"How are you?", my teacher Edith asked. To put it mildly, life off the mat has been hectic, I texted back. Just after I had jumpstarted my yoga practice with a week of Mysore mornings with John Scott and counted led classes every Sunday with Becky, first quarterly examination reviewing and then my Lola's passing kept me...occupied.
Instead of getting all testy about being unable to practice, I recall one of JS' workshops here in Manila, his earliest in 2009 I believe, when he said that yoga asanas are not simply those learned in the ashtanga vinyasa yoga series, from first to fifth. There are countless asanas-more than 72,000 in fact-which cannot be taught. Why? Because a person's every moment of life is considered an asana. Seeing the collective nodding, John didn't really elaborate but I think he had meant that yoga is life because one strives to find balance in every waking or unconscious moment. That's just how I got it and that's been the definition of yoga that resonates in me and which has become most indelible among all of John's lectures.
I suppose that's also been why I haven't been so hung up about missing practice at the shala...although I do pine for the company of like-minded individuals. A lack of socialization is one of the "hazards" of the job of teacher-Moms.
So I'm really excited about seeing the yogis tomorrow evening for the Cloud Atlas screening. Have been anticipating this latest film by the Andy and Lana Wachowski, whom I really look up to for giving us the brilliant Matrix Trilogy. Om.
Showing posts with label John Scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Scott. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Missed opportunity
This may be the second time in a row that I will miss another workshop with JS. I am really desolate, despondent and at times depressed about it but life is like that. I can think of another D word to describe exactly how i feel but i will keep my bandhas engaged and my mouth shut. I guess I deserve this, I had seen the announcement on John's website a few months back and procrasinated, i should've contacted B to save space for me. Oh well...I am grateful to have been to 2 of his previous workshops here in '09 and in 2010. Let other people have the opportunity to love and learn from this beautiful being this time. Inhale, exhale, wail...
Monday, May 10, 2010
Remembering Pattabhi
The Australian film director and yoga practitioner Robert Wilkins made the documentary Guru in 2005. He wrote this obituary for the UK's The Guardian shortly after the death of Sri K Pattabhi Jois last year.
Sri K Pattabhi Jois, who has died aged 93, was the founder of Ashtanga yoga, the physically demanding, dynamic style of yoga embraced by millions of westerners. If ever proof were needed of the health benefits of yoga, Jois was it. Up every morning to start classes at 5am, he rarely missed a day's teaching in 70 years, instructing hundreds of students daily at his shala (school) in Mysore, southern India, until the last year of his life.
Over the last 15 years, Ashtanga has grown into one of the most popular forms of yoga in the world, with a large celebrity following. Ashtanga has also spawned many new styles of yoga, including vinyasa flow, power yoga, shadow yoga, dynamic yoga and Jivamukti yoga. The UK boasts two teachers who are certified to teach Ashtanga at Jois's highest level.
For most Ashtanga students, the spiritual side creeps up slowly. In fact, Jois would teach meditation and the pranayama breathing technique only to advanced students, after they had completed years of dedicated practice. There are six series of poses in Ashtanga; it is said that, of all Jois's students, only his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy has completed all six.
Jois, known as "Guruji", was the son of a Brahmin priest and astrologer. He was born on a full moon in the small southern Indian town of Kowshika and became interested in yoga as a boy after attending a demonstration by Sri T Krishnamacharya, the man largely credited with resurrecting the millennia-old practice of yoga. At 14 he ran away from home with two rupees and a bicycle, and travelled to Mysore to study with his guru, throwing himself heart and soul into becoming a yogi. The maharaja of Mysore became a fan, and in 1937 invited Jois to set up the yoga department at the city's Sanskrit college. He eventually retired as professor of philosophy in 1973, though he continued to teach at his own school, the Ashtanga Yoga Institute, until 2008, retaining an encyclopedic memory for Sanskrit texts.
The first of Jois's western students arrived in Mysore in the 1960s. The popularity of Ashtanga began to spread, particularly in America, and over the next 40 years the school became inundated with foreigners. Jois would teach them from his modest home in Laxmipuram, eventually moving, in 2001, to the more affluent suburb of Gokulum. In 1975 he travelled with his son Manju to the US, invited to teach at schools set up in his name. He published a book about his discipline, Yoga Mala, in 1962; it was translated into English from his native Kannada in 1999.
Like many people I fell into Jois's style of yoga by chance. Returning jetlagged to London from a visit to Australia, I dropped into an early-morning Mysore-style yoga class near my house. I found it challenging both physically and mentally, and quickly became hooked. I went to India twice to study with Jois - on the first occasion meeting my American wife there - and, in 2005, made a documentary film, Guru, recording the interaction between Jois and his students and the celebrations for his 90th birthday.
What must it have been like for Jois, surrounded in the latter part of his life by so many foreigners, dressed up in Indian clothes, queueing up to bow down at his feet? He might have felt pity; instead he chose to see beyond any awkwardness or cultural difference. He opened his heart to thousands of students every year and tried to hold a space for anyone who dared to ask for his help. I look back on times when he held the door open a crack for me, and think what an amazing man he was to offer up so much in his lifetime.
Jois's wife Amma died in 1997. He is survived by Manju, daughter Saraswati (another son, Ramesh, predeceased him) and three grandchildren, including Sharath, who is now director of the Mysore school.
• Krishna Pattabhi Jois, yoga teacher, born 26 July 1915; died 18 May 2009
I'm also anticipating the publication of Guruji on July 25, 2010. The book is a portrait of Sri K Pattabhi Jois through the eyes of his students. Read some excerpts from yoga luminaries here including a tribute below from John Scott, who learned the parctice in 1989 when Guruji would teach only 10 students at a time.
John Scott was introduced to ashtanga by Derek Ireland and first visited Pattabhi Jois in Mysore in 1989. Scott is one of the world's leading authorities in ashtanga vinyasa, and the author of Astanga Yoga.
Before I met Shri K Pattabhi Jois I had many questions about life; what to do and were to go? My design profession gave me many skills, to think laterally, to see things from more than one perspective.
But as a designer, I was fixed in form and aesthetics, getting it right for the world ‘out there', I was awake but only partially awake.
Guruji greeted me with a big smile and an open heart. 'Come! Where are you from? Who is your teacher? How long are you staying?' were the first words Guruji said to me. He was immediately in the 'now', checking in with my past and my future (my Karma).
Derek Island, my first AVY teacher in 1987, had instructed me to tell Guruji that I was a complete beginner, which I was. 'Good', was Guruji's reply.
I reflect back now and see how on that day, way back in March 1989, I met a true Satguru, a guide who has shone the light for the last 20 years of my life. Guruji, through his simple but direct transmission, has awakened me to a Universe of infinite possibilities inside, right at the core of my being.
On a more personal level Guruji has been many things for me, The obvious, the guru mirror and teacher, but more importantly, my eastern father. Guruji not only welcomed me into his yoga shala, but also welcomed me into his family, his personal life - for example making me an Honoree Brahmin for the day to attend his granddaughter's wedding.
Guruji taught by example and always referred to himself as a student of yoga and a householder. He asked me was I married, and then told me that after the Advanced Series I would marry. True enough, in 1993 Lucy Crawford blossomed into my life.
Guruji has embraced our marriage and children and always included India and Fynn, inviting them to attend his great grand children's birthday parties.
Lucy and I have hosted Guruji and family twice in London, where we have come together, one Brahmin family with one western family living together in harmony, in one house together, eating together, talking together, all culture and labels dropping away - just people together in relationship.
Guruji has taught me that yes, we have a cultural identity but if you focus deeper than the physical, journeying into the subtle, we are just one, one light.
In a theory class, Guruji looked Directly at me, and asked ,'John Scott, who is God / Brahman? What is God / Brahman? Where is God / Brahman?', and then looking directly into me, answered for me, the guru mirror, 'This is God / Brahman touching the wall, touching the floor, pointing to the class. I am God / Brahman, you are God / Brahman, you are ALL BRAHMAN!'
I feel blessed to have met Guruji, Sri K Pattabhi Jois; such a teacher, who has, in a very quiet and humble way, accepted me as me, giving me simple and clear directions, answering every question I asked, and showing me that to have questions is to wake up and to live.
Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shantih
What sets Jois's method apart from other forms of hatha (physical) yoga is a technique called vinyasa. Ashtanga students jump back and forward (the vinyasa) between postures (asanas), synchronising movements with their breathing in one long flow. Expertly done, it can look more like a dance or a martial art than a relaxation class. "Ashtanga yoga is 99% practice; 1% theory", Jois would say. "Practise, practise and all is coming" was his mantra.
Over the last 15 years, Ashtanga has grown into one of the most popular forms of yoga in the world, with a large celebrity following. Ashtanga has also spawned many new styles of yoga, including vinyasa flow, power yoga, shadow yoga, dynamic yoga and Jivamukti yoga. The UK boasts two teachers who are certified to teach Ashtanga at Jois's highest level.
For most Ashtanga students, the spiritual side creeps up slowly. In fact, Jois would teach meditation and the pranayama breathing technique only to advanced students, after they had completed years of dedicated practice. There are six series of poses in Ashtanga; it is said that, of all Jois's students, only his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy has completed all six.
Jois, known as "Guruji", was the son of a Brahmin priest and astrologer. He was born on a full moon in the small southern Indian town of Kowshika and became interested in yoga as a boy after attending a demonstration by Sri T Krishnamacharya, the man largely credited with resurrecting the millennia-old practice of yoga. At 14 he ran away from home with two rupees and a bicycle, and travelled to Mysore to study with his guru, throwing himself heart and soul into becoming a yogi. The maharaja of Mysore became a fan, and in 1937 invited Jois to set up the yoga department at the city's Sanskrit college. He eventually retired as professor of philosophy in 1973, though he continued to teach at his own school, the Ashtanga Yoga Institute, until 2008, retaining an encyclopedic memory for Sanskrit texts.
The first of Jois's western students arrived in Mysore in the 1960s. The popularity of Ashtanga began to spread, particularly in America, and over the next 40 years the school became inundated with foreigners. Jois would teach them from his modest home in Laxmipuram, eventually moving, in 2001, to the more affluent suburb of Gokulum. In 1975 he travelled with his son Manju to the US, invited to teach at schools set up in his name. He published a book about his discipline, Yoga Mala, in 1962; it was translated into English from his native Kannada in 1999.
Like many people I fell into Jois's style of yoga by chance. Returning jetlagged to London from a visit to Australia, I dropped into an early-morning Mysore-style yoga class near my house. I found it challenging both physically and mentally, and quickly became hooked. I went to India twice to study with Jois - on the first occasion meeting my American wife there - and, in 2005, made a documentary film, Guru, recording the interaction between Jois and his students and the celebrations for his 90th birthday.
What must it have been like for Jois, surrounded in the latter part of his life by so many foreigners, dressed up in Indian clothes, queueing up to bow down at his feet? He might have felt pity; instead he chose to see beyond any awkwardness or cultural difference. He opened his heart to thousands of students every year and tried to hold a space for anyone who dared to ask for his help. I look back on times when he held the door open a crack for me, and think what an amazing man he was to offer up so much in his lifetime.
Jois's wife Amma died in 1997. He is survived by Manju, daughter Saraswati (another son, Ramesh, predeceased him) and three grandchildren, including Sharath, who is now director of the Mysore school.
• Krishna Pattabhi Jois, yoga teacher, born 26 July 1915; died 18 May 2009
I'm also anticipating the publication of Guruji on July 25, 2010. The book is a portrait of Sri K Pattabhi Jois through the eyes of his students. Read some excerpts from yoga luminaries here including a tribute below from John Scott, who learned the parctice in 1989 when Guruji would teach only 10 students at a time.
John Scott was introduced to ashtanga by Derek Ireland and first visited Pattabhi Jois in Mysore in 1989. Scott is one of the world's leading authorities in ashtanga vinyasa, and the author of Astanga Yoga.
Before I met Shri K Pattabhi Jois I had many questions about life; what to do and were to go? My design profession gave me many skills, to think laterally, to see things from more than one perspective.
But as a designer, I was fixed in form and aesthetics, getting it right for the world ‘out there', I was awake but only partially awake.
Guruji greeted me with a big smile and an open heart. 'Come! Where are you from? Who is your teacher? How long are you staying?' were the first words Guruji said to me. He was immediately in the 'now', checking in with my past and my future (my Karma).
Derek Island, my first AVY teacher in 1987, had instructed me to tell Guruji that I was a complete beginner, which I was. 'Good', was Guruji's reply.
I reflect back now and see how on that day, way back in March 1989, I met a true Satguru, a guide who has shone the light for the last 20 years of my life. Guruji, through his simple but direct transmission, has awakened me to a Universe of infinite possibilities inside, right at the core of my being.
On a more personal level Guruji has been many things for me, The obvious, the guru mirror and teacher, but more importantly, my eastern father. Guruji not only welcomed me into his yoga shala, but also welcomed me into his family, his personal life - for example making me an Honoree Brahmin for the day to attend his granddaughter's wedding.
Guruji taught by example and always referred to himself as a student of yoga and a householder. He asked me was I married, and then told me that after the Advanced Series I would marry. True enough, in 1993 Lucy Crawford blossomed into my life.
Guruji has embraced our marriage and children and always included India and Fynn, inviting them to attend his great grand children's birthday parties.
Lucy and I have hosted Guruji and family twice in London, where we have come together, one Brahmin family with one western family living together in harmony, in one house together, eating together, talking together, all culture and labels dropping away - just people together in relationship.
Guruji has taught me that yes, we have a cultural identity but if you focus deeper than the physical, journeying into the subtle, we are just one, one light.
In a theory class, Guruji looked Directly at me, and asked ,'John Scott, who is God / Brahman? What is God / Brahman? Where is God / Brahman?', and then looking directly into me, answered for me, the guru mirror, 'This is God / Brahman touching the wall, touching the floor, pointing to the class. I am God / Brahman, you are God / Brahman, you are ALL BRAHMAN!'
I feel blessed to have met Guruji, Sri K Pattabhi Jois; such a teacher, who has, in a very quiet and humble way, accepted me as me, giving me simple and clear directions, answering every question I asked, and showing me that to have questions is to wake up and to live.
Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shantih
Monday, May 3, 2010
72,000 asanas
I want to practice. This summer my plate has been full, mostly being busy keeping the kids busy during the school break. I have little time to do what I love most, yoga that is.
But as one teacher has said there are more than 72,000 asanas in all--yes, not just the seated/ standing poses, the inversions or all the other hatha poses we know--but every possible position of our life. So that's yoga off the mat for you, baby. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could move through life with such equanimity!
I have selective memory and retain the information I hear or read that I feel strongly about, is logical or that I oppose. During a lecture with John Scott, I distinctly remember that there are 3 dimesions to practice.
1) A physical practice has a shelf-life of benefits (SKPJ: "Asanas done incorrectly, disease coming!"). And that's why a 2) mental practice is needed, which will elevate into a 3) spiritual practice where we understand "being human".
Just more stuff from my "reporter's notebook". Om.
But as one teacher has said there are more than 72,000 asanas in all--yes, not just the seated/ standing poses, the inversions or all the other hatha poses we know--but every possible position of our life. So that's yoga off the mat for you, baby. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could move through life with such equanimity!
I have selective memory and retain the information I hear or read that I feel strongly about, is logical or that I oppose. During a lecture with John Scott, I distinctly remember that there are 3 dimesions to practice.
1) A physical practice has a shelf-life of benefits (SKPJ: "Asanas done incorrectly, disease coming!"). And that's why a 2) mental practice is needed, which will elevate into a 3) spiritual practice where we understand "being human".
Just more stuff from my "reporter's notebook". Om.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Play Doh practice
I have been puzzled by the plastic container of Play Doh at the corner of the room. It just stayed there, untouched, without changing position for the past few sessions until one night E announced before our led class that we would be practicing using ear plugs.
A little discomfited, I stood on my mat and watched curiously as my classmates went for the Play Doh container, nonchalantly began moulding small portions of clay and then carefully sealing their outer ears with the Play Doh. Oh, the many applications of Play Doh! It was plain to see that this was alien to me as E came over to explain that this was how they learned to tune in and focus on breathing while practicing yoga.
I was eager and willing and aspire to be a “connoisseur” of breath. As soon as my ears were covered it seemed like I had plunged into a pool: things sounded distant and muffled but my breath was crisp and clear. I was amused and fascinated at how audible my breathing was in my head and the calming effect it instantly had on me. Since we were also instructed to move as one, the whole exercise was also effective in teaching us to be patient and considerate of others.
Love, love, love how multi-faceted Mysore practices at the shala have been. The next meeting we practiced facing each other, some with their eyes closed. For me this was another exercise in cultivating patience, consideration, concentration and even humility.
Om.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
hOMe is where the heart is
hOMe is where I practise now. Edith's shala as Art fondly calls it. On the 4th floor of a ladies dormitory a few minutes away from my house.
This is where I have been re-learning Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga after a long hiatus. It's not anymore just knowing which asanas come next or when to engage the bandhas, nor how to get into the full pose but really remembering that it is the breath that moves the body and circularly breathing with no stops to reach that infinite, unlimited potential.
Also keeping in mind to come back to zero, to neutral to Samasthiti after each pose. Samasthiti is Sthira Sukha Asanam when you ask yourself if you have the equanimity to go to the next pose.
Remembering also to lead with the heart on the inhalation and on the exhalation lead with the head.
My Mysore practice last weekend was a completely new experience for me. For one, I got to practice the full primary series (full, counted vinyasa) with Becky. She and Edith were kind enough to assist and adjust me in my problem poses. I felt like a dork beside her--my timing was off, my breathing was off, still I enjoyed the practice so much because it opened my eyes to a more gentle and natural style of practicing Ashtanga Yoga, the way these two teachers learned it from John Scott who, in turn, learned it traditionally from Guruji himself.
hOMe is also a place which encourages meaningful discussion. I simply love how Edith always urges practitioners to quietly state their intentions after the opening mantra and before practice. For her, with each inhalation she comes closer to God-whether he/she is Yahweh, Allah or Buddha—and God comes to her with the exhalation.
So good to be hOMe!
Monday, March 15, 2010
On the mat
Coming back on the mat recently has truly been a blessing, and blissful. I re-connected with one teacher whose class I have joined only once before yet was so memorable. Tesa's power class at Pulse seemed serendipitous: she derived much of the poses from the Ashtanga yoga primary and second series and for me, this class was a perfect-fit for a yogini like me who is returning to the practice. "You see where it's coming from," she said nodding as I explained my "comeback". I love Tesa's class--with candles flickering, Jai Uttal softly playing in the background, and her gentle voice which changes tone and turns unrelenting if she feels you're not doing your best.
I also discovered a new teacher whom I feel I can work with long-term not only because the shala is located close to home but also because she is trained under John Scott and follows the led, full counted vinyasa series of the late, great Pattabhi Jois. True to John Scott-style, she had me doing a handstand after Utkatasana to prove to me and to everyone else that we have the potential within.
Om.
I also discovered a new teacher whom I feel I can work with long-term not only because the shala is located close to home but also because she is trained under John Scott and follows the led, full counted vinyasa series of the late, great Pattabhi Jois. True to John Scott-style, she had me doing a handstand after Utkatasana to prove to me and to everyone else that we have the potential within.
Om.
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