Seeing as I don't post as often as I used to, I thought I might use the blog header photo as a place to occasionally present Krishnamacharya's asana/mudra instruction alongside either a photo of myself or ideally Krishnamacharya in the posture. I'm not sure how often I'll get around to changing the photo/instruction but perhaps I'll see about setting up a page at the top of the blog to include the previous photos/instruction/notes.
Starting off then with my current favourite asana (still) Bharadvajrasana. I've included my earlier post on the posture below but have added a note.
Note: in Yogasanagalu (1941) Krishnamacharya mentions bharadvajrasana in the Middle group of asana and that it formally has 18 vinyasa with #8 and #10 as the states of the asana ( so no jump back in between sides) Bhaya kumbhaka is also indicated.
Though in Krishnamacharya's later teaching he didn't seem to stress the vinyasa count/number he suggested to Ramaswami that it was still implied. one might still begin and end each asana from samastithi. In modern Ashtanga Vinyasa half vinyasa is practiced, in Ramaswami's presentation of his teacher's instruction one asana or mudra variation might flow into another, a transition to Samastithi coming either between subroutines or perhaps following a whole sequence.
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I've also changed the blog title to Krishnamacharya's 'original' Ashtanga yoga....at Home.
'Original' in inverted commas because Ashtanga of course goes back to Patanjali and his eight limbs and even then wasn't 'original', Patanjali seemingly bring together a collection of earlier teaching.
It's clear from the table in Yogasanagalu (1941) that the Ashtanga presented by Pattabhi Jois was a continuation of much of his Krishnamacharya's, Mysore teaching, though somewhat simplified. The Primary and Intermediate series that Pattabhi Jois presented in his four year course at the Sanskrit college (along with the Proficient group divided by Jois into two more series) follow almost exactly the table in Yogasanagalu. Some of the changes are interesting however. Marichiyasana D placed in primary series by Pattabhi jois is in Krishnamacharya's middle list (and clearly it's an intermediate if not advanced posture) but there is an argument for placing it after marichiyasana A, B and C, in fact Krishnamacharya seems to have worked in a similar way. Less tied to a 'fixed' series Krishnamacharya may well have given students more advanced variations in areas where they were perhaps more flexible while they continued to work in areas they weren't on more primary asana.
Below ,the Primary group of asana from Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu (1941) see this LINK for the full table.
Stressing 'original' in reference to Krishnamacharya's Ashtanga allows us to look closer at what has perhaps been mislaid in Pattabhi Jois' presentation of Ashtanga. The more flexible groups rather than fixed series, the Kumbhaka option indicated for most of the postures Krishnamacharya presents, the longer stays in for example Bharadvajrasana, but in so many other asana Krishnamacharya taught.
It's possible to practice (and indeed 'teach') the Primary list of Asana Krishnamacharya presented in Yogasanagalu just as Ashtanga is currently taught, whether as in a led class or in a Mysore setting. It may well be that this formed the hour beginner class that Pattabhi Jois would lead in the 1920s on Krishnamacharya's behalf while his teacher was in a side room perhaps teaching one to one in a manner which perhaps reflect's more closely the Vinyasa Krama presented by Ramaswami ' - see the inversion variations Krishnamacharya demonstrates in the 1938 documentary video which follow closely Ramaswami's presentation of inversions.
While we may practice Krishnamacharya's Primary group as a series we should perhaps always be aware of the options Krishnamacharya made available to us in his early writing, the kumbhaka as our breath in an asana steadies, the variations of asana, whether as preparation or progression, the longer stays, the employment of bandhas, exploring postures as mudra and also the focal points that makes dharana perhaps available to some extent for most if not all asana See also my Proficient Primary page.
Note: I was asked this week if I am currently teaching Krishnamacharya's yoga, the answer is no, I don't feel it's necessary or that I am particularly qualified. Krishnamacharya communicates his own teaching better than I or anyone else ever could in his texts, explore them in your own practice.
If possible (although it is NOT necessary), at some point, go to Boulder or Encinitas, Hawaii, Rethymno...,to Mysore for inspiration.... to Manju Jois ideally or another very experienced, perhaps more local teacher of asana/pranayama (I'd argue ten years of self practice minimum). But also read closely Krishnamacharya's Yoga makaranda I and II and Yogasanagalu (available on my free download page). Be reminded that each Ashtanga teacher is presenting their own understanding of Ashtanga and no doubt clinging to it (just as I am to Krishnamacharya's early texts), go back always to Krishnamacharya himself, his is the earliest source we have of this approach to asana, it was complete, fully formed, integrated with the other limbs a simplification really wasn't necessary. Take workshops with those who focus on Anatomy and Physiology to help practice safely rather than those offering fancy, advanced asana, quick fixes. Take regular Iyengar classes perhaps to explore the possibilities of asana. Take Ramaswami's courses and workshops or buy his book for variations both preparations and progression and an alternative approach to practice consistent with Krishnamacharya's early and later teaching. If you can't go to a teacher Practice alone, with a good book, a good dvd, replace a teachers experience with your own body awareness along with common sense, listen to your body. Practice daily or practice two days on one day off or later, three days with one day off. Dip into some of the texts in the yoga reading list at the top of the blog but don't worry too much about them, every word written is already coded inside us..., sit, breathe, watch/listen.
Have fun, enjoy practice, make it a routine, a discipline and when it deepens, practice with sincere commitment... for a long time and see what comes.
Below, my earlier post on Bharadvajrasana....
Krishnamacharya's Bharadvajrasana named after the sage (Rishi) Bharadvāja 12- 48 breaths
I'm becoming obsessed with exploring this asana, Krishnamacharya talks of staying from 12 to 48 breaths and introducing both types of kumbhaka (so holding the breath in after inhalation and out after exhalation). At first, the position of the arm reaching around to hold the foot seems to stop the blood, it takes some settling into the posture for the blood to flow. The nature of the posture, the twist and double bind both in front and behind challenges the breath, the kumbhaka, it's fascinating, feels quite profound. I intended to stay for 24 breaths but lost count and it's probably closer to twenty. The video runs for about five minutes so 48 breaths would take around ten for each side, twenty minutes one asana, stunning, it's an asana that thinks it's a mudra.
First time practicing on tatami.... Springy.
BHARADVAJASANA
from Krishnamacharya's Yoga Makaranda Part II (formally Salutations to the teacher, the eternal one)
Note: in Yogasanagalu (1941) Krishnamacharya mentions bharadvajrasana in the Middle group of asana and that it formally has 18 vinyasa with #8 and #10 as the states of the asana ( so no jump back in between sides) Bhaya kumbhaka is also indicated.
Technique:
1. Sit on a piece of soft folded cloth, with one leg stretched straight in front, and the other leg folded back at the knee, so that the foot is close and by the side of the buttocks, the sole of the foot upturned, toes stretched and the back of the foot touching the cloth. The knees should be as close as possible. The foot of the leg, stretched in front, should be upright, to the ground and not inclined sideways. The body should be erect and the spinal column stretched-chin lock.
2. Bend the stretched leg (say the right) at the knees and bring the right heel very near the umbilicus. The right knee should touch the ground. Both the knees should be as near to each other as possible.
3. The right hand is taken round the back to catch hold of the toes of the right leg. The palm to touch the back of the foot.
4. The palm of the left hand is placed on the cloth below the right thigh. The hand should be stretched and not bent at the elbow. The left wrist should touch the outside of the thigh.
5. Twist trunk to face front. Turn the head, so that the chin is over the left shoulder.
6. Take deep inhalations and exhalations with holding in of breath and holding out of
breath. Both types of kumbhakam are necessary. The total rounds of deep breaths may be slowly increased as practice advances, from 12 to 48.
7. Repeat with the other leg.
Note: This is contra indicated to those who have had abdominal operation.
Below from this post
BHARADVAJA Vedic sage
Bharadwaja (Sanskrit: भरद्वाज, IAST Bharadvāja, also spelled Bhardwaj) was one of the greatest Hindu sages (Maharshis) descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He is one of the Saptarshis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa.[1]
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| picture from here |
"Sage Bharadwaja is another renowned vedic rishi. He is considered to
be a great vedic scholar and teacher. An episode found in the Kaataka
portion of the Taittiriya sakha of Yajur Veda would be of interest.
Bharadwaja was so much concentrating in studying the vedas that even
as the life was coming to an end he was still continuing with his
studies. Indra, the Lord appeared before him and reminded him that it
was almost the end of his life. He told Bharadwaj, “Bharadwaja!! If I
give you another human life what would you like to do?” Back came the
reply, “I will study the Vedas further”. Upon that, the Lord asked him
to look at the three huge mountains the Lord created and took out from
each one of them a handful of earth and placed them before Bharadwaja
and said, “These mountains represent the three vedas and the three
handfuls of dirt in front of you represent the vedas you have studied
so far. You see the vedas are innumerable and infinite (ananta vai
vedaH) and any number of births would not be sufficient to exhaust all
the vedas. You try to understand the essence of the vedas, the source
of all the Universe, the Brahman.” And Bharadwaja became a great
spiritual teacher of the vedas. Again many families carry the
Bharadwaja name".
from Srivatsa Ramaswami's Dec 2012 Newsletter
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| from Light on Yoga |