When In Rome...

[Guest guest]

Bad Lady Trinka's message re how to interpret

teaching methods of non-ashtanga teachers reminded me of a

situation I've experienced this year. <br><br>When I moved

to Australia from the US, one of my big concerns was

that I wouldn't be able to find an Ashtanga class.

"The way the universe is," a class mate friend of mine

said before I left "something will come up for

you."<br><br>As it turned out the yoga centre in the city I moved

to did offer two classes a week- Mysore style from a

teacher who was more Iyengar and less Ashtanga. Learning

Mysore, was not what I wanted but I really had no choice

if I wanted to practice in a class setting. There

also seemed to be many things that changed from my US

classes- from the phrasing of the chant to ways we did the

asanas. The teacher was very, very welcoming and kind to

me but also pointed out to me things that I thought

were right but were now wrong - The differences

weren't massive, fundamental issues, but they were

differences nonetheless. I have to say, I tried not to, but I

did get that prickly feeling, borderline resentful

-and I think that if I had not already had a strong

belief in the practice combined with great teachers to

help me build a foundation, I probably would've

ditched it. Now looking back I wonder if I too might have

given off some kind of "im from America I know

everything vibe" that might have made my teacher just as

prickly, even though she never showed it...<br><br>Anyhow,

with no choice, I started practicing at home - finally

opting to stop going to the classes and supplementing

them with occasional visits with classes to yogamoves

in Sydney where they have a good pipeline to

Pattahbi, so I felt certain that I was getting the right

tuition in the practice. I also rely on this club to

clear up confusion, for support and take a lot of heart

from the many who are like me, out there "auming"

alone.<br><br>Even in Sydney, my idea of what practice should be

like is different, for example, if i have a bad knee

day and cant do marichyasana d, then thats where i

have to wrap the practice up before backbends and

closing. I've since learned that that is the traditional

way to go and although I still fluctuate between

going that way or charging on through during my own

sessions, when I'm there, I happily do it their way. One

thing I've learned since I've been here is that if I'm

going to go to someone for a class, that its important

to respect the rules of the centre. Its the "when in

rome" thing...for those two hours, these people are my

teachers and if its a matter of conforming to how they

perceive a generally small portion of the practice to be,

then so be it, if I don't like it, I shouldn't be

there. And in opening my eyes and heart to new ideas I

end up getting something completely unexpected out of

the class. Like now that Im pretty established in

self practice, I realise that one of the things that i

miss the most about yoga class is the community, the

yoga posse. For that reason, I've returned to the

classes in my town. I also discovered that I really do

learn some special things from the teacher other then

the way to do or not do a pose, she teaches me a lot

about allowing more softness in my practice, shes got a

great warm personality that rubs off on all her

students, she gives really great adjustments and she's

knowledgable. I also really respect that despite the fact that

Ashtanga is not her yoga of choice and that for some

insane reason it is not at all popular here and class

numbers are small, she still keeps it going. <br><br>So,

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that if you

don't have much of an option when it comes to a

teacher, see if you can discover other things you can

learn and develop through practicing with them and

through other students - it may be just that sense of

community and being surrounded by likeminded folks, but as

I've come to realize, that's pretty

important.<br><br>best<br>Sue

[Guest guest]

Wow, thanks for the thoughtful response. Happily,

I agree with your take on 'when in Rome'. I just

thought it was kind of funny that during my Mysore

practice the teachers were running for blocks and straps

like an emergency squad for my poorly aligned body. I

actually got some good stuff from the assistance but was

genuinely confused by the verbal adjustments regarding my

head and several other mis-aligned appendages. I love

Iyengar and I actually do pay a lot of attention to my

own alignment. What I find with Ashtanga is that if

you go to your own edge in an asana, even if the

alignment is off because you aren't open enough to get

there, with breath and bandas your body will eventually

get there. And if you have the assistance of a good

teacher who can twist you that extra mile or lower you

into baddahkonasana then you are extra lucky.

Otherwise, being in a room full of people has a special

energy that I really love. I like what you said about

that. <br><br>Thanks for the input. <br><br>BLT