AshtangaNews Ashtanga Yoga Matters (as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois)

We’re happy to present these photos of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois’ new shala in Islamorada, Florida courtesy of Erin and Govinda Kai (via Flickr).

Now you can find it. Sign to the Shala from Govinda Kai

Acres of free parking in Islamorada from ElkesMom

Clear signage from Govinda Kai

This is the entrance - from ElkesMom

The backyard - ElkesMom

Closeup of Nataraj - Govinda Kai

You’ll be in here someday, the waiting room - ElkesMom

All our best to Guruji. - Govinda Kai

All our good wishes to Guruji.

Thank you to Erin and Govinda Kai for sharing photos with us.

(Choose either link above to see more photos of Islamorada.)

If you have photos or thoughts about your visit to Islamorada, let us know with the Comments section or by emailing info(at) asthanganews (dot)com.

For those of you who can’t get enough photos of Ashtanga, check out Flickr Leech, where you can browse literally hundreds of photos on Flickr tagged with the word Ashtanga (or any word, actually).

This is just a small sample of what comes up on the first page (of 12 total pages) of Ashtanga photos (sorted by Interestingness). As of right this minute, Flickr has 4,214 photos described with the word, Ashtanga.

Is your photo here?

Thanks to Flickr Leech (via Lifehacker).

Yoga is the path of purification and transformation. This means, that we can expect to go through many different changes physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the course of our practice.

The Wheel of Life

Generally, any kind of transitional movement in our practice goes from the grosser aspects of our selves to the subtler. What this means is that we are apt to go through more physical changes initially and, over time, we will experience more subtle changes to our mental and emotional states.

Yoga is a process in which we are attempting to awaken and bring forth the more essential parts of our selves. By using the word, “essential”, I mean those parts of our selves that are transcendent and do not change over time.

The further we move away from what is natural or essential in our selves, the more “extra” elements we carry around with in our lives. We eat more than we need to, own more possessions than is needed, talk more than is necessary and so on. It is not so much the fact that

Fierce Devotion

we live with these extra elements, it is the attachment and identification we form with these things that is so harmful and causes such suffering. The stronger the attachment and identification with these extra elements, the more we are apt to forget our essential selves. Having an awareness of the essential aspects of selves is, in many ways, the essence of what Yoga practice is all about.

So, when we embark upon the path of Yoga, we begin to practice and live our lives in such a way as to begin to let go of these “extras”.

What you can expect initially is that your body will begin to go through some very strong and often dramatic changes, especially in the first six months of intense and dedicated daily Ashtanga yoga practice. You will begin to develop what is known as “tapas” or heat in your practice, in your body. This will result in profuse sweating (of course in some more than others). For some, very strong odors will emit from the body. Many people experience changes to their skin. Their skin will break out in acne, rashes and such. In more extreme cases, some people develop very large boils.

Eyes of the Truth

Other mild to stronger symptoms of purification will begin to appear for most practitioners. It is very common to see the increased occurrence of colds and flu and fevers, as well as, headaches, drowsiness and light-headedness. It is important to honor and respect these kinds of changes, as they can be quite deep in one’s system. I recommend that you take extra time to rest and be quiet. You can also be mindful of your tendency towards “busyness” and begin to reduce the general number of activities in your day.

Naturally, because the asana practice is so rigorous, you can expect strong changes to your physique and overall health of your body. You will get significantly stronger in a very integrated and well-balanced fashion. In particular the “core” strength of your body will improve. The “core” refers to the area of the lower trunk and pelvic regions. Strength in these areas has been shown to dramatically increase the function of balance, smoothness of motion and speed of reflexes. It is common knowledge that athletic performance can be improved significantly through the development of one’s core strength. Flexibility of all areas of your body should increase dramatically.

Govinda Kai in Samakonasana, October 2006

One area of improvement that is often overlooked is the increased functionality of the gastro-intestinal system. The frequency of forward bends in asana practice very powerfully cleans out and reconditions our digestive organs. Most people in our modern culture and society, because of unhealthy diets and stress, have some degree of bowel or digestive dysfunction. Constipation and excess gas are the norm for most people. One report stated that many people carry up to 20-30 kilos of undigested feces in their bodies at any one time! A well functioning gastro-intestinal system is vital to the optimal functioning of our immune system and hormonal balances. Overall mental and physical health is dramatically affected by the state of our digestive systems.

A Fine Balance

Thus, one of the areas of focus as we dive deeper into our practices, is the greater and greater level of mindfulness and care of what, when and how we put food into our bodies. I will speak more elaborately on this topic at some other time.

Now, as you begin to become healthier and more in tune physically, you will begin to become sensitive and aware of subtler aspects of your self. For example, you will begin to notice that your senses will generally begin to increase in acute sensitivity. Your sense of smell and sight and hearing will be sharper and clearer. You will feel temperature and pressure changes in different parts of your body in a way that you never have before. Many people report an increased sensitivity and depth to their sense of taste. What was once flavorful before will begin to taste overly salty, bitter, savory or sweet. You will find yourself beginning to crave foods that have subtler or even plain flavors.

Guruji in Laxmipuram, July 2002

The process of purification will begin to affect you mentally, emotionally and psychically as well. Usually chronic imbalances in one’s system generally become more acute before any deep healing takes place. You will find that your thoughts and your emotions will become more intense and frenetic at times causing periods of great discomfort. Bad moods and bouts of edginess and impatience are common during this time. Although it may seem like you are going crazy at times, this part of the process is important and necessary, so don’t worry about it too much. It is also common to experience intense dreams and very colorful fantasies.

The result of this kind of mental, emotional and psychic purification is that you will find you are becoming far more sensitive and alert to your own state of mind, as well as, the state and energy of the people and environments around you. Many people report an increased occurrence of psychic types of experiences (i.e., reading other people’s minds, anticipating unrelated events, as well as, an increased occurrence of synchronicity). In short, you will become more sensitive to the “energy” of people and places and things. You will become more sensitive to those aspects of our reality that remains hidden or unseen to most normal people. In the long run, this will not seem so unusual to you. What is strange is how most of us can be so blind and unaware of basic aspects of our existence for so long.

Again, as you go through this process, be sure to give as much respect and honor to the subtle and not so subtle changes that are taking place. This path of Yoga, this path of purification is very, very powerful. You are awakening great stores of energy, vitality and power within yourself that you perhaps never knew you had. Anytime, you awaken or come into contact with these kinds of energies, it is important to realize that with greater power, comes greater responsibility. By its nature, the purpose of this power is not intended simply for the gratification of your own selfish desires. In fact, to do so is foolish and dangerous in many different respects. Reflect deeply and mindfully about this process and take great care.

Govinda Kai

Hari OM!

Govinda Kai

[Thank you, Govinda, for sharing some of your philosophy on Ashtanga yoga. And, thank you, for sharing so many of your wonderful, high-quality Ashtanga photos with the community via Flickr. These photos are from Govinda's set titled, My Personal Favorites. All the captions on these photos are Govinda's.

Readers, please share some of the changes you've experienced because of your Ashtanga practice in the Comments! -Ed.]

I just got hold of a copy of the new Morning Mysore calendar to review. Antonia, Dave and Wendy, Ashtangis at Yoga is Youthfulness, emphasized taking photos of real yogis practicing Ashtanga yoga in Morning Mysore as opposed to picture-perfect Yoga Journal-type “models”.

UPDATE 12/22/06: All 110 Calendars are sold out - thanks!

I am amazed at the quality of the production - the calendar could have been made by professionals, you cannot tell the difference. With the use of modern printing technology, the talent behind the photos and the care taken to produce it, this calendar is truly superb.

Apart from the quality of the photos, each picture has a caption taken from the students’ answers to the question, “What does this practice mean to you?“. These quotes are inspiring, an important and unique feature in a calendar! Here’s a sample:

What’s amazing to me is that as I enter the studio I instantly feel surrounded by this caring energy. I barely know my fellow yogis at the studio and yet feel that I do know them, and they know me. They understand my struggles on the mat, share the humor in it, know why I’m here. They are my friends.

August 2007 - SSR in parsvottasana

From what I hear, as of today more than 100 calendars have already been pre-ordered.

Go to Divine Eye Productions to get a copy (you’ll also be able to see all the months in more detail there).

We are taking preorders only for this calendar. Deadlines for ordering are 11/17/06 Friday noon and 12/1/06 Friday noon. The price is $25 with shipping ($20 if you live near Mountain View, California).

The cover of the calendar - a class in full swing

The first step of the project was to take lots of photos of students practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa in the Mysore-Style classes at Yoga is Youthfulness in Mountain View, California. The best 500 (!) were published in an online photo gallery. Back in August I wrote a post about the calendar/photo project , which included many photos from the project.

The second step was to choose the best 12, and produce a real life calendar.

The back cover and overview of all the photos

What a great gift for Ashtangis everywhere! Thank you Antonia, Dave and Wendy.

Mae and Govinda

In mid-September, Govinda Kai and Mae Yoshikawa taught at Yoga Fest Tokyo 2006.

Govinda - who it appears has been very busy - sent us a quick note about it.

Photos were from the 4th annual Tokyo Yoga Fest held in September of each year. This year was September 17-19. The conference is growing in stature with students coming to the event from all over Japan. The event is held at the Akasaka Prince hotel in Tokyo and uses the entire conference room building (6 floors of conference space). The largest classes hold over 250 students. A joyful event!

Mae’s class

You could follow Philippe’s lead and use the Wayback Machine to calculate how much Ashtanga has grown in Japan.

Instead, I’ll be happy just seeing Govinda’s photos of all these enthusiastic Ashtangis in Japan. Govinda published two photo sets on Flickr form Yoga Fest Tokyo 2006:

• Govinda and Mae, Yoga Fest, Tokyo, Japan September 2006, and
• Mae’s Yoga Fest Class, September 2006.

Basia Lipska also taught at the event.

Thank you, Govinda!

Upward Dog, Mae & Govinda’s Class

Grateful Student with Govinda

Happy Ashtangis waiting for instruction

Astanga Yoga School Copenhagen has published a handful of photos from Guruji’s World Tour 2006 in Copenhagen. Here are just a few:

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois & Family Arrive in Copenhagen

…starts the same everywhere…

Ashtangis in Copenhagen

Welcome Instruction

Thank you, Astanga Yoga School of Copenhagen, for sharing these photos.

Ashtanga.com has published some good portraits of Guruji, Saraswati and Sharath at the World Tour in Helsinki, Finland by photographer, Heli Sorjonen.

Here’s another feast for the eyes, photos from (and of) my friend, Beata Skrzypacz, taken during her recent trip to India this year. The photographer was Tom Rosenthal.

Beata is from Poland and now works as a yoga teacher and designer in Palo Alto, California. She practices regularly at Yoga is Youthfulness, our local Ashtanga yoga studio.

Here’s what Tom has to say about the photos:

The photos that Beata and I did together resonate with the depth that comes from a deep meditative yoga practice. At the time the photos were taken, in the winter of 2006, we were both practicing daily in Mysore with Sharath Rangaswamy and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Practicing at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute is inspiring.

India is a spiritual place. It is easy to find examples of devotion and gratitude among people who have little material wealth. This encourages me to go beyond personal liberation to a mindset of wanting to help others. We were involved in a program to teach yoga as a therapy in rehabilitation of abused children. I would like my photos to inspire others to find yoga compelling and to give it a try for themselves. Yoga has the power to transform a person. It can create a great healing energy which often results in better health, calmness, and a sense of peace. It has the ability to make life better. Yoga makes the world better, one practice at a time.

My photos of Beata had the context of being taken in transformational spaces, whether in the palace
where Krishnamacharya had his shala, a 5,000 year old Shiva temple, or a street location bustling with the energy of daily life. Beata embodies in her being and in her yoga practice, the true beauty and grace that has enabled yoga to survive for over 5,000 years.

Padmasana

Kapotasana

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

Tom in Padmasana

Hanumanasana

Garudasana

An exciting project is under way at our studio, Yoga is Youthfulness, this summer: two students - Antonia and Dave - have been taking hundreds of photos during our Mysore classes, and they are all up (almost 450!) on our studio website.

The purposes of this project are:

• To create a calendar for our community (and whoever else is interested in buying it).
• To have a snapshot of “real” yogis. Most yoga photos you can find these days are of advanced practitioners in near perfect postures.
• To have a raw record of the look and feel of a Mysore-Style class.

We invite all of you to take a look at the photos and vote for the ones you like best. The photographers are very talented.

I’ll keep you updated when I know more about the calendar.

In the meantime, here is a selection of my favorites.

Bakasana

Bhekasana

Prasarita Padottanasana C

Marichyasana B

Baddha Konasana

Antonia (the photographer) and Karna Pindasana

Dave (the photgrapher) in Garbha Pindasana

As noted in the first of what’s turning into a series on beautiful Ashtanga photos taken at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago, Illinois, we’re highlighting Bindifry’s Flickr stream.

I especially like her Ashtanga set and India 2005 - 2006 set.

This practice favors neither sex. - Bindifry

Hey! Is that Bindify, aka Lisa Hill, with Lino Miele at our local yoga studio, Yoga is Youthfulness in Mountain View, California?

Bindifry with Lino Miele at YiY

Philippe, have you met this person who has commented thoughtfully on your post about starting a Mysore-style Ashtanga program?

In Bindifry’s comment on her Ashtanga set, she explains Ashtanga, and includes this important bit:

PLEASE do NOT attempt these postures without proper supervision.

Bhekasana

This studio looks so nice.

Along with:

Do your practice and all is coming.

- Sri K. Pattabhis Jois

Bindifry has a blog about her travels called Adventures in India. Her entry related to this photo:

…afterwards we decided to hire an omni bus and go to wagha border-the border of pakistan and india-to watch the border guards do their competetive good natured dance. this is done daily at sunrise and sunset. the scene is very much like a high school pep ralley. the guards open the border gates and they do a marching kick dance that is reminiscent of john cleese’s “silly walk” from monty python. this was the most fun i have ever had in india and i went back to my hotel unable to wipe the smile off my face.

At the Wagha border

February 2004

Thank you, Bindifry (aka Lisa Hill)! And best wishes on your travels.

being sarcastic, silly, & obnoxious. taken at the southern star hotel pool in mysore, karnataka, south india

Eh?

At first, I was shocked at the juxtaposition between my traditional thoughts on Ashtanga yoga and Basia Lipska’s photo sets on Flickr. [Basia removed the photos sets from Flickr. Basia's new Flickr account has a variety of different, but still interesting photos. Basia's website is also active. -Ed.]

Then, I thought: “Wait just a minute…one of the main reasons you like Ashtanga is that it opens you…physically and mentally, and helps you better experience the moment, as it is.” So, why so closed-minded?

Basia’s photos do that. “WAKE UP!”, they say. And get out of your head, your shala, your neighborhood and your preconceptions.

These photos are hot, they’re a mental freak out and they look neat.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section!

Basia is sweating in these pictures; she’s not just a model: she’s an Ashtangi.

Go to Basia’s photo sets and play “Basia’s What’s That Posture?” with your friends!

Basia Lipska is an Ashtangi, authorized to teach by Sri K. Pattabhis Jois, and can usually be found in Tokyo, Japan at Ashtanga Yoga Japan or the International Yoga Centre.

Originally from Poland, Basia is also a scholar, a photographer and, well, a model, plus based on my emails with her, a totally nice person.

What’s that posture? And who made that belt?

Find out about more Basia’s many endeavors on her website, Sacred by Design.

from the Knots exhibit

The Yoga Knots photos shown here were part of a photography exhibit in Montreal, Canada in August 2006.

The shock of shallowness I immediately perceived of these fashiony, Vogue-like photos contrasts Basia’s thoughtful essay on the meaning of Yoga Knots:

Prologue: Yoga Knots
(by Basia Lipska)
For the past 6 years, I literally tie myself into knots over the idea of eventually attaining enlightenment. Before sunrise, when it is still pitch black outside, I tangle my body into the form of a knot. I stand barefooted, clothed sparingly on top of a rubber thin mat placed directly onto the floor. I breathe loudly and with determination I squeeze myself into a knot-like assemblage of the body. The same knot is formed on both sides of the body. Once there, I remain for a minimum of five very deep long breaths.

Knots

They are special breaths called Ujjayi, meaning ‘extended victory.’ In other words, I’m to stretch my breath, make it ‘victorious,’ controlling the value and length of each inhale and exhale while staring at a point on the ceiling with calm albeit alert eyes. The goal is to stay in this knot effortlessly, assuming a comfortable stance, prepared to linger like this eternally with an empty mind and lack of emotion.

After five breaths, I detach myself from the posture, untangle myself loose by resuming the prescribed breath counts and movements. If for any reason a thought would suddenly arise and cause a disturbance to my monotonous breathing, part of my body would immediately tense into an involuntary knot of tension - an inner calamity would ensue. Hence, my focus must remain intact as I watch from a distance the thoughts that appear and disappear while my entire body relaxes into the yogic knot I’ve constructed.

Simple lines

Though the intent is consistent every morning, the feel of the body wrapped into this knot has a spectrum of sensations ranging from heaviness, pain, discomfort to a lightness and ease. Everyday I wonder which it‘ll be and attempt to decipher the reasons behind the particular sensations of the morning practice. I analyze the activities of the prior day as to locate what could have triggered the ‘dis’ ease or the lack of agility in entering the same knot, at the same time, at the same place, with the same technique, with the same body…though perhaps not with the same mind?

Knots, illustrated

The noose posture, Pasasana in Sanskrit, is the term by which this particular asana is referred to in the yoga circles around the world, specifically the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga System. If you happen to be adept enough to be practicing the Intermediate Series, or Nadi Shodana (nerve purification), of this yogic system, then the noose posture appears after having completed the first 26 standing postures, and then is followed by 57 other postures. This sequence is performed five times a week within a span of 90 minutes.

And so, I knot myself up in the mornings whether alone or surrounded by up to 50 other fellow practitioners. At other times I demonstrate it to a few beginners or up to 100 viewers. I teach it, explain its constituents and assist others in exploring it as to attain its powerful benefits. For some it is a great challenge and requires time and effort through heat, repetition and perhaps a string of grunts. The access to the posture lies not in the physique but in attaining the key to untangle the corresponding knot of the mind. This is the art of yoga.

A closeup of a teacher

But why intentionally ravel myself up into a state of immobility only to untangle myself? Perhaps to relive the experience of freedom and its negation, repeatedly? Or have it proven to me that anything is possible – knots can be dealt with. That I can be taught to be my own surgeon or “doctor of the jungle,” as is recited in the mantra I repeat before commencing practice. It is a path that I trudge upon every morning, as do others worldwide.

To me, it is a symbolic study of the dialectics of knots. I train to do and undo; to like what I dislike; to be detached from the things I love; to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations - In essence, to resolve opposition. I tackle entering unlikely and challenging situations as to be adept at undoing myself into a state of emancipation. This daily repetitive action is a practice of observation, a study of the weaving of opposites as to produce a tapestry showing the way to transcend the dualistic nature of life.

After many years of practice, this tapestry of knots is my personal map of an art of opposites. Yoga became a lifestyle for me, an art of living. And I, the artist creating my existence, painting my destiny onto the tabula rasa provided – the yoga practice mat.”

Unknotted

Thank you, Basia! The best way to reach Basia is via her website, Sacred by Design (under construction as of August 2006).