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 Erich Schiffmann |
MEDITATIONS IN CLASS |
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Posts: 3765 (06/13/09 10:11:02) |
This 1st link below was the meditation at the beginning of class, just a sample of how I do it
Meditation at the Beginning of Class and the 2nd link here was at the end of the same class Meditation at the End of Class Enjoy! |
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fullypresent |
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Posts: 109 (06/13/09 22:27:50) |
 Listened to the first one so far, very grateful, thank you Erich! I
know I will use this one often.
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Erich Schiffmann |
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Posts: 3769 (06/13/09 22:32:17) |
You're welcome!
the 2nd one is shorter |
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Bhakti 4 |
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Posts: 404 (06/23/09 10:42:22) |
Do you encourage students to sit all the time? Both meditations are sweeeeet! LOVE hearing your voice.... nice singing bowl too!!
Bhakti |
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Bhakti 4 |
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Posts: 405 (06/23/09 12:58:55) |
what I mean is many of my students prefer arriving into the space on their backs. I've traditionally been taught it's much better naturally to have the
spine elongated up. Does it matter to you?
Thanks big E! |
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omcasey |
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Posts: 8552 (06/23/09 13:34:04) |
Goodness, if it did he would have never accepted me as a student
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lightdancer |
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Posts: 10618 (06/23/09 14:25:54) Asst. Administrator |
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Bhakti 4 |
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Posts: 406 (06/24/09 03:35:37) |
Thank you for your response but it really doesn't answer my question. Basically what I was asking Erich is.. are there particular benefits from seated
meditation that may not be found with laying on your back and if so would he suggest sitting over laying to his students?
Om Bhakti |
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omcasey |
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Posts: 8555 (06/24/09 07:17:03) |
Bhakti
I'm sure he'll be here to answer -it seems he got back from Canada just yesterday . .
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Erich Schiffmann |
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Posts: 3788 (06/24/09 09:38:42) |
Hi Bhaktiji!
I like them both, and I sit up most of the time, but I always give people the choice. Comfort is the main factor. Encourage your people to find a comfortable position they can settle into, so as to practice becoming and then being as still and tension-free as possible. And let them know they can lie down if they prefer. I don't really think it makes any difference, not in a big way, but in the particular moment one will feel more attractive than the other. Encourage your people to sense for the one that feels most right. |
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SimplyBill |
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Posts: 2839 (06/24/09 11:23:55) |
My question or remark is that given the state of Yoga where I live anytime I have mentioned the word meditation a lot of questions arise, and then dogmatic
responses come up. So what do you do in class if this is a concern?
The classes here tend to be 1 hour: 50 or so minutes of Asana then 10 or so of Savasana so there is really no time for meditation because the next class is waiting. So just understand my confusion on this topic.
As long as there is an openness to ourselves and the universe we can fully be the evolved being we were always meant to be...
SimplyBill |
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sifumary |
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Posts: 514 (06/24/09 14:09:43) |
Bill,
Most of my yoga classes are taught in gyms where I may only get 50 -55 min of instruction time. Most of my audience is the kind you are talking about...they don't want to hear yogic philosiphy or hear the term "meditation". I have a yoga class I teach at a church called "Focus Stretching" because they didn't even want to use the word yoga! I do an opening meditation called "relaxing the mind and body". In the gym, I immediately turn off the lights and get my music on when I come in. My students know what to do and I will offer dialogue to the newbies: sit or lie down, close your eyes and here's how we breathe.... So in the meantime the talkers from the last class feel the need to get out of the room and the late people who "thwack" their mats on the floor and slam the noisy the door are coming in at this time. The cycling teacher is still screaming to his students next door! My students are challenged to block out these disturbing noises and somehow they do... imagine how well they will do in a quiet room! I pack the instruction into my class, but I always make sure to have at least 2 to 3 good "pauses" during class. I have heard some people to refer to yoga as a "moving meditation" and that's how I teach my classes. I am much slower than most gym yoga instructors. Our ending meditation is called a "final resting posture" and most choose to go into savasana. Some leave, but I have them leave before we settle into it. If I'm lucky, we have 5 minutes but most of the time we get 3. My fantasy is to have a long beginning and ending meditation. (and have tons of props too!) But that is not my reality. Most of my students would never go to a yoga studio, but gladly, I've seen some move in that direction. They don't want to hear philosiphy or Sanskrit, they just want their stretch. So that is the way I teach....Funny thing, these people are meditating and getting all the benefits of a yoga class...they just don't know it....they just keep coming back...I have been creatively challenged to not use yogic terminology in my classes...and I am grateful can bring yoga to these people...even if I'm "tricking" them into it. Erich has been a big influence for me, in the way he talks to people. He doesn't baffle his audience with fancy yogic terms, he keeps the instruction at a level that everyone understands. It is my goal to communicate to my students in the same manner. Hope this teacher's perspective helps,
Mary Watson
"Stop the chase and be a witness" |
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Bhakti 4 |
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Posts: 407 (06/25/09 04:27:20) |
Thanks Erich!
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Bhakti 4 |
Gym yoga | ||
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Posts: 408 (06/25/09 04:49:56) |
Swami Satchidananda would often say:
"If you are in a yoga class, no matter what the reason, you've probably already lived many lives before". 
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lightdancer |
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Posts: 10620 (06/25/09 06:00:37) Asst. Administrator |
Way to go, Mary! Keeping it simple is a big thing I've learned from Erich, too.
Bill, I'd echo what Mary said -just use a different word. "Relax" is a good one. "Decompress." As a teacher, I think the important thing to do is to help people have an actual experience of meditation, whether I call it meditation, or "just chilling for a sec" or "relaxing for a couple of minutes." The easier I keep it, the more likely I am to keep doing it, and the more likely my students are to say, "Okay, I can sit here and relax for a few minutes, but I'm no meditator!" You know, if they don't have a "formal meditation practice" but they're finding time each day to decompress...then they are having the experience, regardless of what it's called or what it looks like. It's sort of the same thing with the word "God." It's a hot word for lots of folks. But it's possible to have a God-filled conversation with somebody, by communicating the experience of God without ever having to use the word God (or any words at all, for that matter)...you know? You can look somebody right in the eye and communicate it very clearly, or hug someone and transmit it completely. It's about the experience, not so much the words, in my view. But if the words are causing a division, use different ones. |
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SimplyBill |
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Posts: 2845 (06/25/09 07:11:03) |
Very cool way to present it.
From my experience should'nt actual meditation take place after the physical practice is over OR just having the experience of the class Be the meditation? To my way of thinking classes could/should be 11/2 hours and then give the option for after class meditation or simply slip out quietly for those that dont want to.
As long as there is an openness to ourselves and the universe we can fully be the evolved being we were always meant to be...
SimplyBill
Last Edited By: SimplyBill
06/25/09 07:13:12.
Edited 1 times.
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drrona |
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Posts: 14167 (06/25/09 07:20:10) Asst. Administrator |
like mary was saying
meditation is the perfect way to both begin (to get in and leave the extras one may have/need to unpack) and to end with i too view/teach asana as moving meditation... even without saying so or using 'hot' button words the end result induces more calm, clear, presence meditation is how i have learned from erich to both begin and end class when i am teachng even short classes
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a
love letter to the world." Mother Teresa |
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Bhakti 4 |
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Posts: 409 (06/25/09 11:23:19) |
Dear Mary,
What I didn't have time to say earlier is that it's so great to have real yogi's teaching in a gym type of setting. I teach in a sacred space with an alter.. chanting and sharing whatever yoga philosophy I can without holding back. However, I know a few teachers that do teach at a gym and I feel they offer so much to our community. One of my friends uses mini lights in place of candles and she has draped fabric over the bright fluorescent lights. I have had a few come into the studio from the Y who never would, had they not had that taste from the gym. In line to what Rona says; yoga opens us up whether we know it or not. It just does. Through the body, we get to the mind. Erich, even in his beautiful non-dogmatic way taught me to actually NOT hold back from what my own true yoga spirit is wanting to say while I am teaching. I've not had a student walk out...yet, which use to be one of my fears. I have had many students first come who did not want to sit, lay, or keep their eyes closed for 5 sec who over time have been able to relax to the point where I have to ring the bell a number of times to bring them back.
Bill, I teach a teen yoga class and although most of them are open to anythng, I usually keep things simple in regards to meditation. Often I simply ask them to focus on the breath and suggest ways they can take that off the mat and out there into this sometimes crazy world. I had a 15 year old all boy come into class last week in his blue jeans and hoodie say to me "something's happening... in me... when I am practicing yoga". He wasn't referring the physical body. Yoga's changing the world, especially today....where ever we're practicing. The economy suffers but yoga classes are as full as ever. I think some folks aren't even aware consciously , at just how open and ready they are. Thanks everyone for being here for me! love, Bhakti |
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SimplyBill |
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Posts: 2846 (06/25/09 13:08:50) |
very cool post and thank you for the perspective...
As long as there is an openness to ourselves and the universe we can fully be the evolved being we were always meant to be...
SimplyBill |
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sifumary |
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Posts: 515 (06/25/09 14:19:04) |
Bhakti,
Mary Watson
"Stop the chase and be a witness" |
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ManitobaYogi |
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Posts: 44 (09/27/09 10:46:40) |
Thanks Erich as always, for sharing.
Linda from Winnipeg (Maureen Rae's student)* |
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