Bobbi is a student of Nancy Gilgoff, who went to study Ashtanga yoga with Pattabhi Jois along with David Williams in the 70's, and she learned the sequence from Jois differently from other students. She was sick when she arrived in Mysore, and Jois litterally carried her through her practice until she was strong enough to do it herself. Nancy has passed on this approach to teaching the practice to Bobbi, and Bobbi passes it along to her students. Bobbi talked with us about balancing out your practice - finding the middle ground between working hard and easing off - both on and off the mat.
Michelle Dorer is a student of Tim Miller, who studied with Jois and was the first American to be certified by him. Michelle owns Ashtanga Yoga Center in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She is deeply dedicated to the practice and traditions, and I'm hoping to have her come again soon for a longer visit...
John Bultman has just returned from Mysore, India and teaching alongside Sharath (Jois's grandson). He is newly authorized, and is heading up the Ashtanga Mysore program at University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. John shared some of his experiences with us last weekend, and I'm also hoping he'll come for a longer visit to the Triangle soon!
So between the three of them, and all the dedicated and knowledgeable Ashtangis in attendance last weekend, there was a lot of inspiration to be had! I personally came away with renewed dedication to my practice, and a sense of balance. There were a few of us there that have started or finished learning the third series of the Ashtanga system, and it was really nice to talk about some of the challenges and highlights we've all encountered. I have started the series 3 times, and it is a difficult practice!! It was good to see that others agree! I've come away from the weekend with a new plan...practice diligently, building a solid foundation for my third series practice, including my teacher, Matthew Sweeney's sequences - Moon, Lion and Bound. But that's just the physical practice...there's so much more to yoga than jumping around on the mat. That's the beginning, of course, but as my physical practice matures, I find myself drawn deeper and deeper into the subtle practices of yoga - meditation, devotion, study of yogic texts and karma yoga.
Namaste
Stacy it is nice to see your studio with doors and you are welcome to use my studio!
ReplyDeleteRE workshop using the yoga wall we could schedule in the New Year on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Class size is limited to 4 people so if your Ashtanga yogis fancy hanging off the wall lets figure it out. I will consult my calendar. The yoga wall is prop and really helps to support various yoga postures. It is said in Yoga, that “you are only as old as your spine.” Thus, as long as you have a healthy and flexible spine, your ability to participate in life is endless! The use of the wall allows spinal extension without compression. Also it really is a lot of fun!
Gabrielle
Let's definitely do something in January. I'll check my calendar and see what we can do. I'll come over this weekend sometime and try it out and we can set a date maybe?
ReplyDeleteStacy