Last weekend in Buffalo, NY...

This photo is from the led class that I taught last weekend at East Meets West Yoga Studio.  EMW offers a daily Mysore program in a lovely space with a vibrant community.  If you are in the area, be sure to stop by.  More photos here.

{Local} Led Primary Series

Led primary series of Ashtanga yoga

Sunday, December 9, 2012

8:15am, arrive early

@Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala

206 Dartmouth Dr NE (Nob Hill)

More info & registration:
www.AshtangaYogaAlbuquerque.com

{Video} Guruji talks about the opening mantra

Happiness and true knowledge. Shri K. Pattabhi Jois discussing the opening mantra via Tom Sewell.

{Video} Hypertension and yoga from Urban Yogis

ABOUT:  Can yoga lower blood pressure? Researchers at Long Island University are at work on this question, which could significantly affect the ways we approach cardiovascular disease and treatment.* Yoga instructors Eddie Stern and Blake Seidenshaw have teamed up with physical therapy professor Marshall Hagins to conduct a study on the effects of yoga on patients with hypertension. The participants note their own perceived results and the benefits of the practice, but will the science back them up?  

URBAN YOGIS is a unique documentary series featuring stories on the transformative power of yoga and meditation. Beautifully shot, inspiring, and heartfelt - the series delves into the lives of cancer survivors, inner-city youth dealing with violence in their communities, recovering addicts, artists, youth in detention facilities, and more. Comedian Russell Brand, Grammy-nominated musician Moby, "yogi" businessman Russell Simmons, and author/doctor Deepak Chopra also share their stories and insights. Renowned yoga teacher Eddie Stern serves as our host and guide to the stories of these urban yogis.

Click here to watch more Urban Yogis videos from the Chopra Well at youtube.

{Local} Beginner Month

Monday, November 26 - Friday, December 21
TIME: 8:00 - 9:00 am
DAYS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
(Can add Friday or Sunday for missed classes)

More information and registration

2013 Sharath & Saraswathi US Tour

US Tour 2013
Greenwich, CT April 1-5, 7-12 
Led primary, intermediate, pranayama
More information & registration

Charlottesville, Virginia April 5
Led Primary
More information & registration

New York, NY April 13
Led primary
More information & registration (scroll down)

Encinitas, CA April 19-24, 26-30
Led primary, intermediate, pranayama
More information & registration




Watch more videos from last year's tour

{Listen} NPR: Struggle for Smarts?

Americans tend to see struggle as a sign of low ability. Asian cultures see it as an opportunity...

Listen to the full segment here:



Or click here to listen/read at NPR:

{Archive} The Yoga Portfolio

The May 2007 Vanity Fair photo essay featuring Shri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji).

High quality image at Govinda Kai's flickr page here
Article at Vanity Fair here

{Local} ABQ Shala Fall Schedule 2012

CLASS SCHEDULE

Sunday
6:30am door opens
8:15 - 9:45am Mysore with Elise
(8:15am Led Primary Series with Elise replaces Mysore on 11/25, 12/9, 12/23, 1/6, 1/13, 1/20)
10am door closes

Monday - Thursday
6am door opens
6:30 - 9:45am Mysore with Elise
10am door closes

Friday
6am door opens
6:30 - 8:45am Mysore with Elise
9:00 am door closes 

Closed Saturdays and full/new moon days.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Thu, Nov 22 Thanksgiving
6:30am door opens
7 - 8:45am Mysore with Elise
9am door closes

Fri, Nov 23
6:30am door opens
8am day after Thanksgiving Led Primary Series with Elise

Sun, Nov 25
6:30am door opens
8:15am Led Primary Series with Elise

More information:  www.AshtangaYogaAlbuquerque.com
Frequently asked questions:  http://aylibrary.blogspot.com/2012/04/ashtanga-yoga-mysore-faqs.html

Guy Donahaye ABQ - Bibliography

Source: Guy in ABQ, AAYS

Resources and references mentioned during Guy Donahaye's weekend workshop at the Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala October 19-21, 2012

 

 

GENERAL

Guy's Shala in NY:  Ashtanga Yoga Shala NYC
A good place to practice and a website full of valuable information.

http://aysnyc.org/

Guy's blog "Mind Medicine:  Ashtanga Yoga Darshana"
http://yogamindmedicine.blogspot.com/ 

Guy's book "GURUJI: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students"
http://bit.ly/RhagPj

Book extracts:
http://bit.ly/QCpfmU

Interviews:
http://bit.ly/OXgeGN 

DAY 1:  Fundamentals of Practice

Reading list at Guy's website:
http://ow.ly/eGhEQ

What is Yoga?

http://bit.ly/WEqaZ6

What is Ashtanga Yoga?

http://bit.ly/RRM7O0

Pranayama and mulabandha

http://bit.ly/TtDdvI  

Breathing

http://bit.ly/VwropM

Practice guidelines
http://bit.ly/RlVPLC

DAY 2:   Mind Medicine I

Ashtanga Yoga Mantram and translation
http://bit.ly/RlVIj3

Yoga Sutras & Hatha Yoga Pradipika

http://aylibrary.blogspot.com/p/resources.html

Why right leg first in padmasana

http://bit.ly/PGSi6L

Diet and lifestyle

http://bit.ly/UtMljY

What is the Self?

http://bit.ly/WEsUWk

Daily practice

http://bit.ly/MYrf3H

Ego, vrttis, householders

http://bit.ly/RQIJTS

Ayurveda, doshas, recipes, and many more resources
http://www.ayurveda.com/online_resource/index.html  

Ashtanga yoga history and lineage
http://bit.ly/Rapfc0

DAY 3: Mind Medicine II

3 gunas, Yoga Sutras, and more

http://bit.ly/UtOlsh

When to and not to practice

http://bit.ly/RL6UkY

Pain
http://bit.ly/MrZN4R

First you do asanas

http://bit.ly/TbI4j7

Mind control

http://bit.ly/PmoilT 

Guruji teaching

http://bit.ly/X3WQcU

Mad attention

http://bit.ly/PN4gkt

Nadis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_%28yoga%29

Check back soon for more updates...

A letter from Sri.K. Pattabhi Jois to Yoga Journal, Nov. 1995

"I was disappointed to find that so many novice students have taken Ashtanga yoga and have turned it into a circus for their own fame and profit (Power Yoga, Jan/Feb 1995). The title 'Power Yoga' itself degrades the depth, purpose and method of the yoga system that I received from my guru, Sri. T. Krishnamacharya. Power is the property of God. It is not something to be collected for one's ego. Partial yoga methods out of line with their internal purpose can build up the 'six enemies' (desire, anger, greed, illusion, infatuation and envy) around the heart. The full ashtanga system practiced with devotion leads to freedom within one's heart. The Yoga Sutra II.28 confirms this 'Yogaanganusthanat asuddiksaye jnanadiptih avivekakhyateh', which means 'practicing all the aspects of yoga destroys the impurities so that the light of knowledge and discrimination shines'. It is unfortunate that students who have not yet matured in their own practice have changed the method and have cut out the essence of an ancient lineage to accommodate their own limitations.

The Ashtanga yoga system should never be confused with 'power yoga' or any whimsical creation which goes against the tradition of the many types of yoga shastras (scriptures). It would be a shame to lose the precious jewel of liberation in the mud of ignorant body building."


-K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore, South India

Shala Chanting Audio Resources

YOUTUBE

Videos above uploaded by Astanga Yoga Copenhagen
More chanting with Lakshmish Bhat here.

MP3

Dr. M. A. Jayashree

David Miliotis

Teaching Ashtanga Yoga, Parampara, Authorization & Certification

From the K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) Mysore, India:

Parampara is knowledge that is passed in succession from teacher to student. It is a Sanskrit word that denotes the principle of transmitting knowledge in its most valuable form; knowledge based on direct and practical experience. It is the basis of any lineage: the teacher and student form the links in the chain of instruction that has been passed down for thousands of years. In order for yoga instruction to be effective, true and complete, it should come from within parampara. 

Knowledge can be transferred only after the student has spent many years with an experienced guru, a teacher to whom he has completely surrendered in body, mind, speech and inner being. Only then is he fit to receive knowledge. This transfer from teacher to student is parampara.

The dharma, or duty, of the student is to practice diligently and to strive to understand the teachings of the guru. The perfection of knowledge – and of yoga — lies beyond simply mastering the practice; knowledge grows from the mutual love and respect between student and teacher, a relationship that can only be cultivated over time.

The teacher’s dharma is to teach yoga exactly as he learned it from his guru. The teaching should be presented with a good heart, with good purpose and with noble intentions. There should be an absence of harmful motivations. The teacher should not mislead the student in any way or veer from what he has been taught.

The bonding of teacher and student is a tradition reaching back many thousands of years in India, and is the foundation of a rich, spiritual heritage. The teacher can make his students steady – he can make them firm where they waver. He is like a father or mother who corrects each step in his student’s spiritual practice.

The yoga tradition exists in many ancient lineages, but today some are trying to create new ones, renouncing or altering their guru’s teachings in favor of new ways. Surrendering to parampara, however, is like entering a river of teachings that has been flowing for thousands of years, a river that age-old masters have followed into an ocean of knowledge. Even so, not all rivers reach the ocean, so one should be mindful that the tradition he or she follows is true and selfless.

Many attempt to scale the peaks in the Himalayas, but not all succeed. Through courage and surrender, however, one can scale the peaks of knowledge by the grace of the guru, who is the holder of knowledge, and who works tirelessly for his students.

Concerning authorization and certification:

The Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute is dedicated to the education of yoga practitioners. Practitioners should come with the sole purpose of studying the tradition from its source. Students traveling to Mysore should not come with the expectation of obtaining Authorized or Certified status.

The list on this website constitutes the official record of teachers approved by the KPJAYI, which is the only authority able to authorize or certify individuals to teach the ashtanga yoga method as taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath. There are no teacher training programs approved by this Institute under any name (e.g., Ashtanga Teacher Intensive); teachers that are listed on this website are experienced practitioners and dedicated students who have shown a considerable degree of proficiency and appreciation of ashtanga yoga in its traditional form and who continue to study regularly at the KPJAYI.

Teachers are required to teach the method as it is taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath at the KPJAYI in Mysore, India. They should maintain a yoga room or shala to allow for daily, preferably morning, Mysore-style practice and should honor Saturdays and the full/new moon days as rest days.

The Mexico Scrapbook

From the 1st Annual Ashtanga Yoga Adventure Retreat with Krista Shirley and Elise Espat...

Our arrival by panga

Our Palapas at Xinalani

Delicious food

Epic jungle hike...

to waterfalls

Morning Mysore

Snorkeling

 Refreshments in Yelapa

Beach day

Exploring the area

Baby turtles hatched on our beach

Afternoon lecture

Jungle Fever

Mysore practice in the Jungle

A magical week!

Video: Guruji from Enlighten Up!

In this clip from the film Enlighten Up! Guruji discusses the importance of practice.  It is through continuous application of theory that we gain practical experience of yoga.