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A Lesson for My Adult Friends - Practicing Yoga
“Do the best that you can in the place where you are and be kind.” Scott Nearing
Do you remember when I told you that I practice patience? My mom told me this is a form of yoga. I also try to be thoughtful. I have a calm way about myself and, like I told you on my homepage, I reflect on things before acting. You will hear yoga teachers talk about patience and thoughtfulness during a yoga class. My mom told me this. She told me that I have the qualities of a yogini (female yoga student). This is why I thought I should teach a lesson on yoga. There is no competition in yoga - everyone is different. This is why I like it.
Learn About Yoga. What is yoga? Yoga is a practice. When you hear people talk about yoga they will call it a “practice" which means we each have our own private individual experience with yoga and this grows over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always changing so it never gets boring. The Sanskrit word for yoga poses is asana. They don’t change over time but your thinking and moving does. Let’s face it. I am a dog and yoga asana was not developed for dogs but I discovered something. You can practice yoga off the yoga mat and that is what I do. I practice yoga off the mat.
Yoga is all about the breath. Yoga is just something to do while you breathe. Anyone can start a yoga practice, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will develop over time. Another great thing about thinking about "your yoga practice" is that it involves only you (it is private) and this way you do not compete with others (dogs or people). Yoga teaches you to accept yourself and that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing the best they can every single day.
What is Om? Om is a at the bSanskrit word for the sound of the universe. In yoga class the teacher will chant Om eginning and end of the class. I can’t say this sound but I feel it. That is because I am a dog, remember. Chanting Om is really like a form of meditation.
When did yoga begin? Yoga began about 3,000 years ago in India. The word yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning “to bind, join, attach, and yoke.” Yoga connects the mind with the body. In yoga we “bind” ourselves with our inner life force – our inner spirit.
What do you call someone who practices yoga? A male student is called a yogi and a female is a yogini.
There are many types of yoga but there are two that are the best for dogs. Here they are.
Karma Yoga – When you practice karma yoga you are giving to others without expecting to receive anything in return. These are generous acts of kindness. I call this yoga off the mat. Doesn’t this sound like the perfect yoga practiced by the dogs you know? Karma yoga is all about kind actions and putting your energy into good deeds in the present moment. I do this very well. Paying total attention to the present moment is an easy action for dogs (and cats too).
Hatha Yoga – This is the most popular form of yoga - the physical practice of yoga that involves poses or postures (called asana in Sanskrit, remember?). I call this yoga on the mat. Many people think that yoga is just stretching, twisting, back bending, and forward folding. There is this and more in hatha yoga but it also a way of creating balance in your body by developing both strength and flexibility. The asana is what helps this development. My mom taught me this. The only hatha yoga asana I really know how to do right now is downward facing dog. I do not have my spinal column in the same position as a human does when I do this asana because I am a dog and I need to do this asana in the best way for me. The Sanskrit word for downward facing dog is Adho Mukha Svanasana (pronounced "AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna").
What are the benefits of yoga?
Your learning improves from concentrating on the present moment
You feel good about yourself
You learn to love your individual learning style
You feel connected to others who practice – the Sanskrit word for this community connection is sangha
You learn how to be a good listener
You learn how to be a kind person and understand how important it is to have peace inside of yourself and in the world
You learn to be responsible for your own words and actions
You learn how to get along with others and improve your cooperation and communication skills
You improve your fitness, flexibility, balance, coordination, and strength - Strong bodies - Strong minds
Sample Lesson Plan for Teachers - Here is a chance for your teacher to use yoga in a school classroom. Sanskrit words are in bold.
Introduction: You are studying trees. Use the sequoia tree (like my name) as an example. The sequoia is also called big tree - giant redwood. It is a very tall evergreen tree that grows in California. The trunk is very large with light-colored, reddish wood (my color). Did you know a giant sequoia can live over 100 years?
You prepare for the class by standing tall with your feet flat on the ground. “A tree can live for hundreds of years,” the teacher says; then asks, “What holds a tree steady in the ground for so many years?” “Roots!” you reply. The teacher tells you to imagine you have roots growing into the earth from your feet. Let’s stand in Tadasana – the is Sanskrit for mountain poise. Close your eyes. Feel your roots grow deep into the ground. When you are ready, open your eyes. Raise one leg to create a low branch and raise both arms upward to create high branches. Focus on one point (Dristi – a gazing technique that develops concentration). Find a spot and look at it and only it – focusing on one spot that is not moving will help you with balance otherwise you will probably fall. You are now in tree poise – Vriksha asana - Lower your branches and try this asana on the opposite side. In your mind’s eye, create any tree you choose – an apple, orange, or palm, or sequoia tree! After practicing this asana, your class can then learn about the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange between humans and trees. This can then lead into a discussion of forests. Many valuable discussions and lessons continue to stem :-) from this one subject, as you learn to see the connections between all living things.
(photo is from MSNBC - This is a photo of a yoga teacher showing a dog how to stretch in preparation for yoga class.)
Learn more:
www.yogakids.com If you are a kid, don't miss this website.
www.msnbc.msn/com/id/17930468 On this website you can find a very good article for people who want to practice yoga with their dogs. This is where I found the photo at the top of the page.
Om
Shanti - peace
Namaste - I honor the light within you
The Tree Pose
These photos are from an excellent website that includes information on Yoga for Youth. It is called Yoga Everywhere.
www.yogaeverywhere.com
