Conference Notes: January 20, 2013

Conference today was refreshing, uplifting, funny and educational.  Sharath spoke of many things, took quite a few questions, demonstrated some simple breathing exercise, spoke of sacrifice, dedication, what is yoga and made time to fit in a few jokes too.  

One student asked him why there is difference between how senior teachers who used to study with Guruji many years ago teach and how things are taught today.  Sharath couldn’t help but laugh and try to explain to this student that yoga isn’t about the postures; the postures are here to help us stabilize the body and the mind – that is all.  The student continued to ask the same question over and over because he was not getting the answer that he wanted…he kept missing the point…yoga is not about the postures, not about how one so called senior teacher may teach you to raise your arms straight up and he teaches us to raise our arms to the side…yoga is about coming and taking practice in order to steady the body and mind…that is all.  Again the student asked using an example, these senior teachers say they learned from Guruji and were allowed to start second series without having to stand up from backbends, why is it different now.  Sharath stated this is different because your body must be ready, and if you cannot stand up from backbends the system is not ready for second series postures; it is not safe, it is not yoga to do something more advanced simply because you want to, it is important for this yoga to go deep, to change you and you need time, dedication, surrender for this to happen.  This students persistence in getting a different answer somewhat annoyed Sharath who finally explained that just because someone came to Mysore to study for three months with Guruji in the 1980’s or the 1960’s does not necessarily make them a ‘senior teacher’ and if these teachers are boasting they teach differently, the way Guruji used to teach, they too are missing the point of yoga.  He briefly mentioned that many so called senior teachers never learned the asanas correctly, could not themselves do the postures correctly, and gives students too many postures at one time simply because they want to be liked or because the student wants them, regardless of if the student is ready to take them.  This is not yoga.  Sharath explained he teaches the way he does because he wants his students to understand yoga, the philosophy, the asanas, what it means to do yoga.  Perfection of asanas is important to him for his students because it ensures they have dedicated themselves to allowing this yoga to go deep, to be more than just movements.  It is important because the body must be ready for postures that come next, and a teacher is doing a student an injustice giving them many postures, ready or not.  Sharath also mentioned that when Guruji was young, he was a very strict teacher.  Some people, who no longer acknowledge the institute, boast they are senior teachers, perhaps boast they are better than Sharath, and perhaps are missing the point of yoga.  Sharath beautifully stated that he does not know everything; there is still so much to learn.

One student asked Sharath what one is to do if they cannot afford to come study in India, but want to have and maintain a dedicated practice.  I loved his answer to this question.  We can afford cell phones and nice meals, nice clothes, etc but we cannot afford yoga?  He spoke of so many of his students who make tremendous sacrifices to come study with him each year, bringing their children, sacrificing many things to ‘find’ the money to come to India and study with him b/c they want to learn the truth of what is yoga, they want to learn this practice properly under his guidance.  If so many of these people can do, everyone can do.    So many families coming now brining their children, uprooting their lives to come learn proper practice, to understand this yoga, to show their dedication for this practice, this lineage – if parents can make such tremendous sacrifices and bring their children, it is possible for anyone to do.  He chuckled and advised someone to skip one meal per day for some time until they saved enough for the trip.

Someone asked what they are to do when people speak ill words about their teacher.  Sharath sat back quietly for a moment and said, “When dogs bark it doesn’t bother the heavens.” Many people will speak ill words about many things.  We are to ignore those people and their words. 

He spoke of how some people will come to this practice and it will not help them because they do not want it to, or perhaps are not ready for it to…It is like giving a diamond to a monkey.  He will not understand how precious the gem is and will use it to play cricket.  Some will come to this practice, will not understand it, and they will use it for reasons other than for steadiness of mind and body.  And this is also the result of someone not learning the practice correctly.  If someone takes or is given too many postures they are not ready for, it will have negative effects on the body and mind, it will boast the ego, not soften it.  Thus it is not only important to truly master a posture so the body has the time to become steady and comfortable before moving on to the next, it is vital for the mind also.

One student asked how this practice has changed over the years, since the early days Guruji was teaching to now.  He said the yoga has not changed, not at all.  Yoga has been around since the beginning of time, since the existence of the Vedas.  Yoga has not changed at all, but perhaps some people are trying to change yoga.  Some people today use this practice for reasons other than what it is intended for – to steady the body and the mind.  Some people use this yoga to make YouTube videos and get many fans and show people how good they can do this asana or that asana.  This is not the purpose of yoga.  In these ways some people have changed yoga, why they do yoga, but the yoga itself has not.

On the topic of pranayama, Sharath explained pranayama should not be taught until asana is mastered, as it is stated in the yoga sutras.  Also, someone should not learn pranayama from a book because it must be learned from teacher to student, and ONLY when one is ready.  Otherwise it can have very negative effects on one’s mind.  He took time during conference to demonstrate simple alternate nostril breathing, with no kumbhaka.  After demonstration he instructed everyone to do with him.  He showed correct hand placement, and we each took inhalations through the left nostril and out the right five times, and then switched inhaling in the right and out the left five times.  He advised that we not hold the breath but let it flow.  This will help us with asana practice, with meditation practice, with prana movement.

Sharath also spoke of how it is important to be a good teacher, anyone can do asana well, but one teaching yoga to others must also learn and teach correctly.  It is very hard because everyone is different, with a different body.  We are all humans, but we come from different places, look different, and we all take to the practice differently.  To some Kapotasana will come easy, others must work for a very long time.  The importance is in working very hard at the asanas for a long time, learning proper method, and respecting the teachings.  If someone cannot do the posture, the teacher should not give them more just because they want more.  He told a funny story regarding Ramesh, Guruji’s son who passed many years ago.  Sharath so lovingly spoke of how Ramesh was so dedicated to this practice, the teachings, teaching yoga.  He was a very spiritual man and very dedicated to teaching correct method.  Guruji was a very strict teacher back then and so Ramesh taught as Guruji taught him.  There was an Indian student who wanted new asanas everyday!  One day Ramesh was teaching and this fellow told Ramesh he wanted another postures.  Ramesh knew that this student was not ready for any new postures (both his mind and his body), and he would not go against Guruji and give him the next asana.  Instead he said he was going to give this student a very special posture, Rangasana.  He instructed the student to lie on his side with his hand holding his head, then do the other side, and repeat five times.  The student was very excited to get a new posture.  Guruji comes in and asks this student what he is doing, and he tells Guruji that Ramesh gave him Rangasana.  Guruji laughed….there is no such asana.  But there is a god, Ranganatha, well known in South India.  This deity is a resting form of lord Vishnu.

Let us be dedicated students working diligently each day on our practice(s) so that we may take the right action at the right time.  Let us make the necessary sacrifices to get to the motherland to study correct method under the guidance of Sharath so we can practice correct method and teach correct method and maintain a connection and deep seated respect for our teachers and this lineage.  

Sundays second series led practice was oh so yummy! I’m sure anything would have felt better than Fridays led primary practice but I must admit today was quite exceptional :) Nothing new in terms of asanas, still working away on Karandavasana, but my mind and my body were feeling healthy, light, and clear! Can’t ask for anything more than that.

The day became uber busy very quickly…I went home after practice to wash my clothes as I was running out of things to wear. For some reason I thought it would only take me a little time, maybe ten or fifteen minutes to complete this task. Oh how I’ve forgotten that hand washing your clothes can turn into an all day affair. I was scrubbing away without any concept of time when I heard my phone ring…It was Sindhu and I was late for breakfast! I felt as terrible as she was making breakfast for me and poor Sindhu sounded so hungry on the phone. I quickly finished what I was doing, threw on some clothes and was out the door.

Enjoyed a lovely few hours with one of my favorite women. We talked about traveling together soon for a few days - I do hope we will be able to. We also agreed upon my timings for this weeks dance classes – yeah baby finally starting back with dance….I’ll be meeting her at 4:00pm Monday and Wednesday this week. I plan to do three days per week but I’ll be traveling Thursday through Sunday so two days to start back sounds great to me ;)

On my way to meet Mona I stopped by ‘the curtain guy’ (not to confuse with the cable guy ;) ok ok I had to do it). To my delight he was ever so obliging to my dilemma (you know my inability to make a decision as to where to put which curtains in my new flat!) – I explained that I no longer like the blue ones at ALL and asked if it were possible to switch them out for a set of red ones. He was so kind – he took the blue ones back and he is ordering red ones for me – which will also be the color of the cushions they will make me this coming week! I thanked him profusely and happily made my way to the coconut stand to meet Mona. I thought, “that I what I call a SWEET outcome to my wee lil problem!”

Mona and I ran some errands in town…you know ordering sheets for my two new beds, towels, etc…when we made our way back to Gokulam she jumped out of the rickshaw to take a lil nap and I headed to Anu’s to check my email – but there was no electricity in Gokulam – therefore no internet… [I want everyone who has been so kind to email concerning over my absence on the net to know that it is merely due to the combination of constant power outages that occur during monsoon, and my lack of internet in my flat]…so I headed home to stuff my face with some food, followed by a quick thirty minute power nap, and finished off with a near sprint to the shala in order not to be late for conference. I had planned to sleep just 20 minutes (I know a Stupid idea right) but ended up drooling on myself for a little over thirty. This caused me to wake in a total daze, which caused me to stumble around my flat in a pathetic attempt to figure out where my keys, my brain, and my shoes were.

In any event, I made it to the shala just ten minutes tardy – and since it is not practice I didn’t receive a scolding from Sharath (thank goodness!) So I’m sure everyone is dying to know “what’s the scoop on conference?” So glad you asked ;)

Here is The Scoop on Conference:

Today was primarily focused on the physical aspects of the practice…

Sharath talked about how immensely important it is to have your bandhas and Vinyasa correct. He said many people come here to Mysore and know the postures, but they do not know the correct Vinyasa (i.e. when to inhale and when to exhale) throughout the practice.

He said it is very important to know the names of the asanas you are taking…Learn the names of the postures in the series in which you are working! I personally loved this one because often times people don’t bother learning the Sanskrit names of the asanas -

Padangusthasana – NO grabbing hands to waist when entering or exiting the posture – keep your hands by your side. I know this one was really hard for many of my own students to learn (it is very difficult to break a habit you have made)….Try this…Inhale with your arms by your side, jump your feet hip width apart, fold forward grab big toes looking up…Exhale fold forward into the asana. Just and inhale and an exhale – sweet and simple…Same when you exit…after your fifth exhale the Inhale lengthen and look forward, Exhale stand up with arms by your side (no extra breath here – don’t exhale hands to waist and then inhale to lift)….Practice it and you’ll break the old habit in no time – promise ;)

Breath: Inhale should be equal to exhale. The EXACT LENGTH of the breath is not important, but the breath and pace of the breath should always be equal. So don’t worry if you are breathing too fast or too slow – just be sure that whatever your pace your exhale matches the pace of your inhale. Breathing should ALWAYS be with sound – UJJAYI!!!

Once you master the primary series you should be able to do the practice (Sun Salutation A through Setu Bandasana) in an hour and five or hour and ten minutes.

In Marichyasanas – it doesn’t matter which hand grabs/binds – but it is best if the hand that wraps around the leg grabs the opposite wrist….I always say the wrapper is the grabber ;) get it J

No longer necessary to extend the arms when returning to Samasthitih – for example when finishing Prasarita Padottanasana D – once you lift up to stand you don’t need to extend your arms before returning to Samasthitih. Same with Parsvottanasana – after finishing the second side you can remove your hands from behind you and step to Samasthitih without extending your arms out to the side….Personally, it is gonna be EXTREMELY challenging to break from this habit…oh my goodness!!! I am like queen of extending my arms to my side before returning to Samasthitih. But it is part of the practice to help us learn detachment…

Someone asked Sharath, “When you are leading us and you have us hold Utpluthih for forty breaths, what are you thinking?” Sharath smiled real big and said, “I’m thinking you should do!” Sharath went on to explain, “To control the mind – Mula Bandha is the source. If you control Mula Bandha you can control the mind.” He explained that he has us work on Utpluthih so long because it will help us gain control of Mula bandhas, which is a vital aspect of this practice.

Another yoga student expressed concern over her inability to find Mula Bandha during asana practice. Sharath simply stated it is lower pelvic and anus control – he also stated it’s the same for men and women.

An older woman raised her hand and asked about the discomfort of a posture…She said she has been working on Kapotasana for ten years and it is still so difficult – still she feels physical pain and lots of emotional release every time she does this asana. Sharath said it will eventually become easier to practice Kapotasana – but every person is different. He talked about Karma here – “what karma we have done we have to suffer that…when bad things happen we must work through them.” We are human beings that come into this life with past karma. We must work though that karma. Yoga helps us to do that. Each of us is different – different in the karma we bring into this life, and different in how we must deal with our karma. If we speak only of asana practice, we all manifest our “WORK” differently. Some people hold our past and/or present karma in our hips, others the lower back, still others the neck, or shoulders, or feet, etc…When we do asana and we feel the physical and emotional pain in certain areas of the body, or in specific postures, we are facing this karma head on. It is the dedicated, persistent, daily practice that will help us rid ourselves of this karma. The simple act of coming to the mat and doing your practice is important – it is part of the process – but we must be open and humble enough to allow the changes to manifest. This means we must do more than simply ‘do’ yoga postures – we must CONCENTRATE on yoga when we are doing yoga. If we do asana but allow the mind to wonder our practice becomes spoiled and it is of no benefit – this is how one stays stagnant in the practice and sees no growth, no transformation inside or out….So you must do your daily asana practice – but it must be done with concentration, devotion, acceptance, and love!

A middle aged gentleman asked about Pranayama and when it should be performed. Sharath told us that we should begin Pranayama practice once we begin advanced postures, but that we are doing Pranayama in this practice – every breath we take is Ujjayi Pranayama.

There was a question about the proper way to do Padmasana – the right leg should ALWAYS come in first! The Right heel should press into the liver and spleen – for this can heal all liver and spleen problems. The hands – thumb and forefinger should always be STRAIGT – not curled! (Another shocker for me! I’ve never been taught to hold the mudra that way – well well practice, practice, practice….)

When someone raised their hand to ask about Handstands Sharath quickly and sternly said, “DON’T DO HANDSTANDS!” Sharath explains, “We don’t teach handstands until late in the 2nd series for a reason! – You need balance – You must be able to do Kapotasana and backbends correctly first before ever attempting handstands.” He went on to explain that a lot of students want to add fluff to the practice – he smiled when he said that many who can do handstands well can do very little else. If people do lots of handstands between postures they will very quickly tighten their shoulders excessively. You must find a balance from this practice – must work with handstands after you have completely opened the back.

In the final question of asana, a young girl asked Sharath how many times we should rock back and forth in Garbha Pindasana. He said we are to rock five times in five breaths. She explained that it takes her nine – was that ok. He said it can be done in five. With a smile he said that the posture means embryo in the womb, but we don’t need nine rocks, we come out of the womb in only five ;)

At the end of conference Sharath announced that he and Saraswati have decided to have a birthday celebration for Guruji after all! I was a little surprised because they both personally told me they would not – but at the same time I was not surprised because this is the way things work around here ;) Sharath also discussed Guruji’s charitable trust – this year they will be having an auction here in Mysore as well as online – signed pictures of Sharath and Guruji will be up for bidding, along with some of Sharath’s stunning photography work and a list of other things. This year about 30% of the monies raised will go to wildlife and nature conservation, and the rest of the proceeds will go to needy charities here in Mysore.

Sharath leaves for Hong Kong on Tuesday evening and will return to the shala on the 8th of July.

So there is the scoop! Peace out ;)