You Think God - Brahmacharya

Guruji always used to say, "You take practice, you think God."

As I look around, I see there is a lot of practice going on, specifically asana practice, which is great, and inspiring in many ways;  but somehow the second part of Guruji's teaching seems to have been forgotten, overlooked, or conveniently  omitted, and what concerns me that this oversight of "God thinking" reduces our practice to merely circus tricks.

Guruji also said, "Yoga is mind-control."

His words were simple, and hit exactly on point.
In many ways, yoga isn't actually about our physical practice at all.  Rather, it is concerned with controlling our mental-world, and specifically, how we direct our thoughts.  If we are really yearning to practice yoga, and seek to attain the ultimate goal of waking up our inner Divine Nature, then we need to take Guruji's words to heart, and continually practice directing our thoughts towards God.

This is also called: Brahmacharya.

Literally the word brahmacharya means, "the path that leads to Brahman" or "moving in Brahman."

Brahman is the fabric of the universe, Absolute Reality. It has nothing similar to it and nothing different from it.  It is Infinity.  In Vedanta philosophy, it is described as saccidananda: sat (Existence absolute), cit (Consciousness absolute), and ananda (Bliss absolute).
(A concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy, John Grimes, 2009).

In his classic work entitled, Sadhana, Swami Sivananda states that there are three things essential for God-realization: constantly remembering God, cultivating the yamas (ethical codes of conduct), and making every activity an offering to the Divine (p.32).
He suggests that alongside ahimsa (non-injury) and satya (truthfulness) that brahmacharya is, without doubt, one of the most important virtues to develop through our spiritual practice.
I would go so far as to say, that without integrating a practice of brahmacharya there can be no hope of progressing in true Yoga at all.

This begs the question, how can we develop more in the field of brahmacharya?
I feel it begins by creating a clear intention to shift all of our thoughts, words and deeds into closer alignment with God.  This includes increasing our investment in all of the people, places, and things that encourage us to cultivate a more intimate connection to Brahman, and reducing our exposure to everything that pulls us further away.

We must start by developing our awareness around who and what are we surrounding ourselves with.  Are we generating positive thoughts or cycling in negativity?  What are we watching?  What are we reading?  How are we spending our time?  Are we wasting our energy chasing after fleeting experiences and momentary gratification?  Are we feeding our senses or our soul?

We need to examine and evaluate our mind, speech and actions to determine whether we are being propelled closer to the goal of Yoga - Self Realization, or driven by old habits of obsessive ego-gratification.  Is our yoga practice motivated by a desire for deeper union with "God," both within and without, or is it pushed by an insatiable hunger for the fickle affection of others, fame and fortune, or instant pleasure?

I practice asana because it is a very effective tool for directing my attention more acutely towards the Infinite.  I can see the direct results of this integration happening on a deeper level in my approach to life.  Taking the time to make contact with the pulse of this ancient life-force, even for a second each day, generates more internal positive energy then I can describe.  However, this is rarely a pretty process, neither is it a perfect one; frequently it is baptized through sweat and tears, and hardly ever do I have a practice that feels "YouTube" worthy.  It is a private sacrifice of my ego each day; and regardless of whether I'm crawling or floating, I know that I am aiming to align my inner world, and consequently, the rest of my life with Brahman.
And if I have nothing else to show for my efforts, at least I have that - an honest yearning for God in my heart.

David Williams is often quoted as saying, "Yoga is all the things you can't see."
I believe this to be true.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what your jump-backs look like, how long you can hold a handstand, or whether or not you can grab your ankles in a backbend.  How your practice looks on the outside is inconsequential, what matters is the effect it is having on the inside.

Yoga is a path that leads to God-Realization, and if it isn't heading in that direction, you are on a different path.

When we start to nurture our practice with the understanding of moving in Brahma, we begin to engage the world with an different attitude.  We start to experience the beautiful art of self-surrender: "I am Thine; All is Thine; Thy will be done." We begin to ask questions like "how can I serve" instead of "what can this do for me."

Often brahmacharya is defined as celibacy.  However, celibacy need not only mean sexual restraint.

The whole idea of creating a more celibate environment, is to purify not only one's body, but more importantly, one's mind, so that all faculties of attention can be one-pointedly focused in unbroken communion with the Source of all existence.  When we actually start to feel this Reality as the ancient Source of all things, pulsating both within, and all around, we can begin to practice yoga continuously, uninterruptedly, all day long, in everything we do.
Another one of Guruji's favourite quotes comes from Patanjali Yoga Sutras "sa tu dirgha-kala-nairantarya-satkarasevito drdha-bhumih" (1:14).  "Practice becomes firmly established when done continuously, without break, for a long long time, with sincere devotion." 

Lara Land has been talking about brahmacharya all month, and wrote an exceptional piece on her blog, Adventures in Yogaland, at the start of September.  I hope you will read it.  There is so much to think about and talk about on this subject - that it might possibly take us a lifetime to introspect and put it all into practice!

One thing is for sure...  Ashtanga Yoga holds so much more promise then just the physical aspect of asana, and we must start to actualize All Eight Limbs in our daily experience.

This is where the growth is.  This alone, will take us on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.

Om
Harmony

A Summer in Mysore India

As many of you may already know, we spent the past two months in Mysore, India, with a small hand-selected group of students who were chosen to practice with Sharath Jois for a special course focused on deepening our understanding of this authentic system of yoga.

I took this time as a sabbatical, and allowed myself to be absorbed into the ever persistent call to present moment awareness that is necessary for diving deeper into oneself during periods of intense practice and learning.  Thus, I'm only writing about the experience now.  I can feel myself beginning to speed up again to the pace of North American life, and the last two months is already drifting into some distant memory.  Time is funny that way.  Especially time in India.

I'm not sure I've really processed it all yet, as we have not even reached our home in Victoria, but as the lingering exhaustion of the twelve-hour time difference slowly subsides, I am aware that something within myself has shifted.

It is difficult to exactly put into words what has changed, but I seem to have a greater sense of direction and confidence.

I feel honoured to have been counted amongst such a prestigious group of practitioners and teachers from around the world, and to have had this allotted time to share with them in our mutual struggles and triumphs.  I now understand that the difficulties of transmitting this authentic lineage of teachings are the same all over the world, and that those students who grab hold of this practice and experience the transformation that it will inevitably bring, are unique seekers of truth and higher wisdom.  I see what a blessing it is to be amongst those chosen to pass on this practice in the stream of the parampara; and I feel it is my duty to be a pillar for those who seek refuge from the onslaught of quasi-yoga classes offered on mass in the West.

I know that more will reveal itself to me as time passes.
For now, this is enough.

But... Green is my Life!

Jediah and I were driving yesterday in our car, and I pointed out how the construction crew had cut down a whole bunch of trees in one area to make a clearing for a new road and bridge that they are building near our home.

At which point he says, with a very sad tone in his voice,
"but... Green is my life!"

I started to smile and as always, I was in awe of how profound, yet simple, the words of a three year old could be, and I replied, "it is true, Green is my life too.  Green is everyone's life."

We were on our way to the doctor, and at the office I was flipping through a magazine and came across this advertisement for Conservation.org. It was incredibly effective, and since Jediah was there due to some trouble with his breathing, it seemed very synchronistic to our current situation.

It reminded me that we are so intricately connected to nature that sometimes it is easy to overlook how absolutely essential and necessary it is for our existence.  Everything we need and depend on is provided by nature - yes... even your computer and iPhone! 

For example, did you know that there is no living thing on this planet that can survive without water?
In an ideal environment, a human may be able to last a total of 12 days without water, but more then likely would die sometime around the five day point.

Here in Canada, we are championed in environmental activism by David Suzuki and his foundation. They bring attention to many issues, and also provide simple solutions that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine, and can significantly help to reduce our negative impact on this planet. You see, every breath we take, everything we eat or drink, and everything we own is derived from nature, even our homes are made from natural materials. We are completely dependent upon sustaining a harmonious environmental balance for our survival.

Here are a few quick facts from Conservation.org that you might find enlightening:

Conservation.org

1. At least half of all medicines in use worldwide are derived directly from natural components, primarily from tropical forests. Antiviral drugs and painkillers are among the modern medicines obtained from coral reefs.  Only a small fraction of tropical rainforest species have been analyzed for their medicinal properties. We may yet discover more cures in nature — if we don’t destroy them first.
2. Most large, modern structures are made from concrete, glass and steel. All three are derived from nature. Steel making is one of the world’s leading industrial sources of greenhouse gases. In 2010, according to the International Energy Agency, the iron and steel industry accounted for approximately 6.7% of total world CO2 emissions.
3. Most vehicles run on fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there are fewer than 1.3 trillion barrels of crude oil left in the world oil reserve, which at the current rate of consumption would last the world only 41 more years.
4. Deforestation accounts for 20% of all carbon emissions, which is twice the amount that all the cars, trucks and planes in the world emit, combined.  That's pretty major, as there are more than 1 billion vehicles on the road worldwide, including buses and trucks, which are themselves, disproportionately heavy polluters.
5. The production of one hamburger releases as many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as driving a car 10 miles.
6. The production of one burger requires 7,000 liters (about 1,850 gallons) of water, the bulk of which is used to grow grain for cattle feed.
7. Beef production uses about 60% of the world's agricultural land, yet provides less than 2% of the world's calories.
8. Because cattle ranching requires large tracts of land, producers frequently clear-cut tropical forest to provide pastures for their herds. Extensive cattle ranching accounts for 80% of the amazon's deforestation.
9. Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil found in about half of all the packaged food products on supermarket shelves — not just baked goods and snacks, but also cosmetics and lotions, soaps and detergents, even pet food.  Palm oil is incredibly productive, producing far more oil than other crops on the same amount of land. Today, a third of all vegetable oil used worldwide is palm oil.  However, most palm oil is produced on large industrial plantations, primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia. Often, tropical forests are cleared to make way for oil palm plantations that are destroying the habitat for endangered species like the orangutan. This deforestation also releases carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to global climate change.

Not to overwhelm you with the issues at hand; but, knowledge is power, and it is important to understand what is happening so we can make informed choices in how to respond and protect the environment that supports us day in and day out.

Our yoga teacher R. Sharath Jois is also very passionate about the environment and protecting nature.  I found a shirt he made awhile back that has on the it one of his favorite sayings from that period in time:  Save Nature - Nature Saves You.  I have always admired this about him, the fact that he see this Ashtanga Yoga Practice expanding beyond simply the asana into how we treat our environment, the animals, and of course other people too.

Each day we should wake up with gratitude for all that we have, most of all for this beautiful planet that nourishes and supports us through the endless offering of herself.  That is the reason why Nature is conceptualized as a Mother, because she gives and gives without hesitation, without reserve, unconditionally loving and supporting us to the detriment of her own welfare, and will continue to do so until she is completely depleted.  Any mother understands this innate inclination of sacrificial offering and unlimited relinquishing of everything, for her children.

David Swenson was quoted in Yoga International, as saying "the definition of a yogi that I like most is this: A yogi is one who leave a place just a little nicer then when they arrived!"
I think this is a brilliant definition, much better then: "the one who can do the most handstands!" (that's another issue for another day).

My friend Lara Land started a movement to encourage more awareness of bringing our practice into every aspect of our day both on and off the mat.  It's called All Eight Limbs and you can read more about it on her blog Adventures in Yogaland.  I think this is a wonderful idea, and I am excited to support her in reminding all the yogis out there that our practice has to be about more then bending and stretching, it has to be about transformation, of not only for ourselves, but for our whole planet!
(aside: I'm pretty sure that our world doesn't need more handstands; rather, it needs more people making the world a kinder, and more sustainable place for every living being).

So, as you go, try your best to tred lightly on this planet and leave it a nicer, cleaner, happier home for everyone, because Green is our life, whether we want it to be or not.

Let's bring our yoga alive - and start living our practice - All Eight Limbs!  

Guru Tattva

Sometime I hear this idea that a Guru or a Teacher is not really necessary on the path of Yoga.   Be your own Guru.  Find the Teacher within.  These are common sentiments that are out there in the Yoga Community at large.  

The true teachings of Yoga however, have always been passed down through the relationship of Teacher to Student in a line of transmission called parampara.  The Guru is absolutely necessary.  He or She is there to shine a light on your blind spots.  

The Teacher is your road map on the spiritual path.  God works through your Guru to help guide you in your practice and eliminate any inner obstacles that can come up along the way.  In India they have a saying that "just as you need the flame of an already burning candle to light the wick of another candle; likewise, only an illumined soul can light the inner lamp of another person."  Consequently, we need the direct contact of a True Teacher to help enlighten us, to wake us up inside, and get the spark going.  

I would say that it is difficult, if not entirely impossible, to see ourselves clearly.  As a result, we need the help of a Guru to hold up the mirror and give us clarity so that we can overcome our lower nature and negative qualities.  The Guru represents the one's ideal of perfection, and is the pattern from which one wishes to mould oneself after.  It is a challenge for the human mind to conceive of an Infinite Formless God, so in the physical form of the Guru, the mind attaches itself more easily and begins to see God within this physical embodiment.  Through our reverence, obedience, and willingness to surrender to a True Teacher we are able to connect to the Ultimate Reality that exists everywhere beyond form and time.

On a practical level, the Teacher is able to lift our spirits and helps to keep us motivated in our practice during difficult times along the path.  Even the mere presence of one's Teacher can help elevate one’s mood and enhance one's consciousness.  

However, the work, the sadhana, the spiritual practice must be done by the student.  A Guru cannot bestow a miraculous awakening onto anyone, but He or She is there to show us the door, but as a student, we must do the work, and have the courage and determination to walk through it.

Om Tat Sat

Depart Without Regret - Be One With God

   As my mind starts to turn towards preparing to leave, I've been struggling to find the words to express all that this trip has brought for me.

I wanted to say something about reconnecting with many deeply loved friends, some whom I haven't seen for many years.  Those kinds of friendships where words are not needed, and sitting in silence side by side with someone while they let it all unravel, connects you in a way much deeper then years of superficial chatter.
I wanted to acknowledge the many new friends I have been blessed to meet here, but I'm not sure there are words to express the joy of witnessing new seeds of fellowship sprouting up, and the wonderment of meeting someone for the first time and feeling like you've known them for years.

Or I could write about reconnecting again and again with this deep and transformative practice, and the awe I feel each morning as I surrender to what IS.  This practice opens my heart, and touches my spirit in ways I cannot explain.  It is like beholding a miracle that takes place each morning as I watch the peeling layers of myself falling away.

I could talk about many things... the magic of India, the beauty of this practice, finding peace within the chaos, and a little space within a small corner of time where I can breathe freely and connect more deeply to myself, and to God.

I'm not sure that there are the words for me to convey the depth of gratitude I feel whenever I reflect on my time here in India.  This focused period of practice has been both intense and refreshing, and from it I will be forever changed.

I read something recently that I feel expresses more completely some of what India has been teaching me over the past three months in numerous and inexplicable ways...  

Relax without laziness

Focus without tension

Perceive without projecting

Witness without judging

Enjoy without craving

Reflect without imagining

Love without condition

Give without demanding

Receive without possessing

Serve without self-seeking

Challenge without dominating

Meditate without identity

Correct without blaming

Overcome without pride

Laugh without cynicism

Cry without pity

Confront without hatred

Guide without superiority

Be without self-defining

Live without arrogance

Enter without self-importance

Depart without regret

Be one with God

Mooji

February 2014

One More Month in Mysore...

Jeff has arrived back in Canada, meanwhile I'm starting the first week of a full month of single-parenting in Mysore, India!  This is certainly a new frontier for me!

If you are in Calgary you can practice with Jeff for a full week of Mysore classes straight from the Source!  - there is still a little space if you want to register or drop-in - please get in touch with us directly.  After this week he will be back in Victoria... so be on the look out islanders!

The longer you stay and practice here in Mysore, you realize that each month carries with it a very different feeling, and it is impossible to predict what each period of time will hold.  It's only when you look back that you can observe an occurring  theme.  Like many things, it is a strange phenomena that seems to happen here in this little microcosm more acutely then at home.

In many ways these changes are very quick and obvious with old friends leaving and new people arriving, and in other ways this change is much more subtle, and yet more significant overall - it is the hint of something deeply internal transforming within you.  

Sharath gave conference yesterday, as he does most Sundays, and it was again a very sweet gathering.  I will share some of the highlights I enjoyed with you.  My friend Nea Ferrier also has shared a lovely summary in her blog: New Memories: Home Cooking and Sharath's Conference 9.2.14

My Favourite Bits & Pieces from Sharath's Conference: Feb.2/2014

He touched upon the importance of Parampara (the direct lineage of teachers), "Yoga has to come from the Parampara.  You can't learn by watching a video or going to a conference or a workshop. A conference or video is like entertainment, but it cannot be an education in spirituality.  A real experience of yoga is different then entertainment.

Ashtanga yoga is about the transformation that happens within us.  Our perception of life changes.  It gives our life a new meaning.  Trying to realize what we are - that journey is called spirituality."

He used a great metaphor: "In life we are always running behind something... something that is ultimately unnecessary.  Everyone is running off to somewhere or running to do some training or workshop.  What are you searching for?  Where are you going?
Is it a new posture you are after?  Getting a new posture doesn't make you a good yogi.
Go to the Source which is within you.
Realize What You Are and Why You Are Here!'

"Don't run behind Yoga.  Yoga is within you."

He reinforced that Yoga is to create mental fitness through spirituality, but this must arise from within each person.   How you change and transform yourself through your practice - that is Yoga.
It takes time for the body to change.  We must be patient in our practice.
These days there is very little respect for Yoga and the power of it as a spiritual practice, and the power that is inherent within your own body and mind.

He reminded us about "samsara halahala mohashantyai" saying, Samsara is full of poison, but yoga teaches us how to bring peace to our mind through all different experiences. It helps us to manage the stress of daily life, and is like a "terrain management system" in a car.  (I'm not great with the whole car metaphor, but I get the general idea!)   

"Yoga is the only tool we have to spiritually transform yourself.  This Yoga is Not only an asana practice.  Asana is not the final stages of Yoga.  Yoga is Not just a physical practice."
 
Ultimately, Yoga is the realization of the Oneness of all.
 
To realize this Oneness you have to give up many things - anger, greed, fear, desire, and realize you are the same as everyone - you are not different.

"You are Prakriti - nature.  From the earth you came up and at death you will go back to the earth. Birth and death are a mystery, but what you do with the years you have living here on earth is the important part.  The effects of your actions here will remain."

The Last Sunday Conference of 2012

Yesterday was the last conference of 2012.  

Here are some notes and thoughts from Sharath's talk:

The name "Yoga" has grown in fame around the world, but the meaning is missing.  

What is the meaning of Yoga?   

Yoga-citta-vritti-nirodha "Yoga is to still the mind."  

Yoga is for self transformation.  

Many people have forgotten this, and are caught up in the asana-s only.   

"Asana for asana sake is just bending your body."

 

When you are truly established in the asana practice, there will be no disorders of the mind.  You will become totally absorbed in what you are practicing, the senses will withdraw inside, and your concentration will become very one-pointed.

Sharath recalled a great story about a student that asks his teacher, "why have I not gained the experience of Self-Realization" and the teacher one morning takes him to a river and holds his head underneath the water, and the student fights with all his might to come up for air, and when the teacher finally lets him up, the student gasps "why did you do that?"  

The Teacher says, "if you want to experience Self-Realization or Enlightenment, the goal of Yoga, you must want it as much as you wanted that breath of air."

  

 As practitioners and seekers, we must want to taste the experience of real yoga within ourselves, as much as a drowning man fights for air - a sincere effort must be made in this direction.

He followed this up by saying that a true student devotes his or her whole self to the practice, and as you go deeper and deeper the knowledge will automatically glow from within you.  However, this transformation only comes when we devote ourselves fully to the practice, and do real Sadhana (spiritual practices) for a long time, consistently.  

"Yoga is a life-long study."  

Every month, every year, you should learn something new, experience something new, and go deeper.

This is what the aim should be. 

Sharath also spoke about the six passions of the mind that cover one's true nature.  

The six covers are: kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride), matsarya (jealousy).  These six covers need to be removed through our sadhana if we are to see and understand Reality as it is.   

He said that if you are humble and start to get rid of the ego, then there will be progress in yoga.  However, you cannot just read about Yoga, or memorize texts on Yoga - the mastery will come only when you practice and apply the teachings within your daily life.  Only then will you gain experiential knowledge. 

Sadhana isn't easy though, you must choose one path.  It is a discipline; and often you must struggle within yourself to overcome many obstacles.  A daily commitment to continue to practice must be there, and the more distracted you are with many things in the world, the more difficult it becomes to reach higher levels of Yoga.  You must discipline yourself and limit the distractions in life.  

Through the practice of Yoga, you will become more sensitive to things. As you develop a disciplined mind you can start to feel a connection to a higher cosmic consciousness.  This process, what is happening within you, cannot be spoken about, the changes are internal, and as the effects grow stronger, maintaining your practice will become more central for you.

Happy Continued Practicing into the New Year Everyone!

We want to give a huge THANKS to Nikki & Sebastian, who taught for the month of December in our morning Mysore Program.  It was an incredible month for so many of our students back in Victoria, and I'm sure that everyone looks forward to having you back again some day!

  

We are also happy to have some time to reconnect with you both here in Mysore now!  

Let the fun begin!   

As we approach the NEW YEAR... we are taking some time to project our vision of what is to come by finding the one word that spontaneously comes to mind when we think of 2013!

You can play along too... 

We'd love to hear what your word for the year past and the year to come are... 

The one word that comes to mind for me that would describe last year 2012 is "Intense".

And my word for 2013... well, that's just going to have to wait until tomorrow!   

Happy New Year!  

We look forward to connecting with you all again soon - Let's make 2013 the best year yet!

Hari Om 

Sunday Conference with Sharath in Mysore

Conference has been so full the past two weeks... students are spilling out into the front foyer.

Here are some highlights from the past two weeks of conference with Sharath...

"What makes a good Yoga Practitioner?"

Sharath spoke about this at conference two weeks back on December 9th.
"It is the student's determination and dedication to continue practicing daily that makes a good practitioner.  It is not about how flexible you are.  Yoga is to help us get rid of the ego, to become more humble and grounded." 

"Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois), was very special in his simplicity and humility.  He had a very direct way of transmitting the teachings of the Parampara" (the lineage of teaching flowing down directly from teacher to student).  

"The practice of Yoga should not make us more critical of others, it ought to be practiced for Self-Transformation.  When we are able to change ourselves, then the whole world can be changed by us.  We should focus daily on how to develop more deeply the qualities of Yoga within. As we become more established in the Yamas and Niyamas, our perception will change, and society will change as a result of our work."

Japa (mantra / prayer recitation) is good to practice in the evening.
"Twenty minutes of the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), or any prayer that is meaningful to you will help to calm your mind, and you will sleep very well."

For example: if you are Catholic, you can recite the Holy Rosary (Hail Mary Full of Grace...) or if Protestant, The Lord's Prayer.
Anything that you connect with on a personal level, that can calm your mind, and lift your spirit is good to recite.
The Japa should be meaningful to you, and your thoughts should be focused on good things while chanting, then the effects will be very beneficial.

"Japa can also help to develop Bhavana (Spiritual Development) within you, and this will lead to Ishvara Pranidhana" (Surrender to a Greater Power).

This week, December 16th, Sharath gave the example of Hanuman opening his chest to reveal that only Sita & Rama reside inside.  He said that "this is a good example of full devotion, or Ishvara Pranidhana." 

Someone asked about diet, and a vegetarian diet was recommended for various reason, the food is easier to digest, healthier for your body, and it also upholds Ahimsa (non-violence).

Pain and Fear were discussed.  Sharath said, "new postures can bring fear, but if the practice was very easy, then students would loose interest, so a little fear makes the practice enjoyable."  

"Pain makes you more aware of what you are doing during practice."  However, it is important "not to over-stress your body either in practice or doing extra stretching outside of the practice."  Sometimes it can take a while for a pain to subside. 
Sharath talked about the back pain that he had for 4 years, but with slow, gentle, patient practice, he was able to heal himself fully, through the practice itself.

If you are practicing without focus, there is more chance of injury.  Also, when first beginning new postures, sometimes there can be pain in the body.   The body keeps changing, monthly, yearly, and you should progress slowly in the practice, to allow for this change.  Don't hurry or rush the process, or there is a greater chance of injury.

Sharath told of a time when he waited 3 years before Guruji gave him a new posture, and emphasized that it was good to go slowly and patiently in your daily practice, and keep increasing your awareness in the postures that you are already practicing, rather then always wanting something more.

"Ashtanga Yoga is best learned in the Mysore style.  Only in this format can a new student really begin to understand the correct breathing."  They will receive more guidance in the Mysore style then what can be given during a Led Class.  "The group Led Classes are too fast for beginners, and if you don't know what you are doing, there is more chance for injuring yourself.  The Led Classes are to help students learn the proper Vinyasa counts, how to move correctly with the breath, and to help to build up stamina."

He also talked about how this practice can at times create a lot of heat, and how coconut oil can be put on the head daily to help relieve some of the heat, especially if you are already prone to overheating.  He also talked about how traditionally in South India, they would take a Castor Oil bath once a week, either on Saturday or Sunday, to reduce any excess heat in the body.   

Personally, one of my favorite parts was when he said, "Yoga should keep happening within you day and night, not just when practicing asanas.  Yogic thoughts should be there all the time."
 (Keep focusing the mind more and more on practicing the Yamas and Niyamas)

"Yoga is not simply a physical practice.  It is not about showing off.  The Yoga is what must happen inside, once you try to realize the true inner self, the inner soul."
All our attention is outside ourselves most of the time, and the senses keep pulling us outwards.
"Yoga is learning to withdraw all your senses inside, inwardly, to see the inner self, then the Yoga happens. This should be the goal of Yoga, to realize the True Self, and if this is your goal, you will progress very well."

Conference ended with three of our friends here in Mysore receiving Certification.  A huge congratulations to Gabriele Severini, Tarik Thami, and Kranti!  We love you guys!

 

Thanks to Max Czenszak for the use of this great photo

Om Namah Shivaya!