Saturday, July 31, 2010

HOLD POSES LONGER.....?







“For teenagers, they should only focus on Asana and do them quickly, one after another, so they don’t get bored.”

“Adults can focus on both Asana and Pranayama when young, mostly Pranayama and Dhyana as they reach middle age, and just Dhyana in old age.”

-Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, quoted in “Health, Healing and Beyond: Yoga and the Living Tradition of Krishnamacharya” by T.K.V. Desikachar with R.H. Cravens.






"If you're not making progress in a pose, perhaps you're not holding it long enough."

-Sri Dharma Mittra, heard in class.






"Well, for us it was fun to see my father doing yoga, putting himself in all these postures. It was really amazing. He used to pick a posture sometimes and he would like to stay in that posture for a long time. That's how he used to practice. And that's how he started teaching us. There's no need to do millions of postures, just try to master one at a time. Then you can go to the next one."


-Manju Pattabhi Jois, quoted in the new book "Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of his Students." (If you are at all serious about ashtanga, you should read this wonderful, painstakingly-researched book. The link will take you to some excerpts).






I love it when they agree.

6 comments:

  1. i need that book. thanks for posting.
    also i am on ladies holiday. is there group tomorrow? i may come & do something light or just pranayama & sit, but would i offend her studio?

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  2. i just placed an order for it on amazon. can't wait! do you have it already? it was published a few days ago

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  3. No one was interested the last two Mondays, so it's on hiatus for now.

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  4. ok no worries. i'm back from vipassana sunday. let me know (text me) if it's on for the 9th. i like to see you even if it's just us.

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  5. Yes, I'm 1/3 of the way thru the book and it's awesome.

    As for Monday - Same here (I'd like to see you, too). So yes, let's text. Enjoy (?) Vipassana!

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  6. lino & dena do it. gwendolyn did it.
    i do it.
    enjoy? no.
    benefit?
    beyond belief.
    that's all.

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