By Ann Lee
If you’ve been attending yoga classes for a while, you would be familiar with terms such as hatha, vinyasa, yin, iyengar or ashtanga. These are some class types commonly found in today’s yoga studios. Often, practitioners favour one or two styles over others.It could be the energy of a teacher, the adrenaline and feeling of having ‘worked out’, sense of achievement in a challenging class, the quiet relaxation at the end of a hectic day, and the list goes on. Whatever is your motivation to practise, as long as it’s a healthy reason, it is good.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Traditionally though, a yoga practice is more than just putting our bodies into specific shapes.
Sage Patanjali, for instance, advocates an eight-limbed approach involving personal and interpersonal conducts (yamas and niyamas), postures (asanas), breath or vital energy control (pranayama), meditation, etc… Interestingly though, only three out of his 195 sutras written at around 200-400 CE, relate to yoga postures.
In a much later text, the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Svatmarama included even more details such as kriyas or purification practices and mudras or vital energy locks, amongst others. An example of a kriya mentioned is neti which involves clearing the nasal passages using a thread or a much milder form of pouring water through one nostril and out from the other. Safe to say, ancient yogis would probably find today’s yoga classes quite perplexing.
Still, asana practice is a good place to start. We begin working with the physical body and when it is healthy, strong and supple, the more subtle aspects of yoga become more achievable.
My Personal Practice: Mysore Ashtanga
Mysore Ashtanga has been my primary asana practice for the last eight years. What started as an endeavour to become stronger and more flexible became an inward journey to self reflection and discovering who (or what) I am.
Like most people, I lead a hectic lifestyle balancing family, work and yoga. To me, yoga sustains life, just like how we need food, water and air to stay alive. That means I go onto the mat regularly wherever I am, however I feel, and whatever is my physical and mental condition.
Having a set sequence to work with means I don’t have to worry about following cues and can instead observe me – my breath, movements and thoughts. Some days I work a little harder to improve postures, other days I fight internal battles in my mind, and then there are days I move in quiet contemplation. No two days look or feel the same. I have found that when the going gets tough, it is best to focus on the basics, starting with the breath.
As one moves through different stages in life, the practice evolves. A practitioner in his or her youth might have a more asana-focused practice compared to someone in retirement. Contrary to some beliefs, Mysore Ashtanga can be modified to suit your unique physical and mental situation. It is not dead!
Whatever you choose as your yoga though, a good practice will reveal a lot about you and to you. The question is whether you’re willing to be present.
In less than a week, I will be heading home from the lovely Mysore in India. If you’re interested in exploring the Mysore Ashtanga programme, do get in touch. I look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces on the mat!
Love and light.
