7 Things I Learned From Practicing Ashtanga Yoga

“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>

A couple of years in the past, I made a decision that I wanted a venture. I used to be itching to study one thing new, one thing that will problem me. It had been a couple of years since I had begun working towards yoga considerably persistently, and I used to be having fun with the combination of vinyasa, yin, and sizzling yoga lessons that I used to be taking at my native studio. However I needed extra construction and consistency so I’d be capable to observe my progress over time.

Enter ashtanga: a decidedly structured model of yoga comprised of a vigorous sequence of postures which are practiced in the identical approach, in the identical order, each single time. Because of the web teachings of Richard and Mary Freeman, I realized the ashtanga main collection in my basement in the course of the 2020 lockdown. The movies concentrate on constructing familiarity with every pose little by little by repetition. I can’t say it was essentially the most thrilling yoga program I’ve ever undertaken, however it’s the one which has had essentially the most important long-term influence on me.

As I acquired into the behavior of working towards extra typically, the predictability and repetition of the poses started to symbolize stability at a time in my life in any other case marked by chaos. If I may carve out a small measure of management on my mat, I discovered, it might go a good distance towards serving to me really feel grounded.

I distinctly keep in mind a second a couple of days after a deeply upsetting occasion during which somebody I knew immediately and unexpectedly handed away. At that second, working towards ashtanga appeared like the very last thing that I had the psychological and emotional energy and house for. But after a couple of days, towards the overwhelming urge to remain curled up on the couch, I made a decision to strive. I pulled myself up, rolled out my mat, and set about working towards the collection.

Amazingly, I started to really feel a stage of connection to myself and a transparent presence within the second that I had by no means felt earlier than. Flowing by the acquainted rhythm, with nothing however the sound of my breath to information me, I used to be in a position to entry my struggling and the reckoning with what had occurred. A surreal sense of unbelievable gratitude washed over me as I understood that I used to be alive. I used to be there in that cramped kitchen with my mat wedged between the tiny desk and the fridge, transferring and respiration, present on this tenuous state of being that we take a lot without any consideration. I had by no means contemplated nor absolutely acknowledged the depth of that actuality till I stood on my mat that day.

I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that I’ve begun each yoga session since that day with ecstatic ease and by no means needed to encourage myself to observe. There has, the truth is, been quite a lot of negotiating, dragging, and avoidance that I’ve generally given into. I imply, it’s arduous to be bodily and mentally disciplined.

However irrespective of how a lot coaxing and cajoling is required to carry myself to the observe, I at all times really feel higher afterward.

7 Issues I Discovered From Practising Ashtanga Yoga

In my expertise, ashtanga will not be a simple model of yoga to start and stick with. My journey started partly as a result of I sought extra management over my yoga observe. Nevertheless, all of the sudden classes and insights I’ve obtained alongside the best way have strengthened the futility of my efforts for management.

Ashtanga has been one thing I’ve discovered to be like a thriller that reveals itself somewhat extra each time I observe, and due to this fact somewhat extra of myself is revealed to me each time as properly. My relationship to it by the teachings I’ve realized has morphed and shifted within the years since I began. Listed below are a few of the greatest issues I’ve realized alongside the best way.

1. Ashtanga will not be a lot about studying the poses, however what you find out about your self from doing the poses.

The observe of ashtanga will check your limits and confront you with your self. You’ll uncover your strengths and weaknesses and study to just accept your self precisely the place you’re in any second.

You’ll come nose to nose along with your ego and study to maintain it in verify. One of many methods this occurs is by attempting too arduous. In the event you push your self too far previous what’s the correct expression of a pose for you at that second, you could attain previous your limits and injure your self.

I realized this the arduous approach by overextending myself after which finally having to drag again and regulate after I observed ache and irritation. Typically you don’t even understand you’re overdoing one thing till it begins manifesting as discomfort, at which level you’re introduced with an important alternative to study extra about your physique and what it wants transferring ahead.

It won’t manifest as a direct damage, however when you proceed to observe a pose with improper type, you’ll really feel that imbalance over time. That is true in all types of yoga, however because of the repetitive nature of the actions, ashtanga is an particularly potent method to study this lesson. In case you have improper type in your Chaturanga and are frequently working towards it the 60 occasions that the first collection has, it gained’t be lengthy earlier than you start to really feel it.

With observe, you study to prioritize what your physique truly wants, and also you turn out to be much less connected to what you suppose you must do to measure as much as an exterior normal.

2. It may well show you how to reshape a punitive relationship to train. 

Our modern train tradition is inundated with messaging round pushing your self to the restrict. It additionally has a powerful emphasis on picture, whether or not that takes the form of the way you look or what you are able to do.

With ashtanga, the potential for damage when you push your self too far serves an necessary function. It creates a pure barrier to overstriding with a view to attain a sure splendid of efficiency, even when it’s important to expertise the opposed results of sidling as much as that barrier earlier than realizing you must again off.

The idea I hear from quite a lot of lecturers is to discover a stage of “comfy striving” within the pose—the concept that you’re placing forth effort however not attempting too arduous. Whereas it took a while for me to grasp what this truly means, it has guided me to search out essentially the most nourishing form for my physique in every pose, which then permits me to entry deeper and extra releasing expressions over time.

The extent of care and a focus you will need to train to observe the collection in a protected and therapeutic approach has the potential to positively affect your relationship along with your physique. You turn out to be extra targeted on what feels good and what you’ll be able to truly do comfortably, versus what the individual on the mat subsequent to you or in your Instagram feed is doing.

3. The way you observe a pose will look completely different than how another person practices it.

The best way you may even see an skilled practitioner transfer by the poses will not be the one “proper” approach. I’ve realized that the proper approach for me to expertise a pose means I’m not pushing previous my limits. I can by some means discover the effortlessness inside the effort.

As with every model of yoga, ashtanga has the potential to be therapeutic to the physique and thoughts, however solely whether it is approached with an accepting and compassionate mindset.

If a pose doesn’t really feel proper, you don’t should carry out it the best way you see it demonstrated. You possibly can work with a instructor on an adjustment. That doesn’t imply you’re not doing the observe appropriately, it simply signifies that you’re tuned in to your physique and prioritizing that over attempting to appease your ego.

4. Let your self profit from the assistance of a instructor.

It’s price going to class in individual each now and again since you’ll possible obtain insightful suggestions and changes in your type.

This was one thing I missed out on by beginning my observe at dwelling. Shortly after starting my observe, I observed a pinching feeling in my shoulder. I sought out the experience of a instructor and she or he helped me perceive that I used to be overloading my physique with all of the Chaturangas when my muscle tissue weren’t sturdy sufficient but to bear a lot weight so repetitively.

My instructor advisable that I do extra knees-chest-chin modifications, and the shoulder ache went away. Over time I used to be in a position to begin including again within the full Chaturangas.

Even with glorious on-line lessons, with out a educated eye serving to you perceive how correct type is meant to really feel in your physique, it’s straightforward to start out working towards poses improperly.

5. Practising with others may help form your relationship with Ashtanga

Going to a studio the place I really feel comfy and have entry to incredible lecturers and acquainted faces has helped me construct a way of group round my observe. This has added one other stage of dimension and which means to it.

I’m at the moment touring throughout South America, and though I’m unable to stay with one studio long run, visiting studios in several nations and cities has been a good way to profit from completely different lecturers’ views.

6. You could find a method to make ashtanga sustainable for you.

Ashtanga, in essentially the most conventional sense, requires a specific amount of dedication and adherence to routine and guidelines. It takes about 90 minutes to finish the first collection and the method sometimes recommends working towards six days per week, apart from Saturdays and through the brand new and full Moons.

Regardless that I started working towards ashtanga as a result of I craved construction and management, it initially felt fairly overwhelming. I discovered myself beginning to delay my observe due to my “all or nothing” mindset. If I didn’t have sufficient time to observe the total collection, or if it simply felt too daunting that day, typically I’d not observe in any respect.

After I was trustworthy with my instructor about this, she instructed I observe simply the opening Solar Salutations and ending sequence, which all collectively takes about half-hour. This helped me combine the observe into my life in a extra constant approach.

I’ve realized to mould the observe to suit my life reasonably than adhering to what custom mandates. Others could discover quite a lot of achievement within the latter—9 pm bedtimes and all! However sooner or later in my ashtanga journey, I spotted I wanted to tune out the noise of how different folks suppose it ought to be completed.

This was an train in studying to respect and recognize what I may do and needed to do, as a substitute of solely seeing the worth in whole completion in excellent accordance with the custom. Nowadays, I alternate my observe days with weight coaching and mountaineering, two different motion practices that carry me pleasure and during which I discover nice which means and achievement. I now not really feel an rigid attachment to how issues should be with my observe, and this has created house to discover a new stage of enjoyment and achievement in it.

Some lecturers insist that the collection should be practiced a sure approach and should be adopted to a T, whereas others have a extra relaxed method. I’ve realized that even the “T” itself varies from instructor to instructor. I realized that it’s greatest to take heed to and think about completely different views, whereas additionally asking myself what feels proper for me. I can study from lecturers and the custom itself, however I’ve come to grasp that the actual yoga comes from working towards in a approach that meets me the place I’m.

7. Let go of perfectionism.

Whereas ashtanga could appear to have a severe and structured angle round it, it actually ought to carry you pleasure and achievement. If it begins feeling like nothing greater than an obligation, possibly it’s time to rethink your method and think about how one can carry extra lightness and enjoyable into your observe. Attempt to go away house for laughter and shock, and see your observe as a time to play with motion.

I’ve realized that I don’t must observe in the identical approach each time and even throughout the first collection. Perhaps at some point I really feel like stopping at Bhujapidasana and spending some time taking part in with that motion, after which simply skipping to the ending poses as a substitute of finishing your entire collection.

Or possibly I really feel like devoting quite a lot of consideration to the refined mechanisms of my jump-backs and taking additional breaths there, resulting in a slower tempo than what you’d comply with in a led class the place the instructor calls the rely.

Because of this, I like Mysore (working towards at your individual tempo in a category surroundings) and residential observe loads as a result of they offer me all the liberty to linger, savor, and experiment.

For me, the observe is an ongoing experiment. What’s going to my physique and thoughts enable for right now? Actions I’ve been engaged on for months with seemingly no progress will abruptly occur virtually effortlessly, with none apparent clarification or change of approach. It’s a mind-body dialog at its most nuanced type, and it’s a reasonably fascinating course of to look at.

Ashtanga has the potential to be a robust alternative for development as a result of it attracts perfectionists after which reveals them the futility of perfectionism. It has humbled me and has challenged me to like myself as I’m. The observe has helped me by tough occasions and jogged my memory simply how lucky I’m to have this physique and this breath. Above all, ashtanga has taught me that flexibility of thoughts is much more necessary than bodily flexibility, and that perception has been the best present of all.

About Our Contributor
Olivia James is a Colorado-based author, an avid yoga practitioner, and solo world traveler. Having grown up in Asia, she was bitten by the journey bug at an early age and has devoted her life to experiencing the world and studying from it. She is particularly enthusiastic about writing about themes associated to wellness, world cultures, overseas affairs, and the outside. You possibly can comply with her travels on her blog.