On the first night of the Estes Park Yoga Jounral Conference, John Friend read aloud from the mission statement that he wrote eleven years ago when he first articulated the intention of Anusara Yoga. The most striking piece of the statement was its emphasis on the community. As he introduced each Anusara teacher who would be presenting this week, they each spoke with gratitude about their practice and the community that supported them. He then introduced his staff. He knew each and every name.
And here is where Anusara blooms. The first precept of Anusara yoga is shakti: seeing the good, the [read more...]
A recent workshop with John Scott (www.stillpointyoga.com) has revolutionized my ashtanga practice. Ashtanga is a vinyasa system, but I must admit that I have spent more time “polishing my asanas” than I have exploring how the breath supports the poses. During the workshop, I was reminded keenly of Mark Whitwell’s viniyoga (breath-based) style (though Mark would undoubtedly decry such labels). Inhalation is surrender; exhalation is strength. As both teachers state, it’s a “strength-receiving practice.” Suddenly, the two very different practices of viniyoga and ashtanga merged. Ultimately, all practices unify.
Because the external configurations (bend your knee in Warrior II!) are sometimes all [read more...]
