How I was taught
I first started my Ashtanga journey with three amazing teachers two of whom owned the studio where I first started. It was in an old building on Johnson Street in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was a good sized room, place for about thirty or so mats.
Ashtanga teachers often travel back and forth to Mysore, India to hone their practice and teaching skills with the lineage holder. The two owners of the studio would often go together and leave the third teacher to hold the fort so to speak. And visa versa.
In the beginning I had no understanding of what was happening when the teachers would disappear for one to three months at a time. It was not something that I concerned myself with as this was all new to me. As I learned more about the Ashtanga practice and how seriously it is contemplated I developed a deep respect for what I was learning and how I was being taught. I felt as though I’m learning something more than just a bunch of asanas.
I was taught how to breathe and over time this became intuitive. In my opinion breathing correctly is the most important part of the practice. It allows the spirit to participate in the benefits of the physical requirements. If I can still my body and my mind at the same time that is my form of bliss and the breath is the glue.
Consider breathing quickly without control how do you feel. Agitated, rushed, impatient, occupied. Now consider breathing slowly, deeply, calmly how do you feel. I feel in control, relaxed, calm. If you are in an asana that requires strength or flexibility which method do you think allows efficient more effective completion.
And to be honest it does not happen immediately. I went through the quick shallow loud breaths when I first started. My experience was that I needed to build up the physical part before the breathing part became comfortable. That’s where patience comes in. I got to the point where the more I was in control of my breathing the more relaxed I was in the asana. And the more I was in control of the asana the more relaxed I was in my breathing. One needs the other to be successful.
I was extremely fortunate to be taught Pranayama by Jeff my first teacher. I was honoured to be taught this practice which I maintain to this day. In fact it has become more prominent in my daily practice.
My teachers; Jeff, Harmony, and Rachel always displayed deep respect for what they were taught and how they taught it. I appreciated that knowledge that was passed on to me and I feel comfortable with how it resonates. It has become intuitive, calming, and beneficial. I now know and appreciate something that is mine. It’s been passed on to me and I know what to do with it. It feels good to have learned a practice that has been passed down and I can trace it back to the source. I am truly thankful.
As most if not all Ashtanga Yoga practitioners are aware by now that the lineage holder of Ashtanga Yoga R. Sharath Jois passed away this past Monday. I never met him or had the opportunity to travel to India to study Ashtanga at its source. My teachers made many trips to study under his tutelage and I was a recipient of that knowledge. My teachers honoured his teachings by faithfully passing them onto me and to many many many others.
Parampara is a Sanskrit word that means an uninterrupted row or series, order, succession, continuation, mediation, or tradition. I am a part of that continuation and I’m very grateful and fortunate to have been taught a small sliver of his teachings.
Ahimsa
One response
What a beautiful tribute to your teachers. I had the wonderful experience of spending a month in Victoria years ago, being taught by Jeff, Harmony and the joy of my life, my daughter Rachel, and it was a very special experience for me. I feel the sadness of their loss with Sharaths sudden passing too, and especially due to their precious time with him and his family.
Be well David.