Here is a link to a wonderful and fun interview with Russell Case, long time Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and teacher. Russell happened to be in my classes while I was in Mysore this past fall. You can find amazing video demonstrations with Russell on YouTube. Enjoy the interview!
Russell Case Interview
Russell Case Interview
Thanks, Lisa. I enjoyed the interview. Russell is a good writer, and his ideas about yoga pedagogy are interesting. Frankly, I am not quite sure what to make of Ashtanga yoga itself. I find it's unabashed anti-intellectualism ("99% practice, 1% theory") a bit unsettling. I came to yoga through philosophy and psychology, and still find yoga "theory" the most powerful and transformative aspect. I think it is possible to develop spiritually, and even experience transformative and transcendent breakthroughs, through the study of yoga scripture and concepts. I wish that Ashtanga was a bit more holistic and not so body-centric. Meditation, anyone?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Brian. I certainly agree that yoga "theory" is a powerful aspect. I think it's important to understand that the physical series of postures taught by Pattabhi Jois was/is only a part of the picture. Philosophy and meditation are meant to be a part of the practice (as is the complete eight-fold path) and continue to be taught at the Ashtanga Yoga Reaseach Institute. But the 99% practice and 1% theory applies to it all, both physical practices and the mental ones. Even in the study of philosophy and psychology, if one doesn't put the knowledge/theory into action, the benefits won't be reaped. The beauty of yoga, is that many many systems are recognized as viable paths. Based on our own culmination of experiences, one may appeal to us more than another. No system of yoga is less holistic or viable than another. They just each present a different facet of this amazing gem. But the great thing, is that through community, we can share our different views and come to a greater understanding of the whole.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you have found another form of yoga more philosophical? I feel like Ashtanga is a preparation for meditation and with a lot of practice-it can become a form of meditation. ( Right now,I have to concentrate too much on the sequence to be lost in it.) It is like walking a labyrinth-mind and spirit moving through a path, step after step. I also realize it is not the entire package. It can't be. Yoga has eight limbs right and asana is only one limb. But I think that meditation and the philosophical aspects are really important and at times are addressed outside of the practice itself. I wonder if you could tell us about literature you have found meaningful. I am new to this side of the practice and I would love to learn more. Maybe you could give us some starting points for future reading and exploration. Maybe , we could have a talk about the philosophy sometime or maybe a walk after Mysore. All of these would serve as wonderful starting points. Maybe in the future-a book club or online book club.
I have been reading yoga literature since 1970, when Jim Murphy, my high school english teacher, gave me a copy of Jess Stern's book, Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation, to read. There are so many books, I don't know that I could remember them all.
ReplyDeleteTwo ideas I have been playing with are to start a yoga meditation group and a yoga classics discussion group. I am certified as a meditation teacher and would be willing to lead the group. There are many different yoga meditation techniques and it might be interesting to explore them. The trick would be to find a time that is convenient for everyone to meet.