Friday, July 13, 2001


here's the entirety of karl erb's letter to me. he's a san-francisco based iyengar teacher, with classes at open door yoga. i find it deeply interesting -- a mini-satsang. . . others might find it a shot across the bow. . .

Fortune,

In yoga there is no word for wimp. Yoga is about learning who you are, what are your habits, your strengths, your vanities and limitations and how to bring balance to your life by understanding these things. So you will find the yoga that is right for you.

What do we mean by getting in shape? molding our body to someone else's ideal if limited physical attributes and appearances? Are we getting in shape because we are not happy with "who we are", because we associate our physical body with sense of self? Or are we reshaping our sense of self and self acceptance, self-care and self-love that leads to physical and spiritual health. The reality is a six pack stomach is not healthy for the organs, and not realistic for some body types, why do we want it? Are we serious about self study (svadyaya) which is the path of yoga, or are we wanting a work out to look better?

Have you seen my discussion group on Salon.com? There are a lot of great comments from people there about different types of yoga. What is interesting is that all these apparently different styles of yoga are all from the same place. I personally find the series from Pathabi Jois not as challenging as Iyengar style classes, but they make a good warm up. I do the Vinyasa series, same as the "Ashtanga" series, that I have always done to warm up for the deep work of the practice. I have found after almost 20 years of experience that I cannot go deeply into the postures, the breath, the focus by simply moving from pose to pose, nore by repeating the same series each time, this is what has been true for me. That said, the Vinyasa series used by the Jiva Mukti school (they are a school and not a style of yoga) and the Ashtanga system developed by Pathabi Jois are also a part of the Iyengar system, as are variations on jumpings, the Sun Salutations and so on.

Most of these divisions are recent marketing developments perpetuated in the US to appeal to the American vanity and body image issues. The term Ashtanga has nothing do to with which poses you do or how you do your poses. See my web site pages on the Eight limbs of Yoga "Asta - anga". Mr. Iyengar and Patabhi Jois come from the same traditions, and Mr. Iyengar's system of yoga is also Ashtanga Yoga, as the term is defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Mr. Iyengar never called his style of yoga Iyengar yoga until other people started teaching as inspired by him. His first Book is simply Light on Yoga, an incredibly comprehensive guide to the depth and breath of yoga.

The sytems are wonderfully complimentary. A balanced yoga practice will also include stillness, and maybe the person who made the comment about sitting on the floor attended a class focussing on forward bends or something. Iyengar style teachers tend to have longer training than other systems (at least two years, much anatomy and physiology and philosophy) and tend to focus on precision and attention to refined action in poses. Asana (postures) by definition from the Sutras means "firm, comfortable, stable seat or position" movement by definition is not asana.

Iyengar style classes are often taught to teach you something precise and deep about the poses or even one specific pose so you can then take it into your practice. So for some people it is too much work and focus, or not enough of a physical workout. I find the Ashtanga classes a guided practice, but there is no instruction, or learning how to change my habits, go deeper, refine the movement of energy created by the breath and so on. A fine guided practice, but I don't look to a teacher for that. Americans have modeled the yoga practice to look like their gym workout, aerobics, jazzercise etc...

I would suggest contacting the Iyengar Institue in NY and asking for a list of teachers, they teach all around the city, and trying a few out. Some will teach more rigorous than others, som ewill teach more detail, not all classes will make you sweat and jump around but you will learn something each time if you are open and humble.

Keep me posted. I would be interested to know what you find out you like. And keep going to the Jiva Mukti and "Ashtanga" classes. You will them very complimentary.

Take Care.
Karl.

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