How To Critically Analyze Yoga Articles & Books (or anything else!)
Frequently articles, and even books, become controversial topics of the day, passed around in a sudden flurry of emails, sent from one yoga teacher or student to another, or appearing in Facebook posts and on other social media sites. The controversy acquires proponents who claim to have always believed what the author of the article is stating, while other readers have a visceral antipathy to the conclusions reached. The emails and posts seek confirmation of each reader’s own bias and understanding, but through all the discussion and debate, the author’s original premises and conclusions are rarely analyzed in a dispassionate and reasoned way. One cause for this is simply the lack of knowledge on how to critically analyze arguments presented in an article. The intention of this article is to provide such tools, in the hopes that readers, yoga teachers and yoga students will be able to look at articles about yoga clearly and unemotionally.
Paul Grilley’s Response to New York Times article on Women’s Flexibility
I appreciate this article by Mr. Broad, and I appreciate the concerns of Michaelle Edwards, whom Mr. Broad acknowledges in this article. I would like to add my two cents to the conversation about making yoga safer. My contributions are three interrelated ideas: skeletal variation, tension, and compression. Skeletal variation is the recognition that all skeletons are different and that the final mechanical limit to range of motion is when bones contact. This contact is compression. It is critical in yoga to discriminate between the sensations of tension and compression …
Your Body – Your Yoga: Part 2a Skeletal Variations of The Femur And the Concepts of Tension & Compression
In our first article in this series, we looked at the myth that every body can do every pose, if we just work long enough, hard enough, with the right teachers, the right Lululemon outfit, and the right herbal supplements. We saw that this myth ignores the reality of skeletal variations and the truth is – every body can not do every pose; trying to go beyond your natural limits can lead to, at best, frustration and at worst, significant injuries. Now we will look at the variations of our femurs and answer the question of “what stops me?”
From the Gita to the Grail Exploring Yoga Stories & Western Myths
From The Gita to the Grail is heading from the printers to the stores! We already have severals reviews, and the book is available now for pre-orders. Check it out if you are interested in learning more about the myths of yoga and what they mean for those of us who grew up surrounded by Western myths.
Yin is In! And, it is growing in popularity. Yin Yoga has been with us since the beginning of Hatha Yoga centuries ago. But since the early 19th century, yoga has become more and more yang-like in nature. Everything requires balance: yin completes yang. Yin Yoga is the balancing practice for the more active, muscular yang yogas. There are more and more teachers offering Yin Yoga today, and more workshops and opportunities to learn how to become a Yin Yoga teacher. If diving deeper into the yin-side of life is on your bucket list, there are lots of opportunities for you.
Upcoming Trainings and Retreats with Bernie Clark
MEDITATION REVEALED With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller February 16th – 23rd, 2014 This course will examine what meditation is, why we do it (its many benefits, spiritually, psychologically and physically), and how to do it, from a variety of viewpoints: From Eastern Yogic and Buddhist views to Western Psychotherapeutic understanding. The course will include personal, one-on-one training in Deep Meditation, as well as group instruction, to give the student an experiential basis for the practice of meditation. Held at the Semperviva Yoga Studios – Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Learn More
50-hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings February 10th-16th, 2014; May 12th-18th, 2014; August 25th-31st, 2013; November 10th-16th, 2014.
All of these will be at the Semperviva Yoga Studios, in Vancouver, Canada. The Yin Yoga Teacher Training Program offered at the Semperviva Yoga College is a unique way to deepen your yoga practice and touch tissues rarely worked in a more active yang style of yoga. For 200 hour certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification, and are eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (CEUs = Continuing Education Units and are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher).
For more details or to register, check the Semperviva web page or call them at 604-739-2009.
A 60 hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Training & Retreat June 29th to July 6th, 2014
This will be at the lovely Sea-to-Sky Retreat Center (SSRC) and it always ‘sells out’ early. Visit SSRC 2014 for more information and comments from past attendees.
The forum is available for anyone to ask questions about Yin Yoga in particular or Yoga in general, but the forum is not just for those who “don’t know” – it is also available for everyone who already know, and have stories and information to share with others. Here is just one example: if you are looking for some great music to accompany your Yin Yoga classes check out this post, which has many suggestions. Feel free to add your favourite music to the thread.
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near you, or if you are traveling to somewhere new, try checking out the Directory of Yin Yoga teachers. We have hundreds of teachers registered from all over the world. If you are a teacher and are not in the directory, just send us your information and we’ll be happy to add you.
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops all over the world. You can check out their schedules at their home web pages:
Many teachers around the world are creating Yin Yoga based workshops and retreats. Some of them are posting these activities on our Forum page. Check it out. There may be one happening near you. (If you are a teacher, feel free to add yours to the page!)
How To Critically Analyze Yoga Articles Have you ever had a feeling that an article just didn’t feel right to you, but weren’t able to put your finger on the reason why it was wrong? Here are several techniques that can assist you in critically analyzing arguments and determining whether the conclusions they offer are valid or not.
Paul Grilley’s Response to a NY Times Article A recent New York Times’ article suggested that yoga was dangerous, especially for women. Paul Grilley reviews this article and offers reasons why the full story is much more complicated, while dispelling the fear the article generated.
Your Body – Your Yoga: Part 2a – The Femur We investigate the range of variations in our femurs and define the difference between tension and compression and why this is so important.
From the Gita to the Grail Find out the latest news about what’s happening as Bernie’s latest book works its way to being available in stores.
Teacher Trainings & Retreats There are several Yin Yoga teacher training courses being held by Bernie Clark in 2014, including a special 40-hour course called Meditation Revealed. These courses often sell out early, but there is still some space available for the February, 2014 training. Click here to learn more.
Checking out Other Interesting Events There are many teachers leading workshops, Yin Yoga retreats and Teacher Trainings. Click here to learn more.
