Walking the Dog

Walking the Dog

I am convinced that dogs are a central theme to yoga. Looking past the variations of poses with the name dog in it, we have both walked the dog in class and read about a yogini's dog in How Yoga Works. Regardless, both concepts are very helpful.

Before starting to read How Yoga Works, I was convinced that it would be a very mathematical and technical account of how one does yoga and what it does for the practitioner. I was pleasantly surprised whenever I started to read the book. The book follows along a young girl's journey in her life dedicated to yoga. The most interesting concept is how the book goes about explaining yoga. Instead of just citing the yoga sutras, it envelops the reader into a journey where he or she can observe the effects of yoga it has on characters that are new to yoga and ones that have been studying it for years. Whenever I start reading this book, I cannot put it down. Each chapter has me dying to know if Friday and her canine companion will ever be released to continue their journey with the priceless translation of "Master's little book."

Through reading this book, I am essentially getting to hear the sutras taught to another person and, in turn, learn it myself. This makes the book very enjoyable and addictive to read. How Yoga Works has me dying for more and to know not only how it ends, but more on what all "master" has to say. 

I have taken and taught many different yoga classes in my past. However, I have never had the opportunity to take a class that studies the individual poses this deeply before. My knowledge of the poses and ways to ease beginners into them has already increased. For example, the "walking the dog" method of easing people into the necessary pose downward dog is something that I had never heard of before, but plan on incorporating it into the classes that I teach.

Also, I have had the opportunity to learn and study the minute changes that should be made in each pose that I do. The biggest change being the importance of the flexion of the feet while in either a head, forearm, or hand stand. This has changed the feeling of a pose that I thought I had known relatively well. 

Bolsters are something that I have not had much experience in dealing with. This class has taught me the beauty of the cotton-filled wonders. Not only can they help open up different chakras and deepen shavasana, but they can also make just sitting on the yoga mat substantially more comfortable. I am now going to pester my boss until we get some to use in the bearobics studio in my classes. Everyone should have the pleasure of using a bolster. 

Practicing on my own this week has gotten me very excited for the week to come. Each practice I have reminds me that I have so much more to learn. Also, the yoga classes that I teach start up this coming week. Here I will have the opportunity to teach more people how yoga and enhance their daily life. Additionally, I was asked to sit in and critique two different yoga demos for prospective yoga instructors at the SLC. Both of them were my previous students, which filled me with a sense of pride knowing that I was able to help someone fall in love with yoga the same way I did. The sessions also allowed me to have a new viewpoint: learning from my students. This was a unique experience that taught me humility and that there is no chain for yogis and yoginis, only a circle.

Until next time my fellow yogi bears.

Namasté,

The Upward-facing Bear

Who is the bear? (Blog Assignment #1)

Who is the Upward-facing Bear...

...and why is he so upward-facing?

Hello all of my conceptual yogis and yoginis! This is the Upward-facing Bear, commonly known as Josh Barlow. I am a proud Baylor Bear, who also has a slight obsession with yoga and fitness. I have always really loved yoga since I was little. I remember turning on channel 46 in the wee hours of the morning when I was supposed to be long asleep to do yoga on the fitness channel. Since then, yoga was something that I always have done sporadically. However, once I hit college, God sent down the Group X program at Baylor and saw that it was good. Once I joined that program, I knew I was hooked. I would go to classes more religiously than my own school classes. Then one day, my instructor said that she would be graduating and that the department was in need of more instructors. The next words out of her mouth changed the game. "You would be a great instructor." That was some far-off dream that I though I could never do and was not even good enough to do. However, despite this, I pursued it. A year and a half later, here I am.

Having taught yoga for a substantial amount of time, I find myself using its concepts and practices in everyday life. Yoga has taught me to find my true north and be happy with who I am. I have done many different types of yoga, from paddle-board yoga, bikram, and ariel yoga to regular hatha flow, vinyasa flow, and even the occasional ashtanga yoga session. I chose this class because I saw no better way than to combine my academic life with one of my passions. I hope to have a deeper understanding of yoga not only to enhance my practice, but to also have more to bring to my students, so that hopefully, I can impact someone the way my first instructor inspired me. Hopefully, after this class, I will have a much deeper understanding of yoga and what it means to me. Also, I will have friends that share the same passion that I have for this ancient art.

Now, why am I so upward-facing? Throughout my life, I have had many difficulties, ranging from depression and eating disorder to social anxiety and poor self-esteem. One thing that yoga has taught me is that you will never find where you need to go if you never look up from your problems. Upward-facing dog is a pose that allows your energy to erupt from the heart, feeling the openness of the world. From this, I have learned to always look up, because the best is yet to come. Your journey is what you make of it, so why not make it the best it can be?

Namasté, my friends.