Tuesday 31 August 2021

The Ashtanga Rishi Series

I was asked about this series of posts from a few years ago. I've repaired the links.

A series of posts exploring the 'Ashtanga Rishi Series' mentioned at the end of Nancy Gilgoff's Article (see link below) and outlined in a reply by David Willams on his forum below ( the headings in block capitals are mine.


I'll be starting each of these posts with this same introduction/reminder of the context.

'Originally there were five series: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, Advanced B, and the fifth was the “rishi” series.
Nancy Gilgoff 'Yoga as it was'

Ashtanga Rishi Approach
'...Doing a practice of 10 postures for up to 50 breaths is a method of preparing for "advanced series" after one has learned 1st and 2nd. It can be done once or twice a week. One does the "salutations" and then starts going thru the series, holding each posture for as long as comfortably possible. Notice which postures could be held for 50 breaths. The next time you practice this way, the postures which you could hold for 50 are omitted and new ones are added at the end. One gradually works thru the series, dropping and adding asanas, still doing 10 asanas per session. I have gone all the way thru 1st and 2nd this way several times over the years and have found it beneficial.

Ashtanga Rishi Series
'Then, once one has mastered all of the asanas, one can practice "the rishi series", the most advanced practice. One does the 10 postures that one intuits will be the most beneficial and appropriate for that day, holding each posture for up to 50 comfortable breaths'.

Ashtanga Rishi Blog post series
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, first day Paschimottanasana to Janu sirsasana A
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, second day  Janu Sirsasana B to Navasana
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, third day Bhuja pindasana to badha konasana
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, fourth-day Upavishta konasana to Supta bandhasana
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, fifth day Pasasana to Kapotasana
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, sixth-day Supta vajrasana to Ardha Matsyendrasana
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, Seventh Day  Eka pada sirsasana to Tittibhasana C

Rishi series made from asana named after Rishi An alternative take on the Rishi series

See also Srivatsa Ramaswami's December 2012 newsletter for more on the Rishis


UPDATE: 25/03/16 It strikes me that there is a flaw to this project, while exploring the longer stays of fifty breaths in primary and intermediate asana I've tended to stick the regular current rate of breath, a couple of seconds inhalation and the same for exhalation. However, Krishnamacharya in his 1934 Mysore book Yoga Makaranda (and also Pattabhi Jois in several interviews) stressed the importance of long slow inhalations and exhalations, 10,15 even 20 seconds for each. Krishnamacharya also stressed the employment of Kumbhaka (retaining the breath in or out). Fifty breaths at 10 seconds each for inhalation and exhalation plus a 5-second kumbhaka equals 25 seconds per breath, that's twenty minutes for one asana., three hours and twenty minutes for 10 asanas practiced in this manner.

However Pattabhi Jois is quoted as saying "up to 50 breaths", so while we may well choose to stay in one asana for twenty minutes taking fifty long slow breaths we might also choose to stay for twenty-five slow breaths bringing the practice of 10 asanas well under two hours.

Monday 17 May 2021

The Krishnamacharya Standing Pranayama Photo


Krishnamacharya, standing pranayama ?





The Kapala Bhati while standing is the big surprise in today’s practice. The instructions have us bending our knees slightly and rounding the back with our hands on our thighs almost as if we were going to practice belly rolling Nauli.

That clearly not what’s happy in the Krishnamacharya photo. However, following on from the standing Kapala Bhati, Shribhashyam instructs us to stand in Samastithi and practice Ujjayi breathing. He also instructs B.K. 5s ( Bhaya Kumbhaka ) generally we close the nostrils with the hand in Migi Mudra for kumbhaka, is that perhaps what Krishnamacharya is showing us in the photo, his belly does seem to be drawn in as if he is perhaps practicing kumbhaka and none of his fingers are raised as we might expect with Nadi Sodhana?



*


This blog is intended as a practice companion to T. K. Sribhashyam's book Emergence of Yoga ( see link at end of page ). I'm offering some practice guidelines below but these are in no way intended as a substitute for the book itself which I consider one of the most interesting and valuable texts I've purchased on yoga.


May be available on Amazon but check the language.



Also available direct from T. K. Sribhashyam's school.
I heard the website says it doesn't ship to the US but if you contact them direct it might be able to be arranged for a little extra shipping cost.




Sunday 3 January 2021

1938 Bombay Chronicle article on T. Krishnamacharya's student, Mr.C. Mahadeva Bhatt's Yogasana demonstration








from Yoga Mala K.Pattabhi Jois.



The Bombay Chronicle (Sunday / Weekly Edition), 19 June 1938" copy

Yoga Physical Culture in Mysore




The Bombay Chronicle (Sunday / Weekly Edition), 19 June 1938" copy

Yoga Physical Culture in Mysore


Asanas and their curative qualities.


(By S. R. S.RAGHAVAN)


Yogic culture. Mr. Krishnamacharya is a master of the art and science of Yoga culture. preceding to the Himalayas in his 24th year, he learnt it in a profound manner at the feet of a great “Tapsvin,” Rama Mohan Brahmachari, a reputed authority on Yagasanas of which he is stated to know over 6000. he is also great Sanskrit scholar, having taken the title of Archarya in the Benares University in Vedanta, Tarka and Sahitya.


Mr.C. Mahadeva Bhatt, a disciple of of Mr. Krishnamacharya is now in Bombay propagating Yogicculture. He has studied under his master for six years and knows to perfection 200 Asanas. he gave a demonstration the other day atDadar in aid of the Anti-Tuberculosis Fund and won encomiums from such a reputed Physician as Dr. Mangaldas mehta who complimented Mr. Bhatt on his wonderful demonstrations of Yogasanas.


It is the ambition of Mr. Bhatt to spread the knowledge of Yogic culture throughout India. After staying for sometime in Bombay and giving expositions and demonstration, he will proceed on tour in Northern India. He will visit Hardwar and other holy places with the hope of coming into contact in those places with great Yogis and learning at their feet further knowledge and insight into the mysteries of the science and practice of yoga.


Asanas


Mr. as stated above knows more than 200 “Asanas”. I give brief description and their curative qualities:


1. Trikonasana: Bending body like a triangle. Sets right dislocation of bow in the joints.


2. Paschimothanasana: Kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead. Cures Diabetes and piles.


3.Baddhapadmasana: Sitting cross-legged in an erect position with hands folded back. Cure for liver and spleen enlargement.


4.Mayurasana: Shaping the body like a peacock. Increases digestive powers, will digest even poisons.


5. Sarvangasana: A pose where the entire body is exercised. Brings about rejuvenation.


6. Halasana: Shaping the body like a plough. Cures Asthma.


7. Seershasana: Balancing the body upside down. Increases mental powers. Conductive to longevity.


8. Mareechasana: Twisting the body side ways with the whole weight thrown on the waist. Reduces the size of the waist.


9. Upavitokasana: Stretching both the legs sideways and touching the ground with the tip of the nose. Cures appendicitis.


10.Navasana: Shaping the body like a boat. Cures all abdominal troubles.


His greatest demonstration is, in my opinion, his control of his pulse rate this will. in the Dadar demonstration a doctor counted his pulse rate, Mr. Bhatt was able to manipulate the beat rate, which varied between 40 and 180. he says that it is possible completely to stop the pulse beat fora minute: but that remains to be seen.