mysore ashtanga
mysore is the name of a large city in the south of india, and is where this particular method was established and popularized. the mysore method is a daily self practice. a teacher works one on one with students building slowly on a set sequence of postures. the focal points (called trishtana) are the framework upon which the practice is built. they are: breathing, gazing point, and posture. the practice is meant to transform from the inside out the mental and physical patterning of misperception and delusion which pervades our daily lives. when proper focus of attention is employed steadily and consistently on the three points of interest, the intellectual mind is temporarily suspended. as a result we’re confronted with things as they are. how we manage what arises is the practice of yoga. the shapes we make are physical tools that point us towards something beyond material.
the potential for healing is great when the priorities of practice are process rather than goal oriented, breathing rather than accumulation of technique or asana oriented, and when through dedication, discipline, and persistent self study we consciously move toward embodying our entire selves in more nurturing, accepting, and less judgmental ways. as a result of continued efforts and attention over time, the body/mind organism gains more stability, becoming lighter and more clear. however, these are merely concepts until realized through consistent practice.
led class
in led class the teacher guides students together through the set sequence of postures known as the primary series, called yoga chikitsa (yoga therapy). the three point focus remains the same: breathing, gazing, posture. led classes are an opportunity to move clearly and efficiently through transitions, leaving preferences and preconceptions to the side. not unlike entering a creative flow in an artistic medium, where the mind/body organism roots itself in experience and intuition rather than intellectual meanderings, led classes offer an opportunity to soften into a transformative timed (by the teachers count) timelessness. within a framework which may on it’s surface appear to be binding in nature, is there space to reorganize and reorient toward the unbound? toward freedom?
inquiries
timothy@atha-room.com
mysore ashtanga yoga in the east bay, california