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Yoga With Fred Miller

By Fred Miller, a Yoga Instructor in the Los Angeles Area

Fred has a BA in Communications and is currently completing an MA in Organizational Psychology. He is a member of the National Speakers Association, Professional Coaches and Mentors Association, Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, and International Association of Yoga Therapists. He is also a certified Executive Coach and is certified by the California State Bar Association to teach meditation as stress management to attorneys

What is yoga anyway? Well, I'm going to tell you. As defined in the original yoga text, "Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain the direction without any distractions."

So that means yoga is both the vehicle or the process we use AND the destination. If the grocery store is the destination and your automobile is the vehicle, in this example both the car and being at the store are yoga.

Next question is where do you want to go? Or to direct your mind to what? Here are some choices. One moment in time - RIGHT NOW. Or your job. Or your life. Or your yoga practice while you are doing it. Anything else? If you want to get spiritual there's always God. Who's God? There is no Yoga God so you'll have to use your own. Yoga can be about linking you with your own Spirituality, as you understand it.

Yoga does not require a particular belief system and, if we already have one, IT is not challenged by yoga. (T. K. V. Desikachar) That means you don't have to be a Hindu, sleep on a bed of nails or sit cross legged in the lotus position to do yoga.

What will yoga do for me? Glad you asked. Yoga can reduce stress and help you to relax and calm down. It will lower your blood pressure and slow biological aging. Yoga can increase the quality of your general health, elevate your energy level and overall happiness. It will enhance your learning ability and your relationships with others. How's that for a paragraph full of promises? They are all true. I know because I've tried it.

Well, what do I have to do, you ask, to practice yoga? Let's look at some of the elements or vehicles available to us through yoga?

PRANAYAMA (Breath. Control and coordination of the breath.)

ASANA (Postures or movements.)

MEDITATION

DEVOTION

PERSONAL RITUAL

Let's start with the vehicle of breath, the first yoga game.

Breathe

While you are reading this paragraph also notice that you are breathing in and out. Don't stop reading, but as you read along observe that your breath is moving. You are inhaling -- and -- exhaling. Now feel that there is a gentle rise and fall of your chest that corresponds with your breathing. As you inhale your heart area lifts a little. And as you exhale your chest drops a little. Keep breathing. Now recognize that there are four divisions to your breath. The inhale, then comes a slight pause, followed by the exhale and then another slight pause. If you want, you can stop reading for a few seconds and watch your breath and feel your chest move.

O K, there you go, you were doing yoga. Congratulations. Just for a moment your mind was focused on watching your breath. You were breathing and your sternum, ribs and spine were moving. You were in the vehicle of yoga. And you were concentrating on your breath and body. Your mind was at your destination, also yoga.

What else can I do with my breath you might ask? Here's the second yoga game. Now, unless you are operating heavy machinery or driving a car (in which case you shouldn't be reading this anyway) the next game can be done sitting or standing, eyes open or closed. Also, you shouldn't do this if you have an injury to your neck, shoulders or upper torso. First try this sitting in your chair in front of the computer.

Breathe and Move Your Arms

Next time you inhale, feel your chest begin to rise then lift your arms up over your head. Notice the pause at the end of the inhale. As you exhale lower your arms. Observe the pause after the exhale. Try that a few times. Coordinate your breathing and moving. Let the breath initiate the movement. That is, breathe first then move your arms. If any thing hurts, go back to breathing without lifting your arms.

See, it works. Maybe just for a moment, but you were completely involved with what you were doing -- yoga. Your concentration may have waned quickly, but concentration is like a muscle. As you exercise it, that is, practice concentrating with yoga, the muscle of concentration will get stronger. That's another promise.

How do I find a good yoga teacher? Start in the yellow pages. Also look at the bulletin boards at the health food store or restaurant and at metaphysical book stores. Then go talk to the person. Find someone who respects you as an individual with unique physical problems and circumstances. That is, along with your cancer you may have a "bad back", a shoulder injury or a sprained ankle. There is no one prescription or remedy that is good for everyone. Try to find a teacher who has knowledge and experience with your situation or who is willing to do some research and find out. Start slow!!! The easy stuff works the best.

Thank you. Namaste.

© Copyright 1998, Fred Miller