There are many dimensions and perspectives here in India, and accordingly, many that this first update can assume. Most outstanding and prevalent in my mind is the Iyengars' teachings. The classes are demanding and inspiring at the same time. Not always physical perspiration, but perspiration of the mind, the intelligence. Guruji is emphasizing this, encouraging an exploration of where the intelligence is and is not in various asana.
Geetaji's sequencing, brilliance, and depth of knowledge shine. She can burst us through many asana (72) as the journey unfolds, or just take one (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) of a smaller sequence and work it out over 45 minutes. The linking is solid. One class took shoulder work from Urdhva Mukha Svanasana to Parivrtta Parsvakonasana. Classes sequence, |
Brian in Prvrtta Trikonasana |
sequences are methodical, asanas purposeful, insights plentiful. Her pranayama classes are conducted with such adeptness... its as if we have plunked down in a great boat and she is navigating us upon an unknown river, yet there is a comfort and assurance in her voice that departs trust and enables us to go deeply in.
Prashantji demands that we detach from the "points" of the asana and look to the integration of body, breath, and mind. The body with the body, body with breath, body with mind, the breath with the breath, the breath with body, breath with mind, the mind with the mind, mind with breath, mind with body. His classes are unpredicatable, stimulating, and unconventionally consistent with the principles of yoga, each enticing us to integrate. His language is precise, playing on words, meanings. As he has said, he has never made the collossal blunder of saying now this "is" yoga, but says this is "leading" to yoga. He sometimes ends our 2 hour class packed with asana and teachings with an apology for not teaching us yoga :-)
During morning practice times, Guruji has often been teaching his granddaughter or a senior teacher. There is sometimes space to listen in, and then time to go inspect, experience, and sometimes learn, for yourself. The dialog and gesture between he and his granddaughter is heartwarming to witness. As I mentioned above, Guruji is has been emphasizing the balance of intelligence in the body in the full range of asana. He is a master at pointing out the obvious (only after he points it out!) in a simpler asana, and then threading it through a sequence that provides opportunity after opportunity to trace the intelligence, to balance the intelligence. His imagery and analogy in teaching is poetry. How deftly he has woven together the facets of our existence, the elements, nature (prakrti), the individualized soul (purusa)! How amazing is his ability and willingness to teach this! How inadequate and humble I feel.
peace to each and all,
practice... practice... practice,
Brian |
