Guided By Voices

Is it just me, or do other supposedly sane people hear voices in their heads?  After all the talk about T. Krishnamacharya, Sri K Patthabi Jois, BKS Iyengar, and Sharath Rangaswamy, I'd like to mention that during every practice, I hear the voices of several not quite as famous teachers whom I have been lucky enough to encounter.   

Every morning I hear my first yoga teacher, the inspiring, life-changing Jolie Parcher, (who does not teach Ashtanga), saying "okay, you've found the posture, now find the ease."  That's when I really sink into a pose, rather than only struggle with it.  As soon as my first vinyasa, I hear my first Ashtanga teacher, Stan Woodman, telling me, "shoulders back, shoulders back."   When I jump and extend my legs, I often hear Lino saying, in his charming Italian accent, "your lefta leg -- it seemsa... dead."   In chataranga and upward dog, I always remember, with much gratitude, Lois Nesbitt advising me to "put the weight on your fingers and under your knuckles, not on your wrists."  As soon as I get to padangusthasana, I remember what Olaf once said: "Things get a lot better when you realize it's not necessary to pull your toes off during every practice."  Then there is Rolf, saying "hips down!" during surya namaskara b, and Marci telling me, in parsvottanasana, "straighten your leg, or you'll miss out on the stretch!"

Sometimes I even hear teachers debating.  In utthitatrikonasana, I hear Eddie Stern saying, with a mischievous laugh, "grab your toe!  grab your toe!  trikonasana is sanskrit for 'grab your toe'!""  Then I hear Jolie warning, out of well-placed concern for me and my ultra-beginner's status at the time, "I strongly urge you not to grab your toe."  Or if I am practicing at home, I nearly always hear a particular certified Ashtanga teacher saying, "why don't you use your sweatcloth as a strap?  [in poses where no amount of pulling or pushing on the part of a teacher will let me bind]  But please don't tell any teachers at the shala that I said that."

The Ashtanga asana practice is not always fun or easy, but each time when it's over for the day, I am filled with gratitude for all of the teachers who have helped me, or who at least have tried!

Some day, maybe in another life, I might stop hearing voices, improve my concentration on the breath, and sail through the poses without thinking.   But for now, I'm grateful for the advice.

Comments

[Julie]

Brilliant... I don't often say that about lawyers ;-)

[Farnooshyoga]

I just finished looking over the Ashtanga yoga series photos taken in Mysore and read this post. I have been obsessed with reading about ashtanga lately. I practice yoga as much as possible - and I just watched Ashtanga NY which inspired me to learn more about Mysore ... your blog is very much inline with what I was so looking for to read. Thank you!!!!
Farnoosh

[sonya]

I love you Russell.

[onlinespiele]

Super Beitrag, das wollte ich selbst schon mal schreiben, wusste nur nicht wie man dies niederschreiben kann ;-) !

[klicke]

Krass dass das tatsächlich wahr ist :-)

[CPA-network]

I come back to russell.blogs.com every single day!!
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