Seizures in Warrior Pose

[Pandara]

Hi Michael,

What I am baout to explain is just a possibility and you must take it and see if it fits. I shall also endeavour to explain it in simple language without using the yoga or Easterm philosophy terms. Please remember this is just a view and that I am following here my feelings and impressions that I pick-up from you.

I have a feeling that what you might expereince in part is what we call the moving of energy or shakti. You have done yoga and certain asanas over the years over and over and this repitition has created a certain movement of energy in your subtle bodies. Yoga is not just about the physical asanas, but behind it you work with energy and in a way we manipulate this energy to achieve certain states of awareness or to reach certain goals, if this happens without the greater understanding of the philosophic teachings behind yoga, you can end up experiencing certain things and they might be profound spiritual experiences.

The fact that these "seizures" makes you feel good, is for me an indication that you expereince more than just seizures, my grandfather who lived with us had many seizures and I promise yuo he never looked or felt good after them, in fact he looked terrible for weeks and months. Personaly I think through your persistent and constant yoga practice certain energy channels have automatically been purified and your spiritual eenergy which is situated at the base of the spine could start to move around more freely in your body, the only way your body could handle this spiritual energy is by having a "seizure". I think if you had a good and competent teacher who understood what happened to you, he/she might have guided you into greater understanding.

Anyway, this is my feeling I have here, it might be wrong. About your friends visiting you, I have a feeling that they need your blessings. Just close your eyes next time, try to feel them or visualise them and bless their souls where ever they are and surround them with all your Light, Love, peace and harmony.

I trust this might shed some light for you on this, again please this is no absolute answer as I am going on my feeling here.

[InnerAthlete]

Seizures or muscle tremors? Now I feel we need some clarifications please Michael.

I certainly understand the nature of your surrounding community. What is often overlooked is that Jesus was one of the great yoga masters - though I cannot say whether his practice involved asana as we know it today.

There is, as outlined by another poster, the possibility of such experiences being part of the part, a genesis for growth or break through. However, if you are getting such reactions each and every time you are doing the posture (warrior II) then I would assert that reduces the likelihood of such an assessment.

The Resident's hands in the photo above are not "correct". The pose is as you state you are doing it.

To answer your question, I find my entire practice to be a profoundly calm. This is the very reason I start my practice with centering - so that I may retain that focus even when my life (or my pose) is turned upside down. While I would not give it up I would also not cling to it. I take what comes in my practice. It would be foolish to believe only bliss would be stirred.

It is not euphoria that is yoga. And euphoria (or profound calmness) is not the only residue of practice. And each of the residues of practice are valid, with none being higher nor lower than the others.

[Pandara]

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

There is, as outlined by another poster, the possibility of such experiences being part of the part, a genesis for growth or break through. However, if you are getting such reactions each and every time you are doing the posture (warrior II) then I would assert that reduces the likelihood of such an assessment.

Michael, I agree here with IA and this is something you also need to keep in mind and investigate, especially about the constant recurrance of the "seizures". The movement of energy might happen one or two times and then it will usually subside.

[micoder]

InnerAthlete,
I have uncontrollable convulsive movements of my body about 10 minutes after the warrior. They are fairly serious. There was a couple of times that the convulsions were preventing my muscles in my chest from breathing. Although I felt the pain in my chest from the lack of air I still felt calm. The little tremors are what I feel for about a half an hour after my routine.

My last pose is called the crane. When I finish that I stay in my room for a while. My wife feels a little disconcerted by what she calls my thousand yard stare when I come right out. My eyes simply don't focus on anything and I have no desire to focus on anything. I wait until I can focus again on reality. I can speed this up and have done so by thinking of something that irritates me. I sort of pretend to get mad about about it and then I am suddenly back "here".

I will look up the corpse pose. I will try to do it after the crane. I feel I live in a very calm universe. I do housekeeping chores like anyone else, do some coding, and volunteer at a local hospice. I felt some sort of pull to this kind of work in 1989. Taking care of people, being with them, praying with them as they go to the edge of life is a great privilege. Most of my volunteer work has been in an aids hospice. It is a cruel disease.

It has never occurred to me to somehow move my yoga routine to include the outside world. I can hardly conceive of it. I just go through life like everyone else.

I am glad that your yoga brings you that calmness. It is a real blessing. I noticed that you commented on the idea that some people have of being spiritually high. I have seen how seductive this idea can be. I see so many personalities on tv claiming a direct line to God and of course those who believe this nonsense. I am just a non practicing atheist.

Pandara,

A couple of years ago I started feeling this profound calmness. I started relaxing more and more into that calmness each time because it felt so good. That means that each routine would bring me more pleasure. I realize that from a religious viewpoint that pleasure seeking is unseemly. As I said, I am not very religious. There was a day when I went very very deep into that well of calmness. Suddenly I felt what might physically be described as a burning sensation moving up my body. I instantly sensed that my personalilty, memories, and everything that was "me" was evaporating. I felt rabid fear. I broke out in a cold sweat. Waves of heat and cold started going through me. I pulled myself back from that place. I had tremors for days afterwards. Now I go to that place of calmness but I know that there is a limit to how far I can let myself go. I tell you this because I am trying explain more fully what is going on with me. Yoga for me means great calmness, but also the threat of loss. There is a limit on how much I can enjoy the trip.

If there is a God, maybe he figures I was just having too much of a good thing and needed a kick in the ass. I just can't conceive of the idea of a God that created a universe as vast as our own and a God that allows His creations to suffer so.

There was also a very significant moment in my routine once that has made a big change in my life. I was in that very calm place and suddenly I saw a person who had tortured me when I was a prisoner. I immediately felt a complete forgiveness of what he did and felt instant love for him. This experience expanded out to all those who had wronged me. It was an extremely liberating moment. To be able to walk around without the slightest resentment for anyone is truly wonderful. This was not an experience I had sought or ever thought of. It was just spontaneous. I wonderful gift.



InnerAthlete,
I do not really understand when you say that you would not give up that calmness but would not cling to either. I mean no disrespect but that sounds a little conflicted.

I freely admit that I like stuff that feels good. Yoga, friends, chocolate, and sex are about as good as life gets. Again, I will look up and do the corpse pose at the end of my routine. Maybe that will get rid of the thousand yard stare and tremors.

I think I agree that if I had a wise yoga teacher, I might have been able to have a smoother trip through my yoga experience. I went to see one teacher once, but she started talking about God and expanding our consciousness and I was really turned off. I just don't believe any of that stuff. I have seen "gurus" driving a Rolls Royce. Higher consciousness is just another item for sale in the market place.

My wife does not do yoga. She harbors resentment toward those who have hurt her. When she voices these hurts and resentments, I know what this feels like. It is a bad place to be, but I cannot take her from that place. All I can do is love her.



Michael

[InnerAthlete]

Thank you for sharing that Michael. I understand.

gordon

[Pandara]

Hi Michael,

I think you have received some good pointers here to take you further. Good luck with the path ahead, I think you are actually ok and if the opportunity presents itself to get into contact with a well trained yoga teacher, please use it and see if he/she might be able to assist you further.

[Alix]

I have uncontrollable convulsive movements of my body about 10 minutes after the warrior. They are fairly serious. There was a couple of times that the convulsions were preventing my muscles in my chest from breathing. Although I felt the pain in my chest from the lack of air I still felt calm. The little tremors are what I feel for about a half an hour after my routine.

I am glad you feel calm but this is a rather serious occurence. While all here are willing to offer you their advice and help they are not with you and able to assess you fully. Please look into seeing someone qualified to help you. Seizures are not a wonderful experience and anything that impacts your breathing needs to be addressed.

[micoder]

Thanks for your concern Alix,

I have seriously thought of seeing a yoga teacher in another town. What comes to me is the she is going to want to see how I do my poses. The thought of someone watching me while I do some of my exercises seems very uncomfortable to me. I have done them alone now for 20 years. Maybe I will be able to work up my courage.

Michael

[Alix]

Michael, I think that is very important. It could be a very simple adjustment you need to make to correct this issue. Also, some of the asanas can be dangerous if not done correctly so a teacher would definitely be a benefit to you. Please do try to overcome your shyness and visit the teacher. It really isn't as intimidating as it might feel for you at the moment. Remember we all walk the road together.