The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a style of yoga codified and popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras' well-known eight limbs or branches, of which asana or physical yoga posture is merely one branch, breath or pranayama is another. Both Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois, his grandson, encourage practice of Ashtanga Yoga - all eight limbs.
My journey with Ashtanga Yoga has evolved over the years. I first learned Ashtanga yoga and practiced the Primary Series with my first teacher Justin Wolfer in 2012. It was during our 200 hr TT that we would practice, usually during our Saturday morning practice or Sadhana. I really appreciated the practice and found it challenging, but I didn't totally understand the ways in which Ashtanga would forever change my life.
Let's start from the beginning and my introduction to yoga in general. I grew up as a highly active child, playing soccer, ballet, gymnastics, competitive swimming, softball, basketball. As I grew into a young adult I played field hockey and ran track. I was always a GO GO GO child. Constantly on the move, rarely did I ever sit still. One would rationalize a variety of reasons why this was so; divorced parents so activities kept me busy; my own desire and interest to be a part of a team; all of my close friends were involved with sports and so I too wanted to follow along; and I was fairly good a picking up new activities, they generally came with much ease. I found that I thrived when I was moving and so I've always kept in a constant motion of sorts.
Let's fast forward a few years ... I was post undergrad and had returned home that summer to ideally find a job in NYC and to save some money working as a Nanny. I'll never forget my first experience with yoga, which was at a local YMCA, I was so disturbed and turned off that I wasn't sure 'yoga' was for me. I attended the class, which was a 1 hour vinyasa flow. The instructor was noticeably late - 10 minutes past, which OK, that happens. He also arrived and was wearing very little clothing ... let's elaborate for a moment, picture very short shorts, zero shirt, mala beads hung around his neck and drooped down to rest on top of a rather large and hairy belly. I usually try not to judge, at least as I've matured, but I'm sure I was rather repulsed by this first impression, as I was young and often judgmental. I was positioned in the middle of the room, so that I would be able to see others and the teacher during class. As we sat the instructor proceeded to tell us about his very awful day, and complained for another 15 minutes. At this point, my mind was saying fuck, this guy is sitting here and using class as a form of therapy for himself. It was almost half past the hour and where was the yoga? I was so disappointed at this point that I lost interest very quickly. I don't remember the physical asana that took place after the class, all I could think about was this man and all of his negative energy flowing out into the studio.
Needless to say, it was a year and a half later before I wanted to try yoga again. This time I entered a heated studio at Hot Yoga Saratoga (HYS) and took my first ever Bikram class with owner Cindy Lunsford. I should mention that I arrived to class on crutches. Yes, I had broken my femur in a horrific ski accident and a few months had passed and here I was at hot yoga as a form of therapy. Cindy was so wonderful, she was very mindful and kept a close eye on me all throughout class. She offered modifications which allowed me to feel very comfortable and confident in class. For the first time since I broke my leg, I could really move my leg in ways that had not been possible since the accident. I immediately noticed an increase in my range of motion, it felt great to perspire and sweat so much after being cooped up and stationary for so long. The heat was a new challenge, but as the practice teaches you, it becomes a moving meditation. I was hooked. I started to go quite regularly after this. HYS also offered hot vinyasa classes, and this is where Justin enters my yoga world. I started to practice with Justin regularly over the next few years, which inevitably lead me to his very first Teacher Training. I remember having so much doubt in myself that I was "ready" to be a yoga teacher. I thought my leg is still recovering and I can't do all these poses, how can I ever be a yoga teacher if I can't do it all? Justin was very reassuring as I spoke these words to him, he said but of course you are ready. I started my journey into becoming a teacher and it was the best decision I could've ever made. This training was beyond unique, the other students in class are all so dear to me even many years later. I learned the meaning of a yoga family and yoga home. We allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with one another - sharing personal details of our lives. We would openly cry in our afternoon sessions, and Justin fostered such a supportive environment that this was OK. I usually find that people submerse themselves into a yoga training at very pivotal times in their lives. I know that I did. I was entering this practicing while still physically recovering from the ski accident. I recently had my heart broken and earlier in the year my Dad had been diagnosed with Cancer. I would say that this was a very hard time for me, so many moving parts and pieces to deal with. Rolling out my mat was the one time during the day that I was able to shut it all off. I was able to free my mind. The others all too had their battle wounds from life and it was truly the most remarkable experience I had experienced.
Shortly after completing my 200 hr with Justin I left Upstate NY and moved to Washington DC. I had a very hard time finding a new "home studio". It's important to me to find a place where there is a sense of community, where you can feel safe, supported, and challenged. The people you practice with become family to you just like your teacher often does. This was missing for me. I struggled to find a place that fit into my definition of a yoga home. I started teaching at a nearby studio regularly, and also subbed at a few places around where I lived. Again, I was missing that deeper connection that I so longed for. It wasn't until I attended my first yoga retreat in Costa Rica and I came across the term "Rocket Yoga" and "Mysore". Two dear friends; Stephanie and Kat had been chatting about a studio called Little River Yoga (LRY) and wanted to try out a few classes when we got back to the States. Another friend of mine Emily, had also been talking forever about one of her teachers she really enjoyed named Carson, who also taught Rocket at LRY. All signs were pointing to LRY so upon my return home, I attended a class. I instantly loved Rocket Yoga. I took class with Maggie Lively and really enjoyed the playfulness and challenge of the practice. I was inspired by all of the other students in the room, in various arm balances and inversions. I was a fairly strong practitioner but had yet to master a handstand, I couldn't believe some of the postures that I was witnessing. I started a weekly date to LYR for Rocket classes, and very quickly I became addicted. It must've been after a few visits that I finally met the owner of LRY, Stair Calhoun. I chatted with her about Mysore because I was a bit intimidated. Even though I was a "Teacher", I wasn't comfortable for some reason. Stair just said, "You come". There I was the following Monday morning on my mat at 6 AM. This day has become another large milestone in my journey. Stair explained to me the entire Ashtanga Vinyasa system, the breath, the chants, the history. I often refer to her as my Yoga Mom. She proceeded to teach me in all sorts of ways; she gave me my own Ashtanga class to teach at the studio only a few months after starting in the Mysore program, she believed I was ready when I still doubted myself. She sent me to a weekend workshop with David Robson in Georgetown Yoga. We both attended Tim Millers Primary Series TTC in Tulum, Mexico later that year. She introduced me into the world of doTERRA essential oils, and I completed an AromaTouch Therapy training. I had begun assisting her in the Mysore room in the mornings on weekends. She was grooming me to someday have a studio of my own, and I am beyond blessed that she entered into my world when she did. I must also mention another wonderful teacher during my time at LRY, David Ingalls. David was so understanding and nurturing of my physical limitations, but always found a way to work with me. He taught me a lot about softening and I value his teachings so dearly. My physical body grew in leaps and bounds through the support of both my teachers through the Ashtanga practice. My strength and flexibility increased, I really started to listen to my body, and developed an awareness about it that had been missing before. I started to be mindful of the things I ate and what time I was going to sleep. Yoga became a top priority in my life at this time.
After a few years in DC I moved across the country to San Francisco, CA. Here I was again, small fish big pond. Not only was it hard to find a studio to teach at, but there was hardly any Ashtanga! I had just left Ashtanga Mecca in DC to arrive to a small community of Ashtangis. Don't get me wrong there was heaps of yoga, but little Ashtanga. I developed a home practice on and off, I found it hard to stay committed when I wasn't getting that touch point with a teacher to help me in my practices. I did find Asta yoga where I was able to get my weekly fix of Rocket and Led Primary on Sunday's with Renee and Scott, but as for a daily mysore practice, that went out the window a bit. I found I was doing a lot more hot vinyasa and Bhakti yoga, as this is the popular trend in the West.
As things often do, life and my practice have come full circle. I eventually moved back Upstate and I am honored to be teaching Ashtanga classes at Justin's studio, Rise Yoga Arts & Movment. Who would've thought I'd be back where I started with my first teacher and able to teach a practice that I am so passionate about. One that has helped to shape my life the past several years. Not to mention moving back Upstate has fulfilled my desires to be near to family and friends, but the yoga community or family is amazing. I feel blessed and fortunate to be surrounded with so many amazing souls.
Long story short (Ha!), Ashtanga has been such a large part of my spiritual and physical journey over the past several years. I've met amazing people in various shalas, while on retreats, at trainings, at conferences, and workshops all with Ashtanga being the common thread. This community is strong and soft, they live all over the world. My physical practice comes and goes, and I've learned to be OK with that. I can't always have a physical practice because of various reasons and this has allowed me to work on my spiritual development. The past few days here at Purple Valley have been hard for me. Since the Energy healing with Petri I haven't been able to practice. I have been tired and weak, I was feeling very low. I needed to just rest. Which is a hard concept for me to handle. Rest is not something I do well, and I often think I am resting when I'm still allowing busy-ness to invade my life. I've disconnected from all things the past few days, reading, practice, socializing, even eating has been difficult. Mostly I've been sleeping and relaxing by the pool and oh yes the occasional massage. Today was the first day that I felt semi-normal again, and I think I may practice for my last day here at Purple Valley. It's been a mental battle to tell myself that rest is OK, arguably it's necessary and needed. Just because we are not practicing our asana daily, does not make us a bad yogi, or any less dedicated. I often forget there are eight-limbs and asana is just one of them! Those physical pauses in our practice allow us to heal and grow in other ways. I've focused mostly on my breath and pranayama work. Additionally, I've really grown to love meditating more than ever. I got lost for over an hour in my mediation this morning while sitting by the pool. I've taken some time over the last few days to learn more about the energy body and ways to heal. This practice continues to give and I'm excited to see what lies ahead. I feel a shift within me that I can't exactly describe, but I know that all will be revealed soon. That's all for day, as it's the last afternoon here at Purple Valley and I plan to soak up as much sunshine and warmth as possible.
