--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "pranamoocher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: [...] > The problem I have seen with YF Exhibitions and the public perception > of this is simply that the same physically built people are always > chosen: skinny or lean, flexible enough to sit in full lotus and hit > the mats again and again. Heavier and inflexible hoppers are never > shown simply because they can't physically "lift off" to the same > heights and with the same finesse their lighter counterparts can. Tme > and again, from Sidhis courses to WPA's, to group flying sessions, it's > always the lighter flexible people who move the most. From what I've > seen over the years, the heavier inflexible people can seriously injure > themselves by "hopping" with the same effort as their physically > superior counterparts do, flopping their half lotus or trailing legs up > and then crashing down. I'm not doubting the inner experience of sidhas, > but it is apparent that weight, flexibility and body dynamics factor the > most in "flying" appearances. Anyone seen different? >
Not really, but then again, given that stage one is apparently based only on muscle-power, this isn't surprising. This isn't a limitation only of MMY's YF technique. When Herbert Benson got special dispensation from the Dali Lama to examine the most advanced Tibetan Buddhist practitioners, he was introduced to the most advanced practitioners of the Tibetan Buddhist equivalent of Yogic Flying. The oldest and most epxerienced was told not to participate because his body couldn't withstand the physical stresses. The younger monks showed no more ability to float than any TM YFer. Benson's experiences with the Tibetan monks attempting levitation are documented in his book _Behond the Relaxation Response_. I will admit that someone who can "sit in the air" by starting from a standing position and getting into lotus posture before they hit the ground is pretty athletic, but probably no more so than the top YFers.
