Sri.K. Pattabhi Jois on Power Yoga

"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 libiration in the mud of ignorant body building.

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


A link from here brought me here to this quote. Not sure if there's a way to fact check its accuracy (tons of spelling errors from the original website), but, as a power yoga teacher, its points are incredibly interesting. Makes me stop and check before plowing on ahead.

Some of my students might show up for the wrong reasons. I see my fair share of eating issues/disorders. Can yoga save them? I have no idea. Should I play therapist? Definitely not. But maybe it can help them, and I won't pretend I know enough to distinguish the difference. "Power" yoga (Bikram, to be precise) got me hooked. Eventually I deepened my practice way beyond the asana. I don't want to assume that just because I might have started (and sometimes still do practice) for EGO that it can't lead to brilliance. Readmore »»

Yoga Studio Decor: When life brings you a heat wave... sweat!

Here's a guest post from a blog-friend who I actually got to meet in real life (she's just as great in person). This post originally appeared on her website Yoga Studio Decor. 


Without further ado, the genuine and genuinely funny Kiesha Jean.


In Georgia for the summer I find myself coping with some unrelenting heat and humidity.  I admit to complaining daily but there are those good moments when heat and dehydration leave me delirious enough to embrace the air.  Then my thoughts shift to an internal dialogue that usually goes like this:

“This is fantastic weather for hot yoga, I’m gonna sweat it all out .

I pay good money for yoga in heated rooms and here’s my own free heated space.

… On a sweet front porch looking into the woods of north Georgia none the less.

This is fantastic!”

I rush on this wave of positive spirit.  I change my clothes, throw my hair up, put bug spray on (it’s outside Georgia, I’m sure I can not yet find peace while being eaten alive by mosquitoes), get my mat on the porch, bring out my laptop get an online class pulled up ….
and then ….

REALITY SETS IN
By this time I’m already soaked with sweat just by the act of moving outside. Now the internal dialogue sounds more like,

“Are you nuts?  What the hell are you doing?  You are gonna pass right out on this front porch?  Don’t you just wanna go take a cold shower and have some iced espresso?  Really, really … do you seriously want to do this?”

Having a face off staring blankly at the play button on my computer screen this is when warrior face pose begins.  I know because I can see it in the glassy reflection on the monitor caused when taking it into foreign territory (outside).   I capture the moment ‘face’, I take deep breaths and I give myself one very motivational quick powerful feminine warrior pep talk.

“You just found your first gray hair today and you turn 30 next month, Get Your Ass On The MAT … of course you want to do this.”

I want more then anything to be healthy and fit so I can do all the fun active activities I love for a lifetime.  There may have been some immediate vein personal threat with the word ‘bikini’ thrown in the pep talk as well :)
… So, 1 hour in the heat.  I survived and loved a full thirty minutes of it.   After ten years I’m still at a point in my practice where I just curse myself for the first half  wondering why in the world I’m doing such a thing.  However, the second thirty minutes are bliss and shavasana with meditation remind me why I do it every time.
note: Yes, that is me and my summer front porch above. Readmore »»

in & out of town

faulkner is galavanting up and down 

east coast doing yoga yoga yoga 
please note yogaclub's daily  schedule 

posted below

g man experiencing july

JULY's daily schedule!! 

1 F  new moon marriage
2 SA led primary with leslie g
3 SU sunday mysore bon voyage party erica@ dr. l ward's
4  M practice this monday 9-11am mysore- no evening class
5 T 
6 W level 1 led via Dr. L Ward
7 TH club open for  self practice 5-8pm
8 F
9 SA led primary with leslie g
10 SU club open for self practice 8:30-11am
11 M club open for self practice 5-8pm
12 T
13 W Level I class with Dr. L. Ward!!
14 TH club open for self practice 5-8pm
15 F
16 SA led primary with leslie g
17 SU club open for self practice 8:30-11 am
18 M  mysore 5-8pm FAULKNER IS BACK!
19 T
20 W level 1 reunion class= yoga & dinner after class
21 TH  mysore 5-8pm
22 F
23 SA led primary with leslie g POOL PARTY WEEKEND after class

maybe shannon will bring  that chocolate cake again!

24 SU mysore 8:30-11am POOL PARTY WEEKEND after class
25 M  mysore 5-8pm
26 T
27 W level 1
28 TH mysore 5-8pm
29 F
30 SA led primary with someone other than leslie g/ the neek?
31 SU club open for self practice 8:30-11am neek will be here. please come practice... faulkner has to attend a wedding on the jersy shore!!!  




BASIC CLASS SCHEDULE
Sunday
Mysore 8:30-11AM

come any time, adjustmentsbegin 9:15AM

Monday&Thursday 
Mysore 5-8 PM
come any time, adjustments begin 6

Wednesday 
Level 1 5:45-7:15 PM

arrive on time, led class

Saturday 
Led Primary 9-10:30 AM
arrive on time, led class

class is by donation: 

please leave money,checks, IOUs and/or food in the bowl next to turquoise couch

AUGUST = FAULKNER WILL BE IN TOWN AND ON DUTY

DAVID GARRIGUES 

RETURNS TO YOGACLUB

¡LOOK NEW DATES!

SEPTEMBER 22-SEPTEMBER 26 

sign-up will begin mid august

new to ashtanga? new to Durham? visiting?
e-mail ashtangayogaclubdurham@gmail.com 
call or text suzanne 919-475-9579
checkout our youtube channel see link below:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ashtangayogadurham#p/u

red markers = NOT YOGA

PARKING EDUCATION SECTION OF THE BLOG




Park on left hand side behind yogaclub or along brick porch on left side of driveway as snug into the wall as possible, or on the street. 

DO NOT park on right hand side marked with red markers 

Thanks! Our neighbors are the best. If you have any questions about where just ask when you arrive.

                         THANK YOU!!!!

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