Nov

29

By Ashtanga Yogi

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Categories: Forums & Site

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Yoga Blog to Yoga Teacher Website

September 2009 I started a journey that when finished will see me changed into a qualified yoga teacher, all being well, it is my intention to succeed in this journey. “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” (Ursula K. LeGuin), it’s a quote that often emerges into my mind at certain times, and this is naturally one of those times. Why do I say this, because I never started this journey with the goal of becoming a teacher, although by becoming a teacher it will be nice to be in a position to share yoga with others. The key driving reasons were for personal development, and to deepen my knowledge and understanding of yoga first and foremost for myself. As I say it was always good that I could share with others what has so profoundly enriched and changed my life numerous ways, namely yoga and what better position to start teaching yoga from than a more deep understanding of yoga and myself.

It is now time to evolve this blog site into a more professional and “yoga teacher” style website, but I shall still blog on this site, but the content will be organised differently, it will all still be there, but I might review and rework my posts and articles. I will write with yoga students in mind more than just friends and interested people.

So expect to see changes and fluctuations in this websites while the evolution progresses.

Sep

24

By Ashtanga Yogi

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Categories: Mandala Yoga Ashram

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Teacher Training: 1st Residentual

Today is Thursday 24th September (2009) and in a few hours I will be traveling to the Mandala Yoga Ashram for my first residential weekend on their 2 year yoga teacher training course. Before long I will be at the ashram and meeting the 22 other prospective teachers and forming relationships.

My pre-course home work is done and I can forget about my move to Cheshire for a few days. Life is very full at the moment, moving on the 17th October, starting a new job with more responsibility, and having to prepare two workshops for early November. At the moment I’m hoping I can get everything done, including the home work from this weekend and the October weekend (weekend after I move). If you were to see everything I’m needing to do between now and the end of the year, you would want to take me away for a nice holiday in January, any offers? lol

Since July 2008 I have moved twice, and next month I move again, so I’m feeling a little displaced and unsettled at the moment. I would really like to develop a social life and a group of friends; however, once I am moved I should be able to do that, and the yoga teacher training course has plenty of people, so I am hoping that I will feel less and less like a spare part on the shelf as the rest of the year unfolds.

So I wonder what the course and my life it will be like, hopefully I will get time to share my journey with you.

Jan

7

By Ashtanga Yogi

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Categories: Ashtanga, Fruits of Practice, General, Sutras

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Yoga – An Overview

In terms of yoga there are several facets. The science of yoga, and it is a science. There is also the philosophy of yoga, and there is the practical process of following the yogic path.

In truth every one is a yogi, everyone is spiritual, every one is religious. All paths use similar techniques. My understanding is that yoga as the full set of tools which other non yogic traditions/religions make use of. Of course yoga doesn’t own all these tools, just that yoga seems to have the knowledge about all these tools. Importantly different yogic traditions might not know of all the tools and may co-operate with other yogic traditions.

Anyway, back on track, the philosophy of yoga helps one understand the science and the practical process of walking the yogic path.

So what is the yogic path? it is simply the art of transforming oneself to a point where the need for a physical body to evolve is no longer needed. It is transcendence, on the way it is transcending limited beliefs and understandings leading ultimately to the final transcendence of the body/maya(illusion) which is overcoming the ignorance of our true nature – we are spiritual beings incarnate in human form.

A famous phrase in yoga is “start where you are” and “honor your body” (said in physical posture – asana – classes) in fact it really means honor every facet of your being, which leads as I have found to naturally being able to have this attitude to everyone.

The main premise in yoga is that we are ignorant of our true nature, and that this ignorance is one of five forms of suffering. The difference being that ignorance is the cause of the other four – this I will cover in another article.

So if we start where we are, and honor every facet of our being, we will be kind, gentle, understanding and accepting of ourselves. Or at least we will cultivate this as we progress and dispel aspects of ignorance on our journey.

The first step is to become aware of ourselves and then to cultivate and refine this awareness. The science and the philosophy are tools in helping to bring awareness of our situation to our consciousness. And this, helps us heal and evolve.

That is the essence and the starting point for yoga as I understand it.

Copyright © 2009 Russell Smithers

Jan

8

By Ashtanga Yogi

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Categories: Ashtanga, Fruits of Practice

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Knowing Yoga Through it’s Absence

The other day I spoke about the Untamed Mind and discussed how deep understanding is different to intellectual understanding. I spoke about knowledge only being true knowledge, when you know something from deep within after a flash of understanding. That knowledge gained for myself has taken a few years, but certainly will help keep me on my journey, after all;

“It’s good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end.” (Ursula K. LeGuin)

I think it was David Swenson (Ashtanga yogi) who said that he knows yoga more by it’s absence, today I had a deep understanding of this, although intellectually I could see how this may be true, it wasn’t until this morning that I understood it fully for myself. This understanding probably came about after a few weeks of not practicing over Christmas, then 5 days back into my personal practice, suddenly I understand it for myself.

So from my perspective the important in life are things that can be understood at the deep level, the knowing without doubt, not because I have a big ego, but knowledge beyond ego that anyone can prove for themselves, if they take the time with genuine intention to tread the path.

Namaste

Copyright © 2008 Russell Smithers