Sunday, 26 February 2012
Gita calling ?
Bit Freaky, just stepped into the home shala for evening practice and found a
book, one book. lying on the floor. Wasn't there when I practiced this morning
and we've been at work all day. I must have just caught it as I was putting my
practice diary back on top of the shelf this morning, half knocked it out or
something and it then dropped out sometime during the day (keep going back to
the shelf and trying a reconstruction, weird very weird).
And of all the books on the shelf which one was it....?
Not that I'm superstitious or believe in signs or anything.... but a little
spooky all the same.... 'bout time I read it again anyway
Friday, 17 February 2012
Translation of the Forward to Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu
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| Yogasanagalu pdf |
Yogasanagalu
Foreword (Summary)
Yogasana exercise system has been practiced by Hindus for thousands of years. This practice is based on the scientific knowledge of the human anatomy and physiology. In recent years, people of Europe and America are also beginning to understand its benefits. In addition, the youth in these countries are incorporating yoga into their exercise regimen.
This yoga system does more than making the muscles strong and the body to become an efficient machine. However, far from this and much more spiritual, yogis discovered that this system can be used to stimulate the dormant kundalini. It is said that by elevating this secret kundalini, one can achieve god realization. That is, merging with the divine. Yoga means the same thing - union. Union with what? Paramatma or Almighty; hence rishis used to practice yogasana. However, that does not mean that the yoga sadhana is meant for rishis only. People can also obtain strong body and mind to help in their respective material world objectives.
The currently popular exercise regimens definitely make the muscles big and strong. However, they don’t pay attention to the spinal and abdominal muscles. Dr. V.G. Reel who is a master of western medicine and yoga has said “ by doing these yogasana practice, abdominal muscles get stronger”. Since we press and massage the inside of the abdomen, it helps to restore the abdominal organs and eliminates constipation. It also reduces blood pressure, helps remove fat and other byproducts and restores normal body function. In addition, yogis who practice yogasana along with pranayama also achieve long lives.
From this yogasana practice, digestive power will improve. While we are young, our daily routine/activities provide enough exercise for the internal organs to keep us healthy. However, during adult life, without sufficient exercise, abdominal muscles become loose, weak and fatty leading to diseases associated with gas and constipation. Yoga practitioners claim that yogasanas have the ability to eliminate and prevent many of these diseases.
By the practice of pranayama which is part of the yoga tradition, inhalation and exhalation from the lungs will become more controlled. The body will be supplied with essential oxygen while eliminating carbon dioxide and other impurities.
Yogasana practice provides great benefits not only to men, but also to women.
My humble request is that please don’t dismiss these claims without carefully practicing and testing on your own. For those who are interested, I recommend reading Dr. Reel’s book “Yogic Asanas”.
After realizing the great benefits of yogasana and pranayama, in order to provide an opportunity for both students and teachers to learn yogasanas under the supervision of expert practitioners and wishing that it provides them both physical and mental stimulation, we are opening an Yoga school under the auspices of Mysore University. I want to say one more thing here. No other form of body exercises provides the complete benefits that you get from yogasana practice. Because this practice not only refines a person’s physical body but also prepares one for a complete spiritual reawakening and expansion, which is the ultimate reward. Therefore, my humble request to all the youth is to start yoga practice and you will never regret this decision. These yoga classes opened at the university have already become popular. I’m already happy to hear from students who are benefiting from these classes.
T. Singaravelu Modaliyar
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu
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| Yogasanagalu pdf |
The Introduction (translation may be on it's way).
Notice that this is the fourth (expanded) edition and that it's written in the Kanada language which suggests Mysore. We also see above that it was published by Mysore university.
When was Yogasanagalu first published?
I'd always assumed that this was a later text and that there had been a shift in Krishnamacharya's teaching style from something more in keeping with Pattabhi Jois' Ashtanga to Ramaswami's Vinyasa Krama or Desikachar's Viniyoga. These scans of the Yogasanagalu had been sent to me while I was on Ramaswami's TT course and seemed to be exactly what I was learning from Ramaswami. How to square that with the Ashtanga style I had originally practiced, surely there had been a change of approach from when Krishnamcharya left the large group of kids at the Mysore palace to teach one-to-one in Chennai.
It appears that Yogasanagalu was actually first published in 1941, slap bang in the middle of Krishnamacharya's Mysore period, six years after his Yoga Makaranda and at the same time as he was teaching Indra Devi, Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois.
There was no early/ late Krishnamacharya, and his teaching now appears quite consistent throughout his life, no Kehre (turn), no softening of the practice with age.
Ashtanga doesn't represent Krishnamacharya's early style of teaching, it seems more a representation of how Krishnamacharya taught in a particular environment and in a particular set of circumstances i.e. the kids of the Mysore palace (and perhaps Pattabhi Jois' development or codification of that period as it seems he was asked to teach some of Krishnamacharya's classes). This would explain the 1938 movie, we see Iyengar doing an Ashtanga style demonstration (very out of keeping with the Iyengar yoga we're familiar with that he was developing in the 40's and 50's) and yet Krishnamacharya practicing in a more 'Vinyasa Krama' style.
*If anyone has a translation of the yogasanagalu or at least a summery I would love to see it, my email can be found in the ABOUT ME section of this blog.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Ashtanga Rishi Approach Eighth (last ) day
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| Krishnamacharya |
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.
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 beneficiall'.
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
Ashtanga Rishi Approach, Eighth day to seven headstands
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
See my proficient primary post where this project (a page at the top of the blog) is continued into a mudra like an approach to certain key asana
The Ashtanga Rishi approach, Eighth Day (2nd series).
Sury A x 3/ Sury B x3
Pincha mayurasana (25 Breaths) Alignment could be a lot better so found this challenging, I used to be a lot straighter in this posture, will need to work on that if I want to explore longer stays here.
Karandavasana (10 Breaths) An experiment, managed to lower and hold my lotus for 10 breaths before it slipped off, part of the problem was a lack of preparatory postures, lotus wasn't as tight as usual plus I've only just come back to including Karandavasana in my practice after three months on the Subroutine book.
Mayurasana (10 Breaths) Managed 10 breaths, considered going up again as with Navasana but thought a long stay here is too much strain on the wrists.
Vatayansana ( 25 Breaths on each side). First side with the foot flat second side on the toes. Flat seemed more stable but found it hard to stretch up into the posture, again lack of preparation. Next time I'll try this and Karandavasana after a couple of janu sirsasana's and half lotus postures. A reminder of the benefit of Vinyasa Krama subroutines.
Parighasana (25 Breaths on each side). Comfortable but am used to long stays here from Vinyasa Krama
Gomukhasana A + B (25 breaths in each and each side) Again comfortable, some slight circulation problems in B on the second side, this is a meditation posture so well suited to long stays.
Supta Urdhava pada Vajrasana A + B (25 breaths in each and each side). I was expecting circulation problems from the bind but it was quite comfortable. Again these are Vinyasa Krama postures so longer stays are familiar
Mukta hasta sirsasana A, B, C. (50 breaths in each) Seemed comfortable enough at the time although the arms began to ache afterward.
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana A, B, C, D (50 breaths in each) D was the only tricky one, just a case of maintaining focus, fifty breaths in all of these would certainly be possible. However, not perhaps recommended, I've been practicing long headstands in regular sirsasana for a number of years so have strong neck muscles (as well as arms and shoulders) yet longer headstands are best kept for the more supported variety.
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An interesting experiment that I plan on doing again next year and perhaps look at Advanced A and b postures after getting back into those series when the warmer weather comes on. Struck more than ever of the benefit of the Vinyasa krama subroutines. Being thrown into these postures cold makes them even more challenging, much better to build the subroutine around them, preparatory postures and variations.
To reiterate the plan. The idea is to run through the Primary and Second series with the Ashtanga breath, equal inhalation and exhalation, take a note of how long I'm staying in the asana, and then revisit the asana with the Vinyasa krama breathing. Here I'll reduce the number of breaths by lengthening the inhalation and especially the exhalation and employing breath retention where appropriate. So the same time in the pose but perhaps half or a quarter the number of breaths. This seems a more interesting approach to me than just staying in the asana for 25-50 breaths, if we're going to be in the posture that long it seems to make sense to explore the breath as fully as possible.
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Going to take a break from blogging for a while, perhaps quite a while. I'm tired, been practicing five years this month and blogging for four of them, time to go cave yogi for a while and focus on taking my practice and studies further.