A humanistic approach to Yoga
The next course starts 24th April 2010
These are a series of eight workshops exploring how we can make sense of yoga in a modern world without invoking the supernatural or religious view.
These days will be practical in the morning and discussion based in the afternoon. The themes of each day are outlined below; I hope you find them stimulating!
They will be accompanied by a seventy page booklet explain the main points of the morning work
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Session one; 24th April
Mornings: Understanding the principle of grounding; Grounding is the transmission of body weight to the floor through the bones of the body. It is about the acceptance of gravity with the minimum of interference from the muscles. A well grounded person will be stable and relaxed. Grounding is about learning how to commit ourselves to the floor rather than try to hold ourselves up against gravity. It may seem a paradox but the more fully we commit our weight downwards the more upright support we will find.
Afternoon context
Philosophically this session will deal with context; in the sixties yoga shifted from India to the west. With its shift came all the trappings of the eastern mystical tradition, it seemed to have answers to the problems that an affluent western culture was suffering from. The west seemed disconnected from its environment, and individuals seemed disconnected from each other. The mystical belief that all things are ‘one’ seemed to promise an understanding of integration that was lacking in the west. However many of the beliefs within yoga, are semi religious in nature, or depend on a supernatural framework for their explanation. This is at odds with the scientific or rational views of the west. The question for the western mind is how much do we believe? And if we find we struggle with some of the yogic themes what do we put in its place? We need to ask this question because yoga with no context is reduced to an exercise system, and many of us who were attracted to yoga were attracted because it offered more, it had some depth, it looked at the big questions about life and death and why are we here. This series is attempting to look at the scientific and philosophic answers that the west is developing.
In terms of asana work this approach releases us from any need to obey the dictates of any system of yoga, this allows us to make rational and intelligent decisions about what is most useful, this has an interesting side effect … it opens up dialogue, something that is often missing from guru led traditions..
Session two 15th May
Mornings. Patterns of movement and the startle reflex. We learn how to move through reflex responses that are laid down in our nervous systems from birth. These reflexes over time become integrated into volitional movements. The main movements of locomotion develop from the spine. They are Side-bending flexion, extension and rotation. When these movements are well understood by the body there is a good foundation from which all other movement can develop. Often we unconsciously interfere with the expression of these movements which can lead us into difficulties and sometimes pain. This morning will look at how and why we might interfere.
Afternoon: Slippery words; God, Spiritual, energy, and love
These are frequently used words in yoga circles, but do we ever stop to examine what we really mean when we use them? In this session these words will form the basis for discussion to try and bring some clarity to them.
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Session three 26th June
Morning: Looking at side-bending in asana work. This is the first locomotor pattern that we express, this morning will look at clarifying the principles of side-bending as oppose to side stretching or shearing movements.
Afternoon mysticism vs. rationalism
Mysticism involves the concepts of unity or ‘oneness’ realisations beyond the rational. The common description in esoteric literature is that we are like waves on the ocean, we see ourselves as waves separate from other waves, without realising the underlying unity of the ocean, that we are in fact all one. The paths to this realisation are varied, it may be via union with God, as in the Vedanta tradition, it may be through the realisation that we confuse consciousness and matter and therefore do not see reality as it really is as Patanjali describes, or it may be that through certain physical disciplines we have a kundalini experience as the tantric tradition lays out. On close inspection all these ideas give us a promise that will be fulfilled if we follow a particular route seriously enough. Usually this needs a teacher to guide us. The implication is that this ‘realised’ state of unity is far superior to the world of many which is often negatively described as fragmented. Also this true view of the world is unchanging even in an evolving cosmos. The western view is at odds with this, the understanding of the universe here is built on theory and experimentation, it posits an evolving universe and any theory can be supplanted by a better theory it invites enquiry and debate to advance our understanding of the world and the human condition.
In terms of asana work do we perform asanas and pranayamas with the intention of moving prana, or do we practice them in order to bring the body into a better state of health?
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Session: four 24th July
Morning; Looking at flexion (forward bends) in asana work. Why we need flexion as a pattern of movement, and what we look for when performing flexion asanas. How do we decide if a forward bend is well executed, and what are the criteria?
Afternoon: Guru or teacher?
Some gurus, tend to imply that they are in possession of information we are not. This information is sometimes described as secret or difficult to get, but can be revealed under their guidance. The teachings are often obscure but lead to a state of ‘knowing’ there is not necessarily a rational basis for the knowledge because it is beyond reason, it therefore cannot be criticized through reason or logic putting it in an unassailable position. It is imperative therefore that a group dynamic of belief is created; a following is established to bolster the credibility of the belief. If someone doesn’t get the teachings it is often implied that they haven’t the right attitude or capacity, the failing is the students not the gurus. A teacher on the other hand needs to build clear and reasonable steps to follow, so that the students can develop in their understanding in a progressive way, if the teaching isn’t clearly understood it is usually the teacher who is at fault, and who needs to improve the techniques of teaching. Everything a teacher says should be verifiable and have some foundation..
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Session five: 18th Sept
Morning: Looking at extension (back bending asanas) Backbends can present a lot of problems in yoga, particularly when they compress the lumbar spine. This session will look at the rationale for back bends, how we can maximise the benefits they over whilst minimising the potential problems
Consciousness, feeling and the self
Notions of the self and of consciousness vary depending on the discipline you come from. In many forms of yoga or mysticism the self is denigrated in favour of the selfless or the ‘whole’. The implication being that self centered is bad and selfless is good, this theme runs deep in eastern thought, yet most of us would agree that much of our motivation in life is self centered, does this make us less good? or does it merely recognise our humanity, that we have needs that sometimes need to be met. What is the nature of the self if we do away with the idea that we are an aspect of God? Is consciousness something out there that we tap into or is there some internalised ideal self? Or is it a creation of the mind and or body. These are some of the questions that Guignon and Damasio tackle in their respective books, ‘Being authentic’ and ‘the feeling of what happens’. Between them they attempt to give both a psychological and physiological basis for the sense of self. There is no definitive answer for these questions, but having a clearer idea of where to look can be very helpful. Damasio’s perspective (if we take it) will have an influence on how we practice yoga..
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Session six: 9th Oct
Morning: This session will look at rotation or twisting asanas. We will consider the main structures that are involved in rotation, namely the spine and ribcage. We will also look at the muscles that are involved and how and why problems can occur in these postures especially if they are pursued to far.
Afternoon: Yoga a route to enquiry
If yoga is no longer a route to enlightenment or some other ‘higher’ mental state what is the larger goal of practice? A useful answer might go something like this. Yoga has traditionally been a path out of suffering, if we continue to see it as that – a way to greater happiness – one thing that has to improve is our relationship to our fellow humans, on both the individual and global levels. To relate well to people we have to have some understanding of our own motivation, and the relationship we have with ourselves. If we act from poorly understood motivations, and hidden patterns of behaviour the relationships we form will be unfulfilling ones. Yoga can be a helpful tool in the path to self understanding, to my mind this does not lead to enlightenment, but it may lead towards maturity and wisdom, something the world seems to lack at the moment.
Session seven: 20th Nov
Morning: Breathing. There is no right way to breathe. Breathing needs to be adaptable and responsive. Breathing has to respond to three imperatives, 1. Oxygen needs, 2.emotional needs, and 2.postural needs. In order to do this the respiratory system needs to be free and responsive, and not controlled in anyway. The morning session will look at the techniques that can help free the respiratory system and enable us to make better respiratory responses in life
‘Finding meaning’
Perhaps this is one of the most fundamental questions of all. All religions, and most spiritual traditions will have an answer, and this can be a very comforting idea in a world that at times can seem cruel and meaningless. In such traditions meaning comes from conforming to or seeking out the big plan and there are strategies in place to assist the seeker on their path. In conventional religions the path towards meaning maybe through prayer, sermon or reading texts: in other spiritual traditions it maybe through Grace or sudden realisation. If there is no big plan, where does it leave us? If we reject these previous ideas how do we deal with the idea that we were not put here for a purpose, how can we find meaning in life.
Session eight: 11th Dec
Embodying yoga
This session will look at different aspects of the way we sense the body. As Damasio has pointed out, emotions and feelings arise from body states. Here he does not just mean muscular tension, but the whole ‘sense’ of the body. This includes the tensions and pressures that exist in the chambers of the body, and the experience of the movement of breath. These can be unfamiliar concepts, because our attention is often drawn towards the more external feelings of muscle tension and work.
a review … how does it hang together as a big picture?
Can the questions that yoga poses be answered in a humanist setting? That is the question this course set out to explore. In my view it can, it fact I would argue that it can be greatly enhanced by a clearer understand of the human condition, in its physical emotional and psychological dimensions. Yoga has long been considered the art of integration, and it seems clear to me than when the three aspects of human existence just referred to are well integrated we move from a state of un-wellness towards one of health. If we add to this a sense of meaning that arises from the understanding of our situation, we not only become healthy we can start to flourish.
Books that might be helpful.
On Humanism; Richard Norman.
Being Authentic; Charles Guignon
Feet of Clay; Anthony Storr
The art of Loving; Erich Fromm
What is good: A.C.Grayling
The feeling of what happens; Antonio Damasio
Honest to God; John Robinson
The Guru Papers; Joel Kramer & Diana Alstad
Against all Gods; A.C.Grayling
Emotional Anatomy: Stanley Keleman
Awakening the spine; Vanda Scaravelli
Yoga and you; Esther Myers
Somatics; Thomas Hannah
A general theory of Love;
