Styles of Practice

[Guest guest]

My impression and opinion is that there is

concern over people who teach a modified brand of

ashtanga and claim to be teaching ashtanga. In BBB's

books, entitled "Power Yoga" and "Beyond Power Yoga"

there are several references to ashtanga and Pattabhi

Jois and it is strongly implied that what is presented

in the book is ashtanga when in fact, it is not.

This misrepresentation bothers some more than others.

I don't really care although I wouldn't take the

class. There are also lots of people who teach classes

called 'ashtanga' and don't actually teach 'ashtanga'.

Unfortunately, I have been in a few of those classes myself. I

am lucky because I know the difference and I just

don't go back and don't recommend these 'teachers' to

anyone else. As far as other kinds of practices,

everyone has their own opinion about that too. <br><br>My

suggestion regarding Senor Pinchy-Winchy is to not take him

too seriously. Seriously. <br><br>Regarding good

ashtanga teachers, check the list on the homepage and ask

one of them for a recommendation in your area.

Certainly Senor would approve of that.

[Guest guest]

Since I am relatively new to the practice, could you please explain what

distinguishes what BBB lays out in her book from Astanga yoga? I would

appreciate that, since I honestly don't know. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

If you read tukan tukan's posting it will give

you a very eloquent explanation of these

'differences' being discussed. I will try to be more specific

without the books in front of me because I believe that

you really want to know. First of all, buy or borrow

Pattabhi Jois' book (translated with Eddie Stern) YOGA

MALA. It is definitive, although, Parivritti

trikonasana is not shown and is often taught (by SKPJ) as

part of the primary series in addition to what is

shown. You can compare them yourself if that is your

desire. What I remember is that BBB leaves out

marichyasana B & D and setubandasana and I think supta

kurmasana and maybe a few other poses, I could be wrong,

but I remember that there are definitely poses

omitted and switched around or something. What is

interesting to me about this is that these are poses which

seem to be consistently challenging for western

bodies. Other people who teach 'power yoga' do the same

thing. Many do not even teach the full vinyasa with

jump-through and jump-back. What I have been taught is that is

reason to keep these poses in the series rather than

throw them out because they are too 'difficult.'

<br><br>I remember when I first learned the primary series

and did not have a copy of Yoga Mala or Lino's book

or any other reference to look at, I picked up BBB's

book (because Borders does not carry the other books

unless you order them) and looked at it and read in the

beginning that it was Ashtanga and I looked at the pictures

and noticed oh, this isn't the primary series, this

is no help to me because it isn't ashtanga yoga, and

put it back on the shelf. I was thinking, I am doing

ashtanga yoga and I want to see a book about ashtanga

yoga.<br><br>You can order YOGA MALA from Eddie Stern or from the

Jivamukti website. You can also get Lino's book which, by

the way has also the second series. Or, even better,

take a class with Guruji. He's in New York RIGHT NOW.