Today is March 1, the first day of my ashtanga yoga classes at the Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore ( www.kpjayi.org). I am taking classes under Saraswathi, the daughter of Jois. I heard that she is 74 years old. But what a sprightly sweet-smiling strong woman!
I had been preparing for this day since I decided to come to Mysore in late October of last year-- 4 months now. I had been taking a weekly vinyasa class for more than a year with a terrific teacher who was generous and kind and who helped me a lot on my postures, making me more interested in yoga.
I discovered ashtanga yoga when I decided to come for yoga to India. From several types of yoga available in India --hatha yoga, iyengar yoga, vinyasa yoga, ashtanga yoga; in different places -- Rishikesh, Bihar, Pune, Khajuraho,Mysore; and with different commitments-- 200, 500 hour teacher training, 2 week yoga retreats, time-limited classes -- I finally narrowed down my interest to ashtanga yoga ( which I honestly had not heard of since then). I decided to take yoga classes for 1 month -- straight from the source-- direct from the lineage of Pattabhi Jois.
What drew me to ashtanga yoga? I think it was the strength yet stillness that I saw in the moves. The rigor and patience and persistence that promised boundless rewards. Practice, practice and all is coming -- the words of Jois --- this was a mantra that stayed with me in moments when I thought it was not possible to do any more of the poses, and countless pains and injuries that seemed miraculously to go away when I did more yoga. After much reading, including blog articles of beginning ashtangis, I began a home practice based on videos I found on youtube, and myyogaonline -- gravitating towards those of Kino Macgregor, an ashtanga yoga presence online. I learned a lot from watching and listening to her videos. And in truth when I started to attempt the primary series, I could hardly do the sun salutations in flow with the vinyasas or breath. It was like running a marathon without any training. I was breathlessly trying to keep up, hardly able to hold my upward-facing dog. Although I am a spontaneous person and pretty much do things without any planning -- seemingly in paradox to that I also like being in control. I am actually drawn to the structure of ashtanga yoga and the set sequences that lead to an attainable ( with practice) goal and there are 6 series that one could possibly achieve --a lot to work on and aspire for.
I came very early today, arriving at 5:15 am for the 6:15 class. It was still dark and I was the second person there. We were allowed into the shala around 6 am and the class began at 6:30 am with Saraswathi leading the opening chant. Ekam, inhale... Dve, exhale... Around 50 individuals moved as one, only the steady ujayyi breath resounding in the room as we went through 5 suryanamaskara A and 3 of B. You could feel the energy building in the room and I felt my body responding, giving and taking from this spring of energy. Drops of sweat dripped down my face as we flowed through the primary series. I got an assist from Saraswathi to bind into my Marichyasana C which I was so thankful for. My left knee is still hurting. I still had to do some modifications for some of the poses, incorporating the suggestions given in David Swenson's book Ashtanga Yoga Practical Guide, but I was able to keep up with the class. On the closing sequence, I think it was the first time I was able to extend my legs up in headstand for about a second or so before I rolled down-- later, Saraswathi passed by again to help me with the pose. What a great class! Pretty much what I had come here for. I am also so happy I spent so much time to prepare for this trip by learning the half primary series, and hoping that I will have completed the whole series by the end of my trip. Looking forward to my first-ever Mysore style class on Monday!
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