Advise on practising asanas without a teacher

topic posted Mon, March 12, 2007 - 9:43 PM by  offline.:magic:.
Hi all.
I just finished reading The Tree of Yoga and I am very inspired. I am currently staying in rural Arkansas and there is no yoga instructors anywhere nearby. Does anyone have suggestions on learning and practicing yoga asanas without a teacher? Is it just a bad idea and I should wait until I can return to Seattle in a few months?

Thanks,
--Tom
posted by:
.:magic:.
Seattle
  • if i were in this situation, i would rent some yoga dvds/videos by Patricia Walden. she studies with BKS Iyengar. I took an intensive with her at a yoga journal conference and she inspired me in such a way I can't describe. I was getting out of a rutt and she pulled me right out of it.
    Although, it's the best if you have a teacher.
    • Re: Advise on practising asanas without a teacher

      Tue, March 13, 2007 - 10:27 AM
      I agree with the above recommendation for DVDs by Patricia Walden; Rodney Yee's are very good too. They are both available from Gaiam. I've been using them for quite a while now to help guide my practice at home -- but I did start off with a teacher first.
  • Re: Advise on practising asanas without a teacher

    Tue, March 13, 2007 - 10:32 AM
    I've never practiced with videos, but I have with books. By far the best one to start out with is "Yoga the Iyengar Way" that can be found on a few websites ( www.amazon.com/Yoga-Iyeng.../0679722874 , or www.yogalifestyle.com/BKSMSMY...rWay.htm )

    I'm pretty sure you'll get a lot more for your buck with this book since not only does it include detailed pictures & descriptions of individual asanas, it also has scores of possible classes that you can teach yourself depending on which series you choose from the appendix.
    • Thanks everyone for your advise. I think I will start with this book and see what happens. Hopefully I wont break my neck. ;)

      --Tom
      • Re: Advise on practising asanas without a teacher

        Thu, March 15, 2007 - 10:45 AM
        Go slowly, think 'slow'ga.

        Look to get into each pose fully.

        Find your basis in standing mountain pose. Stand there, shift your weight onto one leg, engage you thigh, relax your body weight deeply into your center, feel the downward pull with the engaged belly.

        Deeply relax into the base of the spine while the body stretches.

        Move to the other leg.

        Then both legs. Find your integrity in this pose, and then move towards this integrity in every other posture.

        Forward bend tip: LEGS! Don't push yourself into bending deeper, you'll be bending the lower back instead of extending the legs. ENGAGE THE LEGS!

        Backbend tip: LIFT! Keep your lower spine relaxed stability and totally lift through the upper body/back. Lift powerfully to completely lift out of the lower back, creating plenty of space.

        Go slow, have fun, be at peace!
        • Thanks Dan! I like that....slowga. I have been using your guidance for tadasana and it is helping. Thanks to all who had helped me get started. I am slowly beginning to practise with the help of the book suggested above and another Iyengar book "Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health". It is tough not knowing if I am doing it poses correctly but I guess this is a start until I can get back to civilization.

          Love to you all,
          --Tom
          • Re: Advise on practising asanas without a teacher

            Thu, April 19, 2007 - 10:05 AM
            Yes, it is a start. And this way you will be familiar with the poses when you do go into a classroom setting. Another helpful tip is to use the wall to support you, and buy a block (you can get them from any yoga supply place on line or even at target). When doing standing poses like trinkonasana (triangle) when you have to put a hand to the floor, put your hand on the block - starting with the highest point of the block - so that you can work your legs and lengthen your spine. It's easy to focus on getting your hand to the floor rather than the integrity of the pose. I also like to use a mirror when I am alone. Oh, and don't forget the breath. It's key to yoga!

            I just think it's great you are making the effort to try something like yoga on your own, without the push of a teacher or others around you. It's always harder than it looks.

            namaste.

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