"It is not that the person needs to accommodate him or herself to yoga, but rather the yoga practice must be tailored to fit each person. This implies that progress on the path of yoga means different things for different people. We must not obstruct this progress by deliberately setting certain goals. Yoga serves the individual, and does so through inviting transformation rather than by giving information."

From "The Heart of Yoga" by TKV Desikachar.

From an article in Medical News Today. The whole article is here.

"A new US study finds that yoga can benefit breast cancer survivors by reducing fatigue and inflammation. While yoga has many components, the researchers believe breathing and meditation probably had the biggest impact."

"At the end of 12 weeks of yoga classes, a group of women who had completed breast cancer treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy, showed an average reduction in fatigue of 57% and up to 20% reduction in inflammation, compared with a similar group that had not received yoga instruction."

From my teacher Tony Sanchez.

"A good and responsible teacher is a guide to the student on the path of yoga. To provide students with the right knowledge, experience and technique is a must to create good students. There is a way to use the rational mind when practicing asana. Mental association with physical mechanics and performance is necessary for good results. As a teacher to understand all the different body types with their variables is a blessing. To come up with the right approach and technique to teach asana with clear understanding is the goal."

In Ashtanga, the final posture of the sequence before Savasana is Tolasana, Scale Posture. It is executed with the legs in the Lotus position. The hands are on the floor and the lower body is lifted up. Very similar to Lifting Lotus in the Ghosh tradition.

Ideally, Tolasana is held for 100 breaths. That is roughly 5-10 minutes in this powerful, completely focused posture.

Ever since developing my own practice last summer, I have flirted with the idea of competing. 

Yoga competition existed in my mind as a theoretical possibility for some indeterminate time in the future. I figured that my practice would develop and improve to the point where I would be good enough to compete without too much fuss. In my mind, I would compete next year, 2015. A good year after studying with Tony and learning some more advanced postures. A good year of focused and dedicated self-practice. Perhaps most important, a year away from now, so no need for pressure or stress.

Then I found out that the Midwest Regional of the USA Yoga Championships is in Minneapolis in two weeks. On Feb 16. Ida and I are discussing the possibility of competing this year. Of course, I don't feel ready. I can't do the splits in Standing Bow (really, how many guys can?), and my stillness leaves a lot to be desired in Standing Head to Knee. To be honest, I am terrified of the idea. 

At this point, I doubt we will compete in two weeks. The logistics of getting to Minneapolis the morning after a gig so soon in the future will be tough. But this situation has brought some real issues to the surface for me. Maybe it's true what they say about yoga competition: that we are competing above all with ourselves, with our own practice.

"Nothing would be done at all if we waited until we could do it so well that no one could find fault with it." -John Henry Newman