Guest guest Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 After reading a few of the mails here, I've gathered that there are some really advanced practitioners contributing to this group. I'm in the sad state of being too far from any teacher, but I do make a yearly trip to Mysore and have most of the texts and DVD's by David Swenson and John Scott. Although the Shala is undeniably Heaven on earth, adjustments and advice are rather scarce in Mysore. So for education I rely on Lino Miele's pictures of Sharath and the teachings of Scott and Swenson. Each has their own unique style and include different asanas and sequences, which is fine. However my confusion begins when there are contradictions between the three (despite all unquestionably being masters)... sooooo..... 1. Sharath's virabhadrasana is much higher others, and his knee is more forward. Why? 2. Swenson says that in Bhujapidasana the chin should not touch the ground, but Swenson and Sharath do. Is Swenson simply taking the asana to the next level? Are Scott and Sharath toning it down for us? 3. A small point, but in Navasana Sharath points his hands to his feet rather than keeping them parallel to the ground... he also doesn't bother taking his hands to the ground in Prasarita Padottanasana C... 4. In Bakasana Swenson takes his knees into the armpits, but Sharath keeps them lower down the arms. 5. When doing downward facing dogs during the vinyasa, Scott sometimes lists the nose as the dristhi and sometimes the third eye. What's the difference? 6. The hand position in Laghuvajrasana. Sharath takes his hands to his ankles, but Swenson insists that you should hold the knees. 7. In the second series headstand cycle Sharath completes the open headstands (mukta hasta sirasana) first and then the bound headstands (baddha hasta sirasana). Swenson does the reverse. 8. And of course, Swensons infamous 100 breath utpluthih. Miele and Scott both say 25 is enough... what inspired Swenson's sadism? Is he following a more traditional approach (kind of like a 90 day vipassana) 9. Ummm... no contradiction here, but please help me... Swenson doesn't mention if the knees should touch in Salabhasana A and B, and I can't see from the photographs... is it something I should be pushing for? I understand that there are no firm rules in ashtanga. Krishnamacharya taught Iyengar and Guruji (Pattahbi Jois) yet the asanas of the latter two have myriad differences in physical position, dristhi, and sequencing, despite having the same names. Of course Swenson and Scott are not wrong in being different to each other and to Sharath, but can anyone explain the subtleties of their differences to me? Much thanks in advance to anyone with any advice!!! Om Shanti, Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 This is a question for your internal guru. All you need to know is how each of them feel. choose what you like. namaste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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