responses to recent queries

[Guest guest]

Prasarita Padottanasa A-D - there are no stretch

backs or arch backs between these poses. That is a new

fangled and unnecessary interpretation. It only throws

off the proper breathing system (no wonder you hold

your breath). Any time we add in extra flourishes and

embellishments we burden the practice and obscure what is

important. Between each pose here simply inhale as you stand

upright.<br><br>Never hold the breath - no matter how helpful it may

seem at the time. Holding the breath is the number one

cause for pain, injury, stress and

tension.<br><br>Power v. Traditional - Yoga is an actual science. If

one practices the science as it has been proved to be

effective one will achieve the actual results of that

science. Ashtanga Yoga is the prescribed path towards

awareness of our true nature and that of the universe. It

is a path of harmony and union with God. Power yoga

is exercise. If you want the results of the science

of yoga you are wasting your time to pursue a non-

scientific approach. If you are interested in becoming a God

conscious person, practice Ashtanga Yoga. If you are

interested in becoming body concious then go to the gym or

do power err yoga.<br><br>Primary or Intemediate -

most students will only ever practice Primary Series.

Whats to complain about? It is an awesome series. Its

daily practice will bring life altering benefits -

physical, mental and emotional. Is the student accomplished

in Primary when he or she can perform each pose

well? If so then isn't any ballerina or contortionist

already an adept yogi? Or is the student accomplished

when he or she performs each vinyasa perfectly, with

proper gaze, breath and banddha? And what state of mind

accompanies such a practice? Certainly one that reflects

steadiness, gratitude and ease. Lets all be thankful for the

asanas that we already are practicing. Regrettably it is

not beneficial and is moreover dangerous, to learn

poses from books and videos. It is also unfavourable to

covet or "steal" poses before your experienced teacher

gives you one. So if you don't have an experienced

teacher, what are you to do? If Ashtanga Yoga is truly

important to you - then like all other important

considerations (ie. buying a house, taking a vacation, owning a

car, going to college, earting in restaurants, wearing

fancy clothes) save your money and set some time aside

to study with Sri Pattabhi Jois or one of his

certified teachers whenever and as often as possible. Can

you learn a foreign language correctly from just a

book or video? Not very well and probably not so that

native speakers could understand you. So why should one

assume that an intricate and multi dimensional science

like Yoga can be learned from a manual? Regrettably it

cannot. And anyone that tells you that it can, doesn't

understand the nature of Yoga (or they are trying to sell

you their book). <br><br>Teacher trainings - is

anyone who reads this board interested in studying

Ashtanga Yoga with someone whose just learning the

practice and spent money to take a one or two week

teacher's training? I didn't think so. Do other adept

scientists get trained in a similiarily cursory manner? I

hope not!! <br><br>peace, missy p.

[Guest guest]

thanks MP, for these sweet, refreshing, and wise comments.<br><br>sunshine

[Guest guest]

This elucidation of power -v- ashtanga is one of the clearest and simplest we've

heard yet. Thanks again, MP.

[Guest guest]

When I asked the questions about advancing to

intermediate series it was simply interest. I am not

complaining about practising primary series as I enjoy it

more & more as time goes by. I personally think it's

healthy to ask questions.

[Guest guest]

responses to your responses:<br><br>1) prasarita:

most instructors tell us to 'open our hearts' or

expand our chests on the inhale with an upward gaze. i

seem to recall guruji having us do the same. is the

lateral extension of the arms outward after the inhale

before going into B & C also a recent affectation? we

did that also with guruji. what about the hand

position on C--do they face in or out or does it not

matter?<br><br>2) i can't speak for anyone else, but i never intend

to hold my breath, there are just times when i

notice that i have run out of inhale or exhale prior to

the time for the next transition--especially when

there is a "slow counter" calling out the vinyasas. i'm

getting better at this but it is not automatic. going

from down dog into the warrior position in the sun B's

is sometimes hard to get in in one

inhale<br><br>3)transition from primary series: just wanted to make clear

that i am not complaining about not being allowed to

do more 'advanced' postures. not at all, my plate is

quite full, thank you. i just wanted to know how the

decision is made for those who are ready for such a

transition.<br><br>4) teacher training: i don't think anyone believes a

short course will make them an ashtanga expert or

authorized teacher. i have wondered about the nature of

certification and authorization though. being an ashtanga adept

with personal advancement into the more advanced

series does not make one a good teacher, any more than

being the world's foremost expert in any other field,

medicine, law, science etc, makes that person good at

teaching that expertise to someone else. anyone who has

taken upper level courses in college can readily attest

that knowledge/skill and the ability to teach are not

always shared talents. sometimes it seems that they are

inversly related. i only wish some of the professors in my

university years had received some exposure in how to better

teach their areas of expertise. if someone wants to

make the teaching of yoga to others a part of their

yoga lives, and they have the personal accomplishments

to warrant that, then it behooves them to try and

learn from experienced authorized teachers. and yes, a

lot of on-going education in my field does come from

short, week long courses and meetings

[Guest guest]

CLAP!CLAP!CLAP! I applaude your fabulous well

written response to the age old question. Always remember

the BREATH is your engine, as one of my teachers

often says. Just came back from a fabulous first series

practice with Tim Miller, I feel great. I share your

feelings about life altering benefits of ashtanga yoga, it

has changed so many things in my life.

[Guest guest]

Uncle Screwgee tells a story...<br><br>Years ago,

with abundant ambition and little experience, I said

to my (certified astanga) yoga teacher, "hey *, can

I do second series now??" <br><br>For a brief

instant, he fixed me with a "you wiseass" stare, but then

he seemed to brighten a bit and said, "you want to

learn second series? Ok, I'll show you second

series."<br><br>So without further ado, he puts me into kapotasana.

Sort of the way Dan Gable might apply kapo, if he ever

taught yoga to someone he really hated. I had no choice

but to cry uncle: "OK OK I'LL DO FIRST

SERIES."<br><br>Since then, years went by, my practice progressed, I

began adding poses, and now I do second series a couple

times a week. I never again asked permission for doing

what I want to do with my body. In fact, now that I

think about it, I started doing 2nd to compensate for

shoulder and knee injuries I'd accumulated from 1st

series. Doing 2nd allowed me to progress until I was

again healthy enough to get back into first

series.<br><br>Generally, I respect the series as they are, as outlined by

my teacher. However, I also understand that there's

a certain amount of latitude in the practice. Maybe

a comparison to classical music is apt here. there

are certain classical forms that deserves respect;

however, we can't say that these classical forms are the

only kind of legitimate music.<br><br>Or to put it

even more frankly: It hardly fucking matters if you

choose do 1st series or 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th. The hocus

pocus is way overhyped.

[Guest guest]

This is a second-hand story from my teacher, on

the subject of asking to move upward and onward --

<br>My teacher was in Mysore, doing his thing, and after

about six months he started wondering why Guruji wasn't

giving him a new pose or two. But he didn't want to be

bossy and ask, so he just kept practicing. After

awhile, though, he started wondering if he was practicing

badly or something, so after eight months of this he

finally said to Big G., "Am I doing poorly? Why won't you

give me a new pose?" and G. said, "I was waiting for

you to ask."

[Guest guest]

Thanks for another inspirational message. You write so beautifully!