Getting Ready for Week Two

I'm enjoying  reading your blogs and  glad so many of you are  finding  How Yoga Works an enjoyable read.

Please be sure that you have read How Yoga Works Chapters 1-16 for class on Tuesday. We will spend the bulk of our philosophy discussion time with that work. In order to prepare for discussion, please have in mind the following topics: (you are welcome to address any or all of these issues on your blog)







I know  a couple of you have not  gotten the book yet,   worry not,   you'll still be able to participate in the  discussion! 


1. two things you like about the book thus far. Please be specific.
2. Two things you don't like about the book thus far. Please be specific.
3. What similarities do you see with what we are doing in class (both the philosophy and yoga dimensions) with what is being discussed in the book?
4. Do you see any references to the idea of stilling the fluctuations of the mind or seeing the true self or identifying with the fluctuations of the mind in the reading thus far?
5. How would you describe the captain as a student?
6. How would you describe yourself as a student?

A review of Class one and the Class Plan for Class Two

Here are some  philosophy terms  we  talked about.


The definition of yoga
The aim of  yoga
The nature of the soul
Samskaras



Here is some anatomy

Quadraceps
Triceps
Ribcage
Feet


Here is  some Sanskirt

Tadasana
Vrksasana
Urdhva
Muka
Svana
Adho
Hasta 
Baddha
Kona
Angulia



Here are the poses we  did.

Tadasana
Urdhva Hastasana and  other arm work
AMS
Walking the  Dog
Tadasana
Vrksasana
Supta Baddha Konasana
Savasana

we will work with these poses again and the rest of the sequence posted on  day one and

Tadasana
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddanguiliasana
Paschima Baddanguliasana
Baddha Hastasana
Vrksasana
Trikonasana  and  Utthita Hasta Padasana and  Parsva Hasta Pad.
Vira II
Adho Mukha Svanasana

Utt
Dandasana
Marichyasana I Twist only

Marichyasana III Twist Only

Chatush
Supta Baddha Konasana
Supported Savasana. 

 

We will also talk a bit about How Yoga Works and the Intro to LOY  27-31

Here's the Plan for Day One

Class Plan for today

Hi Everyone,  Here's the  general  plan for  today.

Introductions.  

Explaining course logistics.

Explaining the props.

A bit about  Philosophy  

Samadhi Pada
अथ योगानुशासनम् atha yogānuśāsanam
With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga. (I) Now, the teachings of yoga [are presented]. (B)
yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodha
Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. (1) Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind (B)
tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe 'vasthānam
Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour. (I) When that is accomplished, the seer abides in its own true nature. (B)
vṛtti-sārūpyam itaratra
At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness. (I) Otherwise, at other times, [the seer] is absorbed in the changing states [of the mind]. (B)

Some Basic yoga poses

Tadasana
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddanguiliasana
Paschima Baddanguliasana
Vrksasana
Trikonasana
Vira II
Adho Mukha Svanasana

Utt
Dandasana
Marichyasana I Twist only

Marichyasana III Twist Only

Paschimottansana
Supta Baddha Konasana
Supported Savasana.

A bit about blogging

A significant part of  your grade for this course  comes from your work on the blog. I like using blogs because they can help you cultivate a practice of daily writing and reflection which can support the development of a daily practice of  yoga.  I also like that the blogs  are public. In theory, anyone can read your blog. Like many academics and students today, I'm interested in opening up the classroom space and  finding ways to bring our academic endeavors into the "real world."  Blogging is one  way of  doing that mode of what is sometimes called  public philosophy.   

 You can check out  my blog (teachingphilosophyandyoga.blogspot.com)  for  an ongoing example of my public account of my yoga and philosophy teaching and practice life. 

BLOG 40%: You will keep a semester long blog about this class: Please email me your blog address before the semester starts so that I can list them all on a blog roll. Auditors and guests of the course, if you have a blog that you would like to have included on the blogroll, please email me that information (Anne_Marie_Schultz@baylor.edu).

The blog has four distinct elements. 40% percent I will do my best to record the grades each week.

1.     A weekly reading reflection on the assigned readings. You may choose to post a weekly reading reflection before class on Tuesday or before class on Thursday. The posts should be between 250-500 words. There are 12 weeks with required reading assignments. You must complete 10 weekly reading to be eligible to receive an A. You may complete all 12 reflections to supplement your grade in this section. Note: doing 10 does not guarantee that you get an A. The overall quality of the entries will determine the grade you earn for this section of the blog. You cannot make up missed blog reports. (10 points a week).

2. A weekly reflection about your experiences with asana practice in class. These are due anytime during the week. The weekly reflection should be between 250-500 words. There are 15 weeks of yoga practice. You must complete 10 practice reflections to be eligible to receive an A. You may complete all ten to supplement your grade in this section. Again, doing 10 does not guarantee that you receive an A. The overall quality of the entries determines your grade. You may complete upto 12 reflection to supplement your grade, but you cannot make up missed blog reports (10 points a week)

3.     A weekly account of your attempt to develop an outside of class asana practice and/ or how you see what you are learning in this class affecting your life outside of the classroom. (10 points a week)

4. Completion of 5 required blog posts. At various points in the semester, usually on a day that we do not have class, I will assign you a specific topic to write about. They are due 48 hours after class time ends. The idea is that you will use to the class time and the time you would normally spend writing for class to write about the topic. Don’t spend any more time than two or three hours on the assignment. (20 points each)

Course Description

BIC CAPSTONE 4389: EXAMINED LIFE III

Yoga Practice and Philosophy in Contemporary American Culture

Morrison 100

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30- 4:45 PM.

Instructor: Anne-Marie Schultz, PhD

Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and Director of the BIC.

“Now begins the practice of yoga.” Patanjali

“Practice. All is coming.” Pattabhi Jois

“My body is my temple. My asanas are my prayers.” B.K.S Iyengar

“When you want to be soothed, go to the Bhagavad Gita and drink it like nectar.” Patricia Walden.

Course Description: In this practice-based class, we will explore some aspects of classical yoga philosophy and how it informs contemporary yoga. Hatha yoga practice is an aspect of self-care for millions of Americans. As such, it provides a concrete model of how we might live the examined life. We will examine the benefits of this model over the course of the semester.

In each class, we will discuss yoga philosophy for 15-20 minutes and do n asana practice for 45-50 minutes.

A couple words about the asana part of class:

Buy own yoga mat and bring it to class each day. All other yoga props are provided for your use during class by the BIC. I encourage you to buy your own set of props for home practice if your budget allows for it.

Please come to class prepared to practice yoga. You will need to take off your shoes as you enter the classroom as yoga is practiced barefoot. For the asana practice, wear comfortable clothing. Shorts and a t-shirt are best. There are bathrooms for changing right next to the classroom.

 Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach. Please do not eat right before class. Some juice or fruit is okay just before class. Please eat a light lunch early in the day. If you eat right before class, you will find asana more difficult to perform, it may even make you dizzy or nauseous.

 There are some poses that we will practice that are not suitable for women on their menstrual cycle, if that is the case for you on any given day, let me know and I will give you alternate poses to do. Similarly, if you have particular physical injuries or other limitations that might hinder your ability to practice asana, please let me know and we can adapt poses to suit your particular needs.

I encourage you to find time to practice asana when we are not in class. I will give you specific poses and breathing exercises (pranayama) to work with outside of class. There are also many books that give yoga sequences. Bear Aerobics offers yoga classes as do some health clubs around town. My sister, Christina Sell, also offers classes online at an affordable rate. There are many other  yoga teachers  that offer online  instruction of various sorts.  I'll compile a list of them soon.

Also, there may be a few faculty members and other yoga practitioners joining us for the asana practices and one or two students auditing the course. Please welcome them to our classroom community.

A few words about the philosophy part of the course:

Over the course of the semester, we will read The Bhagavad Gita and many of Patanjali’s famous aphorisms about yoga, from The Yoga Sutras. Michael Roach and Christie McNally’s, engaging novelistic account of the Sutras in action, How Yoga Works, will guide or discussion of this text. Our class discussion will focus primarily on the Sutras and the Gita, though we will also draw upon other readings. We will also read two memoirs by a contemporary yogi and a contemporary yogini (male and female people who practice yoga). The books are Waking and Yoga from the Inside Out.

Just as I hope you will practice yoga outside of our classroom experience, I hope you will apply the insights you gain from reading these texts to your everyday life experience. Just as you get better at asana through practice, you get better at philosophy through practice.

Welcome to the Yoga Capstone 2015

Hi  Everyone,  Welcome to the BIC  capstone.