Mike, Holly and Isla at Alex's

On the latest trip, we were going with no expectations for the yoga, but looking forward to a great break. We were lucky enough to stay in Alex Medin’s house in Gokulum, about 5 minutes walk to the Shala and to Gokulum village. Staying here was very easy and relaxing. The streets are clean, there is no-one hassling you and you can walk around relatively unmolested. There is every thing you could want in the area so there is no real need to travel into the inner city. Though I love central Mysore, Holly and Isla found it a bit intimidating, noisy, smelly and crowded.

It turned out that I was extremely blessed with my Yoga experience again. I was fortunate enough to enjoy classes with Saraswathi, Sharath and Peter Sanson, with very few students. The highlight was having a week of classes with Sharath with only myself and 2 good friends. Getting another week with Saraswathi with just 6 to 8 of us was also very special.

Temple at Mysore Palace

Sharath was in holiday mode gathering his energy for another trip overseas. We in the Ashtanga world put so much expectation on Sharath that I am not surprised that he gets worn out. I average about 150 students a week and get very tired unless I have a break. Sharath has to deal with that number every day at times! I don’t know how he does it. His adjustments are sublime and the passion and integrity he has are amazing. And he is still so young. If he is this good now, I look forward to visiting him in Mysore as often as we can afford into the future.

Mysore Palace lit up

This was the first time I have practised under Saraswathi’s direction and I loved it. Her energy reminds me so much of Guruji. With so few students she was full of help and light and laughter. She had time to give us pointers on the little things and her adjustments are fantastic. In over 19 years of Yoga practice I have now had 4 teachers. Guruji, Sharath, Peter Sanson and now, Saraswathi. I am humbled by them, and bow at their feet.

I have been asked many times since we got back what I learned from my latest trip. I learned that the Ashtanga Vinyasa method is in good hands. On a personal level, no new postures (in fact I was not practising up as far as I was last time I was in Mysore), but lots of learning around the breath. My focus quickly came to the quality of my breath and how deeply this influences the practice. The quality of puraka (inhale) dictates the quality of the following rechaka (exhale) and the quality of rechaka dictates the quality of the following puraka, and so on. This is so fundamental to the practice that you think it would be the first thing you learn. Steady breath leads to steady practice and steady focus. Steady breath energises you, whereas ragged breath tires you out. With a steady breath anything is possible. It is far too easy to forget this and it is also not as easy as it sounds. As with the practice in general is takes practice, practice and more practice.

In the precious times I had with Guruji I only heard him talk about Mula Bandha once at any length. He said “control your hips, that is Mula Bandha” and then followed up with “practice and Mula Bandha is automatically coming”. He also stated that we should maintain Mula Bandha at all times, not just during our asana practice.
My personal experience is that the development of this important aspect of my practice has happened slowly and steadily over time. When I first started Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in late 1992 I had no idea what Mula Bandha was, but I was strong. This strength enabled me to muscle my way into some asanas without activating or being aware of Mula Bandha. As my practice has developed and as I have got older brute strength does not suffice. Thus it became necessary to increase my awareness of my centre of gravity, the source of an inner, more powerful strength.

As with so many aspects of this beautiful practice, there is an organic evolution of awareness and understanding that no amount of reading or attending workshops can give you. Do your practice on a regular daily basis and Mula Bandha will creep up on you and as it sneaks through the door into your awareness it will let a little light through. As David Garrigues writes in his blog, hand in hand with Mula Banda comes Ahimsa. Practice, don’t think about it and certainly don’t worry about it. Just practice. It is the kindest and most compassionate thing you can do for yourself.

We are taking an extended Easter Break this year. There will be no classes on Thursday 21st April and through to Tuesday 26th April. The school will re-open with classes as usual on Wednesday 27th April. Enjoy your Easter break.

The beautiful thing I have learned from him applies to my own practice and to my teaching. So many of my students have great difficulty with Marichasana D, but the difficulty exists in their heads. It is their attitude to the posture that is creating the problem, not the posture itself. I have found time and again with my students and in my own practice that if you let go of your expectations for a posture and focus on breathing softly and steadily, there is no difficulty. Sure you may not get the bind, but you will get closer by relaxing than by fighting, and your practice will be much more enjoyable. Just breathe. It’s true and it works. Just breathe.

Our next Friday Full Led Primary Series will be on Fri. 3rd Dec. This is a chance to come and do a Led class that emphasises Vinyasa, or breath and movement. You do not need to be practising all the Primary Postures to come and do this class as you can stop where you normally do. The class starts at 6pm. Normal charges apply and all passes are valid. We do go out to dinner after the class as an opportunity to meet and socialise with other yoga practitioners. No need to book. Just come.

Your asana practice is about creating a foundation so that the whole of  Yoga can flow freely into you. This foundation will take more than just one lifetime to complete. Accept this fact. Practice without expectation and with discipline and patience and “all is coming”. Practice with expectations and a sense of wanting to get somewhere, or with a teacher who has this attitude and you will inevitably get ahead of yourself. This leads to many difficulties and disappointment.

What is true for your practice as a whole, is also true for each asana. Start each asana by establishing a steady and strong foundation. Have no expectations for each asana. The only thing certain about every asana is that it will not be the same as the last time you did it. From your steady base, soften into each asana with the breath and enjoy.

Our next Friday Full Led Primary Series will be on Fri. 5th Nov. This is a chance to come and do a Led class that emphasises Vinyasa, or breath and movement. You do not need to be practising all the Primary Postures to come and do this class as you can stop where you normally do. The class starts at 6pm. Normal charges apply and all passes are valid. We do go out to dinner after the class as an opportunity to meet and socialise with other yoga practitioners. No need to book. Just come.