Ashtanga Discussion Room: Guruji said, "Medium breath!"

Greetings,
Joy and I have landed in Kovalam and are enjoying our house nestled up in the jungle (there is a quarry near our house where I go swimming each evening!) It is now less than a week before the Mysore Intensive begins. I have been using the days off of to help Joy on her upcoming film, resting, practicing, and of course writing and talking about Yoga.

Last week Joy asked me the question about the difference between receptivity and effort in the practice? (This turned into the second video posted below.) However, the next morning while we were on a walk she asked me about how the role of breath plays into receptivity (first video posted)...so the discussion continued!

I decided to post both videos. If you only have time to watch one then I recommend the first video posted but if you want more information and to go deeper into the conversation then I recommend you watch both.
I hope you get some useful info out of these videos. Over the past 20 years of teaching I have realized that receptivity is one of the hardest aspects of the practice to teach but once a student understands and starts to truly work with the idea through their breath the students practice will completely change.
Hari Om,
David





Notes on the concept of receptivity (it could also be thought of as simply receiving).

The deepest person within each of us knows the larger, more comprehensive nature of things beyond the limited appearance of things that the ego and senses apprehend. Learning to identify ourselves with this greater perspective is the subject of receptivity. When we use our ego and senses to become aware in an inward direction, we will find that there is a sort of knowing that has its own direction, its own intelligence, its own necessity to fulfill something through us. And so in a practical, on-the-mat way, receptivity is the sustained effort to give up control enough to receive the wisdom that lies within our inmost core. And then to follow the direction of this wisdom with as much trust as we put in our ego and our ideas and feelings of how we control or shape our lives through our choices.

Guru Purnima 2011

Happy Moon Day and Happy Guru Purnima!!

In honor of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, my teacher.

Hari Om,
David

Ashtanga Discussion Room: Ashtanga is Bhakti (Pt 1-3)

Welcome back to my discussion on Ashtanga is Bhakti. I have posted part three below and have also included part one and two if you missed the first two parts. I would also like to mention that I will be teaching a Mysore intensive in Kovalam, India this Feb 2012 for the entire month. Please spread the word. Its going to be a small group of students and an excellent way to go deep into your practice. If you would like more info or to apply you can visit my website or the Yoga in India page on this blog.

Hari Om!
David

Part One


Part Two


Part Three

Ashtanga Discussion Room: Ashtanga is Bhakti Parts 1 and 2

Joy and I have been running around like crazy this week trying to get Ashtanga Yoga School of Philadelphia opened by July 3rd and on top of it all Joy had a screening of her short film The Medicine Wheel in the big Apple this past Wednesday so we made a mad dash to the city!! In between all of the craziness we managed to film a three part Ashtanga Discussion Room title Ashtanga is Bhakti. I have posted the first two parts below and will post the final part on Wednesday.

One extra note: please watch, ponder, and absorb the themes in these video’s! Personally I feel that the content of these discussions is of vital importance for us continuing to mature and really enjoy the fruits of practice. The play of the universe that we are all part of has reached such critical proportions that there is an urgency to bring forth what is sacred within of each us. Even our tiny contribution is vital and essential. What we choose to focus our energies on makes a huge difference in giving ourselves and the coming generations a fair chance to play the beautiful game at a higher, highere levels. I’m calling out to all of us to bring more intentional Bhakti into our practices, more devotion that goes to to the root of us, to the heart of us, where we know what is really important and sacred. Enjoy! Om Namah Shivaya! David

Ashtanga Yoga Discussion Room: Reactions and Responses

To view on my new blog!

Greetings!
I'm pleased to offer a new short video discussion on reactions during practice. I speak about how to cultivate the mental power, to sift through various mental states, and how to identify the types of thoughts, emotions or reactions that are worthy of care and attention.
Also, Joy and I have created a new Facebook fan page for David Garrigues Yoga and will be using it as a platform to post daily blog like ideas and thoughts. We invite you to join us and help create a daily community on the Ashtanga Practice.

Sharath's Conference January 23, 2011

Hello Students,
Joy and I made a video of Sharath’s conference on Sunday. It takes a second to load up but it does work. I have recently updated my workshop schedule for the spring and summer. Please take a look at it and hopefully we will be able to connect!
I also want to remind you that if you follow my blog I have switched over to a new one! So please subscribe it. In a couple of weeks I won't be posting to this blog anymore.

Hari Om,
David

Asana Kitchen Discussion Room: Giving Up In Kapotasana

Guru Purnima: Take Practice!

For the past week, Joy and I have been discussing Guru Purnima and what it means to the daily Ashtanga Practice. We decided to film some of our discussions and share it with all of you. Happy Guru Purnima and Happy Moon Day!

David

Real Progress: Ageing and Ego

Greetings! I'm teaching this week in Olympia! I'm happy to be able to share Yoga with so many dedicated, serious, and beautiful people even if I miss the philly crew but I'll be back soon! Below I have posted three videos from various discussions and talks I have given the past year. The first one discusses ageing, the second one discusses our egos and daily practice, and the last one is a response I gave to a woman who was struggling with progress in her practice.
May each of us go within with devotion and prayer to find and share our Yoga...enjoy! David

David Garrigues on Ageing and Ashtanga from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

David Garrigues on Ashtanga Yoga: The Ego and Practice from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

David Garrigues on Get Ready for Practice from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Sri K Pattabhi Jois says, "All can take practice."

"Ashtanga Yoga is a practice for young Indian boys." Unknown

"Old man, stiff man, weak man, sick man, they can all take practice but only a lazy man can't take practice." Sri K Pattabhi Jois

This week's video post is part of conversation I had about the potential for Ashtanga to reach a wider audience and the necessity to cultivate an adaptable, inclusive model for the sharing of Ashtanga. Many people have been misinformed about who can do this practice. Nearly anyone, regardless of their circumstances, can learn Ashtanga safely with care and intelligence. And if you are already practicing you can develop a practice that will nourish and support you for life.
Sri K Pattabhi Jois believed the Ashtanga practice could serve anyone and everyone. He exuded a love and passion for the method. Through his teachings he ignited the spiritual growth of all kinds of people from all different stages of life. These people did not fit into a single category. If you came to him the only circumstance that mattered was your willingness to learn. He would individualize and adapt his teaching to suit your particular circumstances. Ashtanga Yoga is a treasure, a potent path that leads to Self knowledge. As interest in Yoga increases and more people take up practice, it is essential to interpret and adapt the method to include a wider audience so that more people can join in and be part of this beautiful practice.

Ashtanga for Everyone from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

In the Ramayana when Ravana abducts Sita, he speeds her away in the aerial chariot known as Pushpaka 'flowery'. Ravana had stolen this sweet ride from his cousin Kubera the God of wealth. The pushpaka is made of flowers, contains a palace and can carry unlimited passengers. After Ram, Laksman, Hanuman and the entire host of monkeys and bears destroy Ravana, Ram reclaims Puspaka and they all ride home together in style.
Metaphorically Ram defeating Ravana represents victory of Self over ego driven worldly life. The pushpaka symbolizes the truth that there is a seat for everyone on the chariot that leads home to the Self. Ashtanga Yoga, like Pushpaka, can carry as many as want to ride (not like a motorcycle where maximum capacity is a family of five!)

Ashtanga Foundations Diet Part Five: Whole Grains

Greetings! This week I return to the importance of the connection between diet and practice with a fun video where I take you into my kitchen and show you how I make chapati's! The video has humor but don't let that obscure the importance of this post whose message is that whole grains are meant to be in the center of your diet. As always I appreciate your questions, comments, and feedback. (Click on photo to enlarge captions) Enjoy!

Ashtanga Foundations Diet Part Five: Whole Grains from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

GK: From Hard Red Winter Wheat Berries to Chapatis from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Simple Food is Tasty from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Chapati Recipe (yields 6-12 chapatis)

ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups flour
extra flour for dusting
small portion butter/ghee/vegan spread

Combine
water with
sea salt

add 1 1/2 cup WW flour
mix into a dough

Knead dough for 3-7 minutes
adding flour as
necessary to prevent ball of
dough from sticking to
cutting board

preheat skillet on medium high
flame
slice off small section of
dough and roll out into
a thin round. place carefully
into skillet. cook until little
'bubbles' form in the dough
flip when ready and either
finish over open flame or
within the skillet.

enjoy piping hot as is or with your
favorite spread!




With this cooking I enter
the heart of the matter,
I enter the intimate activity
which makes dreams materialize.

Edward Espe Brown

Ashtanga Foundations: Diet and Progress in Yoga Part One-Part Four

Food is Matter from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Diet and the Three Gunas from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Digestion from David Garrigues on Vimeo.

Diet and Progress from David Garrigues on Vimeo.