Kino MacGregor - The Power of Ashtanga Yoga II

A SHTANGA Y OGA IS A DISCIPLINED AND DEVOTIONAL PATH that not everyone will have the courage and determination to stay with. Even the most talented practitioners give up along the way before they experience the deep peace that comes from years of practice. Sometimes the sheer difficulty of maintaining a daily practice is daunting, or the complexity of the postures steers interested students away. In this apparent difficulty is the true magic of the Ashtanga Yoga method, because it is only through triumph over adversity that we find deep meaning in the practiceand in life.

The Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series is one of the most demanding yoga practices; however, the rewards are proportional to the depth and difficulty of the practice.

The basic starting requirement for the Intermediate Series is that you maintain a consistent practice of the Primary Series six days a week for at least a year and pass through the key gateway postures of the Primary Series. The postures of the Intermediate Series require that you cross over large hurdles of strength and flexibility. Regular practice of the Intermediate Series is almost inevitably a catalyst for making lifestyle changes that reflect this disciplined practice.

My previous book, The Power of Ashtanga Yoga, details the principles and practice of the Primary Series of the Ashtanga Yoga method. This book delves into the Second Series. If you are new to Ashtanga Yoga, I strongly recommend that you start off with the Primary Series. Even if you are an advanced student of another yoga discipline, you should not expect to jump into the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series. When you are starting a new method, you should always start with the basics, regardless of how much mastery you have attained in another form of yoga.

The physical practice of Ashtanga Yoga is defined by the Tristhana method, which comprises the three prongs of breath (pranayama), posture (asana), and focal point (drishti). These three components are present in every Ashtanga Yoga practice. Contained within them is the inner work of core strength, known as Mula Bandha (Root Lock) for the pelvic floor and Uddiyana Bandha (Upward Flying Lock) for the lower belly. For an in-depth discussion of the Tristhana method and the bandhas, please consult The Power of Ashtanga Yoga.

The practice is divided into six series of poses that increase in difficulty and complexity. The Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series is called yoga chikitsa. The Second, or Intermediate, Series is called nadi shodhana. The Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Series are all part of the Advanced Practice called shtira baga, which is sometimes poetically interpreted as strength and grace. They are known respectively as Advanced A, B, C, and D.

It takes many years to begin to understand how the Ashtanga Yoga method works. If you look ahead at some of the postures in the Intermediate or Advanced series, they may look exciting and fun. You may even be tempted to try them out. However, once you begin the sincere practice of Ashtanga Yoga, it is best to commit to learning it step by step in its entirety rather than choosing poses ad hoc based on personal preference. In this way, you will protect your body from injury and develop respect for the practice.

M Y B ACKGROUND

My teachers are Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, R. Sharath Jois. I first traveled to Mysore, India, when I was twenty-three years old, and my meeting with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, whom I called Guruji, changed my life. I never imagined that I would become a yoga teacher or devote my life to this practice, but the seed of awakening was planted deep within me the moment I looked into Gurujis eyes. Even though he has passed away, he is still the heart and soul of the practice for me.

On my first trip to India, I studied the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga, but Guruji told me at the end of that trip that if I came back to Mysore, he would teach me the Intermediate Series. He said that with a flexible body, the practice would be no problem for me. It took me a little more than a year to return to India, and true to his word, Guruji immediately began teaching me the Intermediate Series. While I recommend that students stay with the practice and take a long time to truly master each posture, my journey through the Intermediate Series was fast. In one week, I completed the entire series under the guidance of Guruji and Sharath, and then for the remainder of my stay in Mysore, they asked me to maintain a daily practice of the Intermediate Series in order to integrate the main lessons contained within this practice on a spiritual, emotional, and physical level.

For the next three years, the Intermediate Series was part of my daily practice, even as I began to learn the challenging Third Series. Although I completed the order of postures in the Intermediate Series, my learning has continued throughout fifteen years of practice. Whereas I learned the Primary and Intermediate Series in two consecutive trips to Mysore, learning the Third Series took three extended trips of up to six months each. Finally, after six more trips to continue my studies with R. Sharath Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, I completed the nearly impossible Fourth Series.

My experience in the entire method of Ashtanga Yoga informs the technique, direction, and guidance contained within this book. I present the poses of the Intermediate Series within the framework of the four series of the Ashtanga Yoga method that I practice. There will be postures that reflect back on the lessons learned within the Primary Series and look ahead toward the Advanced Series. None of the postures should be glossed over or taken for granted. The entire method of Ashtanga Yoga is to be cherished and appreciated like a precious family heirloom that has been passed into your care. Regardless of how many asanas you may learn or even master, it is important to remember that the Ashtanga Yoga method is a lifestyle and a spiritual practice.