Steve and yoga

[Kazeko]

Steve, I wonder why do you prefer not to engage in yoga? In your Twitter post you put in in one pack with cursing and monogamy. I also wonder why you're happy to be familiar with cursing, but it's not that important for me.

I'm really interested in your opinion about yoga. Today I started my day with some of it, and I'm feeling really great. Now you're mentioning it - what a synchro So, tell us, please...

[supertom]

geeks kinda hate yoga naturally, i dont really think he or erin has the body to do yoga lols

[Kazeko]

Originally Posted by supertom

geeks kinda hate yoga naturally, i dont really think he or erin has the body to do yoga lols

Not true. Steve has a taekwon-do red belt, for instance.

[Kazeko]

Just found Steve's answers on Facebook. Here they are:

"I've done yoga many times and always found it immensely boring, regardless of the particular style or how flexible I was at the time. I prefer more stimulating exercise like weight training, martial arts, and any kind of cardio or competitive sports. Even disc golf is way more interesting.

I know many people seem to love yoga and find it beneficial, but I find it slow, dull, and tedious. Now if yoga had a sparring element, that might make it more fun. All the forms I tried were way too yin though."

And another one:
"Didn't realize certain yoga fans would take my disinterest in yoga so personally.

Just because I found yoga boring doesn't mean you can't have fun with it. Do what works for you."

And yet another one:
"I definitely prefer Jnana Yoga. Wrote an old article about that here:
Jnana Yoga & Bug-Free Beliefs

In this status update I was referring to yoga more loosely as an exercise form, like what you'll get by following a yoga workout DVD."

What can I say.... Very funny
Steve, you should always remember, that we, your fans, can't resist following you and using your example as a role model (although you teach us to be our own authorities). Anyway, it was another funny zen-like lesson from you. "Yeah, do yoga, I allow you if you need my approval. But I find it boring". LOL And (using Barbie Jo's words from facebook): "I'll better go play disco golf (whatever the f**k that is)" ROFL

[Trezker]

Originally Posted by supertom

geeks kinda hate yoga naturally, i dont really think he or erin has the body to do yoga lols

If I understood Yoga correctly, it's basically stretching, it can always be improved and it doesn't matter what your body is like. There's no such thing as "not having the body for yoga".

[ming]

Yoga in general is best thing around for stretching the muscles and when practiced as it should truly spiritual.
I suppose Steve refers to Hatha or Iyengar yoga which are very mild and slow types of yoga. Whoever is in for a body challenge and a total workout must try ASHTANGA or BIKRAM yoga, they are really hard on the body but they empower you so much that you feel invincible.

[Jumanji]

I have a book on Yoga which shows some simple moves but I've never got round to actually doing any as it looks quite difficult...and boring

I want to implement some form of flexibilty into my fitness routine though because I feel quite stiff and I'd love to have supple joints like when I was a kid.

Is there a good beginner DVD whether Yoga or otherwise anyone could recommnd?

[Bliss Sage]

Originally Posted by Kazeko

(although you teach us to be our own authorities).

Uch! Speak for yourself! I figured out decades ago to think for myself and take my own path, because nobody else has a clue how to be me and few advice-givers care where I want to go and even fewer share my principles, which frame how I can get there.

Concerning Steve's statements, he likes martial arts and weight lifting. I once tried martial arts...or rather twice. Both times I was the most flexible in the class, because I used to do gymnastics. However, I was soooooooooooooooo uncomfortable with the mere idea of being hit and hitting someone else, I had to stop (even though it was an amusing sight to see all those awkward guys trying to stretch in the beginning of class ). Weight lifting is tedious and painful, as was aerobics, jogging and virtually every other form of fitness I have tried (except belly dancing, which I do when I can).

I like yoga, however and I just began volunteering for a yoga and healing center and I get free yoga classes in return. I don't think yoga was originally practiced for fitness. It was a spiritual practice first. I prefer it to the sports Steve mentions, because it suits me and my character--it is soft and gentle. Martial arts and weight lifting are more violent and brutish. Totally not for me. I want to be flexible, but not necessarily to be able to beat someone up or get weight-lifter muscles. It would be great to be able to do gymnastics again, but I'm not 20 anymore, so I think yoga is a gentle replacement that I won't beat my body up doing and it has a spiritual benefit that other fitness choices don't have.

Having said all that, I don't care that much if Steve "poo-poo's" yoga. I don't even know if he is aware of all of the spiritual benefits of yoga when it is practiced for the spiritual aspect. Yoga can be used to raise awareness and energy levels. At least that's what I'm learning now at the yoga center.

When I began reading this site, I knew instantaneously that he is opposite to me in many ways, so I would never aspire to be a mini female Steve Pavlina (or Erin Pavlina) . I feel a little sick to my stomach when I see how people fawn over him and fall all over themselves to say something pleasing to him. It feels like a lot of people straining to impress him instead of being genuine. Why can't you be yourself instead of wanting to be Steve Pavlina, or Steve Pavlina's best friend?

[Kazeko]

Originally Posted by Bliss Sage

Uch! Speak for yourself! I figured out decades ago to think for myself and take my own path, because nobody else has a clue how to be me and few advice-givers care where I want to go and even fewer share my principles, which frame how I can get there.
......
When I began reading this site, I knew instantaneously that he is opposite to me in many ways, so I would never aspire to be a mini female Steve Pavlina (or Erin Pavlina) . I feel a little sick to my stomach when I see how people fawn over him and fall all over themselves to say something pleasing to him. It feels like a lot of people straining to impress him instead of being genuine. Why can't you be yourself instead of wanting to be Steve Pavlina, or Steve Pavlina's best friend?

Bliss Sage,
I don't really see the point, but I'm in the mood to explain something. You might go to Facebook, and read the whole set of answers to Steve's comment about yoga. You'll see that some people were really disappointed by it. I understand them very well.

I often use Steve's wisdom. Even when I think of some of his ideas as nonsense, I still give them a fair consideration, not dismiss them immediately. I try to understand his point of view. It is called "listen before you speak". Being your own authority doesn't mean being arrogant or ignorant. It simply means "think for yourself and make your own decisions".

Nobody wants to be Steve Pavlina. But many of people really like him and his thoughts. There's nothing pleasing in my words above. Actually, I laughed a lot and was in a very light mood when I wrote them. If you re-read my words, you'll see. And you shouldn't take them personally, too. There's nothing wrong in really liking and respecting some people AND being your own authority.

[Bliss Sage]

Originally Posted by Kazeko

Bliss Sage,
I don't really see the point, but I'm in the mood to explain something. You might go to Facebook, and read the whole set of answers to Steve's comment about yoga. You'll see that some people were really disappointed by it. I understand them very well.

I often use Steve's wisdom. Even when I think of some of his ideas as nonsense, I still give them a fair consideration, not dismiss them immediately. I try to understand his point of view. It is called "listen before you speak". Being your own authority doesn't mean being arrogant or ignorant. It simply means "think for yourself and make your own decisions".

Yes, but only because Steve Pavlina said to do it .

Originally Posted by Kazeko

Nobody wants to be Steve Pavlina. But many of people really like him and his thoughts. There's nothing pleasing in my words above. Actually, I laughed a lot and was in a very light mood when I wrote them. If you re-read my words, you'll see. And you shouldn't take them personally, too. There's nothing wrong in really liking and respecting some people AND being your own authority.

I am not referring exclusively to your post. Sorry, when I wrote "you," I didn't mean you personally, I meant "you" in general, or people. I read all of Steve's updates on Facebook that I am available to read and I read many of the follow-up comments people make. I see this idolization of him expressed in those comments.

I unfortunately missed all of his updates about yoga. I might have been a little surprised and perhaps slightly disappointed to find he is put-off by yoga, but I would probably also have concluded that he is not aware of its spiritual benefits and leave it at that and continue to do yoga myself. And what else can I do anyway? I think weight lifting is tedious and martial arts violent, so...is my experience and my opinion of less value than his? His is not invaluable, but neither is mine--he and I are different, that's it.

It also seems as if you have interpreted the fact that I don't idolize him as meaning that I don't like him, I don't respect him and that I dismiss and reject all he says. Actually, in my post I wrote nothing specifically about my personal attitude towards him and what he says and I didn't write any opinion or evaluation of anything he has said. If I dismissed his ideas out-of-hand, why would I even be on this site, or following him on Facebook?

[Kazeko]

Very interesting
We (Bliss Sage - you, and me) both like yoga. We both like Steve and his ideas, teachings and so on. We are both against blind copying and pro creative application and experimentation ("but only because Steve Pavlina said to do it" ) But it seems like we're arguing - why?

It's not really important. What's more important for me personally is that seems like I've finally manifested a friend

I'll try to find you on Facebook. In case you want to do the same - me is Eugene Kazeko.

[Cantando]

Yoga is beneficial for anyone and especially if you are recuperating from an illness or your energy levels are low. Practicing it can help you move forward into more dynamic exercises and help lessen the risk of injury through lack of flexibility and balance. It can also help reduce high blood pressure.

I like practicing it when I feel systemically tired and can't be bothered doing anything too strenuous.

It raises my energy levels so I can then do more dynamic exercises.

It is actually quite rewarding, especially when you manage a difficult posture for the first time, e.g. the head stand, back bend or scorpion pose.

I quite agree that for those who are already energized and engage in a dynamic activity, they may find it quite boring. My children certainly think so, and my wife, who is tall and leggy, finds the postures quite awkward and difficult to hold. She prefers swimming.

Whilst I would recommend it for everyone, I would especially recommend it for those who are generally unfit and not used to physical exercise - use it to get flexible and toned first, then move on to the activity/sport of your liking.

And that is just on the physical side - yoga also helps to calm the mind and relieve stress.

[Bliss Sage]

Originally Posted by Kazeko

Very interesting
We (Bliss Sage - you, and me) both like yoga. We both like Steve and his ideas, teachings and so on. We are both against blind copying and pro creative application and experimentation ("but only because Steve Pavlina said to do it" ) But it seems like we're arguing - why?

Misunderstanding?

Originally Posted by Kazeko

It's not really important. What's more important for me personally is that seems like I've finally manifested a friend

Originally Posted by Kazeko

I'll try to find you on Facebook. In case you want to do the same - me is Eugene Kazeko.

Got you

[lacinato]

Yoga is a complex, eight-limbed system, of which the physical poses are just one part (1/8), and even those come in many styles--softer or more aerobic or restorative, for example. But if it doesn't jive with Steve, so what. Not everything is interesting to everyone.

[Foo]

What about Kundalini Yoga? It seems to be more dynamic exercise-wise. Does anyone practice it?