Does anyone know anything about yoga as a spiritual practice (as opposed to exercise or whatever)? I get the sense that it’s in the same “probably works” category as meditation and I’d be interested in learning more about it, but I don’t know where to start, and I feel like there’s probably “real” yoga and “pop” yoga that I need to be able to differentiate between.
Also, I can’t sit in any of the standard meditation positions—I can only do maybe five minutes indian-style before I get intense pain. When I ask people how to remedy this, they tell me “do yoga”, but aren’t any more specific than that.
If someone knowledgeable could point me towards a good starting point or a resource, that would be great.
I know that meditation is possible while sitting in a chair, and I do it about half the time (the other half I sit on the ground sort of like this, just because I like it). I kind of want to be able to do it the standard way so I can fulfill an irrational urge to “feel like a real Buddhist”, which I think would motivate me.
I kind of want to be able to do it the standard way so I can fulfill an irrational urge to “feel like a real Buddhist”, which I think would motivate me.
This is deeply funny. Buddhism is about getting rid of urges.
Secondly seiza is also a position in which a lot of buddhist meditate and sitting that way is usually easier.
Thirdly it seems like you somehow try to do Buddhism on your own without a teacher when having a in person teacher is a core element of Buddhism.
Also, I can’t sit in any of the standard meditation positions—I can only do maybe five minutes indian-style before I get intense pain. When I ask people how to remedy this, they tell me “do yoga”, but aren’t any more specific than that.
Go see a doctor and don’t leave until you get a specific diagnosis or treatment.
Are you implying that something is very wrong with me if I can’t sit Indian style and that I should see a doctor right away, or are you just saying that this would be an effective way to solve my problem?
Effective way. You obviously have some kind of problem that other people don’t have that gives you discomfort without any obvious way to solve it. Seeing a doctor helps to rule out some underlying, organic problem. I don’t know about very wrong, but being able to sit only five minutes indian style seems very low.
I was going on the description of “intense pain”. I know from personal experience that you need to ease into the lotus but I never experienced anything that I would describe as “intense pain”, at most “mild to moderate discomfort” after five minutes. Anyway, gothgirl420666 was having a problem without any obvious solutions, as evidenced by his lack of proposed solutions by his peers, so I suggested to pay a visit to a professional with extensive domain knowledge.
That’s more of a physical limitation that I first interpreted you as meaning. Still, I’m not going to put it in the “OMG, must be solved” category.
Feldenkrais Method (a approach of gentle repeated movements to increase physical awareness and coordination) might be a good idea. Somatics by Thomas Hanna has a daily cat stretch which takes about ten minutes to do, and as I recall, about two hours to learn.
Does anyone know anything about yoga as a spiritual practice (as opposed to exercise or whatever)? I get the sense that it’s in the same “probably works” category as meditation and I’d be interested in learning more about it, but I don’t know where to start, and I feel like there’s probably “real” yoga and “pop” yoga that I need to be able to differentiate between.
Also, I can’t sit in any of the standard meditation positions—I can only do maybe five minutes indian-style before I get intense pain. When I ask people how to remedy this, they tell me “do yoga”, but aren’t any more specific than that.
If someone knowledgeable could point me towards a good starting point or a resource, that would be great.
A local yoga course. Having a teacher that can tell you what you are doing wrong is very valuable.
When it comes to meditation the same applies. Go to a local Buddhist tempel and let them guide you in learning meditation.
Taoist meditation is done either standing or sitting in a chair.
Source: I’ve read a moderate amount about this, so there may be exceptions.
I did standing meditation from Lam Kam Chuen’s The Way of Energy for a while, and cleared up a case of RSI.
I know that meditation is possible while sitting in a chair, and I do it about half the time (the other half I sit on the ground sort of like this, just because I like it). I kind of want to be able to do it the standard way so I can fulfill an irrational urge to “feel like a real Buddhist”, which I think would motivate me.
This is deeply funny. Buddhism is about getting rid of urges.
Secondly seiza is also a position in which a lot of buddhist meditate and sitting that way is usually easier.
Thirdly it seems like you somehow try to do Buddhism on your own without a teacher when having a in person teacher is a core element of Buddhism.
Go see a doctor and don’t leave until you get a specific diagnosis or treatment.
Careful. Sometimes the treatment can be worse than the disease.
Are you implying that something is very wrong with me if I can’t sit Indian style and that I should see a doctor right away, or are you just saying that this would be an effective way to solve my problem?
Effective way. You obviously have some kind of problem that other people don’t have that gives you discomfort without any obvious way to solve it. Seeing a doctor helps to rule out some underlying, organic problem. I don’t know about very wrong, but being able to sit only five minutes indian style seems very low.
Oh okay, for some reason when I first read your comment I got a sense of urgency from it. Thanks for clarifying.
I’ve seen yoga books which explain how to ease into sitting in full lotus.
I was going on the description of “intense pain”. I know from personal experience that you need to ease into the lotus but I never experienced anything that I would describe as “intense pain”, at most “mild to moderate discomfort” after five minutes. Anyway, gothgirl420666 was having a problem without any obvious solutions, as evidenced by his lack of proposed solutions by his peers, so I suggested to pay a visit to a professional with extensive domain knowledge.
When you say “Indian style” do you mean with your feet under your thighs or on top of them?
Under.
That’s more of a physical limitation that I first interpreted you as meaning. Still, I’m not going to put it in the “OMG, must be solved” category.
Feldenkrais Method (a approach of gentle repeated movements to increase physical awareness and coordination) might be a good idea. Somatics by Thomas Hanna has a daily cat stretch which takes about ten minutes to do, and as I recall, about two hours to learn.
A little extra explanation: I’ve found that knee and hip problems can actually be a result of a tight lower back, and Feldenkrais can help.
What kind of a doctor?