tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post113537789958952686..comments2023-05-25T04:48:19.856-04:00Comments on Yoga Chickie: YesYoga Chickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135457007593507992005-12-24T15:43:00.000-05:002005-12-24T15:43:00.000-05:00oh, and Deepak Chopra too...Have a merry, happy, j...oh, and Deepak Chopra too...<BR/><BR/>Have a merry, happy, joyous, peaceful!<BR/><BR/>YCYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135455304136318782005-12-24T15:15:00.000-05:002005-12-24T15:15:00.000-05:00It's all good....Uma Oprah Uma Oprah Uma OpraLaure...It's all good....<BR/><BR/>Uma Oprah Uma Oprah Uma Opra<BR/><BR/>LaurenYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135454705069516372005-12-24T15:05:00.000-05:002005-12-24T15:05:00.000-05:00I know YC is no Richard Freeman! Good Lord!He is a...I know YC is no Richard Freeman! Good Lord!<BR/>He is a certified teacher under AYRI and his style is probably questionable to some "purists", that's all I am saying. <BR/>Gee wiz, I don't think Richard would be offended....<BR/><BR/>And as far as Oprah goes..It was a joke. You know trying to lighten this discussion up.Lees Lamarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03405350119148566356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135453838663502212005-12-24T14:50:00.000-05:002005-12-24T14:50:00.000-05:00"With all due respect, sir, I have known Richard F..."With all due respect, sir, I have known Richard Freeman, I am a friend of Richard Freeman's, and Yoga Chickie, sir, is NO Richard Freeman."<BR/><BR/>LOL<BR/><BR/>I don't believe Susan was saying that I am anything comparable to Richard Freeman. I think she was saying that Richard Freeman condones the practice of full Primary by those like myself who can't bind Mari D reliably (yet). Back in the summer, Sir even said to me that he thought that the practice of Bhuja Pidasana, and the Kurmasanas, would be helpful to me in opening my shoulders enough to bind better in C and D. Eventually, he took those poses back because it became clear that we needed to work on the TWIST - the shoulders are good. The twist, not so much...and there you have it.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps, my concerned friend, you need to be teaching Ashtanga...it sounds like you have some definite ideas about how you think it should be done, and I bet that there are a LOT of students who would love to learn it from you. Again, if you are who I think you are, you are a VERY popular, and highly respected teacher, and you could bring a lot to the table, including many many years of experience. You probably would not be a good fit for me as an Ashtanga teacher, but you would be a great fit for a great many who are looking for the individualized practice that you are capable of bringing to them...<BR/><BR/>Cheers.<BR/><BR/>LaurenYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135453350285692152005-12-24T14:42:00.000-05:002005-12-24T14:42:00.000-05:00To answer A Concerned Friend's Comments:1. 'I cam...To answer A Concerned Friend's Comments:<BR/><BR/>1. 'I came on to your blog because you gave me a personal invitation to do so... please don't put me down because I am just writing out of concern for you."<BR/><BR/>I am not putting you down. I am simply not agreeing with everything you wrote.<BR/><BR/>2. "With all due respect you are 40 years (hoorah to you for making it!!!) old, you are not a 16 year old gymnast."<BR/><BR/>I agree with Susan...So what I am 40 years old: what on earth does that have to do with the practice of Ashtanga? There are no rules about what a 40 year old body should be doing, and the powers that be in Mysore believe that you can take up Ashtanga until you are 77! <BR/><BR/>Look, let's not turn THIS into a fight...I do NOT think you meant the statement to be offensive. That said, I think that statement reveals a LOT about you. It tells me you are a man, first of all. Second of all, it leads me to believe that we have had this discussion in person. Why not just identify yourself as who you are when you write to me on here? I identify myself on YOUR blog, for heavens sake. If you stand behind what you write, then put your name on it. I won't out you here, but please, I discourage anonymous comments, even though I allow them. <BR/><BR/>3. "(Also in regards to people that don't know your practice: If you don't want these people to come on your blog and make comments, don't publicize it, as it is on your website and there are plenty of yoga people you've already personally told.)"<BR/><BR/>I totally WANT comments on here that I do not agree with. I WELCOME a strong and vocal dialogue here. That is why I published your comments, and didn't simply hit delete. I don't mind you or anyone else disagreeing with me, although it is my own teaching style (and mothering style) to never discourage anyone from trying to do anything they WANT to do, even if it wouldn't be my personal wish for them or my own personal choice myself (as long as it is legal and not overtly harmful, which Ashtanga is NOT.<BR/><BR/>I believe that you and I have disagreed in the past about the issue of "going to your edge". I strongly believe in "playing with the edge" - testing it, checking it out, maybe stumbling a bit beyond comfort to what is GOING to cause aches the next day. That is not injury. That is muscular development. I believe in a playful and joyful practice, but NOT a strictly "Bhoga" practice, as Susan puts it. Sir at Shala X encourages a pleasurable practice, and it is pleasurable to me to stretch to my limits. For that matter, my own medical history has left me with chronically achy joints, and stretching "beyond" the point of comfort releases endorphins such that I do not feel that achiness in my joints (instead, I feel it in my muscles, if at all). My doctor is amazed at how LITTLE achiness I complain of in my joints compared with her other patients. I believe it is the yoga.<BR/><BR/>Finally, you say you "know my practice", but unless you are my Ashtanga teacher, then you really DON'T know my practice. One of my Ashtanga teachers said to me the other day that she thinks I am going to quickly finish up with Primary (this was in response to my happily saying, "I am going to be working through Primary for a good long time."). Another one of my Ashtanga teachers said to me this week, "You're like the bionic bendy woman" (in response to nothing. I was simply getting in Mari D with minimal help from her).<BR/><BR/>So please, get off my case! With all due respect.<BR/><BR/>LaureYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135452954300193842005-12-24T14:35:00.000-05:002005-12-24T14:35:00.000-05:00WHOA!No one here said 40 is old. What does Oprah h...WHOA!No one here said 40 is old. What does Oprah have to do with this? She's a pretty bad reference to use I would think.<BR/>40 is not "old" but it's definitely DIFFERENT! You have to take that in to consideration when "playing your edge".<BR/>And YC is not Richard Freeman and should not be compared to such. She has been practicing this system for less than a year.... I have studied with Richard and find your comparison offensive. <BR/><BR/> I agree with the previous writer whole heartedly :No one needs to hurt themselves in this system in order to learn it's lessons and reap it's benefits. Don't take offense where there is actually none being directed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135439364830735442005-12-24T10:49:00.000-05:002005-12-24T10:49:00.000-05:00You know, there are different ways of practicing a...You know, there are different ways of practicing ashtanga. Richard Freeman doesn't believe that you need to finish Mari D to progress in the series, and Richard Freeman hasn't had his ashtanga license revoked by Guruji!<BR/>Freeman( I am told), actually lets people practice the whole primary series even without these "pinnacle" poses. He also lets said people practice 2nd series. Now, I know a lot of ashtangis are going to, and do, disagree with his take on ashtanga, but if you look at the history of the practice, it has changed even in the way that Guruji teaches it. Now, what happens when he dies and Sharath takes over, he will change it also. It is an organic practice, it is alive through teachers and students all over the world. <BR/><BR/>Now, I think it all might boil down to finding a teacher that you resonate with totally. Not just one who lets you do what ever you want, that's not a teacher. <BR/><BR/>Also, I do understand about playing your edge. It does need to become physically challenging over and over again. When it is, it forces you to be in that moment in that pose completely. You have to concentrate to find ease and composure. Otherwise you are doing Bhoga yoga, yoga for pleasure. That's not the point. We do yoga to find supreme happiness, some of us have harder physical work ahead of us than others. Some of us need harder poses to find that meditative aspect of the practice. The aspect that gets us out of our heads.<BR/>And we all know Lauren could probably use a little of that! <BR/><BR/>So, as I blather on in the wee morning hours, I just want to say that no one really knows anyone's practice. Really we are looking at the outer form. If Lauren hurts herself, she will learn a lesson from it like we all do. But it's up to her and her alone to find her limits and to explore her yoga. <BR/><BR/>Also, I am completely offended by the age comment. So when a woman gets to be that age she needs to be more careful? Brutalizing yourself? When did 40 become old?<BR/>I mean Oprah says 50 is the new forty, so she's back at 30 now and I am 28!!!Lees Lamarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03405350119148566356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135436503467715932005-12-24T10:01:00.000-05:002005-12-24T10:01:00.000-05:00hey L--I totally agree with whomever this person i...hey L--<BR/><BR/>I totally agree with whomever this person is who posted these last comments. I do think their response is a little overly (ashtangi) intense but it speaks some truths for sure. I don't think they were trying to discourage you, but I think they were just trying to be honest.<BR/><BR/>I know you are probably annoyed, but be glad that there are people out there that care enough about you to point out such things. <BR/><BR/>You are doing the yoga community a great service by letting people voice thier opinions on your space.<BR/><BR/>Happy holi"daze":)!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135431562481396132005-12-24T08:39:00.000-05:002005-12-24T08:39:00.000-05:00I'm really sorry, I wasn't trying to be mean or p...I'm really sorry, I wasn't trying to be mean or petty at all, thanks for not taking it as such. I actually do know your practice pretty well, I am a colleague of yours, and should have just said so. I blabbed on to much and just forgot to mention that. <BR/><BR/> I came on to your blog because you gave me a personal invitation to do so... please don't put me down because I am just writing out of concern for you.<BR/><BR/><BR/> With all due respect you are 40 years (hoorah to you for making it!!!) old, you are not a 16 year old gymnast. You don't need to brutalize yourself physically to be able to practice ashtanga well. I know this because I have been practicing for a very long time. I wasn't trying to discourage you. I think yoga is great for you, but I think you are fighting a really silly fight with this practice. And if you don't look at it with a more clear headed perspective you could get really hurt. That was really my point, sorry it got lost in late night long windness!<BR/><BR/> You haven't studied ashtanga long enough to really understand. I pray that you don't find out the hard( and painful!)way.<BR/><BR/>( Also in regards to people that don't know your practice: If you don't want these people to come on your blog and make comments, don't publicize it, as it is on your website and there are plenty of yoga people you've already personally told.)<BR/><BR/> Best,<BR/> A concerned friendAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135397802690099332005-12-23T23:16:00.000-05:002005-12-23T23:16:00.000-05:00But you don't know me or my practice either...I fi...But you don't know me or my practice either...I find it dismaying that anyone would come onto my blog and discourage me from doing what I clearly want to do at this time - which is to practice Ashtanga, which I think is VERY compatible with my personality type, and that is all that really matters: that I want to practice Ashtanga, and I am.<BR/><BR/>I don't practice the entire primary series generally speaking - I went to a led class, and then I did my own private practice today in my own home. I violated no one's tradition. I made my back feel better. Plain and simple. <BR/><BR/>I feel that your comment was not intended to be mean or petty. But I don't agree with it. With all due respect.<BR/><BR/>YCYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135397437061221882005-12-23T23:10:00.000-05:002005-12-23T23:10:00.000-05:00ychick why not try following your teacher's advice...ychick<BR/> why not try following your teacher's advice for once and just practice half primary. And move on once he/she deems that you are ready. YOU ARE NOT READY. It seems to me that you are having severe soreness and stiffness because you are pushing to hard, regardless of what a website that really knows nothing about you and your body says about "playing the edge".<BR/><BR/>Ashtanga is a great system, but it can destroy you physically and even mentally if you don't listen to people that have been doing it for a lot longer than you have.<BR/><BR/>Put your trust in your teacher and lighten up on your body before you get really hurt.<BR/><BR/><BR/> If you can't surrender your asana ego to this practice, then try another yoga type that doesn't make it <BR/>so hard for you. I think Ashtanga seems to create this wierd inner struggle for you on this issue. And I don't think it's worth fighting. Yoga is doing good things for you and you should just continue on it's path, but maybe just not in the Ashtanga system. There are plenty of other yoga styles out there that may be more compatible with your personality type.<BR/><BR/>If you can't do this, then get to Mysore so you can experience Sharat or guruji possibly stopping you at Navasana. I've seen them do this to folks that thought they were super advanced. Very good lesson in ego attachment to asana progression.<BR/><BR/>sorry to blab. But I guess I'm just trying to say that you are on the road to severe injury if you keep at this pace. <BR/><BR/>om shanti.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135396663938165482005-12-23T22:57:00.000-05:002005-12-23T22:57:00.000-05:00That is incredibly sweet suziecolumbus! Thanks, a...That is incredibly sweet suziecolumbus! Thanks, and best wishes to you as well!<BR/><BR/>Namaste...<BR/><BR/>LaurenYoga Chickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01370141306007721604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13149662.post-1135395206920183562005-12-23T22:33:00.000-05:002005-12-23T22:33:00.000-05:00Yoga Chickie: thanks so much for this particular ...Yoga Chickie: thanks so much for this particular post; it was great as usual, and for all your posts over the entire year. I read you every day religiously and I relate to you as a mother, a yogini, and an ashtangi lawyer. <BR/><BR/>Best wishes for 2006. <BR/><BR/>Namaste.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com