I GIVE UP: MEDITATION. YOGA. PRANAYAMA. EVERYTHING I’VE EVER LEARNED.

This morning I wrote: “yoga stretching is a bitch!” 

WHAT!?

I don’t use bad words in posts. 

But supta-kurmasana is a bitch! I can’t help it.

my sorry attempt at Supta-Kurmasana

And, I know, I’m breaking bad, I’m tearing down my own previously decorated rule of never using ‘bad’ words.

But the first thing I read in the morning was a Tweet from Louis C. K., who IS the yogi with my utmost respect these days: “That shit is foul” he tweeted.

Sometimes (often) my life is not “consistent” with what is supposed to be the yoga ideal.

Here are 14(?) things that happen to you when you’ve been onto yoga for a long time:

– Peace has the sound “pee” in it. “Peace”sounds too funny for a chant!

So you use the word “shanti” more than its English counter-part. And you read somewhere that the “ahh” sound in shaaanti, is the first sound of creation, as in aaa-u-m. MMmmm, now you feel so erudite.

– You really, REALLY, want to experience the union in yoga. You are not just you butt, but also that tree, the parking lot, the forest.

And you pray to merge your little bubble-of-water-and-salt, into the ocean.

– Then you sit in silence for a while and it just ain’t feeling so. You read stories from those who experienced kundalini, they sprout in your mind, and you envy them. I get JEALOUS of Buddha. What Th…?

– And then you read some enlightened person who tells you it only happens by ‘grace’, you unworthy piece of shit, and you say: Fuck!, but you say it only to yourself, cause if out loud, it violates saucha. Cleanliness, my dear! Cleanliness, for god’s sake. I want to cry.

– And you are waaay pass the point where you wanna police people on their yoga. You know how it goes: my yoga is better than yours, oorrrr, you don’t know shit, so shut up, and the like.

You start to not give a shit. What they do. Who they studied with. Well, sometimes I still feel competitive. I have to own that also.

You have your own unique way of doing things.

– Your practice is now YOUR OWN.   It’s my own now, bitch! 

Please?

– I find this very liberating. Having my own shit.

– I’ve given myself a break, because all that pushing to get to 3rd or 17th series, to start pranayama, to quiet the senses, to start meditation, to reach liberation, while looking fabulous – it’s not working for me.

I’m exhausted.

– And meditation has become ‘just sitting in silence’ for me. For one hour a day. No pressures. No doing. No lotus.  Nut-n.

– Because, let’s face it, when Pattabhi Jois said “meditation = mad-attention” he was speaking to one person in particular, not the whole-wide-web, and that does not give me the excuse to never sit in silence. I can sit and do whatever I want.

– So I just sit in silence. Every day. One hour. Nothing to do, or strive for, and no religion, too.

And you know what the funny part is?

It’s in the sitting in silence, that I find the need to do some of those yoga breathing techniques I learned throughout the years, not the other way around.

It’s in the sitting in silence, that I notice that what I ate does not agree with my body. Not the other way around.

It’s in the sitting in silence, that I see how the deep back bends help me maintain the pose. Not the other way around.

James read this and said: “this is some tight shit”.

YOGA Q&A: Should Any Studio Train Ashtanga Yoga Teachers? Do I Dishonor The Tradition By Going to A Non-Authorized Teacher?

Terri (I will call her Terri has she asked me to keep her private), suggested I write about two questions she had about Ashtanga Yoga in particular and that originated from a recent Facebook post, done by a studio, in which they announced they would be holding a teacher training on Ashtanga Yoga.  The post sparked some controversy. Here are the two interesting questions from Terri and my answers:

1) Should any studio be training Ashtanga Yoga Teachers? (Other than the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in India)?

It depends on how you interpret “Ashtanga”. 

The word Ashtanga means “eight limbs” as was described by that old sage Patanjali in chapter two of  his two-thousand year-old Yoga Sutras, (a book that is like the “bible” of yoga) and it is not propriety of anyone on the planet as far as I know. 

Therefore if we look at it from the perspective of Patanjali, that of teaching the eight limbs of yoga then yes, any studio can teach this, and I would hope that is what most studios are indeed teaching, although I have made it known in this blog how I feel that pranayama and meditation are missing from many a teacher training.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga is the focus of this blog for example, although I do zero-in mostly on the system of Pattabhi Jois for asanas as I have not found anything to be more effective for me when it comes to how the yoga poses are approached (daily practice, 6 times a week, series that grow in challenging difficulty, flexibility being in the mind, etc).  Pattabhi Jois’s system has magic. 

This daily asana practice works very well with my own nervous system, but if you look into the blog you will see that, for example, for pranayama (the fourth limb of yoga) I look to many other sources, and for meditation (the sixth limb) I also work with other resources.

HOWEVER, it is a very different story if you mean that you will be training teachers in the Ashtanga Vinyasa System of Pattabhi Jois.   

If someone is to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as per Pattabhi Jois, then no, it would not be right to do so, because the institute itself says that teachers are only authorized in India and by them. 

Now, of course, there is a bit of an issue here too, because Manju Jois, who is the son of Pattabhi Jois and who has been teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for over 40 years,  does offer  “Teacher Training’s”. 

Pattabhi Jois (left) and Manju, father and son

Manju gives them internationally throughout the year and not in India specifically or in any relation to the institute, matter of fact he is running one today in Hawaii, and he has more coming up in the near future.

In general, for the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga System of Pattabhi Jois, and when it comes to authorizing teachers, I would stick to “the family”.  

I have met wonderful teachers who have only been trained by either Sharath / Saraswati or only by Manju, and they are dedicated, experienced people.   There are also people who study with both.

I have seen Manju asking his senior students “Are you teaching”? And this is because he knows how important the practice is, how valuable and how transforming it is, and my guess is he wants it to spread it.

As per certified teachers whom you may find around who do offer the “authorization”, if you look at the fine print, you will see that non of them offers an “ashtanga” authorization, but rather what they offer is the qualification to be part of the “registry” of the Yoga Alliance, which is an American Organization that does very little to verify the validity of their teachers.

2) Am I dishonoring the true lineage of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Pattabhi Jois by taking classes with unauthorized teachers? 

I feel that the real dishonoring would be not to practice.

I cannot speak for you but I will tell you about me, I did. When I first started practicing I did so with a teacher who was not authorized by India that I know of, or was not at the time.

Teachers are people, and sometimes need to survive and feed families, and some are not able to travel to India for 3 months every 18 months, that does not mean they are bad teachers.  

The real question is finding a good teacher, and in this tradition it is my experience that good teachers have put in the time with their own teachers, maintain a rigorous daily practice, and continue to advance their understanding and practice of yoga in all levels of life.

In general I try to find authorized or certified teachers who have studied either with Sharath and Saraswati or with Manju.

Saraswati and Sharath, mother and son

But if they are not available and I see a class with non-accredited teachers and I am in a foreign land wishing to practice, then I would give it a try anyway, see how I feel, see if I can trust the teacher, see if I feel like I am comfortable with the level of experience they have, if they can offer me proper adjustments, if they live how they preach, if it feels right.   

For me it all comes down with how I feel on that Mysore room.  Is the program serious?  Is the teacher dedicated? Is he or she someone I “feel” (gut feeling is important) I can trust? Can I talk to him or her? Do they answer with good responses? Do I enjoy it?  Can the teacher take NO for an answer? for example if something hurts I would not want a teacher to force me into a position.

Just like you say, if we all went only to authorized or certified teachers many of us would have no yoga studio nearby, and that would be sad.  Some groups of people that find themselves in this position have even began experimenting by renting a room in which people “practice together”, like they do Las Vegas.

Las Vegas solved the problem nicely. Click on the image to go to the group

There are also plenty of resources to start with, DVDs from experienced teachers, even the web.  

Finally, more and more I realize that the journey of yoga is one that is very VERY personal, it has a lot more to do with questions that we ask ourselves, like the ones you are asking, and in getting to know us, what we respect, where we draw the line, where our own mythology takes us.  

It is through our own investigations of ourselves that we get real about what works for us, what helps us stop the time travelling and instead embodying this moment as the eternal and only existence there is.

The rest is not necessary.

—-

Do you have questions? Send them! follow me on Twitter or Leave them in the comments.

SUNDAY YOGA BLOG TIMES: WHEN SIVANANDA MET PATTABHI JOIS

It has been 3 years since Guruji’s passing, and did you know that Swami Sivananda once visited Mysore and Jois went to talk to him… See Eddie’s post for the whole scoop, cool reading, and amazing 70’s/80’s pictures.

picture from AYNY.ORG – Manju and Pattabhi Jois, circa 1970’s

Govinda Kai: “Yoga chose me”. “What is yoga? For me it is hard to describe it is the essence of life itself, that place which is the source of everything that is good in life”  More here.

And Grimmly continues the yogi archaeological discoveries, more on the YogaAsanaGalu (from Krishnamacharya) this time on pranayama, and a book from way back early in the last century on Surya Namaskar?  oh the wonders never cease!  – I am living vicariously through his blog explorations!

An excellent all-around look at Laghu Vajrasana, and yes, I am biased as it is the pose I am working on currently, but check out the four angles from which Nobel approaches the pose. Art.

10 Life Changing Decisions We Make Without Thinking

What pill will you take?

Mark Zuckerberg  (Facebook creator) marries his long time girlfriend, Priscilla. Good for them!

Are you on Pinterest? What do you make of it? I am just getting started and have two boards on it, what is it I need to understand about it?  What do you use it for?

The New York Times turning yoga into art today

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Forgive me for the indulgence but since it is all about Laghu Vajrasana this week, here is Kino giving some very important pointers on the pose, enjoy! and thank you Kino!

LAST SUNDAY YOGA BLOG TIMES: I WILL NOT ACCEPT A WOMAN IN MY CLASS

Would You Let Your Yoga Teacher Stand On You While in Pain And Bleeding?

I struggle with the idea of trusting a teacher so much so as to lay on the floor bleeding and not question his motives. Do you trust your teacher like this? The question comes from T, who commented on one of the Conference Reports from earlier this year in which Sharath related the story of Pattabhi Jois being in Kapotasana, bleeding due to a rock under his arm, while Krishnamacharya gave a lecture standing on him. [picture below].

My first reaction is of course not.  I would not trust anyone to stand on me while I am bleeding.  I feel a deconstruction is in order.

That is Krishnamacharya during a demonstration, standing on young Pattabhi Jois in kapotasana

At the time of the photo, Jois , depicted under the big K above, was between 12 and 14 years old.  The naughty boy was sneaking out of his house, without telling his parents, and going daily to Krishnamacharya for yoga lessons before school. He knew, at that tender age, that the calling of yoga was his. The only thing he wanted was yoga, and he trusted his teacher wholeheartedly.

Even for a youngster getting to kapotasana would take a few months of study is my guess. So I would assume by then he knew him well, he trusted him, and he probably wanted to impress him.

Krishnamacharya, on the other hand, was at the peak of his career having been given a wing at the palace.  A palace! Can you imagine? In those days? and to teach yoga, no less.

He had impressed the Maharaja of Mysore (who healed himself with his help) and with good reason. In his early 40s Krishnamacharya had 30 years of experience in yoga, which had started with him studying and debating scriptures at the age of 10.

How would you like to teach in one of my wings?

At the time of the photo, for what Sharath tells us, he had no idea that Jois was in pain.  We hear from the grandson of Jois himself that when he saw what happened he asked immediately if he was OK to which Jois responded that he was.

Sharath, the main carrier of the Ashtanga lineage these days confessed that he would have screamed himself.  So would I.

So, no, I would not do such thing.  Pattabhi Jois and Krishnamacharya had a special relationship, one that we will never know about in full. One that we cannot really judge from a distance other than by making assumptions and imagining things.

Comparing ourselves and our teachers to them is like comparing bananas and pomegranates.  They are just not the same thing.

I like pomegranates

These days we have so many people out there claiming to be yoga teachers, that it is more important than ever to exercise discrimination (see 12 suggestions to finding a good yoga teacher). That we are careful about who we trust and that we develop a relationship with a teacher over years.

For example, I trust Sharath in full.  Perhaps it is the projections of my mind, a mind trick, call it what you will. I am guilty of it, and I say that because when he is near me, my body tends to be able to do things that normally it does not.  His presence removes mental barriers it seems.  Besides, when he adjusts me he is ever so gentle and careful that I would NEVER get hurt.

John Campbell, my teacher in NYC is also one that I trust. He has put in the hours, he is certified and has been teaching forever. He is also a humble person, someone who exudes trustworthiness. But you bet if I was bleeding I would stop him. In fact I have done this when one time he was helping me walk the hands towards the heels in Urdhva Dhanurasana and it was just too much for me.   He totally understood.

I trust John.  I have known him now for over 4 years.  He knows my practice. Our student/teacher relationship developed slowly and over years, he knew when I lost my job and my whole life was in turmoil, he knew when I was getting married, even signed the card and contributed towards the pot present I got from all yogis (sweet them!). I also learned about his life and these days we have a very professional bond in which we share about the practice and about life, his retreats, Sharath coming over to the NY area,  my going to Mysore, etc.

How many teachers do we know today that have been studying yoga for over 30 years in a serious way, you know? Krishanamacharya’s way (waking up at 4 studying it and practicing it  all day long).  Not many.

So these are not those times.  Our teachers are not that teacher. And even if it was the big K, we must remember he did not know that was happening.  If I was Jois, I would probably have said something.  Then again, I am not that student.

12 Steps on How To Find A Good Yoga Teacher

The First Western Student to Visit P. Jois and his Book: Yoga Self Taught

Andre Van Lysebeth (1919-2004) was the first western to arrive at Pattabhi Jois’ shala in 1964. I was not even born then… Wikipedia does not say much about him, perhaps because he is Belgian and his website is in French or perhaps because… I don’t know why.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=earyog08-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0865477493&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrI got curious about him when I read that he arrived so early at Jois’ place, and looked him up, also got his book Yoga Self Taught.  It turns out he spent quite a bit of time in India, mostly in the Sivananda tradition and the Vishwayatan ashram in Dehli, one I had never heard of before.

Reading Yoga Self Taught, it is clear that he was not very influenced by Jois’ teachings at all. For example his name does not appear in the book -although I do realize that this is a later edition, Wikipedia says that in the first one he did mention him and that is what prompted other western students to follow-.

I get the sense that Andre was a very prominent teacher in Belgium, perhaps the most famous -his teacher training course is four years long-, and he mostly did his own style of yoga with a Sivananda flavour.

In the book, the first thing that caught my attention was the one-liner he chooses from his guru, Sivananda: “An ounce of practice is worth several tons of theory“.


Perhaps you also catch the similarity to the “99% practice 1% theory” or even the: “Do your practice and all is coming” of Jois…

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=earyog08-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1578631270&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
The sequence he chooses to show is one he learned at Sivananda’s and the most surprising thing to me is that it starts with the shoulder stand.

When I say surprising what I mean is that I feel weary of a sequence starting with the neck in such a possible compromising position before the body has even had a chance to warm up through a standing sequence.

I guess he anticipated people would question it on it and so he maintains that the rishis suggest starting with the inverted pose for circulation purposes. I am left scratching my head.

This is the sequence:

Sarvangasana – Shoulder Stand or Candle – for 1 minute 

Halasana – 2 minutes

Matsyasana – 1 minutes

Paschimotanasana 2

Upward dog – Cobra – 1

Shalabasana 1

Dhanurasana 30 seconds

Ardha Matsyendrasana 1 min

Headstand Shirshasana 1 to 10 minutes or more

Uddyana and Nauli 1/2

Breathing 3 mins

Relax 3 mins 

Also of note is that the word “vinyasa” (or how to move from out of one pose and into another one) does not appear in the index.

He has some interesting explanations of why the poses are named the way they are as in for example matsyasana -fish pose- which he says is because the belly goes up and resembles a fish floating in the water.  And he also goes extensively into how important it is to breath and to clean the body -great tongue scrubbing explanation-

Anyone out there in Belgium that has had any experience learning from him?

First Series of Ashtanga Cures the ONLY Cause of Death, Says Krishnamacharya

“The stomach is the only cause of an untimely death. There is no other reason. The dwelling place of death in the body is only the big stomach and nowhere else.” Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, in “Yoga Makaranda”

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=earyog08-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0865477515&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrI started thinking of all the cummulative benefits that practicing the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga bring, so I went to the source, “Yoga Mala” the principal book that Pattabhi Jois wrote and in which he outlines all the benefits.

Yoga Mala has many similarities to the Makaranada, and both the primary and intermediate series, at least the seeds of it can be seen sprouting from it as well.

The one thing that becomes very apparent is the emphasis on clearing the diggestive system, and the strong focus that Krishnamacharya and Jois put into cleaning the stomach.

Consider the following mentions of benefits among the postures of the primary series:

• Removes stomach bad fat: 10 mentions
• Purifies anal canal: 10 mentions
• Cures constipation: 3 mentions
• Increases or strengthens the digestive fire: 3 mentions

Here are excerpts of the benefits listed.  Reading the whole book is of course very recommended.

1.- The practice of surya namaskara, or sun salutations, has come down to us from the long distant past, and is capable of rendering human life heavenly and blissful.  By means of it, people an become joyous, experience happiness and contentment and avoid succumbing to old age and death

2.- Padangusthasana
Dissolves the fat of the lower abdomen, and purifies both the kanda, or egg-shaped nerve plexus in the anal region, and the rectum

3.- Padahastasana
Purifies the anal canal, kidnes and lower abdomen.

4.- Utthita Trikonassana – Triangle
Dissolves the bad fat at the waist, and brings the body into shape. It also expands the narrow portion of he breathing channel and strengthens the backbone.

5.- Utthita Parshvakonasana – revolved triangle
purifies the ribs and lower abdomen, dissolves the bad fat at the waist, and softens the limbs so that subsequent asanas an be more easily practiced.

6.- Prasarita Padottanasana A-B-C and D
Great attention should be paid to the stomach and the anal channel while practicing the four parts of prasarita Padottanasana. It is best to learn the proper method from a Guru. If his is done, the anal canal will be purified, the bad fat in the lower abdomen will dissolve, the waist will become thin and strong, and the body will become light and beautiful. This asana also cures constipation and purifies the top part of the spinal column and the waist

7.- Parsvottanasana
Like prasarita padottanasana, it eliminates the bad fat at the waist, which makes the lower abdomen thin, the waist strong and the body light.

“…In short, all the asanas described above loosen the limbs of he body which aids movement and renders the practice of subsequent asanas easier.”

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana

8.- Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana
Looses the hip joints, destroys defects of the testicles and male organ of generation, and purifies and strengthens the vertebral column, waist, hips and lower abdomen. It also eliminates constipation.

9.- Adha Baddha Padmottanasana
The rectum, esophagus, and liver are purified by this asana. It also prevents gas from occurring in the stomach, prevents diarrhea and quells the gas that arises from inappropriate food. Should gas occur, it wards it off. It is not recommended by women whose pregnancies have crossed into the fourth month.

10.- Utkatasana
Increases the strength of the waist, which becomes slender, and makes the body light. It also prevents pain associated with the vertebral column

11.- Virabhadrasana -Warrior pose
All the joints of the body, as well as the lower abdomen spinal column and organ of generation are purified. In addition, pain associated with the knees as well as the pain from standing or sitting all day while working is eliminated.
—–

Paschimattanasana

12.- Paschimattanasana. Sitting forward bend
Helps the stomach to become slender by dissolving fat. It also increases jathara agni [the fire of hunger] helps food to digest well and strengthens the organs of the digestive system. It also cures weakness in the hands and legs resulting from a loss of appetite and low digestive fire as well as indolence and giddineas stemming from an aberration in the liver, and gas problems in the stomach.

13.- Purvatanasana
Purifies and strengthens the heart, anus, spinal column and waist.

14.- Tiriangmukhaikapada Paschimattanasana
cures body fat; water retention; thighs swollen out of proportion; piles and sciatica

Janu Shirsasana B

15.- Janu Shirsasana A, B and C
cures maladies such as burning while urinating and diabetes. “… I feel duty bound to say that the reason for the overpopulation of today’s society is the sensory weakness of our youth. Whenever a person controls his sense organs, he has a limited number of children, produces progeny that are intelligent, healthy and religious and lives a long life. There fore young men and women should practice ways of controlling their sense organs”

16.- Marichasana A, B,C, and D
Though all cure diseases in accordance with man’s physical nature. They each cure gaseous movements in the stomach and intestines as well as movements of the rectum such as diarrhea. They also restore the digestive power and with that flatulence, indigestion and constipation are eliminated. Some women suffer form abdominal pain during menstruation, This is removed by the practice of this asanas. The womb becomes powerful and enables a woman to carry a child strongly. Pregnant women should not practice this asana after the second month.

17.- Navasana
The anal channel, spinal cord ribs and lower abdomen are purified. It also cures gastric troubles resulting from food not digesting completely. The waist gains strength

18.- Bhujapidasana
Purifies the food channel/esophagus, and the body becomes light.  The shoulders and waist become strong.

Kurmasana

19.- Kurmasana
Purifies the kanda, or never plexus in the anal region from which all 72,000 nadis grows. The chest becines broad and bad fat is dissolved and the spinal column becomes strong.

20.- Garbha Pindasana
Dissolves the fat of the lower abdomen, purifies the manipura or third chakra, and wards off diseases of the liver and spleen

21.- Kukutasana
The intestines are purified, the fat of the lower abdomen is dissolved and diseases affecting the bowels and urinary tract are cured.

22.- Baddha Konasana
In this pose by pulling the stomach in completely and holding the lower abdomen and anus tightly while breathing deeply in and out, terrible afflictions related to the anus such as constipation and piles will be destroyed and indigestion will no longer haunt the aspirant.

23.- Upavshta Konasana
While in this asana is important to hold mula bandha and uddiyana bandha. If the grdhrasi nadi (sciatic nerve) which is in the mid-region between the anus and the organ of generation becomes weak, then the streght of the waist will decrease and other nadis will weaken as well. Through the practice of this asana such afflictions will go

24.- Supta Konasana
Purifies and strengthens the waist region, knees, food and anal channels, and the sperm passageway. It dissolves the bad fat on the sides of the body and the waist.

25.- Ubhaya Padangushtasana
Purifies the anus, waist, stomach and gential organs as well as the granthi traya, or the three knots below the vina danda which begin at the anal canal. It also eliminates the burning sensation that occurs during urination.

26.- Urdhva Mukha Paschimattanasana
Purifies the lower back, esophagus and the region between the anus and navel.

27.- Setu Bandhasana
Purifies and strengthens the waist and neck and increases the digestive fire. It also purifies the esophagus, heart and lungs, making them strong.

28.- Urdhva Dhanurasana
This asana is not mentioned in Yoga Mala or in Krishnamacharya’s “Yoga Makaranda” -although he has a picture of an advanced backbend but has no explanation that goes with it-

However. U.D. (the back-bend or bridge) is practiced in every primary series on the planet. B.K.S. Iyengar  has this to say about its benefits: “It tones the spine by stretching it fully and keeps the body alert and supple”
—

29.- Sequence of Sarvangasana to Uttana Padasana
Some of the  asanas in this sequence strengthen then skeletal muscles, others purify different parts of the body …

…Sarvangasana cures all diseases, purifies the vishuddhi chakra and makes the amrita bindy firm. Halasana purifies the intestines, waist and throat cahnnel. Karnapidasana eliminates diseases of the ears, Urdhva Padmasana purifies the anal and urinary channels and cause the anterior section of the spinal column to become firm. Pindasana purifies the lower abdomen, spinal column, liver and spleen, and the stomach.

Matsyasana and Uttana Padasana counterpose the five asanas that preede them and remove the shoulder and waist pain that result from their practice. They also purify the esophagus and anus as well as liver and spleen

30.- Shirshasana – Headstand
Power of memory is increased, eye disease is dstroyed, the eyes glow, the long-sightedness improves. The five senses, too, become purified.

“… No amounty of writing can convey the utility of this asana. An aspirnt an only enjoy its happinss through its practie. It is impossible to try to describe the sweetness of sugar. Only by tasting sugar can the epxerience of its sweetness be had…”

31.- Sequence of Baddha Padmasana and Padmasana
When in the 9th vinyasa of Baddha Padmasana, or Yoga Mudra one should meditate upon one’s chosen deity  while directing the gaze between the eyebrows and inhaling and exhaling deeply as much as possible. This is important. Through this practice the liver and spleen are purified, the spinal column straightened and the anal canal remedied.

32.- Uth Pluthi
Strengthens the waist and perfects abdominal and anal control.

33.- Savasana, or corpse pose is not included in the Yoga Mala, however, B.K.S. Iyengar has suggested that students should take five minutes of full rest for every half hour of asana practice to ensure that the nervous system is returned to a balanced and centered stage. -I am paraphrasing-.

—-

So, there is a reason why it is called Yoga Chikitsa or “Teraphy” after all.  As  I see it, the primary focus on the first series of Ashtanga is fully dedicated to cure the number one cause of death, the stomach!

Related Post:
Krishnamacharya 8 Short Stories that Reveal the Kind of Man He Was
Download the Yoga Makaranda (Nectar of Yoga) by T. Krishnamacharya Here

Books I am Waiting on

UPDATE  🙂 

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=earyog08-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=5914780039&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrI am waiting to finally read the legendary Lino Miele‘s book.  There is a lot of stories surrounding it, which he tells in the Guruji book- like when Guruji told him to print 10,000 copies, then Lino asked: “how much should we charge” and P.Jois  replied 100 dollars.  Lino then goes on to explain his own interpretation that it did not really mean 100 dollars but that the value of the book is really that much, and back then!

The book is out of stock at amazon, I just put the picture on the right as a tease, I believe I found it at ashtanga.com

Lino wanted to have three series included in the book, including primary, intermediate and Advanced A, and John Scott had done the drawing for the advance 3rd series,  but Pattabhi Jois said to him:
“Good, well done, but take the last part out, Advaned A – we don’t want”.

Lino agreed but was still dubious, so he asked John Scott to call Eddie Stern who happened to be in Mysore to see if further clarification could be achieved, this is what Guruji told Eddie:

“…People will look at the book and imitate, and that is no good.  Look at advanced A, they want to do it, the ego is very high, and they break themselves, for what reason” There is no reason to do this. We don’t want“

And so the book (have not seen it yet) only has primary and intermediate.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=earyog08-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0019FM5YE&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrAnother thing I have on order which is also quite exciting is the first DVD set that I know of on anatomy, by David Keil.

I am very grateful to David whom one day, and out of the blue, took time out of his day to answer our nutation question here at the blog.  The article continues to be in one of the most read in the past 30 days even though I do not control that part it is done by google/blooger and based on the number of people that read the article.   On that day I realized that David is dedicated to adding value and I am very much looking forward to the DVD, have you seen it?

David teaches with his wife Gretchen in Miami.  He says they are always travelling.

I just realized that David teaches anatomy together with John Scott who was mentioned on the context of the previous book.  I like how interconnected this small world of ashtanga yoga is.

Then, as a suggestion from Grimmly I found out about a) the led classes of primary and intermediate series dictated by Guruji you can also buy them here, by donation, 25 dollars within the US or 30 dollars outside.  Thanks Grimmly!

Finally, my recent fascination with the story telling abilities of A.G. Mohan in his book “Krishnamacharya His Life and Teachings”I have ordered two other books of him, I thought he had written two in total but it turns out he has 3!, the two I have not seen yet are:

Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda
and
Yoga for Body, Breath and Mind: A Guide to Personal Reintegration

So, should be a week full of reading, not to mention I am still delighted to read the Yoga Makaranda, which is available free, here

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Yoga Talent Agencies are Here to Stay – YAMA: Ruler of the Departed

Yama, who died first and spied on the after life

The promotion of yoga for money is here to stay. I guess it’s about time.

A little more than a year ago YAMA “Yoga Artist Management Agency” opened its doors.  Its owner, Ava Taylor: “can contact every yoga teacher of significance on the planet in about an hour“

Yama in Indian mythology is the God of Death, “ruler of the departed”. The name is right on target here because there is a “departed”.  


The business of yoga as we know it is totally changing.  

Within the last two decades we have seen the raise of the yoga teacher super-star. Within the last ten many high-profile-yoga-teachers  also started to Tweet, have Facebook pages and YouTube channels. They write for a variety of publications, and offer information in solid websites.

The second “A” in YAMA stands for “artist” but the agency actually strives to provide more than what an acting agency would, i.e.:  services that could very well be included in any teacher training. I have yet to hear of a YTT program that includes an effective (if at all) path for work after graduation. A way for students to teach and live from their passion.

In my own teacher training, the chapter on how to start a teaching career (how much to charge for classes, find students, develop a business) consisted mostly of a one-on-one, 5-minute conversation during a break. Between anatomy and philosophy. I loved my YTT, is just that this important piece was missing.

YAMA lists about 43 yoga teachers (artists?) as its represented yogis and includes names I promptly recognize like Duncan Wong and Sadie Nardini.

Then Leslie Kaminoff , co-author of “Yoga Anatomy“, was quoted saying that:

“Even with three decades of experience as a teacher, he was not sure how to value his products and services in the current marketplace“

I relate.  Yoga is one of those passions where we all know we need money to eat but sometimes feel it is not cool to recognize it.  The being “in” the world but “not off it” might work in a cave but not in New York City. At least not at the supermarket checkout line. Come to think of it might not even work in a cave.

Many people disagree with promoting yoga, I respect different opinions but my line of thought is different.

Kurmasana

I think that Krishnamacharya (The fore father of all yogas today) doing dramatic demonstrations (like suspending his pulse, stopping his heart, turning on and off the lights of the Mysore palace with wires attached to his head -read his grandson-) is promotion.

Or Pattabhi Jois (father of Ashanga Yoga) standing on Saraswati -his daughter- while she was in kurmasana at age 10, while lecturing for an hour (check the Guruji book), is pretty much advertising.

The agent may have changed form, but that was a way to promote.

YAMA had a full article in the Sunday Times yesterday and I have a feeling they are here to stay. Yama (the God) has departed, spied on the future, and returned as a Yoga Talent Agent.

Read the full article at the New York Times

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Guess How Many Benefits The Gayatri Mantra Brings?

Thirty-Three!  And I am not making it up as you can see below. If I followed James’ excellent writing advise and removed the last paragraph I could have used it for one of my 32 unusual series. Then again, his rules also include removing the first paragraph. Man!

Fascinated by the Indian bookstores last month in Mysore, I found this one (right) while browsing the shelf of Sapna.

All teachers on the lineage of Krishnamacharya (grand-father of all of our current yogas) devote pages and praises to the Gayatri Mantra.

For example:  Sirvatsa Ramaswami includes the chant as part of the pranayama practice ritual. Pattabhi Jois  (as Sharath told us candidly in conference) would sing it one hundred and eight times a day.  B.K.S. Iyengar recommends it for japa, or mantra singing, to help with concentration.

Within the tiny book itself I was delighted to find that  that Swami Sivananda had this to say about it:

“Gayatri is the Mother of the Vedas and the destroyer of sins. There is nothing more purifying on the earth, as well as in the heaven than the Gayatri. The Japa of Gayatri brings the same fruit as the recitation of all the four Vedas together…“

I am almost tempted to add THAT as a benefit.  If singing this mantra is the equivalent of singing all of the Vedas, then that goes in my book as a plus plus.

Here is Ramaswami teaching it in chant-and-repeat form and with correct pronunciation. It is a sound file. Thanks Grimmly.

The benefits as listed in the book are:

1. Vitality
2. Light
3. Toleration
4. Strength
5. Speech
6. Mind
7. Riches
8. Righteousness
9. Brahmin
10. Kshatri
11. Polity
12. King
13. Dutiful Subjects
14. Reputation 
15. divine Effulgence
16. Material objects
17. Age
18. Countenance
19. Name
20. Fame
21. Breath
22. Apan
23. Eyes
24. Ears
25. Milk
26. Juices
27. Food grains
28. Season
29. Essence
30. Desired object
31. Nourishment
32. Attendants
33. Cattle

Wish I knew what Apan and Kshatri meant…

I like this YouTube version the best. It sort of hypnotizes me into chanting.

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10 Things to Know About Pratyahara: The Pivotal Moment in Yoga’s Path

One way to test how difficult pratyahara is, says B.K.S. Iyengar, is to go for a walk and at the same time try not to comment or judge or even name what you see hear or smell:  “Even on a country walk, though you might be able to stop yourself from saying: beautiful, it will be almost impossible not to let yourself name the objects -teak tree, cherry tree, violet hibiscus, thorn bush, etc.”

Pratyahara is the 5th limb of yoga and it is concerned with taking us from the outside to the inside, with withdrawing the senses, so that the yogi, like an inner-naut, can travel within and find the Self.

Maybe more upsetting to me was to hear his description of how we are not really receptive at all, and how we are unable to greet, say, a sunset, to let it in.

Rather our senses look out with inquisitive fire, naming, owning what they see “as if life was a nonstop shopping spree”. Ouch, that hurt. Probably because it is so true.

What you will see below are descriptions, definitions, purposes I found on pratyahara in no particular order.  They are all from Iyengar unless otherwise noted. I spared the quotation marks as they are all or partly quotes. I guess I am doing this post mostly for myself as I am exploring this right now. I would say my favorite is #7:

1.- The yogic purpose of pratyahara is to make the mind shut up so we can concentrate.

2.- Pratyahara is built brick by brick through yama niyama, asana and pranayama, then utilized in dharana dhyana and samadhi.  It is the fifth petal of yoga, also called the “hinge” of the outer and inner quest.  It is the pivotal movement on yoga’s path.

3.- Iyengar says that in Sanskrit, pratyahara literally means “to draw toward the opposite“.  The normal movement of the senses is to flow outward and this limb is concerned with going against that grain, a difficult reaction.

4.- Pratyahara is mano-vrtti nirodha, it directly works from the mind like a pneumatic tool to cut its outgoing habits by changing its direction to penetrate inwards towards the core.

5.- One night at Eddie’s shala he reminded us how Guruji says in Yoga Mala that yoga is a path we step into and that will lead us towards unveiling the Self.  I remember being disoriented as I could not grasp what “Self” meant. Pratyahara, says Iyengar, helps the mind to acquire knowledge of the Self.

Withdrawing the senses helps us come into the present moment without any filters, that is what Jois meant, how to come to a blank state where there is no projection, where we simply are.

6.- When at the stage of prathyahara the aspirant requires stable and intense self-study … [because]… the ego takes pride even in this controlled mind.  At that point the mind has to direct the energy towards concentration (the next step), or fall for the ego’s uprising. There lies the difficulty in pratyahara.

7.- Pratyahara is a tableland for maintaining, sustaining and retaining what is gained through the previous limbs.

8.- Pratyahara is a culture on the mind.  As I see it is a “new wiring”, a creation of a new habit of sorts where we change directions as the attention constantly goes out and we rein it inside.

9.- Pratyahara undoubtedly is very difficult, as it has to be firmly established on asana and pranayama which discipline the organs of action, perception, and mind.

10.- Swami Vivekananda (who introduced yoga and Vedanta to Europe and America) calls Pratyahara a “gathering towards“, as in freeing it from the thralldom of the senses. Says that when we can do this well we shall really possess character and have made a long step towards freedom; before then, we are “machines”.

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