to be or not to be ashtanga

[Guest guest]

Actually, I would have to say, this is probably the least inflammatory response

I have ever seen from you, FBL--but please know that is only by matters of

degree. You seem to belabor the point of what *is* Ashtanga and what is not--I

just wonder why this is such a trigger for you--perhaps something for you to

explore but that would not be for me to say.

 

Personally, I find other people's experience with different types of yoga quite

interesting and enlightening, as it broadens the mind. I try in my life to step

out of the box, as it were--but that would be me and not a commentary on how

anyone else should live their life. Please do not get stuck on this one limb of

ashtanga so much so that the beauty of it in its entirety is lost.

 

I wish you all peace.

N

-

funkybadlady

ashtanga yoga

Monday, January 27, 2003 1:20 PM

ashtanga yoga Re: not ashtanga

 

 

There were no flames here. It is a common misconception that

the styles are "interchangeable" and that only "Ashtanga purists"

take issue with interchaging flow style practices and ashtanga.

You are not telling me anything I don't already know. I know all

three people personally - Tracey, Ganga and Bryan. The

practices you mention are as far as you can get from ashtanga. I

am only pointing this out. If you like tracey and Ganga's thing,

cool. If you are into Bryan Kest, great. But it is not what we

practice. Ashtanga has a very specific sequence and a very

distinct way of learning poses. The teaching style is also very

distinct and a very important component of Ashtanga. I don't

understand what your argument is... What you and other are

talking about is just not ashtanga. All the theorizing and fact

throwing is not going to change that.

 

FBL

 

 

ashtanga yoga, "musefish9396 <

musefish9396>" <musefish9396> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I know that neither of those practices are pure "ashtanga" but

> that's irrelevant to me. I wasn't trying to say that they were pure

> ashtanga but the fact is, they are in both very much influenced

by

> ashtanga. Bryan Kest started at 14 years old doing Ashtanga

(at the

> insistence of his father who basically told him to do yoga or

move

> out.... Bryan talks about this in "Yogi Bare"). Ganja White did

> study with P. Jois while he was in the states (as well as

Iyengar in

> India.... yes, I know Iyengar isn't ashtanga either:) ).

>

> Anyway, they are however valid practices that can have great

> benefits to people.

>

> To be quite honest with you, for me personally the White Lotus

> approach has been the practice that appeals to me personally

and I

> really like what Bryan Kest and Baron Baptiste as well have

brought

> to people as well. There are many people like me who are

devoted to

> a daily practice but not strictly to ashtanga.

>

> I guess if there are message boards for those other practices

then

> I will most definitely move over to there. I happen to be very

> eclectic in terms of my yoga practice (which is very much along

the

> lines of thinking of "White Lotus").

>

> Still, while I would find it interesting to practice with an

> Ashtanga teacher (and there are several where I live) I have no

> desire to devote myself exclusively to Ashtanga. I came to this

> group to learn more about Ashtanga (I have been working with

David

> Swenson's tapes and have his "manual" for about 2 years

along with

> my other tapes and I have Richard Freemans's "breathing and

> relaxation" but I have gotten more personal benefit from

practicing

> the "White Lotus" way and others depending on how I intuitively

feel.

>

> The teacher I study with each week is a very eclectic teacher,

> definitely not ashtanga and I have derived great benefits from

her

> approach as well. I have no intention of giving up studying with

her

> either:)

>

> I will say that while it's possible that ashtanga may effect the

> body and mind in a completely different way I don't think you

can

> claim that they effect them in a "Better" way than other

practices.

>

> In fact, from the degree of "flame throwing" and arrogance that

> I've seen on this list it certainly doesn't appear that their

> practice has necessarily helped them beyond the physical (I

am not

> accusing you in particular of this sort of thing because you

were

> not rude at all in your response, this is just an observation).

>

> But as Bryan Kest said in one of his interview (I'm

paraphrasing

> here) " I know people who can do the advanced series who are

still

> manic depressive".

>

> Take care,

>

> Scott

>

>

>

>

>

> ashtanga yoga, funkybadlady <

no_reply>

> wrote:

> > Although you may be excited by Bryan's videos and White

Lotus

> > yoga, neither comes close to being Ashtanga Yoga. It is not

> > about being a "purist" or not. Although you may find some

> > similarities, Ashtanga is a completely different practice that

> > effects the body and mind in a completely different way. The

> > best way to begin to understand this is to find an authentic

> > Ashtanga instructor and do the practice yourself. Also do

some

> > research and check out AYRI.org

> >

> > I am only pointing out that this is a very different practice.

> There

> > are message boards for White Lotus as well as for "Power

> > Yoga" which is what Bryan Kest teaches. Neither come

close to

> > the practice that this board references.

> >

> > FBL

 

 

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

 

ashtanga yoga