Mark Whitwell video link

[Karin]

As I just recommended it in a private message, I would also give you the link to a video of Mark Whitwell.
For me he points out so clearly what yoga is about.

For me it helps me to give up my ideals and to accept how I am and that it is alright and to relax with that ... .

The link:
Yoga of Heart -- The Healing Power of Intimate Connection Introduction - Google Video

I would like to "hear" what you think about it.

[justwannabe]

I had it on while doing other things but paid attention when it caught my attention. It is a very interesting conversation and brings up some very valid points. I enjoyed it and agree with a lot of what he said. I cannot say I disagree with much, or anything, I would have asked some questions. thanks for the link

[Hubert]

I like him. Seems to be a good man, and with great peace.

[Mirjana]

Dear Karin,

first of all thank you for the link. I found it very refresing !

I spent some time reading some old posts of this forum and I found this interesting disccusion. You might be interested:

http://www.yogaforums.com/forums/q-y...ght=raja+hatha

[Karin]

Originally Posted by Mirjana

... the link. I found it very refresing !

Commentary (Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha -Saraswati)

just to mention: the book is from Satyananda; Saraswati is the order he belongs to.

...“In raja yoga, asana refers to the sitting position, but in hatha yoga it means something more. Asanas are specific body positions which open the energy channels and psychic centres. They are tools to higher awareness and provide the stable foundation for our exploration of the body, breath, mind and beyond. The hatha yogis also found that by developing control of the body through asana, the mind is also controlled. Therefore, the practice of asana is foremost in hatha yoga.”

Sorry I just didn't had the time to read all in detail, but maybee the following quotes gives you an answer:

"Patanjali called his sytem yoga. He did not give it a specific title or differentiate it from other yogic paths. Since the time of writing the Yoga Sutras, however, his method has come to be called Patanjali yoga (the yoga of Patanjali).
Patanjali yoga is widely identified as being the same as raja yoga (the royal path of yoga). We, however, prefer to define Patanjali yoga as a specific system within the wider framework of raja yoga. According to our definition, raja yoga includes the following system:
* Kundalin i yoga; also called laya yoga
* Kriya yoga
* Mantra yoga
* Dhyan yoga as described in the Bhagvad Gita
* Patanjali yoga
Raja yoga (including Patanjali yoga) is the science of the mind. ...
Specifically, Patanjali yoga is the system which consists of eight stages: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. It is therefor widley called ashtanga yoga (the yoga of eight stages)."
[from Swami Satyananda Saraswati in "Four Chapters on Freedom"]

"The beauty of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is that it solves a very great problem faced from every aspirant. Swatmarama has completely eliminated the yama (moral codes) and niyama (self-restraints) which are the starting point in Buddhist and Jain systems as well as in Patanjalis raja yoga."
[Foreword from Swami Satyananda in "Hatha Yoga Pradipika"]

There are probably even more other definitions and classifications around; even Satyananda might have said somewere something different (?).

...

[Karin]

Originally Posted by Mirjana

I spent some time reading some old posts of this forum and I found this interesting disccusion. You might be interested:

Sorry, just didn't really got that.
Maybe the quotes of Satyananda are interesting anyway?

[Mirjana]

Originally Posted by Karin

Sorry, just didn't really got that.
Maybe the quotes of Satyananda are interesting anyway?

Hi Karin,

I copied this post because mentions also the coflict between dualism and nondualism.

And Mark Whitwell is quite critical about theories based on "another higher reality"......

Greetings

[Karin]

Originally Posted by Mirjana

I copied this post because mentions also the coflict between dualism and nondualism.

How do you mean that?

And Mark Whitwell is quite critical about theories based on "another higher reality"......

yes

[Mirjana]

You see Karin here is the thing. I'm going through tipical (I think) beginner's fases. Yoga philosophy is very new to me. I'm reading Yoga Sutras as classical text of Yoga. And I just can't help myself not to analize myself too much, putting maybe too much effort on my practising. I know in theory that I should give up the expectations, but how if there is a goal in the yogic path?

And than I saw this video of Mark. And it was just the right words for my ears: "Yoga is participation in a wonder that is already given. It's already the case." He says "just do your yoga (asana & pranayama) and forget about everything else. The result is the polarity, the intimacy with your own life, breath and out of that with everything else. And it happens automaticly that we start to recieve each other. Don't worry about the philosophy just do your yoga! And so on...

He says also that the models of human perfection (social spiritual ideal what you should be or what you could attain) deny the perfection which is already in you as life itself.

I could relate with his words but it raised some questions in me. How is actually the relation Hata yoga - Classical yoga? Are the teachings opposing each other or only the approaches are different for the same thing?
So I was looking for some answers on this forum and in the post I copied similar questions appeard...

I would be happy to get some opinions.

Originally Posted by Karin

How do you mean that?


yes