Hello yogis!
Thank you for joining me for this round of the bookclub. It is extra special for me because...well, I wrote the book!
Before we dive in I want to tell you a little bit about how the virtual bookclub works in case this is your first online experience with it.
Each week I will write a short article on one section of the book and you can share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. I also recommend you take a moment to join the ongoing discussion about Elemental Yin Yang Yoga over on our Facebook page here.
The goal for this weekly conversation is to offer you the chance to absorb the material at a slow pace and gain deeper insights into the rich theory of Elemental Yin Yang, not just the yoga piece but the lifestyle philosophy.
To help you along the way, in the weekly email I will be sharing a bunch of virtual goodies (make sure you have marked my emails as safe with your inbox so you don't miss them).
These include:
- a free intro chapter to the book to get your started
- access to a free Elemental Yin yoga video
- an Elemental Yin Yang audio class
- a promo code for discounted Float sessions with our friends at Zee Float
- an interview I did for the book with my publisher Jeff Carreira that gives a good overview
I will also be holding a draw at the end of the bookclub to win:
- the chance to win a private online yoga or coaching session with me
- my upcoming yoga course on Udemy
You can earn extra ballots by:
1) Helping me spread the word so more people can join our discussion. Simple share the link: www.aquinyoga.com/bookclub on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account along with the hashtag #elementalyinyang for an extra ballot to win.
2) Participating in the discussion each week by posting a comment below the weekly article. That's right, if you participate actively your odds increase :)
The draw will be held on September 15 and the winner will be notified via email.
Week 1 - Preparing for Your Journey Through The Elements
Reading Goal: Read and share your thoughts and questions on the entire first section of the book to the end of "The Big Picture"
Extra Credit: Listen to Episode 1 of the Elemental Yin Yang Podcast
In this section of the book the foundation is laid for our exploration. We are introduced to the source of Yin and Yang and how this theory works to understand the universe.
Many people mistake Yin and Yang as being opposites in contrast like love and hate, good and evil but quickly we come to see that this is not true. Yin and Yang are two sides of the same coin. They can each only be defined in relationship to the other.
"Just as the process of homeostasis keeps stability in the body by making constant adjustments to the physiological functions in our body, yin and yang are always adjusting and compromising based on feedback from the other. They are two personalities of the same energy."
Learning about Yin and Yang energy personally has helped me dismiss the ideals of a perfectly "balanced" life (in fact I did a whole podcast on the illusion of balance here) and as we journey through the 5 Elements you will likely start to notice the ways in which these energies can be used to enhance your existence or if left unchecked can create obstacles.
We also start to think about the different types of Qi in this section. For many yogis this energy is similar to "prana". You are probably already aware of things that help build your qi and things that drain it. I mention that yoga can be a tool to help replenish qi if done in a manner that is thoughtful and later in the book I will share an exercise to help you determine if your habitual approach on the mat is helpful to you or depleting you.
Finally, in this section I touch on the idea of constitution or what I call the "element of primary influence". Yogis who have studied other wellness or health modalities may be familiar with this concept; that each of us has an elemental type.
In Chinese Medicine, understanding a clients constitution can be a huge asset diagnostically but for our purpose as yogis knowing a bit about how the elements manifest in human beings can not only give you a greater understanding of that element, but help you to live more harmoniously with others.
There is something very important I want to reiterate once you begin to see the patterns of constitution in yourself and in others.
The element of primary influence (or constitution) is NEVER an excuse for poor behaviour.
This information is powerful tool but should never be used to justify negative habits or reinforce tendencies you can change. The constitution can either be your weakest link or your greatest strength, and you have to decide for yourself to make it the latter.
Questions to Take You Deeper:
1) With the new understanding of Yin and Yang, name a few pairings in terms of their yin and yang relationship (i.e. Summer is more yang, Winter is more yin).
2) Does this introduction chapter give you a different idea of "balance", "qi", life energy or constitutional types?
3) Do you think your current yoga practice helps to replenish your qi or depletes it?
4) Have you worked with ideas of constitution before as it pertains to Elemental Yin Yang theory or another modality? What about it was helpful to you? Where did you feel pigeon-holed or stuck?
Share your thoughts on any of these points OR ask questions you have from this section in the comments below.
