Guest guest Posted June 23, 1999 Report Share Posted June 23, 1999 I just started an interest in yoga and through research found Ashtanga to be the best place or branch to begin. I have been searching for central paths for many years and I am looking for the path to true enlightenment, the trouble is I dont know how to get started learning and practicing. Info I live in Kentucky with practically no instructors. Please help me find information, books, classes, videos, or anything I can find to get started. I would really appreciate the help john42240 Thanks.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 1999 Report Share Posted June 23, 1999 Hi John,<br><br>Astanga is the only yoga I've tried, but I also think it's the best, because from reading<br>it seems that most of the other don't use enough heat while they're stretching.....<br><br>Although I also believe that there is no 'right yoga' so I'll ammend that to 'astanga is the<br>right yoga for me now.'<br><br>Beryl Bender Birch's book 'power yoga' is excellent. It really gave me a feel for what<br>this whole discipline is about. Because in a book she can discuss other things, as well<br>as just postures.<br><br>She also sells audio tapes from her web site. Once I'd been using her book for a couple of<br>months, I bought a tape, to get more motivation, and to help with 'timing'. For me that's always<br>a hard question. How long do I hold the pose? I know the answer is 5 breaths, but how long<br>should each breath be? So an audio tape was good for me.<br><br>The problem with video tapes, is that while you're practising you can't be staring at the<br>telly, plus I don't have a video ( or a telly) so I haven't got one. But if you've never seen<br>astanga yoga practicesed before I'm sure a video would help.<br><br>Getting the postures 'right' isn't that hard. In that if you're trying you're best, you are doing it<br>right. This isn't a yoga where each posture has to be perfect. What I'm trying to say is<br>that in all the classes i've been to, I don't very often get adjusted by the teacher. Not because<br>i'm good, but because 'I'm heading in the right direction'<br>So if you can get to some classes, excellent. But don't worry if you can't get to classes, or<br>can only go very infrequently. Only you can tell if you're doing the posture right anyway!<br><br>As for 'searching for true enlightenment.' I'm not very sure on that one. I find that when i do the physical yoga exercises, my mind and mental attitude changes. It helps my mental state in lots of different ways. Of course this is subtle at first, but over time I really notice my mental diffence when I practice and when I don't. <br>Maybe if you seriously do yoga for a long time 'you will feel more enlightened' But i think if<br>you make it 'your goal' it might not come. i think it might have to sneak up on you. Remembering of course that yoga is 'a goaless discipline.' and that 'enlightenment' is practically undefinable.<br><br>Hope this helps<br><br>Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 1999 Report Share Posted June 23, 1999 I have a giant list of ashtanga links and<br>lists of books and videos here:<br><br><a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yoga.htm target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yoga.htm</a><br><br>I would probably recommend David Swenson's video.<br>Yogasite shows a teacher in Lexington at a place<br>called Yoga East. It could be out of date, but<br>worth checking - there is an email address and<br>phone number. www.yogasite.com<br>It would probably be worth traveling to the<br>closest place you can take a primary series<br>ashtanga classs at least once before trying to<br>learn from a video, but videos would probably be<br>better than books for learning how to do it.<br><br>Good Luck<br><br>Terry Slade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 1999 Report Share Posted June 25, 1999 Ashtanga Yoga GuruSri Pattabhi Jois's book YOGA MALA is available through Patanjali Yoga 212 982-0753. And a video of the Guru teaching the series himself is available from Yoga Works 310 393-5150. Get as close to Guruji's teachings as you can - with his book and his video and then save your money for a trip to Mysore. All the Best - Shanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Hello John. I teach at Yoga East in Louisville. I've been teaching first series Ashtanga since 1995. I went through David Swenson's teacher training in 1998, and I will be in Mysore with Pattabhi Jois Aug-Oct. David Swenson is coming to Louisville for a weekend workshop Nov 12-14, 99. Visit us at www.yogaeast.org. -- Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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