AshtangaNews

DVD cover

AshtangaProductions released a DVD of R. Sharath Rangaswamy practicing the Ashtanga Primary Series in March 2006 (you can buy it here online). [Also, dont' miss Philippe's interview with Dominic, the DVD's producer. -Ed.]

Sharath is described on the cover as “the foremost teacher of Ashtanga yoga today” and “the grandson of the founder of Ashtanga yoga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois”.

The production value of this film is very high – it was shot at Eddie Stern’s New York Shala, in a simple yet soothing space. The editing by Dominic Corigliano is flawless, with multiple cameras displayed only when necessary and smooth transitions between postures. The menu to navigate to a particular posture is intuitive and highly practical. Sharath did the voice over, counting vinyasas and calling out asanas.

Sample menu screen

However, the real value of this DVD lies in the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the most advanced Ashtanga Yoga practitioner in the world practicing the Primary Series. I have practiced the Primary Series probably more than a thousand times, and have seen others, from beginners to 20-year senior teachers practice it countless times. And yet Sharath’s practice had a quality to it that I had not seen before.

It took me a while to pin this down and express in in words. Needless to say, outwardly Sharath’s practice feels weightless, as if gravity was an afterthought. But I had seen this before – John Scott‘s DVD comes to mind, embodied in the slow-motion jumpbacks. Was it the complete control of the bandhas (internal locks)? Lino Miele‘s video is also a masterful aspect of this. Perhaps the way in which very difficult asanas seem totally effortless? David Swenson‘s Advanced Series DVD is a perfect example.

Finally it came to me – the sense of presence. Even after having done this practice a few thousand times, and repeating asanas which for him must be child’s play, it feels as if Sharath is completely present in the moment, as if he is practicing for the first time. He is fully aware without being self-aware.

More remarkably, this awareness is constant from asana to asana, from the simplest to the most challenging. There is no trace of self-consciousness in Sharath’s practice, no ego, no analyzing rational mind. There is only the practice. Surely, this is the essence of yoga, something we are all aspiring to.

Baddha Konasana

There are a few welcome and intimate glimpses that Sharath is also human – his fiddling with his shorts, or readjusting his hand grip after rolling up from Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana, or even grabbing his feet after lifting them in Upavistha Konasana (instead of floating the feet up while still holding onto them).

Catching details like these is oddly reassuring.

[Dominic kindly shared some additional insight on the making of the DVD with us, too. -Ed.]

Hanuman outside AYRI

Russell, an Ashtangi who’s been living and practicing in Mysore since January 2004, writes an informative blog, mysore musings where he talks not only about his practice at AYRI and living in Mysore, but also about setting up a law business there.

The blog is well written and a joy to follow. Many Ashtangis write about their struggle with setbacks in their practice. Russell gives a refreshing perspective on that:

A few months from now, my practice might fall apart again, requiring me to start over. So what? Would I complain because after a CD is finished playing, and I put it in later to listen to it again, it is the same music?

Recently, Russell opened an office of his law firm in the United States in Mysore. I really like this post (more like an article, really, dated February 5, 2006) which describes the process in great detail. Russell has found a way to help some people in Mysore, without hurting his colleagues in the U.S. Russell writes:

On the subject of this new Mysore company, I’m realizing that at least there is service that can be done. For one thing, rather than splitting up families, we’re reuniting them…

We’ll also be helping to raise the local wage rates and standard of living, as we hire away people from other companies who don’t pay as well… Although some locals have told us we are crazy to do the following, we are also going to be giving employees shares in the company. Not a radical concept in the West these days, but here it seems unheard of.

Russell has also posted a LOT of photos – of AYRI, Mysore and his home there. Just a few of his photos follow.

Thank you, Russell!

Mukta Hasta Sirsasana B, AYRI

After Sirsasana at AYRI

Good Morning!
Students wait outside AYRI