Love a selfie. Especially with Tim Miller :) Just spent the weekend on an Ashtanga workshop with Tim Miller from The Ashtanga Yoga Centre Los Angeles. Tim was the first American to introduce Ashtanga to the States. He has been teaching for 35 years and was at Triyoga Soho this weekend. He is also my LA yoga teachers, teacher, lucky them.
It's the first time I have had a class at Triyoga and I must say I loved the atmosphere. Very friendly staff and a no fuss studio. Simple and it works. Being in the middle of Carnaby Street is an added bonus of the areas historic link to the 60's and it's bohemian vibe.
First I took the Teacher's adjustment class and Tim delivered expert advice on how to adjust the more able body and how to get a bit more from each pose. Hands on adjustments help you to open up as you trust your weight onto the teacher to allow the body to surrender/release the stretch. It's just the best feeling.
On Saturday morning we did The Primary Series after an hours talk on the Sadhana Pada. Second part of the Yoga Sutras. That's always the best bit for me. It's the philosophical side of yoga that interests me the most. I can't get enough. And it reminds me of how much reading and studying I should be doing and I don't. Things need to change :)
Sunday morning it was an Introduction to Intermediate. I've been doing the Primary for a year now and although that is not long at all in the 'Ashtanga' scheme of things I feel there's some stretching and strengthening I am missing out on with the Primary. So it totally validated my presence in a class that I knew was going to be extra challenging but hay, why not give it a go. You can - yoga.
Fully embalmed in China Gel I collected myself and my breath in samasithi to say the opening chant. To be honest I would of liked to hear Tim say the chant and we repeat it. He is well read in sanskrit and I could have learnt something there. However, the Aum is over and the first inhale takes us into Surya Namskara A and we are off.
It now makes sense why we need to get the fat off in the Primary series as when you hit the first new exercise in Inter you are not going to be able to do it with too much excess fat! Squat, twist, bind & balance. Thankfully, Tim shot a block under my heels, literally, as I struggled and boy did it work.
I was soon lying prone and trying to lift my upper and lower torso at the same time. I felt I wasn't getting anywhere but I was using so much effort. I heard him say "your back is not bending" Was that directed at me? Surely not :)
Will my back ever bend that way again? Well, they say if you could do it as a kid it will come back. Yep, I did acrobatics as a child but what about 50 years on?
Tim sits in ....... which is a quad stretch when he was talking to us. I took it as there was a message there for me. Sit how Tim sits and your quads will remained stretched for many years ahead :)
I must say Tim's body was seriously toned for his age. Infront of me was a man who has had a daily practice for most of his life and the benefits of such a devoted Ashtanga asana's practice was obvious.
After my last class on Pranayama I came away relaxed, refreshed, re motivated, re balanced and once again re connected to the wonder of yoga on my spiritual body.
All I need to do now is to keep it up.!!!! The benefits of this type of excerise to mind body and soul is beyond fantastic. Just love it!
Sky
