Alan Little's general Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga page

Yahoo! Ashtanga Yoga discussion group - a partial index of messages

This is a selective index of some of the more interesting messages from the Yahoo! Ashtanga Yoga discussion group. There's a more detailed explanation and disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

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Message number Author Subject Date Deleted?
119janos266Chaturanga18/06/99
145javraAshtanga yoga lineage05/07/99
148alan_littleAshtanga yoga lineage07/07/99
157monkijiAshtanga yoga lineage10/07/99
158monkijiAshtanga yoga lineage10/07/99
164TrayamAshtanga & Iyengar10/07/99
167alan_littleAshtanga & Iyengar12/07/99
168monkijiAshtanga & Iyengar12/07/99
177monkijiAshtanga & Iyengar24/07/99
196monkijisweat13/08/99
197godfreydevsweat13/08/99
198javrasweat14/08/99
245alan_little"progress" & "achievement"01/10/99
248betty_ashtangayoga & fitness04/10/99
251godfreydevmeditation07/10/99
252godfreydevmeditation07/10/99
276Trayamadho mukha svanasana13/11/99
283TLSladediet15/11/99
292jesus_of_montrealyoga & other activities17/11/99
293Trayamdiet17/11/99
301yogadocyoga & other activities18/11/99
306yogadocdiet19/11/99
308takeitup_2000diet19/11/99
309Trayamyoga & other activities20/11/99
310Marappuyoga & other activities21/11/99
312TLSlademoon days23/11/99
318Trayamknees24/11/99
325LizSedley"progress" & "achievement"29/11/99
379monkijiujayi breathing12/01/00
391monkijion SPW on BBB19/01/00
405Trayamunqualified teachers21/01/00
485Senor_Pinche_Weydiet03/02/00
488alan_littleyoga & other activities04/02/00
494takeitup_2000diet05/02/00
520bente199counting13/02/00
523aerobigirlyoga & aerobics13/02/00
536godfreydevheat15/02/00
537godfreydevAshtanga & Iyengar15/02/00
538godfreydevAshtanga & Iyengar15/02/00
539godfreydevAshtanga & Iyengar15/02/00
545takeitup_2000Ashtanga & Iyengar16/02/00
548Senor_Pinche_Weythe reason why17/02/00
551godfreydevAshtanga & Iyengar17/02/00
565yeshe1999teaching22/02/00
566homer_hanumatteaching22/02/00
570godfreydevteaching23/02/00
577Senor_Pinche_Weyteaching26/02/00
581Senor_Pinche_Weyteachers26/02/00
592Trayamteaching27/02/00
600jesus_of_montrealideology & purity29/02/00
608homer_hanumatteacher qualifications01/03/00
622godfreydevmuscles & technique02/03/00
634gabita27eating before practice05/03/00
650takeitup_2000pranayama07/03/00
651godfreydevpranayama08/03/00
664takeitup_2000injuries & healing08/03/00
674skinnda"progress" & "achievement"09/03/00
676takeitup_2000"progress" & "achievement"09/03/00
677homer_hanumat"progress" & "achievement"09/03/00
694godfreydevhatha yoga, ashtanga yoga13/03/00
700Glenn2468turmeric for flexibility13/03/00
712godfreydevkapotasana & shoulderstand16/03/00
713Trayamkapotasana16/03/00
722Trayammoon days21/03/00
724icecakes29moon days21/03/00
728yogageekknees24/03/00
731takeitup_2000knees24/03/00
752irinjiknees01/04/00
778betty_ashtangateaching04/04/00
780alan_littlefoot cramp05/04/00
792alan_littleteaching06/04/00
793alan_littleteaching06/04/00
794alan_littleteaching06/04/00
809alan_little"progress" & "achievement"07/04/00
817Senor_Pinche_Wey"progress" & "achievement"07/04/00
821Senor_Pinche_Weybackbending08/04/00
823godfreydevbackbending09/04/00
827Trayambackbending10/04/00
875t e r omoon days25/04/00
885loveandlaughter4uteaching27/04/00
896loveandlaughter4uteaching02/05/00
906vitamin_t12bikram07/05/00
908loveandlaughter4u"progress" & "achievement"07/05/00
915alan_littleBBB & Swenson books09/05/00
917borshschtBBB & Swenson books10/05/00
919takeitup_2000BBB & Swenson books10/05/00
932loveandlaughter4uadjustments12/05/00
933vitamin_t12KPJ adjusting women12/05/00
937javraKPJ adjusting women12/05/00
938takeitup_2000KPJ's adjustments13/05/00
976takeitup_2000yoga & life18/05/00
981jpress1yoga & life19/05/00
989alan_littlemonkey mind19/05/00
990edenlotusknees19/05/00
993btrexmonkey mind19/05/00
995godfreydevsun salutations & wrists20/05/00
999tukan_tukanshort forms vs. traditional21/05/00
1002monkijishort forms vs. traditional21/05/00
1007yogageekenergy & daily practice21/05/00
1012loveandlaughter4uenergy & daily practice22/05/00
1013alan_littleknees & glucosamine22/05/00
1017tshamoyahamstrings & lower back22/05/00
1020Trayamchaturanga & wrists23/05/00
1024Trayamchaturanga & wrists23/05/00
1074badlady_trinkapadangustasana 05/06/00
1109gazing_pointKPJ on beginning practice14/06/00
1113muktiboymissing practice & guilt15/06/00
1124badlady_trinkamissing practice & guilt18/06/00
1143godfreydevdependency on form22/06/00
1225hirnsageknees10/07/00
1229guydonahayeknees11/07/00
1234homer_hanumatreligion & meditation11/07/00
1240badlady_trinkajump backs11/07/00
1246guydonahayemarichyasana a & b12/07/00
1256alan_littleknees & glucosamine13/07/00
1257dantrishanknees & glucosamine13/07/00
1258dantrishanlearning 2nd series13/07/00
1261alan_littleknees13/07/00
1270trayammarichyasana c & d14/07/00
1354homer_hanumatlearning vinyasa jump-backs24/07/00
1355homer_hanumatlearning vinyasa jump-backs24/07/00
1370yogawormmysore classes25/07/00
1371tiber66diet25/07/00
1372TLSlademysore classes25/07/00
1373badlady_trinkadiet25/07/00
1380gabita27yoga and religion25/07/00
1382guydonahayemysore classes25/07/00
1383amrita8000diet25/07/00
1387dantrishandiet26/07/00
1399lhill11_2000diet26/07/00
1401okrgr1diet26/07/00
1415amrita8000diet28/07/00
1424javraLino's video - full vinyasa28/07/00
1436javrafaith29/07/00
1443robyn_jlfundamentalism30/07/00
1451alan_littlediet31/07/00
1482cocteau27chakrasana01/08/00
1503missy_pinkychakrasana03/08/00
1526Senor_Pinche_Weyinjuries / openings05/08/00
1530tshamoyaKPJ's adjustments05/08/00
1532tshamoyainjuries / openings05/08/00
1541missy_pinkysanskrit - learning & scriptures06/08/00
1594amrita8000neti kriya09/08/00
1596missy_pinkylifestyle & detoxification09/08/00
1624missy_pinkymenstruation10/08/00
3705guydonahayedaily practice19/10/00
3708gabitavinyasa19/10/00
3867takeitup_2000yoga & other activities26/10/00
3870ryanmattdKrishnamacharya27/10/00
3934alan_littlefundamentalism (?)31/10/00
3936okrgr1supta kurmasana31/10/00
3940Trayamsupta kurmasana31/10/00
3968cocteau27supta kurmasana02/11/00
3969madonna_ashtangautkatasana02/11/00
4004Trayamashtanga & vipassana02/11/00
4005okrgr1supta kurmasana02/11/00
4075okrgr1"progress" & "achievement"06/11/00
4151guydonahaye"criminals" (not)09/11/00
4346missy_pinkydiet15/11/00
4367rwintskiahimsa & vegetarianism16/11/00
4375guydonahayeahimsa & vegetarianism16/11/00
4390muktiboyahimsa & vegetarianism17/11/00
4685guydonahayelineage24/11/00
4686okrgr1power yoga25/11/00
4696shivalingham2000Ashtanga yoga lineage25/11/00
4715shivalingham2000lineage26/11/00
4792dantrishanBNS Iyengar30/11/00
4853malsagsciatica & John Sarno01/12/00
4855guydonahayeinjuries & healing01/12/00
4858dantrishaninjuries, healing & dolphins01/12/00
4866Senor_Pinche_WeyMysore02/12/00
4884okrgr1funny04/12/00
4935missy_pinkyashtanga purity06/12/00
4982alan_littlebackbending08/12/00
4991jesus_of_montrealyoga & addictions08/12/00
4994yeshe1999backbending08/12/00
5005shining_skull"progress" & "achievement"09/12/00
5139okrgrheadstand13/12/00
5155laproxdocheadstand13/12/00
5159bandawomanheadstand13/12/00
5271TLSlademovies14/12/00
5335okrgrbhujapidasana15/12/00
5355okrgryoga & healing15/12/00
5395okrgrgarbha pindasana17/12/00
5442TLSlademessage board issues18/12/00
5526edenlotusneti kriya20/12/00
5528sunandmikeneti kriya20/12/00Deleted
5533sparrow_dtneti kriya21/12/00Deleted
5779TLSlademarijuana04/01/01
5904inermisdown dog & wrist problems10/01/01
6106shining_skullBKS Iyengar & asana origins25/01/01
6163TLSladenauli kriya31/01/01
6185guydonahayenauli, kriyas & practice variations01/02/01
6197guydonahayekriyas, asana& cleansing03/02/01
6233screwgeecritical thinking08/02/01
6237lu_38_deteaching09/02/01
6241guydonahayecritical thinking09/02/01
6256screwgeecritical thinking10/02/01
6257b_robert_burns76elbows & down dog10/02/01
6258ddmcguirecritical thinking, yoga korunta11/02/01
6306shining_skullyoga korunta14/02/01
6307alliscomingenlightenment?14/02/01
6321yogageekashtanga origins14/02/01
6509loveandlaughter4uiyengar yoga24/02/01
6528loveandlaughter4uiyengar & ashtanga25/02/01
6636yogapunkmysore fees & "yoga tourists"02/03/01
6643loveand laughter4umysore fees & "yoga tourists"02/03/01
6691yogapunkteaching & certification05/03/01
6694aeschsteaching & certification05/03/01
6719jojoyogareal yoga crims07/03/01
6924allon39moon days14/03/01
6973kkyogagirlmeshoulders16/03/01
7202padmanowexpectations & non-attachment29/03/01
7228midnight omboybrahmacharya31/03/01
7290hanuman187janusirsasana c04/04/01
7292padmanowjanusirsasana c04/04/01
7335midnight_omboyyoga, striving & injury06/04/01
7394padmanowtight hips09/04/01
7402malsagBeryl Birch's book10/04/01
7471ompremyoga &religious faith14/04/01
7672nadayogaMysore, "yoga tourists"26/04/01
7833TLSladehand & wrist problems09/05/01
7851TLSladehand & wrist problems12/05/01
7924screwgeeteaching & certification19/05/01
8224funkybadlady"progress" and second series07/06/01
8240screwgee"progress" and second series08/06/01
8245homer_hanumat"progress" and second series08/06/01
8280takeitup_2000backbending10/06/01
8295funkybadladywhy the physical stuff?11/06/01
8298yogimacwhy the physical stuff?11/06/01
8299ompremwhy the physical stuff?11/06/01
8300alan_littlewhy the physical stuff?11/06/01
8301alan_littlewhy the physical stuff?11/06/01
8519georgiayogilearning from books/videos?25/06/01
8525lu_38_deBeryl Birch's book26/06/01
8568ddmcguireteaching & certification27/06/01
8569ddmcguireteaching & certification27/06/01
8604TLSladeteaching & certification27/06/01
8923homer_hanumatmula bandha10/07/01
8980homer_hanumat8 limbs11/07/01
8981homer_hanumat8 limbs11/07/01
8983Senor_Pinche_Weybackbending11/07/01
9032boredcthisteaching & certification13/07/01
9115ompremdiet - Desikachar & vegetarianism18/07/01
9118clk0893sticking with it18/07/01
9354elegant_homunculusDena Kingsberg on repetition30/07/01
9405homer_hanumatcharacter of senior ashtangis02/08/01
9449TLSladenatural sitting03/08/01
9552missy_pinkythe irrelevance of alignment07/08/01
9620galaxylazybandhas09/08/01
9625shining_skullteaching - KPJ's fees justified?09/08/01
9626missy_pinkyteaching - KPJ's fees justified?09/08/01
9642funkybadladyteaching, drop-in classes09/08/01
9743guydonahayediet14/08/01
9858screwgeeteaching & certification20/08/01
9899shining_skullinjuries & distractions21/08/01
9972galaxylazyyoga & vipassana24/08/01
9974galaxylazyyoga & vipassana24/08/01
10024galaxylazyheadstand27/08/01
10087cynxirKPJ's adjustments30/08/01
10106homer_hanumatKPJ's adjustments30/08/01
10122takeitup_2000KPJ's sons30/08/01
10128cynxirKPJ's adjustments31/08/01
10159mediaglyphicKPJ's adjustments01/09/01
10202ompremSenor Pinche Wey04/09/01
10232ddmcguirefunny06/09/01
11118iampureassnowteaching qualifications14/11/01
11217willinasia2001Mysore24/11/01
11262christophemouzeMysore29/11/01
11308alan_littleMysore06/12/01

Explanation and Disclaimer

There's a lot a lot of useful and interesting information in the Yahoo! Ashtanga Yoga message board, but Yahoo! in their vast wisdom don't see fit to provide us with any kind of search facility. It's hard to wade back through thousands of messages with nothing better to go on than “oh, I think so-and-so said something about that in, let me see, probably round about May”. A lot of what's there is completely ephemeral gossip (nothing wrong with that) or things that are only relevant for a short time (“I'm going to Wisconsin in June, is there a class I can visit there?”) - nothing wrong with that either. But our best attempts at pearls of eternal wisdom can get lost in there too, never to be seen again.

So until enough people complain to Yahoo! and get them to give us message searching, here's a kind of partial and idiosyncratic index to “Yahoo! Ashtanga: the early days” from the very beginning up to about the end of January 2000. I've done a nostalgic trawl through the archives and noted messages that I found particularly interesting or useful for whatever reason. I might, if I ever feel the inclination, extend it a bit - although since the monthly number of messages (like everything else on the Web) is growing exponentially I'll probably never get fully up to date. And of course, this is a completely unscientific exercise and my criteria for what is of lasting interest:

... but never mind. This list is something I created purely for personal reference. It has no connection whatsoever with Yahoo! Inc. or with Betty Lai, the founder of the Yahoo! Ashtanga Yoga Club.

“Alan Little's comments are true and good”. “I totally disagree with you”. (Gratuitous out-of-context quotes courtesy of Senor Pinche Wey and Guy Donahaye)

Alan Little


History

9th September 2002
Updated the links to point to the new version of yahoo groups (which does now have a search facility, although I haven't tried it to see if it's any good). That's it, folks. I don't read the yahoo group regularly any more and won't be updating this page again, but I hope it's still of some use for the older messages.

6th December 2001
Added a few recent messages concerning The Mysore Experience.

5th September 2001
Added a lot of older stuff from around the time of Pattabhi Jois' workshop last year in New York.

27th August 2001
Message #9552 by missy_pinky is an all-time yahoo ashtanga classic. Everybody should read it and think hard about it.
Some other recent stuff added.
Some quite recent messages - 8100 to 8499 if I recall correctly - were temporarily deleted and then restored. Apparently this was an accident at yahoo and not deliberate censorship, but it does make me wonder again about one of the issues I wrote about earlier - namely that, if anybody thinks this stuff is potentially of any lasting value, then it is a big risk to trust the only copy of it to the competence, goodwill and commercial survival prospects of one company.

30th June 2001
Added a few new things.
Checked to see if many of the older messages in the index had been deleted, but only found a couple. These are marked in the list.

17th April 2001
Extended coverage of old messages to June last year, plus some things from the last few months.
Found an interesting little piece about “The Natural Life Cycle of Mailing Lists”, which makes sense to me based on my various online discussion experiences, of which the yahoo yoga list is the one I've been most heavily involved with in recent years.
I don't think I'm going to bother going through the stuff from the second half of last year, when as I recall there was a vast amount of stuff posted, much of which was either abuse or gossip. (Other peoples' perceptions might be different from mine, of course, and things have quietened down again somewhat). So that's it for now.

23rd January 2001
Some folks have set up a new ashtanga message board on EZboards which has a much better user interface than yahoo, including searching. Lots of people are still using yahoo though, and there's still no sign of a search facility there. This page had over 200 visits in November and December, so I think it's still worth maintaining it.
So, some new stuff: now covers the first 1,000 messages (and getting scarily close to the great explosion of message numbers in July, at which point I'll probably give up) plus more recent ones. Also now available sorted by author or subject as well as message number.

9th December 2000
Extended to early May 2000, plus some more recent stuff from the last few weeks. There is a rumour of the arrival of a search facility early next year, though, which might make this whole exercise redundant.

5th November 2000
Extended to April 2000. Thanks to Greg Turner for making this page far more useful - message numbers are now links to the messages.
Also wrote a long contemplation, “Reinventing the FAQ”, on what I'm trying to achieve by maintaining this index and whether it's really worthwhile. Time will tell whether enough people find the index useful to justify putting any more effort into it.

31st October 2000
Original version up to January 2000