Is there such a thing as too much asana?
A theme has been bubbling underneath several of our recent posts and the comments on them. I’d call it this:
Can you do too much asana?
Via ashtangayoga.info
There was the comment from TG in this post on whether to say “No” in Asthanga; the point was that during a forced hiatus (thanks to injury) other limbs of Ashtanga came into greater focus. There was the description of Mysore style practice, straight from Jois Yoga, that suggested why one needs to start off slowly and not take on too many poses too quickly. In the past, I’ve talked about how doing a shorter practice allows me to focus more intently on the fewer poses I’m doing. It becomes a quality over quantity thing.
And, perhaps, Guy Donahaye answered it in this post from this week on the 99% practice idea, in which he explained a bit more precisely what “practice” means — it’s self-study, it’s reading, it’s off the mat, too.
If you look around most shalas (in my experience), you certainly will see people doing lots of asana and, more to the point, lots of them focused pretty plainly on getting more.
More, more and more. Isn’t that one of the charges directed against Western society, that we are programmed to want more than we need? Is it true on the mat? I’m wondering if it is possible that in some subtle ways, we often let our asanas lead our practice to an unhealthy degree. After all, we’re supposed to be learning to let go of desire; but wanting the next pose would seem the exact opposite of that.
Perhaps this is — as Donahaye quotes Brad Ramsey from the Guruji book — because “asanas are kindergarten.” These are the easiest limb, the first one we undertake. And I think we’d all agree that, while “easy” (I wish! I can’t believe I’m even writing that), they also are deeply affecting and very obvious in their impact. They cause and make change; and so it is natural for us to what to get us some more of that goodness.
But what do we miss by throwing ourselves too much, perhaps, into asana? (Or perhaps this isn’t a question for most of us as we need to first wring ourselves out before we really can tackle the other limbs.) Is our focus too narrow? Does advancing and getting more poses feed too much into the ego? Do the other limbs suffer as a result? Does other study — what Donahaye includes in “practice” — suffer?
Or, to turn the question onto myself: Am I thinking this way just out of jealously, as someone stuck for who knows how long on Primary? What do I know of too much asana? I’m just the guy who rolls into the shala early, bangs out the practice, and is among the first to leave — a fairly short and sweet practice. And I as I walk out, I see folks working on Pincha Mayurasana or the headstands of Second and think, “$#!+.”
Posted by Steve
That is interesting that Guy would say that asanas are kindergarden, like it. Have not read his post yet, but will… The thing with asana is that we feel a bit more in control, it is something we “do”, as opposed to the higher limbs that just “happen” to us when the conditions are right. I find a lot easier to do than to have things happen…
As per the too much asana, good question. I remember Sharath speaking about it conference early this year, it was in the context of him talking about yoga not being crazy but people making yoga crazy, and how asana has its place but must not be overdone…
I am having a deeper and renewed interest in pranayama lately after reading Maehle’s book, recognizing its importance and also its place in moving us towards a more wholesome practice… awful that just got sick as well, so when all inspired cannot even breathe!
Funny about your last paragraph, I feel the same way!
I think Guy was quoting Brad (from a quote from the Guruji book). So it may make more sense in the context of the first Westerners to practice with Guruji. But the idea of his post is that “practice” is more than just asana, so in that sense I think we could be emphasizing asana too much, to the determent of other practices/pursuits.
Maybe, anyway.
And, pranayama is one for me that definitely gets lost in the crunch of time. That’s a very concrete example.
S
I love that Source makes us go even deeper, so that when we are injured or challenged by illness, we have to find another way into our lotus and back out again.
Six years ago, I had to stop doing asana – even Suryanamaskars – because of an IUD. For two years. The pain of asana – of really any movement – was unbearable. It was very depressing. I felt like I was 80 years old (I was 40 at the time)
(I won’t go into details, but if any of you ladies out there practicing have an IUD in, and are experiencing bad back pain, get it removed. Immediately. And, even if you don’t have back pain with it, take it out. I have had several students with back pain from IUDs and all have reported relief from the pain upon removal. Nancy Gilgoff told me to take it out when she learned I had one, but, not wanted to have any more babies, I foolishly ignored her sage advice. But, I digress.)
Anyhow, I had to turn to the other limbs. I was forced to, because asana wasn’t accessible any more. (Even the “squishy yogas” felt terrible. Movement was agony.)
I began doing Vipassana meditation, and studying the Sutras, studying Sanskrit, studying the Upanishads, the Dhammapada, the Gita, the Ramayana…yada yada. Anything I could get my hands on, to further my practice in that way. My sitting practice became my refuge. My studies brought greater depth of knowledge and clarity.
Asana is just the tip of the Yoga iceberg (I think that’s a David Swenson aphorism!)
When the IUD was removed, the relief from the pain was almost immediate (and I lost 20lbs of water weight in one month, which was also kind of nice.) And, the asanas returned, slowly. I had to rebuild my practice from the ground up, and Primary series was the key to my healing.
This “injury” was an blessing. It helped me let go of the sense that doing asana was the only way one could practice daily. It broadened my practice. It made me a better teacher, too, because I could relate to those who experience pain in the practice, or who suffer from chronic pain, and, having healed myself through the practice, I’ve been able to use what I’ve learned from the experience to help my students.
I’m not fully back to what I once was able to do. Lots of scar tissue to melt away, still. But, patience and trust in the practice has enabled me to get through most of the first two series. I feel like I’m 25 again,which is a lot nicer than feeling like you’re 80.
Hi Michelle. Thanks for sharing all that. While that isn’t the way I’d want you to get “away” from asana, it was what I mean — David’s quote is just about perfect. And your use of the phrase “broadened my practice.” That’s pretty keyed into what I’m suggesting — have we overemphasized asana at the expense of other important practices. What else are we missing that might be key.
Our yatra, obviously, is forcing us to broaden things. (So. Much. Reading!)
“Yada yada” is part of the Siva Purana, right?
S
I think what I’ve found is that both asana practice and study of the scriptures and texts – and especially, study of the Sutras in the original Sanskrit – combined have enhanced my daily sadhana. I started to share a Sutra a week with my students this Spring, and we are on Sadhana Pada still. (I tell them they have to stick around and come week for the next four years in order to find out how it turns out.)
I write the Sutra down on the blackboard in Devanagari, with the transliteration and translation that strikes me as the closest to my own understanding of it, and then we discuss it before each led class. Having to understand each Sutra to the point where I can even begin to explain it to my students is a great way to come to understand for myself, intuitively, the meaning of what Patanjali was sharing. Which helps enhance my asana practice, too, for some reason.
Oh, and Yada Yada is Sanskrit! (means whenever and wherever)
It’s actually the first words of one of the sweetest, most important and comforting stanzas (chapter 4) in the Gita:
Yada yada hi dharmasya, glanir bhavati bharata
Abhyuthanam adharmasya tadatmaanam srujaamyaham
Paritranaaya saadhunaam vinaashaaya ch dushcritaam
Dharmasanstha panaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge
The simple meaning is :
Whenever dharma declines, O Bharat (Arjun), and the purpose of life is forgotten, I will manifest myself
I am born in every age (yugas) to protect the good, to destroy the evil and reestablish dharma
OK. I’m stunned. You’re serious. I thought this was going to be the greatest (joking) moment on this blog… and then it was actually better. Shows what I know.
I think I need to go lie down.
It is astounding, yes!