Your Yoga Practice

[Bridgette]

I'm curious to know how often and how long you practice yoga/meditation.

[cyclezen]

Originally Posted by Bridgette

I'm curious to know how often and how long you practice yoga/meditation.

hmmm
in fall/winter I generally succeeded in doing 3 'class' practices a week, and 2 short home sessions focused on overall suppleness and stretching, if at what seems like the end of the 'home' sessions I find myself ready for a meditative period, thats cool.
Otherwise I don't try for some set time for meditation - I catch it when it seems right - usually about 3, sometimes 4 times a week.

Now that we're in Daylight savings time, and I'm finally feeling a little stronger after an injury which really set me on my butt, I'll be looking to a min of 4 days of cycling a week (a bit less than prior years) and around 2 'class' practices a week (home stretching 'practice' at least 3x a week, usually after a ride). With real focus on stretching and suppleness - the cycling really locks up the hips and back if one doesn;t do something to counter that.
Classes are all 1 1/2 hr length, home practice is usually 35 to 45 min.
Meditation is usually under an hour.
I'm starting to feel a little 'short' on reading time...
...I could never had keep this kinda schedule when the 'kids' were in the house... but i miss them terribly ;-(

what about you? what and how do you juggle? I'm curious also...

[Hubert]

I so envy those who can meditate an hour ... I do daily 10-15 minutes in the early morning, and it is still tiring - physically. (Postural issues)
Asana ... I do them every second day, mostly in the afternoon, not a full set but specificly adressing my issues ... mostly restorative poses, lying on my back. Total amount of time dedicated between 30-60 minutes.
Pranayama, restorative, lying on my back, 10 full breaths with mild internal and external retention, before going to bed.

I also do some light weight training twice a week, as I am skinny, and it complements asana well.

[justwannabe]

hubert, you can always use a chinesse meditation bench. I make mine myself, total cost less then a buck, 2x6 and nails. OVer time as I have setteled down on the bench I have made lower and lower ones. Now when I am loose I can sit on my heels, when I am tight I still use the bench.

for me I practice meditation 6 days a week 2x a day and asanas 6 days a week once or twice, I find it helps me to center myself and since I started doing the mediton, I do a breathing practice then a mantra. then settle into meditation. That is how I role I plan on doing the meditation continuosly because I desire to not miss the seventh day.
seeker
seeker

[yogiforlife]

I practice Yoga around 5-6 times a week, usually at least 45 minutes of Asana, sometimes I'll go as far as an hour fifteen, hour twenty and I'll meditate between 5-15 minutes depending on time restraints and how I feel. I jog about every fifth day and prefer not to do Yoga the day after. I also work in some light weights 2-3 times a week.

[Pandara]

Hi,

I start in the mornings with meditation 05:00 - 06:00 and then half an hour of yoga stretches and a few asanas and another half hour of devotional yoga.

In the evenings I present yoga classes and on Thursdays I go to my own teacher for yoga and instructions.

I skip the yoga every second morning and usually either do some swimming or do some weights to keep the muscles toned.

[Hubert]

I found an image of a chinese mediation bench, but frankly, I have no idea how it's supposed to be used.
bench

For meditation, I cannot do days in a row, sitting in sidhhasana (my favourite), as after a week my knees start to hurt, I do it every second, or third day, and the other days I try vajrasana using a pillow, or just simply sitting on a chair without a back ... what kind of makes keeping balance a problem.
My aim in asana is to correct my posture and open my hips to be able to do more siddhasana.

[Fin]

Originally Posted by Pandara

Hi,

I start in the mornings with meditation 05:00 - 06:00 and then half an hour of yoga stretches and a few asanas and another half hour of devotional yoga.

Hi Pandara,

Do you meditate immediately after waking up (for 1 hr)?

I find I am too sleepy when I wake up. So I need a bit of activity before I can meditate else I will dose off, very easy for me. I find 20mins of meditation immediately after Yoga asanas, is ok for me.

Would you suggest meditating upon waking?
Thanks.

Love,
Fin

[Pandara]

Hi Fin,

I think it is more a personal thing. I am of no use after about 20:00 at night. I start to wake from about 04:00, so by 05:00 I am actually wide awake and ready. I like that time of the morning so it is best for me to meditate then. I am also at now for more than 12 years so it is second nature. I don't dose off like I used to in the beginning and I also gradually increased my sittings over the years.

[Hubert]

I feel honoured to visit a forum with so many select people. It really is a blessing.