The Manju Jois 'Bundle' arrived from Ashtanga.Com.
Took Six days from confirmation of order to delivery, USA to UK. Only regular first class post too, not express or anything special.
I've been thinking very seriously about taking Manju's workshop this year, thought I'd take a look at his kit. Only thing is, I'm so into my practice as it is at the moment with it's slow, slow breathing that I don't really have much inclination to do a straight Ashtanga anymore.
At least I didn't......
So very quick first thoughts, another fuller review to come.
BOOK - Ashtanga Yoga Training Manual Manju Jois and Greg Tebb ( this is was designed with Manju's TT's, Intensives and workshops in mind.
A little disappointed in the quality, bit cheaply produced it has to be said, although I like the layout (mostly, at times things get a little bunched up). Good to have a ring binder although it's not as strong as the one on David Swenson's book, get the feeling it would be falling apart towards the end of a workshop.
I was hoping for something a little special, a little different ( not sure what I was hoping for exactly) but it's just the pose and the instructions/count etc. which seems pretty standard. I mentioned I like the layout, pretty much a posture a page with a space for notes. I'm going to scan mine and then paste in Krishnamacharya's instructions for the same postures for comparison, should be interesting.
The nice touch is the quotes from Hathayogapradipka, Geranda Samhita, Yoga Rahasya etc.
One interesting thing to pick out, in the majority of postures we find, as in the page above for Janu Sirsasana
"Dasha diirgha rechaka puuraka" - 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
DVD - Ashtanga Yoga Workshop (*90 minutes)
*2 min for opening chant and 15 minutes in padmasana chanting rather than Savasana at the end of the practice so about 75 minutes for the actual primary series
This was a nice surprise. It has Manju Leading a class with the chant but get this, everybody repeats every word of the count including the names of all the postures, great way to learn and practice the count.
I'd heard Manju did this on his workshops, really looking forward to practicing along with it.
I mentioned that in the book we find...
"Dasha diirgha rechaka puuraka" - 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
I checked the video to see how long we get for those ten, long, inhalations and exhalations, about 25-30 seconds, give or take a second or two. Interestingly, Manju doesn't count the breaths ( leaving that up to you) I liked that, it means I can get three longish, half decent breaths in but somebody else might choose, five shorter ones...or ten pants.
Here are some comparisons to put it in perspective, all for when in Janu Sirsasana at dwe ( this is hardly fair though as the time varies slightly in the different postures, especially in the led classes of Manju and his father ( it's guess work in Led), for example Manju left them in the preceding posture for 30 seconds), the demo's are a different case. gives an idea though of the general pace of the practice.
David Robson - 40 seconds!
Richard Freeman - 29 seconds
Manju Jois - 25 seconds
Lino - 24 seconds
John Scott - 20 seconds
Kino - 20 seconds
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois - 20 seconds
David Swenson - 19 seconds
Sharath - 13 seconds
What me?
Grimmly - 90 seconds, but that's really only because of the 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
So the stay in the actual posture is generous but overall it's taken pretty fast and you have to go some to keep up, 75 minutes isn't long, the last fifteen minutes of the DVD's 90 Minute run time is taken up with chanting.
UPDATE: A comment came in from Sereaux on Dave Robson's Drum Beat Primary
"I've been practicing periodically to David Robson’s mp3 Ashtanga Yoga’s Primary Series to the Steady Beat of a Drum. It goes to a 4 second inhale and a 4 second exhale – so 5 breaths equates out to 40 seconds. Not quite 90, but nearly double the others. It has helped to keep me to recognize when and where I’m rushing – also helped me stay focused on the breath. I always tend to rush the inhale. All Sanskrit counting. Whole practice takes 109 minutes with opening chant, 3 Sury A, 3 Sury B, and only two paschimottanasana variations.
Sereaux"
Chant CD - Shanti mantras
Consists of the opening and closing chant and then the Shanti mantras, at slow and regular speed. Nice and clear, I could practice with these although I prefer Ramaswami's traditional way of teaching chants.
There's also a pdf with the chants and translations.
Was a little underwhelmed when I first opened the box but am getting quite excited now to getting stuck in and even more tempted by the thought of a his workshop.
UPDATE 7/5/2013
Coming back to this post three months later.
I mentioned in the post that I was quite wrapped up with my 'slow Ashtanga' practice based on Krishnamacharya's Yoga Makaranda at the time the Manju bundle arrived. Recently I've shifted back to a pretty standard Ashtanga practice in the mornings ( VK and pranayama practice in the evening slot) and that has a lot to with Manju's DVD. I like that Manju doesn't count through the actual asana on the DVD, this means I can get in three long slow breaths while in the posture, this works quite well. I can get through the whole series without sacrificing (my approach to) the breath too much. I've been practicing along with the DVD on my days off, Sanskrit count getting inside my head, enjoying it. Rest of the week I take it a little slower still but not by much, add in a few extra VK postures, alonger stay or two ( kind of weaving the Vinyasa krama and Yoga Makaranda influences into my ashtanga practice) but not too many to upset the balance. Wish Manju did a led 2nd Cd or DVD as I've moved back to 2nd series in the mornings.
I like it so much now, as well as the TT videos in the post above, (and I've always felt drawn to Manju's approach to the practice in general, as suggested by interviews and workshop reports) that I'm finalising the logistics for attending Manju's week long TT in Crete, in August this year (finally a workshop in our quiet time at work). Excited.
This is quite new for me as I've only really practiced at home, there was that workshop with Richard but that was a guided practice, here I'll be doing Mysore practice in a shala each morning, looking forward to it actually.
So I guess it's back to Primary in the mornings and a couple of led's a week with the DVD for the next couple of months to tidy up my practice.
Took Six days from confirmation of order to delivery, USA to UK. Only regular first class post too, not express or anything special.
I've been thinking very seriously about taking Manju's workshop this year, thought I'd take a look at his kit. Only thing is, I'm so into my practice as it is at the moment with it's slow, slow breathing that I don't really have much inclination to do a straight Ashtanga anymore.
At least I didn't......
So very quick first thoughts, another fuller review to come.
BOOK - Ashtanga Yoga Training Manual Manju Jois and Greg Tebb ( this is was designed with Manju's TT's, Intensives and workshops in mind.
A little disappointed in the quality, bit cheaply produced it has to be said, although I like the layout (mostly, at times things get a little bunched up). Good to have a ring binder although it's not as strong as the one on David Swenson's book, get the feeling it would be falling apart towards the end of a workshop.
I was hoping for something a little special, a little different ( not sure what I was hoping for exactly) but it's just the pose and the instructions/count etc. which seems pretty standard. I mentioned I like the layout, pretty much a posture a page with a space for notes. I'm going to scan mine and then paste in Krishnamacharya's instructions for the same postures for comparison, should be interesting.
The nice touch is the quotes from Hathayogapradipka, Geranda Samhita, Yoga Rahasya etc.
One interesting thing to pick out, in the majority of postures we find, as in the page above for Janu Sirsasana
"Dasha diirgha rechaka puuraka" - 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
DVD - Ashtanga Yoga Workshop (*90 minutes)
*2 min for opening chant and 15 minutes in padmasana chanting rather than Savasana at the end of the practice so about 75 minutes for the actual primary series
This was a nice surprise. It has Manju Leading a class with the chant but get this, everybody repeats every word of the count including the names of all the postures, great way to learn and practice the count.
I'd heard Manju did this on his workshops, really looking forward to practicing along with it.
I mentioned that in the book we find...
"Dasha diirgha rechaka puuraka" - 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
I checked the video to see how long we get for those ten, long, inhalations and exhalations, about 25-30 seconds, give or take a second or two. Interestingly, Manju doesn't count the breaths ( leaving that up to you) I liked that, it means I can get three longish, half decent breaths in but somebody else might choose, five shorter ones...or ten pants.
Here are some comparisons to put it in perspective, all for when in Janu Sirsasana at dwe ( this is hardly fair though as the time varies slightly in the different postures, especially in the led classes of Manju and his father ( it's guess work in Led), for example Manju left them in the preceding posture for 30 seconds), the demo's are a different case. gives an idea though of the general pace of the practice.
David Robson - 40 seconds!
Richard Freeman - 29 seconds
Manju Jois - 25 seconds
Lino - 24 seconds
John Scott - 20 seconds
Kino - 20 seconds
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois - 20 seconds
David Swenson - 19 seconds
Sharath - 13 seconds
What me?
Grimmly - 90 seconds, but that's really only because of the 10 long inhalations and exhalations.
So the stay in the actual posture is generous but overall it's taken pretty fast and you have to go some to keep up, 75 minutes isn't long, the last fifteen minutes of the DVD's 90 Minute run time is taken up with chanting.
UPDATE: A comment came in from Sereaux on Dave Robson's Drum Beat Primary
"I've been practicing periodically to David Robson’s mp3 Ashtanga Yoga’s Primary Series to the Steady Beat of a Drum. It goes to a 4 second inhale and a 4 second exhale – so 5 breaths equates out to 40 seconds. Not quite 90, but nearly double the others. It has helped to keep me to recognize when and where I’m rushing – also helped me stay focused on the breath. I always tend to rush the inhale. All Sanskrit counting. Whole practice takes 109 minutes with opening chant, 3 Sury A, 3 Sury B, and only two paschimottanasana variations.
Sereaux"
Chant CD - Shanti mantras
Consists of the opening and closing chant and then the Shanti mantras, at slow and regular speed. Nice and clear, I could practice with these although I prefer Ramaswami's traditional way of teaching chants.
There's also a pdf with the chants and translations.
Was a little underwhelmed when I first opened the box but am getting quite excited now to getting stuck in and even more tempted by the thought of a his workshop.
UPDATE 7/5/2013
Coming back to this post three months later.
I mentioned in the post that I was quite wrapped up with my 'slow Ashtanga' practice based on Krishnamacharya's Yoga Makaranda at the time the Manju bundle arrived. Recently I've shifted back to a pretty standard Ashtanga practice in the mornings ( VK and pranayama practice in the evening slot) and that has a lot to with Manju's DVD. I like that Manju doesn't count through the actual asana on the DVD, this means I can get in three long slow breaths while in the posture, this works quite well. I can get through the whole series without sacrificing (my approach to) the breath too much. I've been practicing along with the DVD on my days off, Sanskrit count getting inside my head, enjoying it. Rest of the week I take it a little slower still but not by much, add in a few extra VK postures, alonger stay or two ( kind of weaving the Vinyasa krama and Yoga Makaranda influences into my ashtanga practice) but not too many to upset the balance. Wish Manju did a led 2nd Cd or DVD as I've moved back to 2nd series in the mornings.
I like it so much now, as well as the TT videos in the post above, (and I've always felt drawn to Manju's approach to the practice in general, as suggested by interviews and workshop reports) that I'm finalising the logistics for attending Manju's week long TT in Crete, in August this year (finally a workshop in our quiet time at work). Excited.
This is quite new for me as I've only really practiced at home, there was that workshop with Richard but that was a guided practice, here I'll be doing Mysore practice in a shala each morning, looking forward to it actually.
So I guess it's back to Primary in the mornings and a couple of led's a week with the DVD for the next couple of months to tidy up my practice.
14 comments:
John Scott did the same "traditional" method of having us count and call out the postures in his workshop.
i remember 2010 January, Manju came to Crete for a TT in Roysospiti , a small uphill village out of the town of Rethymno. The last day he did a led class and he told us to count with him loud in Sanskrit like you saw in the DVD , wow!
It was really amazing as the practice itself become a long chant..total other vibration and tuning to the practice!
:)
Om shanti
John Scott too, good to know, wonder if he still does. I tried it when I spent a month practicing with Sharath's cd/DVD but he goes at such a pace it didn't really work out, this is much better its designed for it, little slower and space to th repeat.
Hi Sissy : ) hoped you'd catch this one.
of course my dear...:)
Ipad playing up.
Can imagine its something special to have a 90 minute chant through practice with a roomful. How did you find the breath Sissy, did it seem to regulate the breath more, slow it down or did it make breathing more difficult.
Assistant/demonstrator is Greg Tebb, not Tibs--a wonderful teacher in his own right. He plays the chants softly in background in shala, which helps make it a sacred space.
Enjoy. Take the workshop with Manju. .
Thanks Anon, have changed it, and yes, have heard good things about Gregg, a friend practices with him.
Hi Grimmly,
following Manju Jois, how long does the full primary takes ?
Sorry, can't believe i didn't add that, tends to be the first thing I look at, have added a note to the post
DVD = *90 minutes
*2 min for opening chant and 15 minutes in padmasana chanting rather than Savasana at the end of the practice so about 75 minutes for the actual primary series
I've been practicing periodically to David Robson’s mp3 Ashtanga Yoga’s Primary Series to the Steady Beat of a Drum. It goes to a 4 second inhale and a 4 second exhale – so 5 breaths equates out to 40 seconds. Not quite 90, but nearly double the others. It has helped to keep me to recognize when and where I’m rushing – also helped me stay focused on the breath. I always tend to rush the inhale. All Sanskrit counting. Whole practice takes 109 minutes with opening chant, 3 Sury A, 3 Sury B, and only two paschimottanasana variations.
Sereaux
Thank you for this Sereaux, I might add it in a note to the post below the others. My 90 seconds was an experiment and that was for ten breaths so five would be 45 seconds, not far off your drum beat. I tend to work around 8 seconds for most postures but less for the more intense postures, I can see an argument dor keeping it regular throughout including the vinyasas although I do like to slow the breath even further in certain postures. 109 minutes, yeah, that's more like it.
I'll look forward to hearing about Greece!
Getting close now, eight weeks, have been on straigh(ish) Primary for the last month or two, moon days, rest days the works, need to continue to tighten it up. Looking forward to it.
Dear Grimmly,
first at all I'd like to thank you for your blog.
One question regarding to Manju's DVD I have. What is the text/poem they are chanting in the end. Is there a translated version of this text?
Wish you a merry christmas
F
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