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We get asked a lot of questions. Yoga stuff, diet stuff, lifestyle stuff, strange stuff and not-so-strange stuff.
I've been answering questions personally via e-mail and I'll continue to do so, but we've had many repeats
and Nina thought this might be a nice way to share the (mis)information.

I hope this is usefull and please keep the quetions coming (it's fun)...

 

Q. Can I still do other sports (ie. jog, lift weights, hike, bike, swim etc etc) AND practice yoga.

A. YES. This practice is about awareness. We find the yoga practice just enhances our awareness for other activities.

 

Q. Do you do other activities to stay healthy - like jog, swim, lift weights, etc etc?

A. No, we do other activities for fun (we love to hike), but this practice (and good food) takes care of all our health needs.

 

Q. You're vegetarian, what about protein?

A. Dairy, nuts and beans+rice. We both think protein is over rated in our culture. Western folks generally worry too much about 'getting enough' of this vitamin or that mineral, enough of this or that nutrient. Come on, America is fat - look around! People are getting too much!

I'm vegetarian, but Nina eats eggs on occasion, usually around her moon cycle.

It's worth mentioning that we became vegetarian in a natural process - the meat left us, we didn't leave it. Just lost the taste for 'flesh foods' - After driving by that ranch on hiway 5 anybody could become vegetarian! What a nasty, stinky thing!

 

Q. Okay, what do you eat?

A. Whatever we want, whenever we want, in whatever quantitiy we please. Seriously, we eat two meals daily. After practice, we usually eat a variety of fresh and dried fruit with nuts, breads (whole wheat) and lots of butter. The second meal is beans, rice, veggies, salad and sea vegetable (kombu, dulse, wakame, alaria etc). We take all the oil we want in the form of ghee, olive oil, nut oils and butter. Chocolate and ice cream are involved on a daily basis usually before the evening meal and sometimes after the evening meal and sometimes as a snack and...

 

Q. What about sugar and salt?

A. Love 'em both - but not typically together. We're both very moderate with salt, I tend to eat a lot more sugar than Nina - especially in coffee... mmmmmm coffee...

 

Q. What about coffee, tea, soda?

A. We both take a cup of strong coffee before practice in the early morning. Nina likes tea and neither of us drink soda.

 

Q. Coffee BEFORE practice?!?

A. Yes, Guruji suggested it. He told me that with one cup coffee, "even lazy man is coming full energy!" Too much makes us shake, but ONE cup gets us vibrating just right!

 

Q. How much weight have you lost since you stopped lifting weights?

A. Before discovering yoga, I was a competitive body builder and I used steroids and growth hormone. At my largest, I was 245 lbs and I'm about 145 lbs now. Nina's weight seems unaffected by the practice, but she's getting a lot stronger. Funny thing worth mentioning: I was certainly more 'powerful' at 245, but I feel stronger now...

 

Q. We've had numerous questions about pain and 'opening' from this practice.

A. Yes, we have both gone through pain. Neither of us has stopped practicing because of pain, although we've both modified our practice when needed. In our experience, there is 'sweet pain' and the not so good kind of pain. Pain is our body communicating with us - better listen! Both Sharath and Guruji call these pains, "opening" and they both suggest continued practice. However, they also both caution that incorrect practice will cause any number of diseases in the body - best to consult an expert for specific 'pains' if you are unsure. Hot water, massage, arnica, chiropractic, ice cream, aspirin, smelly ointments and lots of faith - we have used it all and when we find the answer we'll post it...

 

Q. What's your practice like?

A. Sunday - We do intermediate together.
Monday: I do advanced 'A' section (3rd) and Nina does intermediate and the beginning of 'A' section.
Tuesday - Thursday: I do advanced 'B' section (4th) and Nina repeats Monday's practice.
Friday: We do primary together.
Saturday: We rest.
Moon days are also taken as full rest days. Nina also takes three full days of rest for her moon cycle.
I do pranayama after every asana practice. Asana takes about two hours and pranayama about 40 minutes.