Yes..I went to an Iyengar class. And we used all the above to do asanas. Haha. I've never been to one..but my mysore class has been cancelled...don't know if its permanent..but it was a led class today...and I really didn't want to go for a led class..especially by a teacher who barely knew the primary series sequence!!!! (yes I am a bitch.) Seriously..I know this because the said teacher came to my mysore class once and went through the whole class asking my teacher about what should be next in sequence!!! How can she possibly teach me anything if she doesn't practice ashtanga herself??? Alright..maybe she could have taught me something..but anyhow I just wasn't that keen to go. (more on the class being cancelled bit later).
So instead I attended a class by a new Iyengar teacher at our studio..it was quite interesting actually..although I have no interest in becoming an Iyengi anytime soon..I'd miss my vinyasas and Supta K (???) too much for that. So we did maybe 7-8 poses in 1 hour...lying over chairs for backbends...using the windowsill to do Adho mukha svanasana in some standing version of the pose..shoulderstand on the chair..uttanasana and padangustasana with blocks (??). (just so we are clear...I DO NOT use blocks in my daily practice...its a little insulting to think I do this almost everyday and still need to use blocks for forward bends!)
Erm...nope I hardly broke a sweat. But it was interesting that the teacher..lets call him "K" had so much to say about just each pose...roll the deltoids in..roll the trapezoid down..spread the sitting bones wide..roll the inner thighs out..blah blah. Who knew there's so much instruction for downward facing dog. Anyhow its so different from how my Ashtanga teachers teach...B would have just adjusted me into whatever it is he wanted me to do and say nothing abut the rolling shoulders stuff...and here was K keeping a constant narrative going about every body part.
I'm not saying its bad..and certainly I can use some of this alignment knowledge when it comes to teaching my classes at the gym. But it just feels a little constricting. K mentioned that advanced students are not the ones putting the leg behind the head..but the ones with the most awareness in the body while doing asanas. IMHO, an advanced student should both have awareness and also an advanced practice. I mean it doesn't mean that person has to put the leg behind their head..but they should have experienced a broad range of asanas and have an awareness of their bodies in all these asanas. It would be so boring if my repertoire of poses consists of adho mukha svanasana and I worked everyday on refining that pose...
Anyhow..I will be going for K's class though. Its quite fun to hang around on the chair and just sort of relax into a backbend..instead of struggling with my dropbacks and standing up..perhaps I'd take it as my day off from Ashtanga practice. Also, I reckon it could help my alignment in Ashtanga.
On the other hand..yes my mysore class has been cancelled. Hmm...As you may have noticed..I'm not too stricken this time around. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts..I've been having some issues with class anyway. The bottomline is..I can't get used to my new teacher..and I miss B very much..he knows my practice so well and adjusts me exactly where I need it..its like missing a vital part of my mysore practice when he is not around...alright, alright..I should get over it already...My partner told me that I'm too reliant on B..and I will find another one if I will just give new teachers a chance and stop comparing..well its hard...and I've not managed to do it yet. So..class being cancelled doesn't really bother me so much..I reckon I enjoy practising at home anyway. Only problem is Supta K and dropbacks.. No assistance and I'm a little stuck with those 2 on my own.. BUT I'm sure I'd survive.
By the way JOHN SCOTT is coming in November!!!!! Im sooooo excited!!! My goal is to practice on my own as well as I can and then see if I can get to practice with John Scott when he is here.
I'm giving myself these few months to make sure my primary is up to speed...and practice my 2 second series poses ( and add somemore of my own if I think I can). Then hopefully John can have a look at my practice and give me some tips..I don't know if he is going to teach any class..I just know he will be in town...I can't wait!;)
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2 comments:
i am not an iyengar yogi either. but, props are good because sometimes if i adjust you into a pose, i am making a shape out of you. but, if i tell you the instructions and refinements, you can soon intuitively make it happen. this can also happen with adjustments. the instructions of iyengar are the verbal adjustments to ashtanga's physical.
i have studied both forms indept.
I am an advanced series practioner of ashtanga and have learned a few poses into advanced b or 4th series, but i find going to iyengar classes and working on basic basic stuff to be essential.
and if you have cultivated minfulness, doing a practice everyday that only consisted of refining Downward Dog wouldn't be boring and indeed most ashtangi
's and yoga practicioners need to do such a thing but don't.
Hi Ralph,
good to hear from you. I don't think Iyengar instructions serve no purpose at all, and I DO think it will help my Ashtanga practice alignment. Like I said, I wouldn't mind a refresher on basics once in a while..but its just not likely that I will dedicate myself to that style.
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