Wednesday, September 7, 2011

What in the Hell?!

This is another question I have been frequently asking since day one of my Yoga practice.
What in the hell are you doing?
What in the hell are you saying?
What in the Hell was I thinking getting involved with you people?!


Well heres What Ashtanga is (According to Me):


Ashtanga is a long standing tradition of movements and meditations that help the body integrate all its many parts.Yes, i mean body, mind, soul, but also foot and arm, kidney and heart, liver and spleen, all the parts start working together and health is usually one of the results. once you have a healthy body, the healthy mind and soul follow... at least thats what they tell me...

Im not really a copy and paste kind of girl, but I kind of appreciated the simplicity of this explanation I found on Ashtanga.com:

"Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind."

Just as a side note, this 'internal heat and profuse sweating' thing is NO JOKE. I might just dedicate all of next weeks posts to complaining about this part of my practice....

My favorite part about Ashtanga is the tradition is follows. Each teacher had a teacher who had a teacher. There are pictures of my teacher's teacher and his teacher all over the yoga studio. Before we start our practice we pray in Sanskrit that our teachers will join us (or something like that... ITS SANSKRIT!) When i pray alone and cant remember the prayer, I just make up my own... and there, I DEFINITELY ask the teachers of my teachers to come and teach me... kinda weird? Yeah, i know.

Here is the link to a sample video for you:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AshtangaWorld#p/u/41/E3Q0oGdXyWQ

This isnt my yoga shala, but this is pretty much exactly what it looks like... ;) Just a coincidence that its also in Hawaii...

Shalohaaaaaaaa.....

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