Be There / Focus - Part I

In yoga – Hatha in particular – sometimes we pose in various balance postures which require that we stand on one foot, two arms, one arm and one leg, or other atypical human stances. These are called, simply, balance poses. Essentially, we attain a pose and then remain still without all our normal appendages to anchor us in the usual way. To say the least, without some focal point to keep us steady, we simply fall over! So we find something on which to fix our gaze. A tennis ball, placed 8 feet away on the floor, will do! Like the gymnast performing on the balance beam, once she takes her eyes off the beam, she soon falls off! Likewise, when the yogi prepares for a balance pose, such as the *tree pose, he sets his gaze on a spot dead-ahead and center – and only then steps or leans into the pose.  The yogi’s eyes remain on this focal point for the duration of the pose, which can be anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. In addition to enhancing one’s ability to focus and reduce monkey-mind, balance asanas (poses) also strengthen that appendage on which the yogi is grounded. My yogis will often hear me recite, “focus, focus, focus – find your focal point and hold it.”

Come back later in the week to read how "balance poses" help the tennis player to "Be There" and focus throughout the competition. Also, visit my other blog - www.contemplativeyoga.blogspot.com and read the post entitled "Half-Moon Pose" for more about balancing.

Finally, to read the entire Dharma of Tennis document without having to wait for future posts, go to  http://www.amazon.com/The-Dharma-Tennis-Judi-Beck-ebook/dp/B00E0QFLA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386680883&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dharma+of+Tennis. For a whopping $1.69, you can jump to the head of the line.

* In a tree pose, the yogi stands on one leg with the other bent with her foot resting on the inner leg - anywhere from the ankle to the upper thigh. Hands are held in prayer position with thumb joints at the sternum or extended above the head.

Genres of Yoga That Fuel The Dharma of Tennis

Hatha, Vinyasa, Kundalini

In Hatha yoga, the practitioner (yogi) stretches into various poses and holds each for a period of time. It is considered gentle yoga and is most suitable for beginners. Letting go – something I call “succumbing to gravity” – is a critical component of Hatha yoga. Letting go involves allowing your body to achieve – and hold – a certain posture as opposed to making your body perform it. It is the difference between “gentling” into a move while “listening” to one’s body or forcing oneself into over-extension – a common beginner’s error and a sure way to secure an injury. Force and yoga are not compatible and do not belong in the same space. Hatha practice is a good way to gain comfort with yoga before attempting the more challenging forms.

In Vinyasa yoga, the yogi is led through sequences of breath-synchronized poses. It is also known as flow yoga because the poses flow continually from one to the next – rather than being held – as in Hatha. It is considered a more challenging practice. “Salutation to the Sun” – a series of ten successive moves of bodily extensions and contractions – is a cornerstone of Vinyasa.

Kundalini yoga, with an emphasis on stilling the mind, is more stationary than the other two styles and focuses primarily on the mind-body-spirit connection. It typically employs meditation, chanting, body locks (muscle holds), mudras (hand positions) and mantras (repeated phrases) in the practice.

The mind-body-breath connection is central to the successful practice of all three styles of yoga. The savvy yogi finds the same to be true in the game of tennis.

My yoga practice and instruction are a combination of these three styles and have produced the core outcomes that follow – all of which I cherish for the mental and physical balance they offer, but also for the power to enhance my overall tennis experience enormously. These outcomes are: focus, breath, presence, enjoyment, synchrony and Namaste. Stated in actionable terms, they are:

Be there. Breathe. Begin anew. Enjoy. Entrain. Let go (Namaste).

I encourage you to visit again next week for practical applications of these yoga principals to your tennis game. At that time we will go into the principal "be there" in depth.

Or, if you simply can't wait,  you may download the entire 4300 word pamphlet by clicking  http://www.amazon.com/The-Dharma-Tennis-Judi-Beck-ebook/dp/B00E0QFLA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386680883&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dharma+of+Tennis. It is a whopping $1.69.

Have a great weekend.

Isn't Tennis Supposed to be Fun?

How is it that “sport” – also fondly acknowledged as “recreation” – can catapult us right off a peaceful, scenic vista into a tumultuous, rock-strewn gorge of despair? I mean, really! Isn’t sport synonymous with play? And isn’t play supposed to be – well, fun? And in so-being, isn’t it meant to rejuvenate and re-create us? What is wrong with this picture: the head scratching, heart pounding and downright self-denigration that we sometimes experience as we exit our precious hours of competition – in particular, tennis? On a personal note – my fellow players think I’m very “steady” on the courts and I am – most of the time. But there are times that I, too, make that unfortunate plunge into seething, frothing, childish irrationality. For this, I’m not proud.

Thank God for other less competitive, more contemplative sports that counter the occasional distress of our primary one – diversions like hiking and yoga, both of which calm, center and stabilize me when my deep-seated reptilian brain cracks open. Fortunate for me, I’ve been practicing or teaching yoga for upwards of 30 years and in periods when my yoga practice is dedicated and consistent – as when I’m teaching – my tennis is immeasurably more enjoyable, successful and fulfilling. In fact, I believe yoga has prevented this competitive creature from quitting the game altogether – several times. How so? It may be surprising to find that it has nothing to do with increased flexibility, stamina, balance or strength – all of which naturally improve a yogi’s body and game – but can also be achieved through other forms of exercise. The real differences are far more understated than this; they involve the yogi’s mind, emotions, attitudes and underlying beliefs. Indeed, there are six subtle but potent benefits of certain aspects of yoga practice – from three different genres of yoga: Hatha, Vinyasa and Kundalini.

For descriptions of these three genres, stay tuned for my next post on Thursday Dec. 12. But if you simply can't wait that long, download the entire 22 page Dharma of Tennis document from amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/The-Dharma-Tennis-Judi-Beck-ebook/dp/B00E0QFLA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386680883&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dharma+of+Tennis

For more insight into yoga, visit my other blog www.contemplativeyoga.blogspot.com and Enjoy!

The Particulars of Acquiring Dharma Credentials

The Dharma of Tennis

Applying Simple Yoga Principles to the Game of Tennis

What is the Dharma of Tennis? – It’s a powerful twelve-hour workshop designed specifically for tennis teams who want to improve their on-court results and pleasure by incorporating yoga principles into their game.

What do the twelve hours look like? – Participants spend alternating hours in the yoga studio and the tennis courts for a total of six hours a day. Three principles are introduced and practiced each day of the two-day workshop.

What if I’ve never done yoga before? No problem. The workshop is based on the mental, emotional and team aspects of tennis, not the physical ones. All yoga postures and routines are beginner level.

Where is the Dharma of Tennis Offered? The home base for D. of T. is the Yonahlossee Racquet Club in Boone, NC. But facilitators will also travel to your home club or facility.

What’s so great about Yonahlossee? Yonahlossee is a world class tennis facility nestled on a rock-strewn rhododendron slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. It sports indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an indoor pool, a workout room and is adjacent Blue Ridge Parkway Trails. The vintage village of Blowing Rock is three miles away. A world-class restaurant, The Gamekeeper, adjoins the property.

How much is the Dharma of Tennis? It is $235 per person with a minimum of 4 participants and a maximum of 8.

Where do we stay? You may arrange your own accommodations or stay in the sumptuous Brook Haven House (www.brook-haven.info), located in the Yonahlossee Resort development. Brook Haven houses 8 people (+) and may be rented for $75 per person per night.

Who do we work with? Judi Beck and Sandy Blackwelder are veteran team tennis players at Yonahlossee. Judi is a yoga teacher and author with a master’s degree in ecopsychology and a background in teambuilding. Sandy has a degree in recreational management and teaches skiing and tennis. You will work with one or both of them.

What is Included in My Fee?

·         Six hours of yoga instruction

·         Six hours of succeeding court time

·         Access to the indoor pool

·         Access to the workout room

·         2 Lunches

·         Friday night wine reception in the clubhouse

When Are Workshops Offered?

·         November and December 2013

·         April, May, September, November, December 2014

Can We Extend the Workshop to Three Days? – Yes, for an additional $50.00 per person.

What Are People Saying About “The Dharma of Tennis?”

·         I had one insight after another on the tennis court.

·         As a non-yogi, I appreciated that there were no difficult yoga postures.

·         The lessons learned translate to all aspects of my life.

·          It was a pleasure to experience ways of improving my game outside of hitting the ball.

·         We’re a more formidable team now!

·         Since D of T, I’m enjoying tennis the way it is meant to be enjoyed.

·         I finally get what “focus” and “breathe” really mean!

Where can I get more information? You may email Judi at  kmbeck@skybest.com. You may also find a digital pamphlet on amazon.com entitled “The Dharma of Tennis.” It is $1.69 and can be downloaded to your Kindle.

Everything you want to know about the Dharma of Tennis - including how your tennis team can participate will follow in subsequent posts. Stay tuned, tennis (soon to be yoga) aficionados.