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Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

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Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#71

Post by seltzered_ »

carapace wrote: post #18

Don't charge money. Put your expenses in a public spreadsheet, accept donations. I tell you if you do that you will achieve 1000x positive effect and you'll become immeasurably wealthy for the rest of your life as well, natch.

Well, that's sorta what I'm more familiar with - the 'dana' model - there's plenty of sangha orgs that have operated online during the pandemic (e.g. https://sfdharmacollective.org ).

The teachers may also have other offerings that are more paid upfront that are more 1-on-1 or small groups.

"What we are trying to do is bridge the gap for people who find traditional techniques challenging so that they can avoid the discouraging feeling of “I’m doing this wrong” and empower them to develop their own mindfulness practice. Another thing we do to support our users in the early stages of practice is provide a community in which they can share their experiences and get encouragement to keep going."

Part of me has a visceral pushback, but I understand this may work for some people. I just hope, out of respect, there's a pointer to the traditional techniques for those realizing that this practice may not be the right fit for some. The worst thing you can do is dissuade people or disrespect neighboring teachers (see https://seattleyoganews.com/northwest-yoga-conference-incide... ).

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#72

Post by dolgo »

andrei_says_ wrote: post #62
marc_io wrote: post #61

I find it a little problematic when these ancient practices are separated from their broader context. There are further, unknown implications by doing so. It is similar to what was done with what we call "Yoga" here in the west. I am not saying that these practices cannot evolve, they must. But they are certainly part of a tradition that has been coherently applied and studied for centuries. In my opinion the result…

What we call Yoga in the west is mostly appropriation. The rest is misunderstanding because the concept does not fit in thinking western minds. The best we get is what tae bo is to professional boxing. Source: conversations and experiences with someone who had the fortune to study both in New Delhi yoga university and with a Yoga lineage in the Himalayas. The official university still didn’t touch, or know, of essent…

Yoga laptops are actually made by a Chinese company, which most people consider to be in the ‘east’. How does that fit into your idea of western appropriation?

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#73

Post by aliabramovitz »

seltzered_ wrote: post #71
carapace wrote: post #18

Don't charge money. Put your expenses in a public spreadsheet, accept donations. I tell you if you do that you will achieve 1000x positive effect and you'll become immeasurably wealthy for the rest of your life as well, natch.

Well, that's sorta what I'm more familiar with - the 'dana' model - there's plenty of sangha orgs that have operated online during the pandemic (e.g. https://sfdharmacollective.org ). The teachers may also have other offerings that are more paid upfront that are more 1-on-1 or small groups. "What we are trying to do is bridge the gap for people who find traditional techniques challenging so that they can avoid the di…

Absolutely! While we are crafting an experience we hope resonates for people for whom the traditional teachings have not, we certainly pay homage to where the traditions come from when we talk about the practice, for example at the start of class, or in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUJhfjxvNDE&feature=youtu.be or in this blog post https://chorusmeditation.com/blog/founder-friday-mk-on-our-p...

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#74

Post by mathemagical »

aliabramovitz wrote: post #64
marc_io wrote: post #61

I find it a little problematic when these ancient practices are separated from their broader context. There are further, unknown implications by doing so. It is similar to what was done with what we call "Yoga" here in the west. I am not saying that these practices cannot evolve, they must. But they are certainly part of a tradition that has been coherently applied and studied for centuries. In my opinion the result…

Thank you so much for your feedback! We like to stay away from those aspects as it can be off putting for people who don't subscribe to a certain philosophy or theology. We, instead try to make more approachable for everyone where you don't need to believe in anything other than spreading kindness to yourself and others. We certainly pay homage to where the traditions come from when we talk about the practice, for ex…

In doing this you are completely divorcing a people's fundamental belief system and heritage from them so that "people who don't subscribe to" the existence of that people's heritage, culture and belief system don't feel offended.

This is complete cultural appropriation and you should stop perpetuating it while making money off of it.

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#75

Post by cercatrova »

andrei_says_ wrote: post #62
marc_io wrote: post #61

I find it a little problematic when these ancient practices are separated from their broader context. There are further, unknown implications by doing so. It is similar to what was done with what we call "Yoga" here in the west. I am not saying that these practices cannot evolve, they must. But they are certainly part of a tradition that has been coherently applied and studied for centuries. In my opinion the result…

What we call Yoga in the west is mostly appropriation. The rest is misunderstanding because the concept does not fit in thinking western minds. The best we get is what tae bo is to professional boxing. Source: conversations and experiences with someone who had the fortune to study both in New Delhi yoga university and with a Yoga lineage in the Himalayas. The official university still didn’t touch, or know, of essent…

What practices specifically in yoga do you speak of? I honestly appreciate that people in the west have secularized both yoga and meditation, as I personally find no value in the spiritual aspects and only find value in the exercise in the case of yoga and helping psychologically in the case of meditation. I'm curious to hear your perspective though, it seems to be different from mine.

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#76

Post by cercatrova »

mathemagical wrote: post #74
aliabramovitz wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you so much for your feedback! We like to stay away from those aspects as it can be off putting for people who don't subscribe to a certain philosophy or theology. We, instead try to make more approachable for everyone where you don't need to believe in anything other than spreading kindness to yourself and others. We certainly pay homage to where the traditions come from when we talk about the practice, for ex…

In doing this you are completely divorcing a people's fundamental belief system and heritage from them so that "people who don't subscribe to" the existence of that people's heritage, culture and belief system don't feel offended. This is complete cultural appropriation and you should stop perpetuating it while making money off of it.

I appreciate that it's been secularized, we shouldn't stop people from practicing yoga or meditation just because they don't want to subscribe to a religious ideology. Sure it did come from religions but there's no need to keep it tied to that religion if it can help more people outside of that, in a scientific sense (ie increased flexibility, breathing etc).

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#77

Post by cercatrova »

carapace wrote: post #18

Don't charge money. Put your expenses in a public spreadsheet, accept donations. I tell you if you do that you will achieve 1000x positive effect and you'll become immeasurably wealthy for the rest of your life as well, natch.

I highly doubt that they will become "immeasurably wealthy" from donations, it is extremely rare to see that happen. If they offer a good service then they should charge for it, and use that money to continue the service.

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#79

Post by MrMan »

aliabramovitz wrote: post #27
bambax wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not familiar with meditation; I hear it's all the rage but I don't understand the benefits. It is said to "reduce stress", but stress is mostly the result of external stimuli. It's a symptom, like fever. If you treat the symptom without addressing the cause, what good is it? Meditation sounds like a post-religion religion, but at least there was the promise of silence. Now we have loud meditation? To me this vide…

I love that you are digging even deeper on the problem! We say it is to “reduce stress”, but that is because that’s a simplified catchall that many people can relate to. You are totally right that stress a symptom. The real underlying cause is lack of awareness and peace within one's own self - the ability to separate from feelings of stress or overwhelm and not let them define you, but look at them more objectively…

You are terrifying and I am not being snarky. If you have done your market research on the perception of terms like “meditation” for exercise moms, you will choose the correct path.

Re: Launch HN: Chorus Meditation (YC W21) – Meditation for Non-Meditators

#80

Post by vinceguidry »

> For example, the breathing pattern we use brings more oxygen into the body than normal inhales and exhales, which causes a tingling sensation, giving users a quick and satisfying feeling even in the first session.

This is a bit of a party trick that I used in my very brief career as a, well, guru, I think I called myself a life coach cuz that was the hip thing back then. I just went through the basics of deep breathing, fill your belly then your lungs, then use a pattern like box or triangle. Because I was directing them they held the pattern way longer than they would have naturally.

The result is you're effectively hyperventilating. Your body's just not used to that much oxygen. You can get used to it and it's pretty cool because all that oxygen literally energizes you. But after that first time I pulled back on the time spent doing super-deep breathing because it gets in the way of getting into alpha.

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