Saturday, March 6, 2010

Day 21: Three Weeks Gone.

The flexibility in my hand is not quite back but close, the swelling is minimal, and maybe just a dull ache. All major improvements from 21 days ago. Twenty one days of running the gambit. Initially impetuously halting practice, then tentatively and humbly returning to a modified practice, frustration with not healing faster, and today another return to contentment.

Intuitively I think I'm starting to understand what D has expressed to me on multiple occasions about not mucking about "with all those different types of yoga." Just doing one. Allowing the nuance and intelligence to appear. To some extent, I don't think I was/am allowing that to happen. Sporadically making my way to AYC in fits and spurts - collapsing in sheer exhaustion the day after a class at UnityWoods.

What was I really becoming so hell-bent on getting to?
All in the name of what? Really?

Just as life is really not all about the Benjamins, sometimes I need to remind myself that this is not all about the poses.


Consistency and quality over quantity any day.
The poses are merely markers.

I can begin to see why teachers within any of Krishnamacharya's students' methods tend to ask their students for fidelity. There is a system. Systems are put in place for a reason. The reason only becomes apparent when you actually immerse yourself within that discipline - and usually things happen faster. Work at something with a disciplined approach and shifts will occur.

Go off and play. But return with fervor, perspective, and respect.

Looking at the major branches of asana practice (on face) derived from Krishnamacharya, his students, the fathers of these branches were probably taught in a way specific to their respective strengths and weaknesses. The mark of a brilliant teacher.


Balance needs to be found and the systems should be self regulating - naturally coming to an equilibrium.
That's a lesson learned on the first day of HS chemistry and is still applicable.

3 comments:

ShepQ said...

Regarding playing with other methods but staying faithful to a single instructor or system: I couldn't have said it better.

Allison said...

Out of curiosity, was it an Iyengar yogi or an Ashtangi that told you to stay away from other systems?

I don't know, I'm not sure I agree about having to stick to one style. I think it depends on the attitude. I think its true that you can distract yourself by constantly searching for the perfect style/class/teacher. You never settle, so you never really get to the deep understanding part. But, I think that you can also get stuck or complacent in the same practice. Sometimes you need your perspective changed. And sometimes, you might find that one style feeds one aspect of your soul, but another practice feeds another. Just my thoughts....

Portside said...

@ Allison. I've actually heard it from teachers in both camps. And within those camps some are more understanding than others.

Fwiw, I agree with you. However, for some people there is only one practice, be it [insert type of yoga here] and that really resonates with them. If you think about this in terms of art or some other pursuit, those who have a rooted passion within one pursuit, practice the same thing every day, with discipline they will progress in a regulated manner.

I really enjoy how the Iyengar classes I take inform the Ashtanga practice. But I'm starting to wonder if there's something to exploring the intricacies of one, being content to spice it up with the other every once in awhile.