Practice Question

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm new to Ashtanga yoga and I have a Question about starting a

practice. I just got the Practice Manual by David Swenson and it's a

great book but even some of the postures in the primary series are

beyond me. (I ve practiced mostly begining Iyengar style) Should I

just start with the Sun Salutations for now, And will they help me to

progress into the primary series?

Thanks, Darren.

[Guest guest]

yes

 

yogaman27 <yogaman27 wrote: Hi,

I'm new to Ashtanga yoga and I have a Question about starting a

practice. I just got the Practice Manual by David Swenson and it's a

great book but even some of the postures in the primary series are

beyond me. (I ve practiced mostly begining Iyengar style) Should I

just start with the Sun Salutations for now, And will they help me to

progress into the primary series?

Thanks, Darren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate

in the Answers Food & Drink Q & A.

 

 

[Guest guest]

hello Darren!

I teach ashtanga in argentina,ba,and suggest you to start the ashtanga

practise with 10 sun salutations during the first two weeks,in the case you do

it everyday or thrice a week,and then introduce the standing posses until you

feel comfortable enough in them,and prepared to continue with the next ones so

that you do not strain yourself.

Any way yu should prepare your mind to be patient and very perseverant,but if

you are guided by a teacher who can adjust you in the asanas that will make you

improve your practice in a much shorter time!

good luck!

lucía otero

 

yogaman27 <yogaman27 escribió:

Hi,

I'm new to Ashtanga yoga and I have a Question about starting a

practice. I just got the Practice Manual by David Swenson and it's a

great book but even some of the postures in the primary series are

beyond me. (I ve practiced mostly begining Iyengar style) Should I

just start with the Sun Salutations for now, And will they help me to

progress into the primary series?

Thanks, Darren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preguntá. Respondé. Descubrí.

Todo lo que querías saber, y lo que ni imaginabas,

está en Respuestas (Beta).

Probalo ya!

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Darren,

 

David's book offers great alternatives to the poses. Have you

attempted those? In his teacher training session, David's suggestion

is to at least try the pose, and, if it is too painful or difficult,

then drop back to the alternatives. His reasoning is that if you start

with the alternative, you may not realize that you can actually do the

pose.

 

I too cannot fully reach behind my back in Marichiasana (A-D), but I am

getting closer and closer. I'm sure that once you have develop your

practice, you will see that your body will reach further and further.

Remember too that it is not how far you can get into an asana; the fact

that you are practicing will bring you many rewards.

 

Namaste,

 

Ed

 

ashtangayoga , " yogaman27 " <yogaman27 wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I'm new to Ashtanga yoga and I have a Question about starting a

> practice. I just got the Practice Manual by David Swenson and it's a

> great book but even some of the postures in the primary series are

> beyond me. (I ve practiced mostly begining Iyengar style) Should I

> just start with the Sun Salutations for now, And will they help me to

> progress into the primary series?

> Thanks, Darren.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Darren,

David's book along with some introductory workshops and some

beginner's classes in Ashtanga will be a nice way to ease into the

practice. I teach Ashtanga, and I teach workshops and introduction

to

ashatanga classes. See if there are classes in your area with the

beginners to Ashtanaga in mind. One of the misconceptions about

ashtanga, in my estimation, is that people think it is a " sink or

swim " practice.

There are so many stepping stones and plateaus in Ashtanga, that you

never really have " arrived " . Each time you unroll your mat, it is an

opportunity to say " what am I able to do today?, and what can I do

with this body, and this

practice, so we are each confronted with our own gifts, and

limitiations, from there...we proceed " , no matter how long you have

been doing it.

Your are right in your approach to piecemeal the practice, as

the

sayings go, how to eat an elephant, or the journey of a thousand

miles.

So,too should you approach your approach to your practice. Take the

sun

salutations, and that is a wonderful way to be introduced to the

practice. Get your body and mind indoctrinated to the sun

salutations,

and one day you will find yourself " Riding the breath " . As time goes

on, build on the standing poses, and ad infinitum. In a couple of

months time you will be further down the road, and because the poses

are in order, you will find your mind and body knows where to go, you

just ride the breath through the poses and vinyasas, and make the

internal journey from there.

David also has the short forms in the back of the book. That is

an

excellent place to start. Also, go through the book and make mental,

or

even physical notes in the book. You can see the modifications that

work best for you from the breakdown of each pose throughout the

book, then

when you go to practice, go to the back of the book, and practice

from

there. Either short forms, or wherever. Then if there are poses you

can't do, perhaps you can write a reminder of your options in the

margin, or draw a stick figure. That book was made so the pages lay

open and you can practice straight out of it. It's made for you to

sweat on, get dog-eared, wrinkled and worn. As it does, you will

notice

your body and your practice are going in the opposited direction!! So

wear out the book!! Also, he has laminated cards for those really

sweaty moments, and they include the short forms. If there are no

Ashtanga classes in your area, you have the option to check out his

DVD on the Primary series. He gives you options galore throughout it,

and he is very inspiring too! David inspired me

to

get into Ashtanga, so, best of luck! Hope this helps! Happy

practicing!

~ Joey

ashtangayoga , " yogaman27 " <yogaman27

wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I'm new to Ashtanga yoga and I have a Question about starting a

> practice. I just got the Practice Manual by David Swenson and it's

a

> great book but even some of the postures in the primary series are

> beyond me. (I ve practiced mostly begining Iyengar style) Should I

> just start with the Sun Salutations for now, And will they help me

to

> progress into the primary series?

> Thanks, Darren.

>