Q about Hatha Yoga

[OBEvanCHERNOBIL]

I realize that Hatha yoga is for me and I will start to practice in near future. Coz the place where I live I don't have any place or teacher or anyone who can teach me this yoga, I have only this book "Anatomy of Hatha Yoga - By H. David Coulter" and it has 623 pages and I think it completes everything about hatha yoga. So my question is: do You suggest me to practice this yoga by myself in my home, or I should/must have a teacher for proper work? Every asana is very well explained and I think I can master it. I have never done any yoga so plz give me some advice. Thanks.

[Vitruvian]

Hi OBEvanCHERNOBIL,
 My feeling is that yoga must be learned from a teacher. Learning the asanas from a book (assuming you can do them properly and without hurting yourself) might be of some benefit in and of itself, but the reasons for practicing these forms - and taking up the study of yoga itself - should be incorporated into your study. Note I am not familiar with the text you mention; but, my wife has taught hatha yoga for many years and this has flavored my opinion.

Good luck to you with your new endeavour,
Vitruvian

Remember: 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear'.

[kurtykurt42]

Hi OBEvanCHERNOBIL,
 My feeling is that yoga must be learned from a teacher. Learning the asanas from a book (assuming you can do them properly and without hurting yourself) might be of some benefit in and of itself, but the reasons for practicing these forms - and taking up the study of yoga itself - should be incorporated into your study. Note I am not familiar with the text you mention; but, my wife has taught hatha yoga for many years and this has flavored my opinion.

Good luck to you with your new endeavour,
Vitruvian

Remember: 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear'.

I have been practicing for about four years and have never had a [physical] teacher teach me any marital art or yogic techniques. I know it may sound strange but I can sense and feel the ascended masters helping me when I train.

Although, I have watched a ton of different videos and read a lot of books to get to where I am today. Not sure if you meant a 'real' teacher or just watching and reading a master but yes it is absolutely necessary to watch a master if you are to improve your skills.

[Vitruvian]

Hi Kurty,
 A pre-packaged book or DVD provides instruction, but maybe in addition to that a teacher provides personalized direction? I'd say you have done well, or maybe it's just me that needs the interaction a teacher provides.

My wife has observed several times that she will feel the presence of a string of previous teachers directing her in a class.
Namaste,
Vitruvian

[Enix]

The only problem with Hatha yoga is that Kundalini yoga is better.  Here's a great site.   http://www.anmolmehta.com      I only practiced with a class for two months and got a few tips that benefited me.  Its pretty simple, its not as detailed as tai chi. So there's generally not a beginners class. You just go and attend the class. If you cant go to a class its not really a big deal, if you can you'll get a few tips or corrections that will be worth it if your serious about yoga.

[kurtykurt42]

You should take a look at Shaolin kung fu. They have been around for about 1500 years and have some of the fearest most powerful styles in the universe.

[Vitruvian]

The only problem with Hatha yoga is that Kundalini yoga is better.

some of the fearest most powerful styles in the universe

I get a little nervous with statements like these. First -in yoga, no style is better than another; there are only different paths. A certain style will be more effective for a given person, but not for all people.

Second - as far as power goes, there is nothing more powerful than integrating your own mind, body and spirit. 'Power' in and of itself is an illusion, the same illusion a punk with a Glock has, the same illusion millionaires have.

In addition, this recent focus on exclusively developing kundalini is not something the masters ever intended and exactly demonstrates why a teacher is needed.

Namaste,
Vitruvian

[kurtykurt42]

I was just kidding about it being the most powerful style in the universe. But it has been around for over 1500 years so they must be doing something right!

[Xanth]

I was just kidding about it being the most powerful style in the universe. But it has been around for over 1500 years so they must be doing something right!

I'm not sure 'time' has anything to do with it really.
Aikido has really only been around for 50 - 100 years (depending on who you talk to), but it's still a very powerful art, both for the mind and body.

In the end, all martial arts are different paths up the same mountain all leading to the same point.

[anelie.]

I think you can start without teacher. In any case, you are going to start with the easy asanas, won' t you?
If you practice regularly, after some time maybe you will feel the need to find the teacher,
but I think for the moment the most important thing is to start;
As regards other techniques, there are many different powerful ones, but it is better to stick
to the one that appeal to us the most and persevere:)

[Xanth]

I probably should have also pointed out that you can't really *learn* a martial art (or in this case, yoga) from a book.
Sure they show you all the nice pictures and stuff... but what they don't show you is between the pictures.

In Yoshinkan Aikido, the creator of our style of Aikido, Gozo Shioda, wrote a rather complete book on most of the basic movements and techniques pertaining to our style... the first one is called "Dynamic Aikido".  He revised it later on in "Total Aikido".

In anycase... the problem with trying to learn Aikido from either of those books is that the "magic" of the technique is what happens BETWEEN the pictures showing the movements.  You'll never learn it from a book.

If there's a particular style of art you wish you learn and you can't find a teacher or sensei for it in your area... I'd suggest finding the next best thing.