Tuesday September 24th—The Monday Night Class

For the past 25 years I have been teaching an Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga class every Monday at 5:30pm.  This class began when we opened the North County Yoga Center in 1988 as my attempt to initiate beginners into a practice that is very challenging on many levels simultaneously.  Over the years I have attempted to present the practice in a user- friendly format, but if the practice is watered down too much it loses its primal potency.  When I took my first ashtanga yoga class in 1978 I knew that I had found the way home—the way back to my own Soul.  There was something so deeply resonant and familiar about the practice—it was like rediscovering a long lost friend.  That first yoga class changed the course of my life and the same practice continues to keep me sane to this very day.  I had the good fortune to meet K. Pattabhi Jois, Guruji, in 1978.  Over the next 30 years we developed a close relationship and he taught me many helpful and liberating things.  Guruji learned from the great master T. Krishnamacharya, who had been taught by the legendary yogi in the cave in the Himalayas, Sri Rama Mohan Brahmachari.  These three gurus collectively form a brain trust of some of the most learned and insightful yogis of the past century.  They have been extremely instrumental in regards to creating the current trends of practice.  Krishnamacharya said that the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is the single most important yogic text, and the one that most influenced his methodology of practice.  In the Monday night class I always introduce a couple of yoga sutras and try to connect the philosophy of Patanjali with the methodology of ashtanga yoga.  A common theme in the class is the breath, because breathing is the core of the practice.  I teach simple techniques for making the breath audible (ujjayi) to help us become more mindful of the act of breathing and begin to quiet the mind.  Once the students become mindful of their breath, we explore the connection between breath and movement with simple movements that are initiated and guided by the breath.  Gradually the level of vinyasa (breath with movement) is built up as a preparation for Suryanamaskara.  Now the students are ready to be cooked in the fire of Tapas—the Sacred Fire.  Patanjali says:  “Kaya indriya siddhi ashudhi kshayat tapasah”--The sacred fire removes impurities and brings mastery to the body and the sense organs.”  Tapas brings us back to our senses, and ashtanga yoga kindles the Sacred Fire like nothing else I’ve ever done.  Many people say that this practice is inappropriate for beginners.  They may be right.

Over the years the Monday night class has waxed and waned in terms of popularity, from as many as 50 students to the all time low of 2 students that I’ve had the past two Mondays.  I try not to take this personally, but everyone wants to feel appreciated, so my self-esteem has suffered a bit.  Desperate situations require desperate solutions.  My wife, Carol, and I have decided that beginning on Monday October 7^th, we will offer the Monday Night Class to the community on a donation basis, resurrecting the sacred box that served me so well over many years of operation on the honor system.  When I first started practicing, a yoga class cost two dollars.  Over the years classes have gotten pricey, which has excluded part of the population.  Money no longer needs to be an issue.  Perhaps the practice itself is the issue—yes, it’s challenging, but also very rewarding.  Maybe it’s me—heaven forbid.  I know there are people all over San Diego County that shake in their boots at the mention of my name, and think it takes great courage just to set foot in the Ashtanga Yoga Center.  Let me set the record straight on that—I’m a pussycat.   

Comments

[Jenniferm Email]

Wonderful, pussycat!!!

[Lisa Stutman-Bondy]

You are brilliant and kind and inspiring Timji. Your commitment to your sadhana and your jnana deep knowledge and satsang are masterful. There should be a line out that door for your intro class. Once again I will say that I wish I were closer!

[Emccloud]

Meow! ;-)

[Juls]

I'm signed up for your workshop next month at YiY in Mountain View. I've been practicing the Ashtanga method for less than a year and, although I won't be ready for the second series, I know the information will be invaluable to me. I'm excited and a little less nervous in reading that you describe yourself as a pussycat.