Mid-Week Yoga Training Reflections..

So, I started this journey to learn Ashtanga Yoga to develop my own daily yoga practice and to apply the discipline learned through this practice to my dance training, and ultimately my life. I wanted to develop not only muscular conditioning in my aging body, but to develop my mind as well. I was searching for things I believed were not inside me. I was looking to acquire characteristics I thought were outside me.

Discipline.
Duty to self.
Duty to dance/tradition.
Surrender of ego.
Bhakti or engagement with God.


What I am discovering is these elements already live within me. I just need to learn how to engage them.

Today is turning out to be a very special day. It is day 10 out of 30. In day ten I learned how large the universal consciousness is and how small but important I am in it. I learned that being hyper-flexive is not a curse - it just can provide for alignment challenges. Today I learned that I CAN do Tryanga Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana (I couldn't when I started the course). I above all learned that secret journey of learning any yoga, whether it is dance, art, or cooking..etc...is to release that ego and to focus on the task. Focus devoid of glory or self adoration, focus truly to its employment, engaged fully in the pursuit of that endeavor regardless of what end it brings to you. This is the full definition of what

Discipline is
Duty is
Surrender is
Bhakti is

A good day...

Namaste,
Christy

Yoga training week two!

Finally another post! Sorry guys, I am not able to document as much as I wish to as the course has me very busy from sunrise to sunset. I have homework daily, and really must relax my muscles in between our vigorous asana (pose) trainings/practice.

I have now completed week one of the Samyak Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training. It is very vigorous. We rise early and must meet at the yoga shala at 6:25am. The Samyak shala is about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Once we arrive we do morning opening chants, then immediately start our warm-up and entire primary series practice. The practice is in its entirety and we do all the vinyasas in between. The series takes about 2 hours to complete. That is two hours of solid yoga; asana and vinyasa. Like I mentioned, it is vigorous. We break for breakfast after morning practice, then return for a few hours of intense yoga sutra theory, pranayama study, kriya study, and the exploration of ethical yoga practice. We cover in depth all eight limbs, not just asana, alignment, and corrections. Eventually, we will also have anatomy study and prenatal yogic training. On top of all that we must learn each asana in detail and the proper corrections, we also must practice learning to teach, so everyday in groups of five we take turns leading the primary series, breathing, and vinyasas. We finish each day with an intensive vinyasa flow practice, again 2 hours, then chant Kirtans.  That is easily over 4 hours of physical yoga 6 days a week.

This course is hard. Many of the students in this course are very seasoned Ashtangis. I am impressed and moved by their passion to teach. I am learning all I can to improve my own daily practice. Ashtanga is hard, I personally think it is the hardest form out of all the yoga derivations.  It requires a dicipline and the daily asana practice can be quite challenging, especially the sitting series. I am hanging in there, working super hard, and growing stronger and more flexible every day.  We all sweat buckets in class. I have not honestly sweat this much continuously in my life. I am now getting quite comfortable wearing wet spandex, and I am getting used to the smell of my own and others perspiration. It's a fucking badge. I worked hard for that stink!!


Sorry guys at home, don't have more to post yet. I am working hard, studying, making new muscles and new friends. Each day so far has been a gift in fitness, discipline, and release of ego. I will have more contemplation after the course, and of course time to digest. Thanks for reading and stay warm back home.

Namaste,
Christy

Back Online and in Yoga Training.

Saloni Aunty and I after receiving Durga Ma's blessings

I have been away for quite a bit. I traveled to Delhi for my buddy Nishant's wedding. I spent two days in Rohtek, then to Delhi for the actual wedding. Lots of food dancing, dols, bhangra....so so much to tell. I will share in another posts in a few days. Still also waiting on the amazing photos!

Bade Mandir, Temple of Guruji Majaraj

When in Delhi, I went to the Chattarpur Mandir and the Bade Temple. I received personal blessings at both temples ... at Chattarpur I received a Chunni (veil) and received Durga Mata's blessing, and at the Bade Temple I received a special honor of offering Guruji his evening prasadam. Both of these things were great honors, and very auspicious for my Yoga training. 

Chattarpur Mandir

Chattarpur Mandir

I arrived in Kovalam three days ago. I had my Samyak Yoga puja and initiation. I met all the students. They are yogis/yoginis from around the world. (France, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Australia, India) A great talented group, lots of passion for the yoga and already in the 2nd day I can see great teachers emerging.



Yoga training is hard....straight up. This is not a walk in the park. I am on my second day and I am sore. We work hard in our yoga sessions. The practice is very quick and I am new to Ashtanga, and I feel like I am thrown in a blender at high speed. We spend at least two hours in nonstop Ashtanga Yoga, Suriya Namaskara, and primary series poses every morning. Intense practice. I am getting very fit. We have theory for a few hours, hands on training in corrections and deep analysis of each asana (pose). We study chakras and pranayama (deep,connected breathing practice).  And we must lead the class and teach the poses. This is so far an amazing experience. I am learning to push hard, but to also release that ego, listen to my body and be involved in my practice. I am sore, tired and must study every night.

So sorry for the short post. I will catch up soon and write more about some of the hilarity and adventure I have had over the last few days, but now I have to prep for tomorrows class, do some meditation, eat a snickers (my treat) and then crash on the bed and get up and do all this again tomorrow at 6:25am.

Namaste,
Christy