In doing research for a grant proposal, I stumbled upon this article that tackles some of the very questions I will be researching.  Though it only scratches the surface, it's an interesting interview with Sharath, Pattabhi Jois' grandson who is now running the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore.

Question & Answer w/ Sharath Assistant Director of Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute

Giam recently did a great question and answer style interview with Sharath, Pattabhi Jois's grandson. Sharah is  the assistant director of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute and one of the few people chosen to continue  the organization's legacy. The article is below.

While its roots stretch back in time to an ancient sage named Vamana Rishi, nearly 80 years ago the Ashtanga yoga system was passed to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from the legendary yogi, T. Krishnamacharya. Since 1948, this Jois has been teaching this disciplined style of yoga from his Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, located in Mysore, southern India, instructing many thousands of people worldwide.

R. Sharath is the Assistant Director of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois's grandson. Sharath is also Jois's only student to have mastered all five series in the Ashtanga yoga system, and is currently studying several asanas in the sixth and final series. He resides and teaches yoga in Mysore with his wife Shruthi and daughter, Shraddha.

The Sanskrit word "ashtanga" literally means eight limbs, which, according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, correspond to eight distinct practices designed as a means to control the mind and purify the internal being: Yama (moral codes), Niyama (self-purification and study), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense control), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (absorption).

Asthanga focuses first on a daily asana practice to strengthen and make flexible the body and sense organs, the fundamental physical state for steadying the mind. Asana is assembled into six different series: Primary (Yoga Chikitsa) detoxifies and aligns the body; Intermediate (Nadi Shodhana) purifies the nervous system; Advanced A, B, C and D (Sthira Bhaga) integrate strength and balance and are curative for many deep diseases.

We spoke with Sharath in New York City who, along with his mother Saraswati, was recently in the US to assist Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in a series of yoga workshops.

What is the difference between how you were taught yoga and how it is taught in the west?

My grandfather has been teaching western students for the past 35 years. When I was a child, foreigners started coming to Mysore, in India. So from that time on they have been learning yoga from him. What we are teaching is the same for Indians or for foreigners. In the same way that my grandfather has taught me, he has been teaching to the foreigners as well.

What is missing from western practices?

Many people think yoga is like a gym, or like going to a work out, but that is not yoga. Nowadays, it has become a trend to take a yoga course for something like one month, and then you are able to say that you have become a teacher. But that is not yoga. Yoga is spiritual. You should consider it a spiritual practice, not just exercise. Spiritual.

Asana (posture) is only one step on the path of yoga. Yoga really means self-consciousness, self-realization — that is the ultimate meaning of yoga. Not just doing postures. This is only one aspect, but it is the foundation for you to realize what you are. To realize the source, what we are inside, that is real yoga.

I think it is good that yoga is growing everywhere, that people want to do yoga. But people should look for authenticity. Find an authentic yoga method and go to the source to learn. For example Ashtanga Yoga came from Mysore, from Pattabhi Jois; and you have to go there, to the roots, to learn the yoga.

Many people come for one or two months and then become very big teachers in the West, but they don't ever learn about themselves. Their self. This is also the roots of the yoga practice. To learn this, it is very important for find an authentic yoga teacher: someone who know the real meaning of yoga. This is very important.

Is there anything that we in the West are getting right?

Yoga is so powerful that even if you practice without thinking or believing anything — you will benefit. If you are thinking that yoga is only exercise — still you receive benefits. But you can also dig deeper, research further, and learn about yoga philosophy, a process that is never ending. You can keep learning your whole lifetime.

It also depends upon how you think about yoga. Some people think it is only about asana, exercise and practice. Yet still they receive the benefits to their health. Problems will solve. They become concentrated.

Many people have come to me and said, "I started practicing yoga and my life has been changed." People can improve their whole lifestyle.

Yoga changes your life. It doesn't matter what or how you think. It has already changed so many lives, that's why it is getting more popular.

Has there been a change in the type of Western students, between the early ones and those who come now?

Now there are more dedicated students. They want to learn more. Many students are getting deeper into Sanskrit, yoga philosophy and the Vedas. Not all of them — maybe twenty percent of the yoga practioners that we see. But that twenty percent, they really want to know: "What is yoga?"

Indian culture it is totally different. I would say that Western culture is opposite.

How?

There are many ways that we are born to family, caste and tradition. Yoga was born in India, so it is easier for an Indian to learn about yoga, but it is still hard to learn yoga. And nowadays the westerner is starting to understand yoga, at least that twenty percent. This is really good, because the culture is totally different. And yoga does not impose religious preferences. It doesn't say only these people who think this way can practice — anyone can practice. It's universal. Anyone can enjoy the benefits of yoga.

But we must "go to the source" to learn?

This is called guru parampara. In Indian culture, you go to a teacher and learn from him, like you in the west go to a school and learn the ABC's. But we devote everything to this lineage, from the teacher's guru through to you. It transfers like that. And then, after many years, a guru says, "Okay, you have learned what I have to teach you, now go out into the world and teach." Only then can you teach. It's not like doing a two week teacher's training course. You have to be a student before you can become a teacher. You have to be a student before you can realize "What is yoga?"

You have to experience it before you can teach others.

What do you think about the fact that nowadays there are more yoga teachers in the West than in India?

It's a market. That's why. Everybody wants to become a guru immediately. Fifteen days, one month, and then they want to become a big star, be in the magazines ... [laughing] All the [ancient] yogis, they didn't come in magazines. They never advertised themselves. They didn't say, "Hey, I'm a big yogi." That's just ego. You have follow the yamas (moral codes of conduct) and niyamas (self-purification and study).

We get so many calls from westerners. They call, "How can I become a teacher?" They write to us, "How can I become a teacher?" You have to become a student first. For a long time. Maybe ten years.

Teaching is very difficult. And unless you really want to understand what yoga is, how can you teach?

Do you have any closing words about yoga?

You have to be a student your whole life. Yoga is never ending. It's like the ocean and what we have learned is like a small drop. There's a lot to learn and for our whole life, we keep learning.

What is an Ashtanga Yoga practice?

If someone doesn't have an hour and a half to watch. Ask them if they have 3 minutes........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeEOPif8WXE&feature=player_embedded#at=80

Mark T. Kinder

Shanthi Mantra

Om saha naa vavatu /
Saha nau bhunaktu /
Saha viiryam /
Karavaa vahai /
Tejas vinaa vadhiita mastu ma /
Vidvishaa vahaihi //
Om shantih shantih shantihi


“May Braham protect us both together. May he nourish us both together. May we both work together with
great energy. May our study be vigorous and effective. May we never hate each other. May peace,
physical, mental and spiritual, be on us forever. Om peace peace peace.”

Sirsa = head

Jake Shimabukuro plays "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Video on TED.com

Jake Shimabukuro plays "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Video on TED.com

Jeff and Kathy

 

We just enjoyed a short week of yoga practices. Because of the new moon on Wednesday and the shifting of Sunday’s practice to Saturday, we went from a week of seven practices in a row to a week of just 4 sessions, split by a day off. Not sure which was harder! Anyway, it feels good for it to be Saturday again and a holiday. We also registered at the shala for February, and our new starting time for the next month is 5:30 am. So, we shall be early birds for awhile. Our two roomates from Norway now start at 4:30, so we feel a little grateful we can sleep in a bit.

 

Since we have been here, we have taken advantage of some Ayurvedic therapy treatments. Kathy has been for two massages, and we are both taking some various natural medicines to balance our systems. Briefly, in Ayurveda you are a mixture of three doshas, or constitutions: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata constitution is comprised of the elements of air and ether, Pitta is comprised of the elements of fire and water, and Kapha is a combination of earth and water.

 

When these tendencies are not in balance then there could be troubles. Both Kathy and I, and I guess most yoga students, are pretty high in vata tendencies. So we take some herbal medicines before eating, after eating and before bedtime. And every once in a while, something, (read: castor oil), to clean out the entire system. Ahem.

 

But, the best part is the ayurvedic massages. I signed on for a twenty-one day treatment, so that means twenty-one massages! These massages are definitely not the ones you are thinking about, however! I just finished my second week and have one week more to go. I will tell you about them, but if you are squeamish or prudish or easily embarrassed, you can just skip the whole thing and go to the end of this e-mail. The cost for 21 day treatment is roughly $238 per week, and there are seven 2-hour treatments. A bit costly by Indian standards but a real deal in American moneys.

 

The massage begins by sitting on a small stool and having your head, scalp, face, neck, and shoulders all rubbed with oil. Sometimes you get your neck stretched upwards, and downwards or to either side. Oh, I forgot to mention- no clothes! You get to wear a string tied around your waist and something like a large napkin tucked into the front and back! (I did say this might be graphic.) This heads-up massage takes about ten minutes. They use palms, thumbs, forearms and hands for all this. Some of it is very reminiscent of thai bodywork, with lots of rubbing and stroking and pressing. Feels really good on your neck, especially.

 

Then it’s time to lie down on the table. This table is all dark wood, about seven or eight feet long and about two feet wide. There are no sheets. It sorta reminds me of a extremely large turkey basting dish, as it is recessed about 2 inches in from the edges, like a shallow bowl. There are two arms extending from the top for your arms and hands, and a hole at the bottom end of the table that functions like a drain. “For what?” you might ask. Well, let’s just say they use a LOT of oil in these massages! So you need a way to siphon and collect it somewhere, otherwise the table might just fill up with oil! Under your knees, elbows, feet and hands they place large sponges for padding. Your butt will have to suffice for the middle part!

 

And there are two therapists who will do the massage at the same time. Two women for the ladies and two men for the gentlemen clients. You lie down on your back and the massage continues on your neck and face and shoulders. They can use some deep pressure here on the sides of the neck and the large muscles that support our heavy thought-filled heads! You realize this part is over when they drizzle some cooler oil on your forehead. Then they start to pour nice warm oil on your belly and then down each leg and up each arm. It feels really nice! The two therapists work like a team, sweeping the oil in circles around your belly, up and down your arms and legs. It takes just a little getting used to because you pretty much are lying there naked on a table while they run their hands all over your body! There may be a little adjustment to make, but remember, you are in India and this is the typical order of the day. (Almost everything you do or say, eat or drink, see or think, drive across or walk next to requires a re-thinking.)

 

When you can relax and close your eyes, the warm oil and the coordinated massage and the sound of breathing begins to melt away the tensions or soreness. These two have definitely worked as a pair for awhile and they seem to be in complete sync. Sometimes you just aren’t sure how many hands are working on you all at the same time. After a bit you roll over, hang on to the two wooden arms above your head, and have warm oils drizzled across your backside and they begin to sweep across your legs and back and shoulders and arms, pressing down with long sweeping strokes. Any tensions left in your body just don’t have a chance!

 

The massage will last about two hours! Your hair and you will be completely covered with oils, but you will be happily relaxed. Of course there are also specific massage treatments for certain physical issues, which will make the treatment go a bit differently than the simple massage. In my 21 day treatment, the doctor is trying to help me with my low back and leg pains. So, after about one hour of the massage, some other cool things have happened. For the first few days he would use tightly rolled up towels, filled with herbs and very hot. He would pat these hot towel/rolls up and down and all around my back, legs, arms, etc. Every few moments he would heat them up again using a very hot metal plate, so they were always warm. This technique feels pretty good, I think he was trying to tenderize me.

 

The next few days he switched the treatment. After about an hour of the massage, he began to pour warm water from a small bucket onto me. He might start at the feet and move up the legs and back and shoulders and arms with a single bucket. The very warm water felt really great, imagine it as a sort of hot bath that moves all around your body. With the other hand he would gently massage or rub the water around onto your muscles. I wish I could describe just how nice this part felt, having the warm water poured over you- it’s kinda like when you are taking a hot bath and pull the drain plug and feel the water recede, but in reverse! Anyways, now you know why there is a big drain at the foot end of the table. After the first week, the treatment switched again. Now they are using hot oil instead of water, and it is even more amazing! Warm oil has more weight than water, seems to stay on you longer and feels like silk. The only way I can describe it might be to imagine that you are a big pile of pancakes and someone is pouring warm maple syrup onto them, completely covering them until the syrup runs down the sides of the pancakes, off of the plate and onto the table, then the floor.

 

It feels magical. We both agree we would never be able to find this type of massage anywhere in America, that’s for sure. Back home it’s mandatory to carefully cover the client with sheets so that nothing but the area being massaged is exposed. Over here, everything you got is all right out there. The really nice thing about this is that the massage feels completely integrated and holistic because the whole body is connected and massaged from head to hands, along the torso, down the legs to the feet and back again. This just isn't possible when there are sheets involved and only parts of the body are being massaged at one time.  Now, it’s not that we are promoting exhibitionism, but there is a cultural and legal bias back home that would make these techniques non-existent. I have one week left of my treatments, and the doctor says they will change again starting tomorrow. Hmmm, I can only wonder what that might mean.

 

When it’s all over, you use towels to wipe off the excess oil. Well, actually, they do most of this part for you. You also get a small daub of choornam powder on the top of your head as the finishing touch. Then a warm glass of water with some herbs infused in it and you are on your way. Back at the apartment, a hot shower is definitely in order! Then take rest.

 

Well, I think that’s enough for now. If you read this far I am sure there will be more than enough to think about! We shall write again soon, maybe some more about the royal city and its’ people. In the meantime, we hope you are doing well, and remembering to take some time each day to be grateful and smile every once in awhile. Thank you very much for all of your nice e-mails and messages. It really feels a bit like Christmas everytime we are able to connect with you.

 

Love and peace to you all,

 

Jeff and Kathy