Your memoirs

Hi Everyone,

I look forward to reading your memoirs.  If you are willing to post them on the blog  please do. Please email me  a copy either way. 

Ya'll were an absolutely fabulous class. I enjoyed teaching you immensely.

Much love,

Dr. Schultz

The Last Week of Class

Hi Everyone,

I hope you got a chance to watch the Legend of Baggar Vance over the Holiday. If not, please do so soon. you will really like it. 

We have our last practice  Tuesday 

and we have a guest lecture with Christina Sell on Thursday.

Come prepared with what poses you want to do for our last practice together.

AMS

Schedule of Reading and Class Meetings for the rest of the semester

Week Eight

Tuesday Oct 9 BG chapters 1-2: Describe Arjuna’s dilemma and a similar experience in your own life.

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Thursday Oct 11 BG chapters 3-4: Describe the presentation of Krishna as a deity.

 Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 reading response, 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Nine

Tuesday Oct 16

Reading Assignment BG Chapters 5-6

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Thursday Oct 18

Reading Assignment BG Chapters 7-8

Class Activity : No Class

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 reading response, 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Ten

Tuesday Oct 23

Reading Assignment: BG chapters 9-10

Class Activity:  Philosophy discussion  of  Gita

Thursday Oct 25

Reading Assignment: BG chapters 11-12

Class Practice: Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 reading response, 1 practice response, 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Eleven

Tuesday Oct 30  BG 

Reading Assignment: 13-14

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion The Gita and Asana practice.

Thursday Nov 1  

Reading Assignment  BG 15-16

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 reading response, 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Twelve

Tuesday Nov 6  

Reading Assignment BG 17-18

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Thursday Nov 8

Blog Assignment: Memoir #2 DUE

Class Activity No Class

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Thirteen.

Tuesday Nov 13  Discussion of  Gita and relationship with Sutras

Reading Assignment None. Please work on your final papers.

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice.

Thursday Nov 15

Reading Assignment: None. Please work on your final papers.

Class Activity:  Watch  The Legend of Baggar Vance

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Fourteen

Tuesday Nov 22 

Reading Assignment: None. Please work on your final papers.

Class Activity: Watch The Legend of Baggar Vance

Thursday Nov 24 No Class – Thanksgiving Break

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Week Fifteen

Tuesday Nov 27

Reading Assignment: None.

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice We will discuss the Gita and Baggar Vance

Thursday Nov 29 None. Please work on your final papers.

Class Activity: Philosophy discussion and Asana practice  Come prepared with any questions about yoga philosophy or yoga poses that you have.

Blog Assignments for the week; 1 practice response , 2 comments on other blogs.

Final Paper due on day of final exam.

Iyengar's translation of the eight limbs

Sutras II 29- 48

II. 29 Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi are the eight limbs of yoga.

II. 30. Non-violence (ahimsa), truth-telling (satya), non-stealing (asteya), continence (brahmacharya), and absence of greed (aparigraha) are the five yamas.

II.31 Yamas are the great might, universal vows, unconditioned by place, time and class.

II. 32 Cleanliness (sauca), contentment (santosha), religious zeal (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya) and surrender of self to god (Isvara pranidhanani) are the niyamas.

II. 33 Principles which run contrary to yama and niyama are to be countered with knowledge of discrimination.

II. 34 Uncertain knowledge giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly or condoned, is caused by greed, anger or delusion in mild moderate or intense degree. It results in endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes the end of pain and ignorance.

II. 35 When non-violence in speech, thought and action is established one’s aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in one’s presence.

II. 36 when the sadhaka is firmly established in the practice of truth, his words become so potent that whatever he says comes to realization.

II. 37 When abstention from stealing is firmly established, precious jewels come.

II. 38 When the sadhaka is firmly established in continence, knowledge, vigor, valor, and energy flow into him.

II. 39 Knowledge of past and future lives unfolds when one is free from greed for possessions.

II. 40 Cleanliness of body and mind (sauca) develops disinterest in contact with others for self-gratification.

II. 41 When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the sense controlled, joyful awareness needed to realize the inner self also comes.

II. 42 From contentment and benevolence of consciousness (santosha) comes supreme happiness.

II. 43 Self-discipline (tapas) burns away impurities and kindles the spark of divinity.

II. 44 Self-study (svadhyaya) leads toward the realization of God or communion with one’s desired deity.

II. 45.  Surrender to God (Isvara pranidhanani) brings perfection in Samadhi.

II. 46 Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence, and benevolence of spirit.

II. 47 Perfection in asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within in reached.

II. 48 from then on, the sadhaka is undisturbed by dualities.

Sutras II 49- III 13

II. 49 Pranayama is the regulation of the incoming and outgoing flow of breath with retention. It is to be practiced only after perfection in asana is attained.

II. 50 Pranayama has three movements: prolonged and fine inhalation, exhalation and retention; all regulated with precision according to duration and place.

II. 51.  The fourth type of pranayama transcends the external and internal pranayama, and appears effortless and non-deliberate.

II. 52.  Pranayama removes the veil covering the light of knowledge and heralds the dawn of wisdom.

II. 53 The Mind also becomes fit for concentration.

II. 54 Withdrawing the sense, mind and consciousness from contact with external objects, and then drawing them inwards towards the seer, is pratyahara.

II. 55 Pratyahara results in the absolute control of the sense organs.

Vibuthi Pada

III. 1   Fixing the consciousness on one point or region is concentration (dharana).

III. 2 A steady, continuous flow of attention directed towards the same point or region is meditation (dhyana).

III. 3 When the object of meditation engulfs the meditator, appearing as the subject, self-awareness is lost. This is Samadhi.

III. 4 These three together- dharana, dhyana and Samadhi- constitute integration or samyama.

III. 5 From mastery of samyama comes the light of awareness and insight.

III. 6 Samyama may be applied in various spheres to derive its usefulness.

III. 7 These three aspects of yoga are internal, compared to the former five.

III. 8 Similarly, samyama is external when compared to seedless (nirbija) Samadhi.

III. 9 Study of the silent moments between rising and restraining subliminal impressions is the transformation of consciousness towards restraint (nirodha parinamah).

III. 10 The restraint of rising impressions brings about an undisturbed flow of tranquility.

III. 11 The weakening of scattered attention and the rise of one-pointed attention in the citta is the transformation towards Samadhi.

III. 12 When rising and falling thought processes are in balance, one-pointed consciousness emerges. Maintenance of awareness with keen intensity from one-pointed attention to no-pointed attentiveness is karate parinama.

III. 13 Through these three phases, consciousness is transformed from its potential state (dharma) towards further refinement (laksana) and the zenith of refinement (avastha). In this way, the transformation of elements, senses, and mind takes place.

Read The Eight Fold Path II.28-III.8 and LOY p. 31-53.

New reading assignment for  thursday.


The Eight Fold Path II.28-III.8 and LOY p. 31-53.

Class Plan on Asana

Reminder  about  the  Memoir  2000 word paper response it is  due  two weeks from Thursday.  Get reading.   Remember you can also post four 500 word responses as you are reading if you prefer.  The links to  the   books you can choose from  are on line.

Nabi  asked a great question  doesn’t it seem strange that asana is hardly mentioned at all.

There are only three  sutras that directly deal with  asana.   Interesting side note, it occurs right after the sutra that says  “Surrender to God brings perfection in Samadhi.”

2.46	sthira sukham asanam
	Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.
2.47	prayatna saithilya ananta samapattibhyam
	Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.
2.48	tatah dvandvah anabhighatah
	From then on, the sadhaka is undisturbed by dualities.

  It is mentioned as one of the eight limbs

2.29	yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayah astau angani
	Moral injunctions (yama), fixed observances (niyama), posture (asana), regulation of breath (pranayama), internalization of the senses towards their source (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and absorption of consciousness in the self (samadhi), are the eight constituents of yoga.

  and then referred to  in the pranayama sutras (of which there are five).  

2.49	tasmin sati svasa prasvasayoh gativicchedah pranayamah
	Pranayama is regulation of the incoming and outgoing flow of breath with retention. It is to be practised only after perfection in asana is attained.

So I thought we’d talk a bit about asana in the overall framework of the sutras.

Then some asana  AMS Utt, AMS supta I  AMS UPEP sirsasana,    M1   JS   Sarvangasana   M3   Savasana   

Memoirs are Due Oct 4

Hi All, I just wanted to remind you that your first memoir readings are due October 4  midnight.

Please write a 2000 word response to one of the following.  Waking by Matthew Sanford

Jesus in the Lotus by Russil Paul

Autobiography of a Yogi  by Parmahanasa Yogananda

First there is a Mountain  by Elizabeth Katedsky

Yoga from the Inside Out by Christina Sell

My Body is a Temple  by Christina Sell

Practice and Detachment Sutras

I. 12 Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousness.

I. 13 Practice is the steadfast effort to still these fluctuations

I. 14 Long, uninterrupted, alert practice is the firm foundation for restraining the    fluctuations.

I. 15 Renunciation is the practice of detachment from desires.

I. 16 The ultimate renunciation is when one transcends the qualities of nature and perceives the soul.

Iyengar's  translation.  

Here's what we'll discuss in class. 

What kinds of things do you practice?  

Do they still the mind  even if they are not  aimed at  stilling the mind? 

Detachment, non-attachment, dispassion, disinterestedness, renunication  are  all translations of the word  vairagya.  

In my experience, we  generally start of  with a fairly negative view of these words? 

Do you agree? 

Why do you think so? 

What  situations seem to require  non-attachment? 

Why might it be helpful to cultivate this  state  on the spiritual path? 

Why might it be harmful? 

Poses for today

Here's what we'll work on pose wise  in class today.

Tadasansa

Vrksasana

Utt hasta Padangustasana  bent  leg

Supta  1

UHP  straight leg

Supta  2

Parsva UHP

AMS

dandasana
BK
Malasana

M1
M3

Chatush

Supta  BK

Savasana

Philosophical Concepts in How Yoga Works 17-24

Here's a list of some philosophical concepts we will discuss in class on tuesday.  The numbers in parentheses refer to where the concepts occur in the Yoga Sutras.

Philosophical concepts in HYW  17-24

Practice and detachment  (1.12-1.16)

Attachment to particular modes of thinking  that promote attachment.  (kleshas-avidya, asmita, raga, dvesa, abhinivesa)

Please and pain (raga and dvesa)

Interpretation of stilling the fluctuations as  seeing things as being what they are in and of themselves.  (1.2)

The mind makes us stuck.

The mind as a mechanism for making us unstuck.

Concept of healing- doesn’t announce itself.

Grasping  not grasping aparigraha  (2. 39)

Liking things in the right way and the wrong way. (1.31).

Cultivating upeksa (1.31)

Everything is  suffering  (2.15)

Focus dharana ( 2.53 and 3.1)

Fixation Dhyana  (3.2)

The  tangible benefits of  focus

Pratyahara - withdrawing the senses inward(2.54).

Sauca cleanliness  (II.32). 

A few class logistics

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are enjoying your Labor day weekend.  I assigned you grades on your practice blogs, your reading blogs, class participation and and comments.

I did not count the frequency of the blogs. I just graded them on the content of what was there.
If you are in the B range, I suggest writing more detailed reflection.  Most of your reading reflections are just fine in the high B to A range.  Some of your practice reflections are great  others could use a bit more elaboration

For class participation, we have had 4 classes.  If you were absent once, you have a B in class participation, otherwise everyone has an A.

On the comments, some of you are not doing these yet.  Some are if  you did 4 comment you got an A,  3 comments  a B   2  a D  and 1 or less an F. 

 In the future, I will need you to send me a list at the end of each week of what blogs you commented on. It will be too difficult for me to keep tally after this week.  I'm open to other ideas about how to facilitate keeping track of this


None of this is set in stone grade wise. In all, I'm very pleased with your work and how the class is going. I just graded you to give you a sense of what grade I would assign based on the amount and quality of work I have seen from you in the first two weeks. 

Post class reflections

Thanks for another great day in Capstone everyone.   We talked about the vrttis and then got to work on opening the shoulders and the hips.  Ya'll did a great job with the partner work and I hope your hamstrings are not too sore.

have a great weekend.

Oh,  I wanted to let you know about a great translation of the  Sutras that is  online. 

It has the Sanskrit and  English  and a word glossary  check  it  out.

Vrttis and Virabhadrasanas today

I've enjoyed reading your posts.   Today  we  will review the first Four Sutras   and then talk about  what the fluctuations of the mind are.  We'll also talk a bit  about the obstacles since those are in the LOY reading, but the main focus is on the Vrttis.

General  Yoga  plan for  today,

Tadasana
UH
Garudasana
Gomukasana Arms
Trik
Vira 2,
Vira I
Vira III
AMS
Dandasana
M1
M3
Chatush
Savasanaa

1.01	atha yoganusasanam
	With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga. Now, the teachings of yoga [are presented].
1.02	yogah cittavrtti nirodhah
	Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind
1.03	tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam
	Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour. When that is accomplished, the seer abides in its own true nature.
1.04	vrtti sarupyam itaratra
	At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness. Otherwise, at other times, [the seer] is absorbed in the changing states [of the mind].
1.05	vrttayah pancatayyah klista aklistah
	The movements of consciousness are fivefold. They may be cognizable or non-cognizable, painful or non-painful. Thee are five kinds of changing states of the mind, and they are either detrimental or nondetrimental [to the practice of yoga].
1.06	pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smrtayah
	They are caused by correct knowledge, illusion, delusion, sleep and memory. [These five vrttis are] right knowledge, error, imagination, sleep and memory.
1.07	pratyaksa anumana agamah pramanani
	Correct knowledge is direct, inferred or proven as factual. Right knowledge consists of sense perception, logic, and verbal testimony.
1.08	viparyayah mithyajnanam atadrupa pratistham
	Illusory or erroneous knowledge is based on non-fact or the non-real. Error is false knowledge stemming from the incorrect apprehension [of something].
1.09	sabdajnana anupati vastusunyah vikalpah
	Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination. Imagination consists of the usage of words that are devoid of an actual object.
1.10	abhava pratyaya alambana vrttih nidra
	Sleep is the non-deliberate absence of thought-waves or knowledge. Deep sleep is that state of mind which is based on an absence [of any content].
1.11	anubhuta visaya asampramosah smritih
	Memory is the unmodified recollection of words and experiences. Memory is the retention of [images of] sense objects that have been experienced.

Fun times with Supta Virasana

I had a great time teaching class yesterday afternoon. 

We had a lovely discussion of How Yoga Works. Mostly everyone seems relieved it is a novel and "not philosophy." Unfortunately, Social World seems to leave a bad impression of philosophy in the minds of the average BIC student.    We did have one philosophy major add the class today, Veronica,  though Azem has withdrawn, mostly the students are anthropology, political science, international affairs, with some English, GTX, and fashion thrown in.

I had no intention to teach supta virasana, but I taught virasana and Megan started going into the pose, then others did and suddenly everyone was more or less in the pose, some with significant bolsterage but others not.  It was really amazing to see because they really felt an effect of a pose quite viscerally.

We laughed a lot about inner winds and channels and the like  and  then it was time to go.  Touched on pranayama at the end.

I introduced the concept of bavana and talked a bit about sheaths and organs of action and perception and we also discussed why one might want to still the vrttis.

Class Tuesday

Hi Everyone,

Please be sure that you have read  How Yoga Works Chapters 1-16 for class on Tuesday. We will spend the bulk of our philosophy discussion time with that work.  In order to prepare for discussion, please have in mind the following topics: (you are welcome to address any or all of these issues on your blog)

1. two things you like about the book thus far. Please be specific.
2. Two things you don't like about the book thus far.  Please be specific.
3. What similarities do you see with what we are doing in class (both the philosophy and yoga dimensions) with what is being discussed in the book?
4. Do you see any references to  the idea of stilling the fluctuations of the mind  or  seeing the true self  or  identifying with the fluctuations of the mind in the reading  thus  far?
5. How would you describe the captain as a student?
6. How would you describe yourself as a student?

Also,  I will give you a trial grade on your blog posts (responses to reading, practice reflection, attendance, and responses to others  this weekend). It is not a set in stone grade, it is meant to give you feedback about how you are doing based on the quality of work you have produced thus far.  I will take into account all work received by midnight Friday.

See  you in Class,

Check in later  for  class  sequence.

AMS


Here's the  pose sequence


Tadasana
Vrksasana
Utkatasana
Garudasana
Tadasana
Vrksasana
AMS
Virasana
Supta Virasana
Supta I, II, IV,
Savasana

Post class reflections

I enjoyed our discussion quite a bit.  So far this semester, I am spending more time with the philosophy discussion than I did last semester.    I particularly appreciated your willingness to share various techniques that you use to still your mental fluctuations. I was fascinated by how many of them are actually listed in the Sutras. If you are interested in reading ahead, the list of techniques occurs at 1.32-1.39.

Cameron asked me a question about what poses to practice at home.  Anything is better than nothing, but generally speaking you can practice what we did in class.  It will help reinforce the learning and the sequence is generally something for the arms, something for the legs, and something restful at the end. 

Have a great weekend  and I'll see you on Tuesday. 

Remember to send me your blog address if you have not done so yet.

Day Two of Capstone Plan

Class  plan  for  today.


The Yoga  Sutras   1.4

Sharing  your  observations about  How Yoga Works.
 
Main  points  about  LOY  reading, p. 27-31

Different  levels of  student   feebel, average, superior, supreme
sisya and Guru  relationship - teacher student relationship- mentor mentee relationship
sadhana and abyhasa  (practice)  what are the sorts of things that  we  practice.

How do you see these four sutras and the elements of LOY  at work in HYW. -

1.01	atha yoganusasanam
	With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.  (Iyengar) Now, the teachings of yoga [are presented]. (Bryant)
1.02	yogah cittavrtti nirodhah
	Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. (Iyengar) Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind  (Bryant)
1.03	tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam
	Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour. (Iyengar When that is accomplished, the seer abides in its own true nature.
1.04	vrtti sarupyam itaratra
	At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness. Otherwise, at other times, [the seer] is absorbed in the changing states [of the mind].

Then  yoga  practice.


Tadasana
UH
UB
Paschima B
Baddha hastasana
Vrksasana
AMS
Uttanasana
Prasarita Padottansana
Trikonsana
Supta BK
Savasana

Reflections on Day One

Hi Everyone,

I thought class went really well today.   I made some adjustments to  the sequence so it reflects what we actually did.  Please look up a couple poses in Light on Yoga.  Try to do one pose today. It will help if you are sore!

Here is a list of some philosophical concepts we covered in class.

Atman- soul
karmendrias -organs of action
koshas -sheaths of the body,  ranging from physical to bliss level
yoga as a totality - reflected in names of poses, working opposite sides of the body to bring balance
Yoga as stilling the fluctuations of the mind (1.2)
Yoga as seeing our true nature (1.3)

Be sure to look over sutras 1,1 through 1.4 along with the assigned reading for Thursday.


Also  here are two other books you can choose from for your memoir reports.

Jesus in the Lotus  by  Russill Paul



and Autobiography of a Yogi    by  Parmanansa  Yogananda

Class Plan for today

Hi Everyone,  Here's the  general  plan for  today

Introductions.  

Explaining course logistics.

Explaining the props.

Some Basic yoga poses

Tadasana
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddanguiliasana
Paschima Baddanguliasana
Vrksasana
Trikonasana
Vira II
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Dandasana
Marychiasana I Twist only
Supta Baddha Konasana
Supported Savasana. 

Welcome 2012 Yoga Capstone Participants

Here is the course  blog.

I'm  looking forward to meeting each of  you.

Please create your own blog for this course  and send me the link so I can put it on the blog roll  for this  class.

Come prepared to do a bit of yoga on the first day  which means, buy a sticky mat to bring with you and  wear shorts and a T shirt to class.



Here is a list of the assigned course  texts.

I will send you a syllabus  through blackboard email.

List of Required Readings:

1. How Yoga Works by Michael Roach and CHRISTIE MCNALLY. This historical novel will help you make sense of The Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali. · ISBN-10: 0976546906

· ISBN-13: 978-0976546900

2. The Yoga Sutras are available on line in many places and there are many translations of it available on Amazon. Use whatever translation you like. I will primarily use B.K.S Iyengar’s translation and commentary (· ISBN-10: 8172235429 · ISBN-13: 978-8172235420) and Edwin Byrant’s translation and commentary (· ISBN-10: 0865477361 · ISBN-13: 978-0865477360 )

Here are a couple of online links. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/yogasutr.htm http://www.kofibusia.com/yogasutras/index.php

3. Bhagavad Gita There are many translations of the Gita available. I will be teaching from the translation by Eknath Easwaran (ISBN-10: 1586380192 · ISBN-13: 978-1586380199) but you are welcome to use whatever translation you like.

4. Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar (· ISBN-10: 0805210318

· ISBN-13: 978-0805210316)

 This book is often referred to as The Bible of yoga practice. It contains photos and detailed instructions about the asanas we will practice in class. I encourage you to read about each of the poses we study in class and refer to the book during your home practice time.

5. Waking, Matthew Sanford. · ISBN-10: 159486845X · ISBN-13: 978-1594868450

6. Yoga from the Inside Out Christina Sell · ISBN-10: 1890772321 · ISBN-13: 978-1890772321