Did you see that

I just read Yogalands: In Search of Practice on the Mat and in the World by Paul Bramadat. Paul and I, not knowing each other, both started Ashtanga yoga in 2013 at the same shala owned and operated by Jeff Lichty and Harmony Slater, here in Victoria. He started in community classes on weekends and I started in beginner classes on weekday late afternoons. At some point we both ended up at morning Mysore classes.

We both started for similar reasons him trying to to resolve his knee issues and me trying to lose weight with a pre-diabetic diagnosis. A fallout due to Multiple Sclerosis.

When the owners of the shala sold and moved away Paul and I both followed Rachel to her new shala (Rachel was the one whom taught when Jeff and Harmony were not there. She took the opportunity to start her own shala). These years were my most informed and influential. I learned how to assist and adjust fellow students during that time. Paul was one of those students whom I occasionally assisted and helped. I learned more about yoga in those few years than all my other years combined.

Paul is an academic, professor, teacher, director of religious studies at the University of Victoria and I am a layman, non educated person whom worked his way through life with unknown and then found abilities.

Paul excels in unexpected communication and soars in situations where conversations are expected such as get togethers, parties, panel discussions, etc. I cower and struggle to mingle and converse with small talk and unexpected interactions. He shines in those situations I hide and watch.

Growing up I had a huge chip on my shoulder about teachers and authority figures – I did not like them. Then one day I quit high school at 16 years old shortly after the following interaction:

I was skipping class with four friends and we went behind “the hill” which was a large mound beside a baseball field on the school property. Someone had some hash so he rolled up a spliff and we all got stoned. As we lay on the hill contemplating life – ha. Someone saw that the Vice-Principle of student services was walking towards us. Holy shit we all split up and took off in different directions. I was the only one to get caught.

About ten minutes later I’m in his office stoned out of my mind and he drills me for about ten minutes trying to make me tell him who was with me. I would not tell him which made him angry and as he tried more I began to smile (remember I’m stoned) which infuriated him. He shouts at me “get out of my office”. As I’m going out the door my back is to him, I feel an open handed smack on the side and back of my head.

I go flying into the secretaries desk slide across the top of it and fall off the end and on to the floor. He was a very big man. As I’m getting up there are six more kids waiting in chairs to see him next, and all I see are scared shitless faces. Inside I’m laughing because one of those faces was a known bully and for those few seconds I enjoyed the look on his face. But non of those faces were with me on that hill.

I quit school shortly thereafter.

So Paul (a teacher) before I even met him had two strikes against him.

As an educator he deals with facts and does what he can to question no matter what side you’re on – he has no side. His goal, as I see it, is to force you to think or maybe even provoke. It’s what a good teacher should do.

I however pick a side and defend it till the end.

Paul is in his mid fifties and I’m about to turn seventy(*&.@#!). We are basically opposites but we have three things in common. We both shuddered at the thought of going up those stairs to get to class. We both started yoga as skeptics (he is a professional skeptic). We both have arrived at the same realization – a genuine love for the practice.

I enjoyed Paul’s book especially a story about a class he took in New York. I laughed so hard because I know Paul and I was in the room (home shala) when he accomplished what the story is about. And I knew he was proud of it. I would be too but yoga humbles and teaches you about life.

But more substantively, in his book, I learned a bunch of stuff I did not know. His book is a serious look at the state of yoga across the mat and across the world. I think it’s an important read.

So when I found out several weeks ago that his book was coming out I sent him an email to congratulate him. I had known he’d been working on it for a long time. We emailed back and forth and he said he was teaching at the shala so I showed up for one of his led classes.

For health reasons I have been mostly home-practicing for three years and some asanas I can no longer bind. Marichyasana C for instance – Paul helped me bind in that asana for the first time in a very long time.

Over the years Paul alleviated my dislike for academics / teachers which is quite a feat. And his book is an excellent discourse on what needs further discussion and understanding. I read it and learned that I also need to be educated and to open my mind.

Good on ya man – book and assist.

Ahimsa