ashtanga yoga New to Ashtanga

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Hi Tonya,

Thank you very much for your reply! I will definitely look into getting that

book. I am familiar with synchronizing breath/movement and with eye gaze. I've

read about bandhas, but haven't received any formal instruction in them. I've

been under the impression that it's not safe to try them without the guidance of

a teacher? I've read about mulabandha, and have experimented with flexing the

muscles that are involved but haven't tried to integrate it into my practice.

Maybe I'm misinformed about it being unsafe to do it without guidance? It seems

relatively harmless to me.

Yes, I would be very interested in a list of your series.

Thanks again for the information!

~Asha

trmakowski wrote:

Asha~

 

Glad you wrote, and I hope I can be of some help to you.

 

My first suggestion would be to get a book. The best Ashtanga book I

have found so far is by John Scott called Ashtanga Yoga, the

definitive step-by-step guide to dynamic yoga, ISBN: 0-609-80789-2.

 

People reccommend starting with the sun salutations to work on moving

in a fluuid way, and using tristana or the combination of

breath/movement synchronicity, bandhas (the energy locks), and

drishti (eye gaze). This book outlines those tools for practice

pretty well. Many beginner classes will teach the Sun Salutations to

introduce those ideas. Work toward this hierarchy of engagement:

1. Breath

2. Bandhas

3. Movement

4. Drishti

 

Never move without breath, move engaged working from the root lock or

the mulabandha. Move consciously. Use a focused gaze to help

eliminate wondering eyes, and to focus your practice. Are you

familiar with these practices?

 

I teach a "modified primary series" to my beginners which eliminates

a lot of the more difficult poses and offers a lot of modifications

to tailor the practice to any level. Would you be interested in a

list of that series?

 

You can have a powerful home practice, and benefit from

periodic "public" classes to offer some insight into poses, or other

ways you can modify or exprienment with your practice.

 

Always recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Never jepordize your

breath for a posture. Work to engage the bandhas throughout the

practice, keep your breath long and equally metered, recognize the

difference between pain and sensation... avoid pain. Take the

ambition out of it.

 

Let me know if there ways in which I can help deepen your practice.

Best wishes.

 

Tonya Makowski

Certified Yoga Instructor

415.336.2632

www.geocities.com/trmakowski

 

 

 

 

 

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