Bashing on the path

[Guest guest]

I am still new to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga

and I have been lurking on this board for several

weeks. I have many questions, not the least of which

concerns the so-called "spiritualism" of some of the more

experienced members of this board.<br><br>Does Guruji smile

upon and encourage the crucifixion of teachers and

students who diverge from the official Ashtanga path? I

must assume, from the vicious personal attacks that

have been made here, that Ashtanga has done little to

open your "heart chakras" or your minds.<br><br>Hear

me out.<br><br>I speak as a young woman -- you might

say "naive" -- from a very small rural town in the

Midwest. Once a week in the evening, I travel three hours

to a YMCA where I attend a small, unauthorized,

unsanctioned, and **thank the Gods** unbiased Ashtanga Yoga

class.<br><br>This class has taught me things about myself that I

was unaware I could do. It has opened my mind, and

given me control over an otherwise disease-wrecked

body. It has lifted my spirit, and opened my heart to

God in new ways. <br><br>So, eager to learn more, I

join this club, only to find that what I have

experienced is not REAL Ashtanga Yoga. Here, I am told

without asking that my teacher is a fraud, as REAL

Ashtanga Yoga can only be taught by the Guruji in Mysore.

Why, if I had only traveled to Mysore, then I too

would know REAL Ashtanga Yoga, and I too could look

down my nose -- not at a drishti point -- but at these

menace fraud teachers who bring their false ideas about

Yoga to poor idiotic rural bums like me.<br><br>Please

reassure me that this is not the future that those of us

who are serious about continuing our practice have to

look forward to, not just in a simple word, but also

in action.

[Guest guest]

nataliewitch,<br>Don't worry if people say your

ashtanga teacher is not teaching 'the real thing'.

Ashtanga is a process and it doesn't matter whether your

foot is placed inside or outside the thigh. <br>Why

did Gurujii say, "practice. all is coming"?<br>"All

as in ALL WITH CAPITAL LETTERS"<br>Until you've

lived in a rural area and had only yourself to support

the practice you remain attached to the external.

Maintaining a practice - on your own - for many, many years

is driven by dedication and real effort!<br>I

wouldn't worry about what you hear...a lot of ashtangis

get hung up on the physical aspects of yoga. Follow

your intuition.<br>twochant

[Guest guest]

Guruji does not sanction or have anything to do

with this group Nataliewitch. It is also not really

represenitve of ashtanga practitioners as a whole. Don't take

any of what you read here too much to heart. It is

90% crap.<br>It's a wonderful practice enjoy it

wherever you are.

[Guest guest]

hi natalie<br><br>I'm sad too about the verbal

violence, judgement, and condemnation on this

board.<br><br>I practice at a studio I love dearly with some very

knowledgable, yet not "certified" teachers. (www.o2yoga.com)

I'm sure i know what some here would

say.<br><br>Please continue your practice. Yoga is beautiful and an

incredible gift. <br><br>We need to find the beauty within

our practices and ourselves, wherever our

practices/classes may be.<br><br>If being an ashtanga "pro" is

about some of what i see here, then i really don't want

a part of it.<br>I would rather just call myself a

yogii. and leave it at that.<br><br><br>I've only been

studying ten months. And i am going to a teacher training

program---not for ashtanga. I respect the fact that to be

authentically certified for ashtanga is a decade long process.

HOwever, i revel in the power and beauty of my practice,

and will be going to a teacher training program at

omega.<br><br>I'm putting this out there because I think it may

elicit some strong judgements.<br><br>Always a student.

Always a teacher.<br>We are all always students and all

have the potential to be teachers.<br><br>What actions

and attitudes do YOUR strongest teachers carry? I ask

everyone on the board to reflect on that.<br><br>Thank

you, Natalie.<br><br>Jess<br><br>To me, that is almost

more important than official certification.

[Guest guest]

Dear Nataliewitch,<br>Don't worry, it's all in

good fun. Many of us are so fortunate as to have

nothing better to do that give out unsolicited advice to

complete strangers on an electronic chat board.<br><br>By

the way, Senor Pinche Wey would love to meet you and

help you with your developing yoga

practice.<br><br>FBL

[Guest guest]

I must say, you have posed an excellent question

on this board, that I hope many will reply to...as I

am interested in hearing what everyone has to say.

What attitudes and actions do your strongest/favorite

teachers have? My teachers, although not certified yet in

the Ashtanga tradition, are some of my favorite

people in the world. Never have I met a more benevolent

teacher than my first and foremost ashtanga teacher. She

carries with her a gift that no one I have ever met, has

like hers. She makes you want to work as hard as you

can, makes you want to succeed as far as you can,

makes you want to develop your own personal practice so

as not to rely on a teacher for life support. for

you are your own best teacher. You know what you can

and cannot do at each single point of your life. My

teacher is who I strive to be like. Loving, caring, all

accepting, disciplined yet fun loving, hard working yet not

without a sense of humor (an extremely funny sense of

humore, if I might add), well...an all around walking

definition of the word "yoga" to me. So, as a follow up to

J's question of what qualities you like in your

teachers, I ask you all this: What is embodied by the word

yoga to you? And where do you want to go on this path?

To a point of "text book" perfection and

certification? Or to a spot that your practice can take only you

to, and only if you agree to be open minded about it

and not like the annoying "bible thumpers" where only

one way is right and it's their way. Just another

question...<br><br>Lauren

[Guest guest]

Could it be that Senor Pinche Wey & Funky Bad Lady are actually 1 in the same

person?

[Guest guest]

I've heard that Senor has been on this site for a

long time. In fact, the first time I looked at it was

about 6 years ago and he was there!<br>Senor Ole and

the bag lady like to stir things up. Makes life

fun.<br>twochant

[Guest guest]

""I've heard that Senor has been on this site for

a long time. In fact, the first time I looked at it

was about 6 years ago and he was there!""<br><br>the

first time you looked at what? the ashtanga

board? 6 yrs ago. nice feat!

[Guest guest]

thanks for saying what you have said.this was a

stong reminder of why i began to practice in the first

place. to some degree my practiced faltered because i

had no direction but i have come to see that it

simply was this way for me. i practice and that is the

best i can do at the moment thanks thomas

[Guest guest]

Nataliewitch-<br><br>I was almost relieved to see

that someone else (you) got the same feeling from this

club or at least most of it. I wrote in on the first

day I found it to ask a question & from the responses

got a feeling that I was being picked at. Not only

that, but the responses to my responses made me feel

that I started a war between alot of practicers of

Ashtanga that have the sad habits of labeling & competing.

<br><br>My yoga school is the most peaceful place I go on a

regular basis & I'm thankful my teachers don't have to

put a label on everything we do (even though on

certain days we practice ashtanga). The focus is more of

learining how to be at peace with yourself and others

regardless of what type of yoga you are practicing. It

sounds like your experience with yoga is the same as

mine & I think another chat group/club would suit us

both better.<br><br>Good luck with yourself & your

practice.<br><br>Adriane