoga is a serious workout involving intense yoga asanas through a series of flows in a fast paced heated environment. The focus here is to build flexibility, strength and stamina. Ashtanga yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois.

Anusara yoga is a new style of yoga developed John Friend. Anusara yoga is heart-oriented, spiritually inspiring and based on a deep knowledge of inner and outer body alignment. The various abilities and limitations of each student is honored and deeply respected.

Bikram yoga is taught in a hot environment usually at temps of 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It will help with flexibility for it was designed to warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons. You perform a series of 26 asanas in a hot, fast paced environment. Be prepared to sweat. Bikram yoga was developed Bikram Choudhury.

Chinnamasta yoga is a great union of Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Qi Gong and some Tantric elements (see descriptions for Hatha, Kundalini and Tantra below. Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese discipline, involves a series of exercises concentrating on breathing, meditation, gentle movements and visualization that works on the vital energy that flows through the body). This union of four gives you a class that helps with strength, flexibility, muscle tone, body/mind connection, healing oneself, and relaxation. A total union of body, mind and spirit. You will receive a nice workout and yet an excellent relaxation period. Chinnamasta Yoga was developed by Richard Carballo.

Hatha yoga is a good place to start on a yoga path. Hatha yoga brings union “of the pairs of opposites.” Hatha yoga, in Indian tradition, is one of four main traditions of Tantra Yoga. It concentrates on the practice of asanas, breath control (pranayama), and energizing the subtle channels (nadis). The objective is to remove obstacles and progress with sense-withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and balance. Hatha yoga brings health and energy to the body and mind.

Integral yoga emphasizes breathing, meditation and asanas. Developed by Swami Satchidnanda, the man who taught the original Woodstock crowds to chant “Om”. Integral yoga is being researched to reverse heart disease.

Iyengar yoga focuses on precise skeletal alignment of asanas with the aid of props like blocks, cushions, belts and straps. It works with subtle movements and adjustments; this yoga is great for improving balance and flexibility and also for rehabilitation of an injury. Iyengar yoga was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar.

Kripalu yoga puts great emphasis on breath and alignment. You learn to coordinate the breath and the movement and you work only to your limits. There are three stages in Kripalu yoga. One: focuses on postures and learning their bodies’ abilities. Two: developing concentration and inner awareness by holding the asanas for an extended period of time. Three: meditation in motion where the movement from one asana to another arises unconsciously and spontaneously.

Kundalini yoga was brought to America by Yogi Bhajan from India in 1969. Kundalini yoga focuses on the controlled release of Kundalini energy through the awakening of the Chakras. This yoga involves classic asanas, breathing techniques, coordination of breath and movement, mantra, and meditation. Kundalini yoga focuses on higher consciousness and greater flexibility.

Sivananda yoga is a great beginner’s yoga. It involves twelve asanas, breathing exercises, mantra and relaxation. Sivananda yoga was developed by Vishnu-devananda.

Svaroopa yoga teaches different ways of doing familiar asanas, emphasizing the opening of the spine. Svaroopa yoga incorporates the principles of asana, the anatomy and philosophy of yoga, and the development of transcendent inner experience, this is a consciousness-oriented yoga and it promotes healing and transformation.

Tantra yoga draws on all sciences – astronomy, astrology, numerology, physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, psychology, mathematics and so on. The goal is to expand awareness in all states of consciousness, being in an awaken state or a sleep (dream) state. Tantra yoga teaches how to refine your thoughts and feelings and you learn to create peace, order and harmony within yourself. Tantra yoga focuses on breathing exercises, contemplation, visualization techniques, mantra yoga, and physical and ritual cleaning.

Whatever style sounds good to you, find a studio and go to a class. You’ll probably wish you had done it sooner.