Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 I was writing quickly at work and kinda mis-spoke. What I meant was I have not had a traditional, consistent Ashtanga class in San Francisco. I have had good flow type classes and mixed vinyasa classes. I did have a great class at Castro Yoga. But havent found traditional classes. That of course does not mean they are not there. I actually live in the East Bay but am always looking for good classes since sometimes I work in the city. And for some reason, I have had a bunch of led Ashtanga classes (although a while ago) that were just plain sloppy. The teachers rushed some areas and went really slow in others etc. You like in SF, where do you go?<br><br>And thanks shambhala us and spunkeymonk on the heads up on Alice. I will check her out. <br><br>Also, spunkeymonk, I love the way you said that Its Yoga taught you to appreciate the Primary series. Every experience is a learning experience!<br><br>Thanks all!<br><br>Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 To teach a led class correctly is really a very simple and easy thing to do, but so few manage to do it. In the Bay Area, and no doubt in many other metro areas, the teachers are often under pressure to finish the class in an hour and a half, which really isn't time enough to present the 1st series. IMO, 2 hours should be alotted.<br><br>But even teachers with 2 hours often burn through the series as if it were a race, particulary toward the finishing postures!<br><br>While many teachers go through teacher training, learn the proper traditional method of counting through the vinyasa, I've found that quite a few of them ignore this method when they teach classes. Why they do this I don't understand.<br><br>Each side should be held for at least 5 breaths, at least 45 seconds. Longer perhaps, but never shorter.<br><br>There should be room given in each stage of a vinyasa. What do I mean by that? For example, the class is in Janusirsasana, and the teacher counts "Five." There should be a slight pause, then time given for a full inhale while the head is raised...then another count, with time given for releasing the foot, crossing the legs, and jumping back into catuari...time full a full inhale into UMS, time for a full exhale in AMS...then time for a full inhale as the knees bend preparing for the jumpthrough. Whether this is done by count or by description doesn't really matter, what does matter is that the teacher keeps you in the rhythm of the vinyasa, with the breathing.<br><br>Hardly anyone does it this way, however, often just shouting "jump back" right after they say "five." They treat the vinyasa as if it were a break in the practice, as something to rush through as quickly as possible. <br><br>The end result of such haste gives a frantic flavor to the practice. It's not yoga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 I hope that Russell Kai read your message! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Hi Mel,<br><br>I live in Berkeley and practice at 7th Heaven. Weekday mornings from 7 to 9am there are Mysore style classes, as well as on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9 to 11am. There is also an excellent lead primary series class from 6 to 8pm on Friday evenings, and various Ashtanga based classes from Mondy thru Thursday in the evening. You can check their schedule out online, though I don't have the link memorized I'm sure you can locate it on Google.com.<br><br>good luck!<br><br>Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 << ...the teachers are often under pressure to finish the class in an hour and a half, which really isn't time enough to present the 1st series. IMO, 2 hours should be alotted.<br><br>But even teachers with 2 hours often burn through the series as if it were a race, particularly toward the finishing postures! >><br><br>Does anyone have an idea how long it would take to do the whole primary series in full vinyasa as presented in John Scott's book? <br><br>At my own pace (read: the pace of a snail), it would most certainly take up to 3-4 hours. <br><br>I don't think I will ever do that. If I will ever manage to do 1st series the Scott way (a big "if"), I think I'll split it up in two, stopping at navasana & doing the closing postures on one day; then, the next day, picking up navasana after the standing poses and doing the rest... Certainly, this would be more in the realm of the possible than doing the whole thing in one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 <<If I will ever manage to do 1st series the Scott way (a big "if"), I think I'll split it up in two, stopping at navasana & doing the closing postures on one day; then, the next day, picking up navasana after the standing poses and doing the rest... >><br><br>Has a reputable teacher told you that it is OK to skip the sitting poses before navasana and continue from there onwards? I mean, would you be open enough to do kurmasana, gharba pindasana, the konasanas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Hello Sixtinain,<br><br>I wasn't told by a reputable teacher personally to split 1st series at navasana, thereby skipping the sitting postures. I took the advice from an article on Dena Kingsberg, <a href=http://www.yogachicago.com/jul99/dena.shtml target=new>http://www.yogachicago.com/jul99/dena.shtml</a> , who is quoted saying you could split up the series this way in case you're tired or you don't have enough time to do the whole thing. If I would be open enough to do kurmasana, gharba pindasana & the konasanas is another matter, I haven't tried yet. But I think Dena Kingsberg is reputable enough to give good advices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Perhaps you can do every second posture and change the start-posture every other day to have it slightly better balanced :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 by the details that sounds like a reasonable, plausible description of the shortcomings of all the yoga teachers you have encountered. however, because of your irrational fear of gay people and the general paranoia you have expressed here previously, your opinions are generally unreliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 type in all lower case as i do if you like, but just know it may confuse the religious right contingent here, especially if your assessments pretty much agree with mine. just be warned you too may be subject to their unrelenting witch hunt ways. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Midnight Omboy, or Puppybreathylizer or what other names you use here,<br><br>Are you replying to your own messages because nobody here cares about you and your posts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 as you have demonstrated, your favorite name for me is "queer." not surprising that's all you see whenever you read a message from someone who doesn't share your particular brand of confusion. life is beautiful. om namah sivaya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Someone who is really proficient at 1st series can do it in an hour and a half, including a 5-10 min savasana. But this requires a very brisk pace and no wasted motions, no trouble getting in and out of the more challenging asanas (such as garbha pindasana). Really, not so many are adept enough to work at this pace. Those who can go at this pace should do so in Mysore practice. It's demanding far too much to ask beginners to run through 1st series -- they risk injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Whatever you say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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