ashtanga yoga Practice??

[Guest guest]

You raise an important point. One concern I have with the Ashtanga

practice--and the army of SKPJ's militant followers--is that it encourages a

blind devotion to the method, without any regard for the needs of each

individual practitioner. Have an injury? Keep practicing! Suffering through a

bout of flu or pneumonia? Keep practicing! Need to spend more time with a

neglected loved one or child? Forget it; keep practicing! Ashtanga often

seems incompatible with the inevitable ebb and flow of life.

 

Of course, individual practitioners often do just what you suggest. They

listen to the needs of THEIR bodies, and they do what is appropriate on any

given day. To do this, however, is not what Jois recommends and goes against

the Ashtanga method. The practitioner ends up being in a "damned if you do,

damned if you don't" predicament. What is he/she to do: Follow the strict

teachings of a guru in South India with whom the student has never practiced

personally? Or follow what follow what they feel is right for them?

 

Everyone has to answer this question for himself/herself. Even before I took

up Ashtanga I answered this question by talking to some of the most

respected--and Guruji-certified--Ashtanga teachers in the U.S. I was both

surprised and happy to hear that even they experienced ups and downs in their

practice, depending on the circumstances of their lives. I would say that 90

or 95 percent of the time I'm a strict Ashtanga practitioner. But since I'm

human, and not a machine, I allow enough flexibility in my practice to

accommodate life's uncontrolable unknowns.

[Guest guest]

Devotion is a very important topic. I spoke to one Yoga intructor

that did follow another system devotionally and did not gain the

benefits expected. I have been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for six

years and I am a firm believer that if I want to move forward a

strong devotion to the method, trust and faith has to be present.

Today this faith blossoms my practice and make me more and more

humble about Ashtanga Yoga Sr K. Pattabi Jois. My faith is also

giving more understanding to this Yoga and I a firm believer that

working daily will start to build the grounds to unfold my

concentration, meditation, sense withdraws, and Samadhi.

 

Also during my trip to mysore Guruji is there to teach you during

the 5, 6 days but if you not there he is compassionate and

understanding. Many people miss classes due to one reason or another

but he is giving his energy and encouragement to do your practice if

you can be there physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

 

Namaste

Topofthe Mountains

 

ashtanga yoga, asawrt@a... wrote:

>

> You raise an important point. One concern I have with the Ashtanga

> practice--and the army of SKPJ's militant followers--is that it

encourages a

> blind devotion to the method, without any regard for the needs of

each

> individual practitioner. Have an injury? Keep practicing!

Suffering through a

> bout of flu or pneumonia? Keep practicing! Need to spend more time

with a

> neglected loved one or child? Forget it; keep practicing! Ashtanga

often

> seems incompatible with the inevitable ebb and flow of life.

>

> Of course, individual practitioners often do just what you

suggest. They

> listen to the needs of THEIR bodies, and they do what is

appropriate on any

> given day. To do this, however, is not what Jois recommends and

goes against

> the Ashtanga method. The practitioner ends up being in a "damned

if you do,

> damned if you don't" predicament. What is he/she to do: Follow the

strict

> teachings of a guru in South India with whom the student has never

practiced

> personally? Or follow what follow what they feel is right for them?

>

> Everyone has to answer this question for himself/herself. Even

before I took

> up Ashtanga I answered this question by talking to some of the

most

> respected--and Guruji-certified--Ashtanga teachers in the U.S. I

was both

> surprised and happy to hear that even they experienced ups and

downs in their

> practice, depending on the circumstances of their lives. I would

say that 90

> or 95 percent of the time I'm a strict Ashtanga practitioner. But

since I'm

> human, and not a machine, I allow enough flexibility in my

practice to

> accommodate life's uncontrolable unknowns.