Hey, somebody's gotta do it. Like many others, I have not been a big fan of led class, ever since I discovered "Mysore" style years ago. This is even though led classes are what "led" me to Ashtanga and India. But I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Guruji's led class last Friday.
I tried to get in last, as usual, in hopes of semi-hiding in the waiting room, but since there were two led classes that day, there was no escaping the availability of spaces in the main room. I love practicing in the main room, Mysore-style, but with led class, I usually feel like I stick out even more like a sore thumb. It reminds me of my first classes at the Puck Building in New York, during one of Guruji's tours, when he could spot me with my head up in paschimatanasana (and other poses) from a mile away. He would come over repeatedly, with his feet making the floorboards creak in advance to warn me, and then he would sit on me, leaving no wiggle room, and butt marks on my back.
I guess others had a similar feeling Friday, because even though all of the spaces in the very back and middle were taken, there was still a space or two in the very front row, nearest the master. Maybe Guruji has been behaving this way all along, in which case I apologize for not paying attention, but for an already very accomplished man of 91, he was unusually interested in what people were doing, and not doing. For the most part he sat in his chair on the stage, behaving like a symphony conductor, constantly waiving his hands to indicate every up, down or sideways, but also barking out interlocutory commands to people who were not in step. Occasionally he would leave the stage to enforce order and/or make adjustments to people.
I have to say that I was totally in awe that he could be, at 91, so passionate about something he has been teaching nearly every day for over 60 years.
The skeptics say, mistakenly I think, that the led classes, usually held on Sundays and Fridays, are designed to make things easier for Guruji and Sharath, because the total class time is less, and there are less adjustments. First, given the track record of these two, I would dispute the premise that they are trying to make things easier on themselves. They both have devoted their lives to Ashtanga yoga. Second, the stated reason for the led classes, which is to ensure that students are following the series, makes sense to me both in theory and practice. Especially when I have finished the poses I can do, and when I have few better things to do while waiting to join everybody else for finishing poses, I can see Guruji and Sharath watching everyone with eagle eyes, and making adjustments. I know that when I am practicing "Mysore-style," I deviate from the series all over the place, and it is not always intentional. But in led class, with not only teachers watching and easily seeing and correcting the sore thumbs sticking out, but also the practice of relatively advanced ashtangis always nearby, I seem to learn some new detail every time. I also am freed from those endless internal mental debates about how long I will hold certain poses, or whether I will skip certain vinyasas or even poses, or how fast or slow I will go. In led class, there is no debate! Just obedience, which as Thomas Merton said, can be liberating. At least if it frees the mind to concentrate on more important things, such as God, or our true universal selves. Which is not to say that I am always doing that in led class (ha!), but the option presents itself.
Okay, I admit I often still "hate" led class, and usually I prefer my own Mysore-style practice, like some people apparently go to Burger King to "have it your way." (Wow, what a ridiculous analogy.) But led class Friday was good, and so was yesterday (Sunday), so maybe I'm learning something.
You just made me "homesick" for led class with Guruji (if you can be homesick for something you've only done a handful of times). I was able to attend the tour in NYC this year. I think there is a LOT going on in how he leads the class...led class is the real deal!
Sigh...if only I could run away from my family and go to India...
Posted by: Yogamum | October 30, 2006 at 03:38 AM