This is a snapshot of chapter one verse eleven in “An Explanation of Hatha Yoga” or The Hatha Yoga Pradipika. I believe that this is true. I believe that it was originally meant for men that wanted to give up everything and JUST practice yoga. That would be – to me – the only explanation as to how some of the poses described and some of the “states of being” described could be achieved. That is why yoga used to – and actually still does (some poses or things) – seem so impossible to do. A lot of the asana are not just things you can pop into when you practice once a week. Hatha Yoga was also shared with royalty . . . again, what did they have to do, but sit around and work their bodies into these poses that promised longevity and enlightenment?
Like many things, in order to make it somewhat possible for the average person, it has morphed over the centuries. It has become – for many, not all – a form of exercise. Still with many poses that cannot be achieved with a once-a-week practice. So I always ask my students to practice ahimsa, where they are gentle with themselves and remember that they might not be able to get into the pose and look like the picture in Yoga Journal because they are just practicing once, twice, or even three times a week (or whatever). They are not devoting their life to it. So I just remind them to do the best they can today and to enjoy what they are receiving.
This post started out as a Friday Photo even though this photo should have actually gone along with my post Yoga Was Supposed To Be A Secret. But when I popped over to that post to remind myself about what exactly I wrote, I was reminded of the current trend in yoga that I am hearing about. Goat yoga. Have you heard about that? It is somewhat like doing yoga at a cat cafe or adoption lounge, except with goats.
“Regular” (whichever type is being offered) yoga classes are held in the presence of goats. And the goats just mill around. Could be they hop on you or not. When I looked it up just now two sites came up and it looks as if the places the sites are about do yoga outside. (One says that is what actually was the motivation for their goat yoga classes.) But the other stories I had seen were inside. I saw a story where the yoga was being done in a barn and another one where it was a room because the goats (they were kids) were hopping all over and their hooves were making clickety-clack noises on the floor. Seems as if there are several different places that it is done. It is really popular.
I am not sure that I would want to have that be a part of my regular practice, but I might try it once. I like the idea of cats better as I don’t think they are as heavy and rowdy as goats. But . . . . I don’t know . . .
What do you think? What is your take on Hatha Yoga starting off as being a secret? Would you be interested in doing yoga around a herd of goats?
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