Doug Swenson Workshop Experience

[Guest guest]

I went to a 3-hour workshop with Doug Swenson

last year and this is what we did:<br><br>He led us

slowly through the earlier part of the Primary Series as

he is practicing it himself. The order of the

postures was basically the same, but he has his own

flowing, flowery style of vinyasa that involves a lot of

slow and graceful arm-flapping and waving and extra

flowing breaths between movements. It was like a

combination Ashtanga primary series/modern dance practice. I

found it strange and unsatisfying in relation to my own

practice, but I think some people (who don't normally

practice Ashtanga) liked it. It was certainly a way to

relax and was a non-intimidating introduction to

Ashtanga for those who didn't already practice the primary

series in the traditional way. Despite his flowery

practice style, his adjustments were firm and secure,

no-nonsense. <br><br>He led a modified closing sequence and

during headstand encouraged people to try a variety of

positions for the legs, not just sirsasana B (e.g., splits,

twists) just for fun.<br><br>During the question and

answer section of the class, I believe he stated that he

had gone through the first 3 or 4 series in the

official manner and had learned the 5th series "through

the back door."<br><br>He advocated a balanced

approach to practicing yoga emphasizing that you should

lead a well-rounded life and include other physical

activities if you enjoy them. He mentioned that he teaches

to the student, encouraging a more gentle approach

for those just starting out from scratch and

employing a more challenging approach with ex-child

gymnasts, etc. He is a whole foods and, I think, raw foods

proponent and held a nutritional workshop the same

weekend.<br><br>Following the class he gave a killer demo. He says he does

more biking and hiking now and less yoga than he used

to when he was younger, but his practice was pretty

astounding, not to mention beautiful and ethereal, and he

obviously still works very hard at it. I believe he is

around 55 years old now.<br><br>- Kiran