Is There a Downside to Yoga?      

With all the amazing press that yoga gets, you'd think it does everything including the dishes. Stronger, healthier bodies, calm and focused mind, more confidence and self-awareness, and even better sex-yoga does it all. But could there be any contraindications, downsides, cons or anything wrong with doing yoga? Maybe......

1. Accessibility(1)- Well educated, wealthy, white women--that's the demographics of your yoga practitioner.(2) What about everyone else? Yoga has become inaccessible for many populations. With the price of classes, the seemingly necessary yoga "outfits" and the Yoga Journal covers of skinny, young, flexible white girls, yoga is leaving many behind. Along with healthy food, good schools and affordable housing, many populations are being underserved.      
2. Yoga is Not a Science - Like acupuncture, Ayurveda, homeopathy and the rest, Western science is struggling to fit this time-tested healing system into its double-blind, FDA, NIH funded, approved models. So, regardless of the effectiveness of these practices, our healthcare system, including insurance coverage, cannot and will not recommend or promote these time-tested health systems.     
3. No instant gratification - Along with microwave ovens, fast(er) food, speed dating, 10-day weigh loss programs, and 60-second abs, we want results now, dammit. The effects of yoga and its buddy, meditation, often take time. Those that are expecting some chakra-shaking, nadi-rocking, spiritual awakening with their first downward dog will be sorely disappointed. Feeling enlivened, inspired, and elated after your first class-guaranteed.    
4. Where's the Weight Loss? With 63.1% of adults in the U.S. were either overweight or obese in 2009 (more today), yoga may be looked at as a way to lose weight given the thin, buffed bodies portrayed by the press.   If you only have 20 minutes a day to spend on your body and your foremost goal is to burn lots of calories, yoga will disappoint you. Although yoga is a sound adjunct to any weight-loss program and has even been shown to promote gradual weight loss, it is not primarily a fat-burning enterprise (see No. 3 above).(3)    
5. Who, What and Where? - With yoga on every corner and new yoga teachers being churned out daily, finding the right studio and safe yet inspiring teacher can be a challenge. The types of yoga offered at most studios are confusing. Most of us understand gentle, beginner, and advanced, but what about Level I/II or "intermediate" levels. What is Hamsa, Bhakti, Kundalini or Shadow yoga? How do you understand the qualifications of your teachers? Is a $17 drop-in fee worth it when you can get it for free at your gym? All good questions, don't you think?    
6. Risk of Injury - This is a given with any exercise program. With our "want it now" (see No. 3 (again!)), attitude, it's easy to do too much too soon. Respect your health and know your body's strengths and limitations. Find an instructor that respects your experience level and choose a style and class that is appropriate.

Just like anything else that rises quickly in popularity(4) and when everyone from Oprah to Alanis Morissette (this month's cover of YJ) is doing yoga, it's easy to be star-struck and Lululemon-crazed. But, yoga, like any other discipline, deserves smart evaluation. I think you'll find, like I have, that there is nothing wrong with yoga, but awareness and perspective is key.

(1) Fishman, Loren, M.D. et al., Yoga for Osteoporosis.  

(2)   http://www.yogajournal.com/advertise/press_releases/10 

(3)   http://askville.amazon.com/benefits-disadvantages-practice-yoga/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=11392412   

(4) The latest "Yoga in America" study, just released by Yoga Journal (yogajournal.com) shows that Americans spend $5.7 billion a year on yoga classes and products, including equipment, clothing, vacations and media (DVDs, videos, books and magazines). This figure represents an increase of 87 percent compared to the previous study in 2004-almost double of what was previously spent.

  [Back to Top]

By all accounts Frankie Travis is a loving, caring and responsive parent. But she was torn from her 10-year-old daughter after the Sonoma County court drastically changed Travis' full joint legal and physical custody arrangement with her former partner  

in the fall of 2009.  

Join Headliner Marty Grimes (martygrimes.com) with virgin comedy from Frankie and other performancers.  Where?  Coffee Catz, Sebastopol, on August 26, at 7:30.  No kids, please, 'cause Frankie says it could get, well, you know.  For more info, you can contact Frankie at frankietravis@yahoo.com and read more about her cause here. 

I love the response of students to their first or second or hundredth restorative yoga experience.  It's the moment when their nervous system shifts from "yikes!" to "ahhhhhh."  They leave with relaxed shoulders and brightened attitude.  

It's easy to forget that the body knows exactly what to do.  The relaxation response is a built in function of our amazing central nervous system.  We just have to let relaxation happen.  I know, it seems impossible sometimes. Thus, the popularity of restorative yoga where we learn to put the body in positions and let it do it's thing.     

In this workshop you will be allowed to relax and let go while your body is supported with bolsters and blankets and lots more.  We will do a bit of movement, chat about stress and the relaxation response and then spend 90 minutes in positions that we will hold for 15 to 20 minutes.  This practice is for everyone.  

So, come and join us at BodyWorks in Petaluma on the third Sunday of each month from 3:30 - 5:45.  Go ahead and put the dates on your calendar now so you won't forget.  And, while you're at it, invite a friend.  The next one is Sunday, August 21.  I hope you'll come. Want more info, go here.

What's a class card you ask?  Many of my students have found it most economical and convenient to purchase a 10 or 5 class pass with me ($100 and $55, respectively).  That's $10 a class.  Can't beat that.  Expiration date:  never (well, almost).

Get Your Dharma Here

I subscribe to Tricycle's Daily Dharma.  I know, I know, the last thing you need is more in your inbox.  But, I find these little daily missives helpful.  You can subscribe to them here   You could spend hours that you don't have just exploring their website. Here's one I thought you'd enjoy.

August 20, 2011  

Tricycle Daily Dharma

Freedom Beyond Conditions

All my work revolves around the same conversation: What is freedom beyond conditions? Beyond this school, this prison, this 'hood, whatever your conditions are. Do your conditions lead inevitably to suffering? No, they don't. Only a being's perspective leads to suffering. Two people in the exact same situation, according to their outlook and expectations, can have completely different experiences. Turn that around, and any conditions can be a vehicle for bondage-or freedom and awakening.

-Vinny Ferraro, "The Heartful Dodger"