Overdoing Yoga-Yoga Overload-Every Damn Day-Podcast 761

Overdoing Yoga-Yoga Overload-Every Damn Day-Podcast 761

These days I do so much yoga I have added a podcast about it. Every Damn Day. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Can you do too much? We’ll talk about it in Overdoing Yoga-Yoga Overload-Every Damn Day-Podcast 761.

Yoga Challenge

At the studio where I practice we have something called ‘The Yoga Challenge’. This podcast details how a “Type A” person responds to a ‘challenge’.

Thirty in Thirty

There are different levels to the challenges. Some people do ten practices in a month. Some do twenty. Fewer do ‘thirty in thirty’, First time I signed up for the challenge I thought, there’s no way.

Winning At Yoga

Moreover, as a yoga addict from way back, I realized the way to ‘win’ the challenge is to double dip. ‘Winning’ is finishing first. Especially relevant is the reminder that there is no real ‘winning‘. You simply ‘do’ thirty classes in a month and that’s the challenge. But it’s fun and even more challenging to try and finish first. That means two classes a day. For some, it might mean three. How much is too much?

Teachable Moments

In addition to pushing yourself, the challenge and ‘race’ to the finish line has some very teachable moments. I talk about them in Overdoing Yoga-Yoga Overload-Every Damn Day-Podcast 761.

No Sleep

Yes I do the challenge every time the studio does it. It has deepened my practice. Yes you get sore. Yes you get tired. Who cares though, right? It has also raised my consciousness to the point where I don’t sleep and I am very energetic. What’s wrong with that?

Yes You Can

In conclusion we don’t want to cause injuries. However sometimes when we think we can’t we find out we can. By the way, these yoga podcasts are always done from the point of view of a lifelong student of yoga, not a teacher. These are my impressions as a humble student.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Hydrus Performance

Overdoing Yoga-Yoga Overload-Every Damn Day-Podcast 761

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Yoga Purists-Change-Always A Student-Bob Davis Podcast 746

Yoga Purists-Change-Always A Student-Bob Davis Podcast 746

Lobby time at the Yoga studio. Lots of discussion about yoga and life. One of my teachers suggested I talk about Yoga Purists in my next Yoga Podcast. Sometimes change is the challenge in Yoga Purists-Change-Always A Student-Bob Davis Podcast 746.

Good Habits Can Be Limiting

Especially relevant is the pace of our busy life. My solution to a busy pace is to create habits. Same classes. Same times. Yoga Every Damn Day. The same yoga.

These days some yogis feel strongly about spirituality in yoga. Moreover some yogis feel one type of practice is THE practice and that’s all they do.

Is yoga a religion?

I used to think it was not. Two veteran teachers have told me Yoga IS a religion. The spiritual component is there if you want it. We’ll talk about it in Yoga Purists-Change-Always A Student-Bob Davis Podcast 746.

Do I Have To Be Spiritual?

Does a yogi have to be ‘spiritual’. Moreover does a yogi have to be observant? My young teacher training friends tell me new people these days come in because of the spiritual component. What if you’re not so interested in that part of the practice.

This Practice Is The Only Practice

Finally I started with one ‘kind’ of yoga. I thought that one kind of yoga was the be all and end all. Like many ‘hotties’ I thought we were the strongest and the best practitioners of yoga. I was a purist.

One night the sculpt teacher across the hall didn’t show up and the sculpt students joined our ‘Bikram style’ hot class. ‘Bikram’ purists have often remarked, “Sculpt Is Not Yoga”. This would be the proof.

It’s Not A Competition, then again…

Moreover, I am here to tell you those sculpt students kicked our asses and convinced me I had to try sculpt.

Consequently branching out turned out to be a path to growth. Furthermore, sculpt made me stronger and improved my other practices. imagine learning a practice I thought ‘wasn’t’ yoga could make me stronger and a better yogi.

Go With It!

In conclusion creating habits to accomplish goals is a good thing. In contrast habits can also make us reluctant to accept change. Classes change. Teacher’s schedules shift. Studios offer more of one type of class than another. The one constant is change.

Sometimes if we go with the flow, we are shocked to find we like it more!

(Editor’s Note: In this podcast I refer to a purist as an iconoclast, which is of course the exact opposite of a purist. Sometimes I crack myself up.)

Sponsored by Water Butler Purification Systems and Hydrus Performance

Yoga Purists-Change-Always A Student-Bob Davis Podcast 746

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Ego-Narcissism-Meditation-Yoga-Always-A-Student-Podcast 732

Ego-Narcissism-Meditation-Yoga-Always-A-Student-Podcast 732

A new study says egos get bigger after meditation and yoga. Wait! What? I thought yoga quiets the ego? Get my reaction to this study in Ego-Narcissism-Meditation-Yoga-Always-A-Student-Podcast 732.

Study Could Shake Up Yoga Community

The study, from Southhampton University makes some claims that might shake up the Yoga community. In the west these days our ‘persona’ is a product and a real thing. Furthermore social media emphasizing the ego.

Yoga Stereotype

Especially relevant is the emphasis placed on youth and beauty. Yoga in the US certainly has a stereotype. So it’s especially relevant given these factors, people may do yoga to feel better about themselves. Is that so bad?

Hitting The Mat To Lose Weight

We come to the mat for many different reasons. For beginners, spirituality usually isn’t one of those reasons. People want to lose weight. Some want to look good for an upcoming event. Others are stressed out. In addition some yogis use the practice to cross-train for a better finish for the marathon or to make their golf game better.

Judgements Aren’t All Bad

We’re not supposed to make judgements. We do, though. One thing I understood years after I started practicing is that yoga amplifies what is inside you. If you’re a jerk, yoga will make you a bigger jerk. I explain how that might work in Ego-Narcissism-Meditation-Yoga-Always-A-Student-Podcast 732.

Yoga Journey

The study didn’t examine how yogis change after practicing for a few years or decades. What if comparisons and judgements are part of the yoga journey? Therefore, if we stay on the path we learn lessons that put the ego in perspective.

Talking About Myself

I spend a lot of time talking about myself in a podcast taking the position that yoga is in fact ego calming. I find that most noteworthy and ironic.

What Is A Healthy Ego?

In conclusion, what is a heathy ego? When does a healthy sense of self become narcissism? For many students of yoga this is a huge part of the journey. Maybe its starts with wanting to lose weight or look good, but ends with profound insights.

Sponsored by Water Butler Water Purification Systems and Hydrus Performance

Ego-Narcissism-Meditation-Yoga-Always-A-Student-Podcast 732

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:00 — 89.3MB) | Embed

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