Coming to Yoga and My Search for Discipline.

It's no secret. I have decided to run off and do some invigorating stuff while in India. One of my adventures will be a month long intensive 200+ hour study and RYT certification in Ashtanga Yoga with Samyak Yoga. I am excited for this and really have some wonderful expectations. In this blog post I decided to address some of the aspects I am looking to develop, well mostly, the idea of daily duty or discipline. I am reserving blogging about my future plans or intentions for a later date. I know some of the people that are reading this blog are interested in some of the details. Thanks again to those who read this and have interest.

Yoga and wellness is something that has now become completely diffused into the American daily cultural diet...it's something nearly everyone has heard of, if not participated in. Most average Americans now have access to yoga studios or classes in every moderately large city and metro. We have corporate brands like Corepower and fitness centers that offer multi- disciplinary yogas all of which are centered around a fitness and wellness platform. There is a mixed reaction in the yoga community and beyond about this idea. Some feel this fitness-yoga fad is detrimental to the original focus of a personal yoga practice. Most people are not aware of the scope of yogic practices. I personally find it truly amazing to have so many choices. America is blessed with it's abundance of options and education; it is from this access and abundance that I can choose my path of learning. I try to keep that in mind often.

In my daily web searches and diet of reading about yoga, meditation, and dance, I came across this interesting article. It is from Forbes Magazine circa 2012. The debate still holds weight and has an interesting perspective.

The Great Yoga Debate; Has Yoga Sold its Soul?

While I am not subject to any one and exclusive opinion on this topic I do find the debate an interesting one. I can find merit on both sides of this debate, and will hold my personal judgment for a time when I feel I am more indoctrinated into the yogic ideology and have more academic fortitude on the subject. I do agree that yoga as practiced in the West is highly physical and "Asana-centric". I think that is a well-established fact. However, with that said I am not quite sure that this new adapted form of yoga is "wrong" or "lesser"... perhaps it's just evolved to fit another audience.

In any event, yoga in the USA/West is very commercial as the article states, don't even ask my opinion on yoga gear, just don't. The commercialization is gross and of course I do find it all bit outrageous, but what in our modern society is not commercial or adapted for commercial gain? It is all of these factors that just propels me to seek a form of learning that helps me connect to a deeper understanding...and that is what leads me to where I am now and where I am going soon.

My first realization of this East/West division in yoga practice was through the conversations and reactions of many of my Indian friends and family to the idea that someone would go "do" yoga. The idea of yoga and its practice is very removed from what the average Indian person knows and from its historical and philosophical roots as a daily dutiful practice.

Funny story...when I told Appachan (Father-in law) that I was going to do a 200+ hour study in yoga and Ayurveda, he was flabbergasted. I think he may have thought I went crazy, there was a legitimate worry - at least for a few days for him. Because where he comes from in South India, yoga (at least at the level where you go off and study in an Ashram or Shala) is for very holy and religious Hindus. I would clumsily liken it to going off to study the Bible in a convent for a month. Not something the average person is inclined to do. It is only recently becoming a exercise or lifestyle fad in India, and that is designated to the very cosmopolitan cities. My husband had to explain as I have to many others... Here in the USA yoga is something you "do" physically. This is how we here utilize and understand yoga. I realize there are people both locally and in other cities in the USA that are trying for a more "authentic" focus, I respect that, but certainly the norm, and the profit-market resides in the physical-asana-posture related fitness yoga classes and practices.

I am often asked, by family, co-workers, and a smattering of others, about my interest in yogic studies. The truth is, I have a unusual path to yoga. I came to understanding yoga in a way that would seem to be atypical. Of course I had attended classes in my past, yoga in the park and what not, or incorporated asana into a cool down routine, but my real exploration of yoga in a realistic or non-western sense came from my intense study of dance, and specifically Bharatanatyam. I was led to yoga by some of my dance teachers. I was lead there to to find balance, discipline, and relief from physical strain or fatigue. My dance classes often left me the next day feeling fatigue in hip, knee, and joints. I found yoga, that is meditation, breathing, and physical postures relieved some of that stress and primed my mind and body for learning. The effect was immediately noticeable for me. So I dove further and have not stopped learning.

The discipline aspect of yoga is one I find very attractive. It may be why Ashtanga Yoga is the form I feel most attracted to. In Ashtanga Yoga the series set is never changing. I will not go into a heavy duty explanation of Ashtanga...I will let a Wiki link do that for me here.

But in short, Ashtanga is more of a discipline of ethics and responsibilities, some of which are related to physical movement, breath, and locking or muscular contractions (bandhas) -the whole of which are too much to really get into in this short forum. The Ashtanga primary set is one you repeat and perfect over repetition, time, and practice...and I utilize it as a form of physical meditation daily. One word defines this for me; discipline.



"So why go to India?" This is what my Mom asks often. Simply put, I am fortunate; I have connections and opportunity in India that make this endeavor more accessible. This is an expensive pursuit. There are cultural and language barriers that may be detriments for other yoga students. I am familiar with India; I have been there a few times for extended periods. I felt going to India for this coursework seemed like a great opportunity. I hope to make the most of it. I realize my fortune and don't let myself forget that.

My goal is to seek out more. It is my nature to do so. I am a carnivore of information sometimes. I continue to do my daily practice, I seek knowledge on not only the physical but the spiritual and ethical portions of this practice. I have done some very serious investigation into programs of certification. I chose a Yoga program that is highly regarded and RYS accredited. I feel I am seeking learning from people who are considered masters, and both recognized in the Indian and International yoga community. I am doing this for my self enhancement. If there is some kind of progression beyond this that develops I welcome it, but for now I am focused on learning and discipline. A good plan I think!

The debate of "doing it right" or the concept of authenticity in any subject from art, to dance, to writing, to yoga can be a heated debate. There are always those so dedicated to their craft they feel the need to protect it. I respect these people. I also respect change and evolution. I am a middle swimmer…whatever. It is an interesting and worthwhile debate. I appreciate the perspectives.

Namaste.
Christy