ashtanga yoga demo

the monkey is rather inspiring. Aren't we just another monkey? That monkey could be more advanced in yoga :)

Sometimes I think Ashtanga yoga mainly exists to make normal yoga practitioners like me feel inadequate...

Interesting point you make and it's really an unfortunate one because it brings all the focus onto the gymnastic element of yoga which is quite meaningless ultimately.

Astanga yoga is very much about repetitive daily practice with a major focus on those gymnastic postures.

With many it encourages goal orientated obsession, a major distraction in itself, leading to injury.

Before anyone jumps on me, I own and teach at an astanga school so it's fair to suggest I know what I am talking about.

goal orientated obsession may give rise to yoga as a form of noble narcissism.

Yes and noble narcissism likewise is bound to give rise to obsessive, goal orientated yoga !

I do yoga because I find it reduces the chances of injury and improves my performance when I am doing Judo. What does that make me?

sensible ?

Yoga is not a Physical exercise Learn Bhagavad Gita Know about YOGA ...


Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga.

aUM nAMAH sHiVAYA

You are largely correct but not entirely.

There is no question yoga has been seriously bastardised here in the west and most people wouldn't even have a clue what you are talking about.

The reason for yoga is to prepare the body, through postures so that the body can rest on a foundation of stillness during meditation. Doing yoga postures without following it up with meditation is just physical exercise.