david's blog

There is some contention around the idea of “traditional” Ashtanga.

Traditionalists would be the teachers and practitioners that follow the practice as it is taught in Mysore, India. We practice 6 days a week, with rest days on Saturdays and the days of the full and new moon. Practice is done “Mysore-style,” in a group setting.

In Ashtanga, we sweat a lot. Following the vinyasa system, we jump back and forth between postures and between sides. That creates a lot of heat. And then there’s the internal heat that we create with our breath. By controlling the inhalation and exhalation while we practice, making them long and even, we fan our internal, metabolic fire.

Guruji said that when we create this internal heat with our practice, we “boil the blood.” When the blood boils it becomes thin, allowing it to circulate more freely around the joints and to cleanse our organs.

I’m sending this post from Mysore, India, on my annual pilgrimage to study with my teacher, Sharath Jois at KPJAYI. This is my eighth trip to Mysore in the last nine years. I love it here. I get to focus on just being a student, and my body gets the chance to recuperate from all of the teaching I do in Toronto. Sunshine every day doesn’t hurt, either.

In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, we practice a set series of postures. The poses are always done in a specific order. A student will practice up to the pose they have been given by their teacher. The teacher gives out the poses based on ability. Stopping at a particular pose isn’t a punitive decision by the teacher. It’s part of the technique of Ashtanga, and it allows our body to change and adapt safely to the rigours of the practice. However, this aspect of the practice can be a source of confusion and friction for some students, so I thought I would explain why we do it this way.

Each morning before beginning my practice, I recite the following chant. It begins:

vande gurunam caranaravinde
sandarsita svatma sukhava bodhe

I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus
The awakening happiness of one’s own Self revealed

Why do I open my practice with these lines?  The clue lies in the concept of the "guru", or teacher.

When I was nine years old, I saw Indiana Jones and decided I wanted to be an archaeologist. My foster brother, Tom, was always supportive of my career path and, much to my mother’s chagrin, he bought me a real whip, a hunting knife and a survival kit -- complete with a needle and thread for self-suturing, lest I injured myself saving ancient relics.

Ultimately, I discovered religious studies and became a yoga instructor. And while I don’t fight Nazi thieves to protect historical treasures, I suppose I am still interested in preserving tradition.