Patanjali vs. Pattabhi Jois - What are the actual similarities? Alex Medin Plus The Old School of Ashtanga Yoga. Pranidhi Varshney

Stumbled upon this old article from Alex Medin, an interesting read and argument, thought provoking....., as it happens Alex was yet another of Derek Ireland's students. I heard that back in the day at The Practice Place in beautiful Ageos Pavlos, Crete everyone used to tease him about his interest in the philosophical side of things, The Practice Place philosopher cook.


Patanjali vs. Pattabhi Jois - What are the actual similarities?

"Pattabhi Jois always emphasised the importance of practice. Repeatedly he claimed that without a practical experience it is not possible to refine the mind, make it realise its inmost support and gradually centre the mind into a greater receptivity of being. For him åsana and pråñåyåma was the primary tools to facilitate this practical experience that would cause the students to realise the importance and implication of yama and niyama for themselves. These were even more important then åsanas he claimed, but their inner significance and strength would be hard to realize unless some kind of purification had taken place within the mind of the practitioner. Then one would naturally be more sensitive to the impact of ones actions and safeguard the receptivity of the inmost illuminating essence of the mind. The practice of yoga that Pattabhi Jois was teaching, with its particular focus on synchronising the breath and movement, how to keep the gaze, and how to move in and out of postures, was certainly an exterior practice. However, the main purpose of it appear to be a tool to gain a greater receptivity of the self:"

Some insane pictures of Alex on this Back to the Ring page http://www.twang.no/tag/alexander-medin

Another nice article I came across yesterday





from the article....

"Guruji’s senior students have cultivated a community of practitioners that resonate with this more old school approach. In contemporary Ashtanga discourse, however, this community often gets left out.

We hear a lot from the community of newly authorized teachers coming out of Mysore, but we rarely hear from the thriving community of teachers trained by Guruji’s old students. Both communities are part of the global Ashtanga sangha and deserve equal respect and recognition.

Despite small changes in the vinyasas or differences in teaching methodology, the central tenets of breath, bandhas, and drishti remain at the core of our practice. These tenets are what unite us and I revel in how constant these tenets have stayed.

Whether new school or old school, the heart of the yoga that Guruji taught is beating strong. Though it’s seductive to think otherwise, there is no “one method” or “best method.” There are many approaches that, when practiced with correct intention, can all lead to greater health and happiness".

Full article here http://www.doyouyoga.com/the-old-school-of-ashtanga-yoga/

Pranidhi Varshney
http://www.pranidhivarshney.com/