This post is by Claudia Azula Altucher of Claudiayoga.com.
I was completely intrigued by Ashtanga yoga at first sight, starting with its brutal schedule, but also including its lack of poetry (no “feel the Earth’s energy flow through you” was ever heard in a class) and the mythological superstitions that some forms of yoga employ.
As the years went by and the practice deepened, I fell in love with it hopelessly and for many reasons. Here are some.
1. It’s no-nonsense
Ashtanga yoga plays no games. When I say it has a brutal schedule, I mean it. It is practiced six times a week for at least 1.5 hours. Rest days are Saturdays, full-moon days, and “ladies holidays”. Men have no holidays, sorry! The routine which one practices is pre-set and is called the primary series, which is a set of poses designed to release all toxins and heal the body at its gross level.
At first the practice felt very competitive, which for my western mind was a good carrot on a stick. I wanted to be better, to advance fast, to move to the intermediate series of poses (there are six that grow in intensity). Little did I know how long it would take me to perfect the primary series, how much dedication and discipline it takes, and also that it is not about the next pose, but rather about the amazing changes that the practice brings into the practitioner’s life.
The Guru of Ashtanga yoga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois said: “Do your practice and all is coming.” I have found this to be a great incentive, and also a deep truth. The “all” in that statement really means all The “do your practice” means more than just the practice of the poses. It means learning to connect with spirit. The rest simply comes—it’s almost like magic.
2. It’s portable
When I first started practicing I had a demanding corporate job that required travel throughout Europe. I would be in London one week and in Spain the next one. I also traveled to Buenos Aires very often. Yet, because the practice is set, it is easy to simply roll out the mat wherever one is in the world. There is no need to find a teacher (although I did that too—and for fun).
I’m known for “doing it” in very odd places. I have performed the whole primary series in my brother’s terrace, and to the curious eyes of thousands of windows above me; in an inborn flight within the kitchenette area and until whenever the flight attendants kicked me out; and in Dubai airport while waiting for the next plane to Bangalore.
3. It is a breathing practice
Breathing is the most important and relevant thing within the practice. There’s no pause: one keeps breathing and flowing from one pose (asana) to the next, and the body is constantly moving while riding the breath.
Starting the day with such awareness of the breath has proven very helpful for my remaining waking hours. For example, I began to notice while in difficult corporate meetings that I could stop the talking and focus on the breathing. Just take a small pause, not a long one obviously, and take one long breath. This, believe it or not, has a psychological effect by which one seems to come across as centered—and that was what I was trying to do (get centered). I have found that by just breathing and not saying anything for, say, three to five seconds, problems have either solved themselves or disappeared.
4. Every single practice is a full body and mind workout
Each class is called a Mysore class because of its birth place in the city of Mysore, in South India. They are self-lead, meaning that one arrives and puts the mat out and starts, and nobody leads (except for specifically designated led classes once a week).
These Mysore classes can get really hot, especially when the rooms are crowded, it is summer, or you are in a tropical place. It is also hard, the poses are not easy, and there is nothing poetic about it. It is what it is, and one deals with it. Perspiration goes hand in hand with daily practice, and it is best to make peace with it, and do some research on good deodorants. I found the learning curve, although steep, very controlled, because a teacher will only add poses one by one, when the student is ready.
Ashtanga yoga is also a metaphor for life. I have noticed that just by attempting a difficult position like kurmasana, I would then dare to do challenging things in life, like planning a trip to India by myself, going for an extended silent meditation retreat, or trying to be kinder to all people.
5. It helps the body relax deeply
Through the new flock of friends Ashtanga brought into my life I learned about the Castor Oil bath. This practice is said to have so many benefits that if you were to believe them all, you’d think it is a potion that comes straight from the Gods.
The main benefit is in the heat that the oil produces in the body, and every time I bathe I feel the warmth. It feels almost as if I had a suit on me that is trapping, extracting, and then releasing impurities. Further benefits among others are the reduction of pain and inflammation, and a healthy glow. It is secrets like this one—traditions that in India have been passed around for generations—that opened my eyes to a completely different way of caring for the body.
6. It gave me the answer
At the most recent conference I attended in Mysore with the head of the lineage (Sharath Jois), I was surprised to see that for every question the students had, the answer was always the same, “do yoga.” Yes there are variations depending on the question, but the main focus is always brought back to this.
“Do yoga” does not just mean do the poses, it means being in touch with the divine within, it means self reflection, noticing where my intentions are, and what is it that I really want in life. It means noticing the areas where I am hoarding, weather it be energy, or possessions, and noticing where I am being truthful in my relationships and where I create intrigue just for self-satisfaction. “Do Yoga” means purifying every action I do.
In daily life, this has a profound effect. I notice for example that if I lose inspiration on what to write about, or I need guidance on how to handle a situation with my husband, it is by “coming back to spirit”, reflecting, and noticing what I am doing with my energy that brings the best answers.
7. It brought me to India
Any Ashtangi that enjoys the practice is eventually brought to its place of birth in Mysore, South India. The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute is located on a quiet street in the neighborhood of Gokulam, which is another planet, yet has some of the western comforts as it caters to the myriad of students that pour into it year after year to study at the source.
Coming to India worked within me as a restart button. It allowed me to see a whole different culture, to be bathed in colors, chants, smells, foods, and things that were completely different to anything I had seen before, and hence served as an inspiration. I am writing this article from my second trip, while staying in the household of an Indian family, and I sure hope I will be returning soon.
Practicing at the source, with the main teachers in the lineage, and knowing that they are watching makes people try harder, go a little deeper, focus on the practice (and I do not mean just the asana). So when I return home I feel like I have done more than one month of work.
8. It helped me understand the power of the word
Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned through yoga is the power of the word. Yoga teaches us to cleanse the body and the mind, so that we can eventually see the shinning light that was within us all along but we had kept covered with dust.
The way we word things is one of those areas that needs immediate purification. Words are powerful, they cast spells, they provoke emotional reactions, they can hurt or nurture others, they can bring peace or discomfort.
A few weeks ago in one of my articles I had a very sarcastic comment from a reader, and I realized that I had a choice, I could continue the hurt by being rude or I could do something different. I replied to his comment by saying two things: one, that I got the sarcasm, and two, that I liked the way he wrote. He was indeed a good writer, he was just using the power of the word in an attempt to hurt. Perhaps the yoga was working for me as I was able to put the attention on what was good about him—the writing—and deflecting the negativity by just acknowledging it.
9. I released 30 pounds and never saw them again
Perhaps a better wording for that would be that I came into my ideal weight, and it was not done by following a diet or any kind of program, or being tough or firm. No, it actually all started by learning to love myself in a rather gentle way.
I used Louise Hay’s exercise, by which one looks into a mirror and says “I love you”. In the beginning I felt very out of sorts, stupid almost. Do you know why? Because I did not believe it. After a while, however, I came to the understanding that maybe I was worth of my own respect, maybe I was deserving of my own love.
I find that loving myself was the first step in bringing about many important changes in my life, not just attaining my ideal weight, but also getting clear about relationships, using my time and energy more effectively, considering the possessions I had which I did not really need, and discerning what good friendships meant.
10. I went down the rabbit hole
As titillating as it is to watch long-term practitioners perform difficult poses, the really amazing part of the practice for me has come through seeing the changes it brought in my life and how they manifested. Coincidences these days fill my days to the point where it feels like a science fiction novel—I follow clues from the plates of cars, images, things I hear, and so on. Clues about the right direction come to me, and I am blessed to be open enough to listen. This happens, of course, as long as I keep the connection with God (however it is that I understand it) alive.
This is what, for me, makes yoga a practice rather than a workout, it has a spiritual deep connection and an element of surrendering and surprise that keeps me wondering and in awe. It is magical.
Have you ever tried yoga in any form? What was your experience of it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Claudia Azula Altucher has studied yoga for over a decade and all over the world including the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India, and at Centered Yoga in Thailand. She writes daily at Claudiayoga.com.
About Guest Contributor
Is yoga suitable for people with lower back pain? Are there certain positions one should avoid?
Gordie, that is a very good question and I am glad you asked. Lower back pain is pretty common because of the type of work we tend to do and how it affects our posture, however there are many other reasons that could produce it and hence giving pre-made poses or telling what poses to avoid may not be the best route for “everyone”, as each case is unique.
Nevertheless I will tell you something that surprised me, I am now at the meca of ashtanga yoga, in Mysore, South India, and a friend of mine is under a lot of back pain. To my suprise and hers, the head of the lineage of yoga advised her to do back bends (the bridge pose), which she was scared of. Again, this had to do with her case in particular.
The best suggestion I have found is to simply start yoga, connect with a teacher and give it a go. The basic classes (not just ashtanga) will always contain some standing poses, which will strenghten the whole system, some twists, that will begin to awaken the back, slowly, some forward bends that will relax it and some backbending that will challenge it, and work on opening the front as well.
Lower back pain can only be healed if approached as a whole, it is not just the back, but the whole body that needs to open, stretch, be paid attention to, rest, and be strenghtened.
If you still want specific poses I would recommend the opening sequence of the primary series of Ashtanga yoga which includes salutes to the sun, some standing poses and, plus some very mild back bending (I put some links below with pictures). What this does, over time is loosen the body and improve posture. Then again, nothing works better than finding a teacher to connect with, but I know sometimes this is not possible.
As much as I know this is not what someone would want to hear, unfortunatelly there is no magic formula for lowerback pain to just “go away”, but there is certainly healing if one is willing to look at it differently and apporach it as a sign that a life change is needed where the body receives more attention.
Sun Salutations http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/surya-namaskara-a-sun-salutation.html
Standing Sequence http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/basic-sequence-fundamental-positions.html
Please do let me know how you do, or if you would like to chat more about it.
Gordie, I was just with Claudia at Mysore. One of our friends had lower backpain and asked Sharath what she should do about it. He suggested doing backbends (i’m assuming the bridge position) to help.
but certainly one should consult a certified instructor before really doing this
Thanks James, I actually wrote a big comment below for Gordie and even mentioned that but it is still awaiting moderation, hope it gets published soon 🙂
Gordie, I had put a comment yesterday but perhaps the links to the sequences I was suggesting was delaying it, so I am putting it again without the links.
That is a very good question and I am glad you asked. Lower back pain is pretty common because of the type of work we tend to do and how it affects our posture, however there are many other reasons that could produce it and hence giving pre-made poses or telling what poses to avoid may not be the best route for “everyone”, as each case is unique.
Nevertheless I will tell you something that surprised me, I am now at the meca of ashtanga yoga, in Mysore, South India, and a friend of mine is under a lot of back pain. To my suprise and hers, the head of the lineage of yoga advised her to do back bends (the bridge pose), which she was scared of. Again, this had to do with her case in particular.
The best suggestion I have found is to simply start yoga, connect with a teacher and give it a go. The basic classes (not just ashtanga) will always contain some standing poses, which will strenghten the whole system, some twists, that will begin to awaken the back, slowly, some forward bends that will relax it and some backbending that will challenge it, and work on opening the front as well.
Lower back pain can only be healed if approached as a whole, it is not just the back, but the whole body that needs to open, stretch, be paid attention to, rest, and be strenghtened.
If you still want specific poses I would recommend the opening sequence of the primary series of Ashtanga yoga which includes salutes to the sun, some standing poses and, plus some very mild back bending (I put some links below with pictures). What this does, over time is loosen the body and improve posture. Then again, nothing works better than finding a teacher to connect with, but I know sometimes this is not possible.
As much as I know this is not what someone would want to hear, unfortunatelly there is no magic formula for lowerback pain to just “go away”, but there is certainly healing if one is willing to look at it differently and apporach it as a sign that a life change is needed where the body receives more attention.
very inspirational!
Thank you Amoxil, appreciate your comment 🙂
This post I came to “through the back door.” I was not looking for anything related to yoga. But one link lead to another to another, you know–the internet. But I believe it is my “license plate” reminder. Just two days ago a friend said that her arthritis is getting worse. She’s very young. I told her we needed to start doing yoga. This article certainly makes me want to go out and find a place to start. Thanks for the inspiration.
Robin, this is really good to hear, you just made my day. I hope that you and your friend enjoy yoga as much as I do… and that your friend is healed! 🙂
Thank you for this beautiful and heartfelt description of why you love Ashtanga. I have dabbled in yoga for years and am feeling a pull towards committing towards a daily practice – I’m sure I was a yogi a few lifetimes ago! But I get so busy with “life” that I ignore these deeper needs. Your article inspires me!
Jerry thanks for your comment, and yes I can see how you were yogi in other lifetimes if you are feeling the pull, has to be! I hope you get to find the time, it is always there… but I know, it can be hard at times… but I think once the intention is set the time sort of appears, I bet it will…
What a lovely article, Claudia. It’s very inspiring.
Claudiaa !
Your message is amazing, just getting very deep into the practice and started feeling what you write 🙂
joyful
Love this article!
I did my very first Ashtanga class this morning and I can’t wait to get up at 5am tomorrow to continue this. So very excited.
Love & light from stormy South Africa xx
I find it wierd that you start the article off saying that “its lack of poetry and mythological superstitions” is what attracted you to it. then you go on to write in a later paragraph””” It means learning to connect with spirit. The rest simply comes—it’s almost like magic.”
those “superstitions” and “mythologies” you speak of are ways of explaining postures and concepts, and in your mind you can replace them with the words you connect better with.
I find it incredibly annoying when people chose to call these things “superstitions” and then go in to contradict themselves by saying “as if by magic” theres nothing in this world that isn’t connected to the “life force” or “spirit” as you call it. I fail to see how “leading with you your heart” is more mumbo jumbo than “learning to connect with the spirit”
great article, but your mind needs opening
also you say “It is also hard, the poses are not easy, and there is nothing poetic about it. It is what it is, and one deals with it” this statement in it self, is in fact poetic.
maybe i prematurly commented on this article based on the intro
Dear Claudia
At 49, I have the good fortune of finding a Mysore-style Ashtanga teacher in Jakarta. The experience is what you say it is. In my own words, Ashtanga is raw, liberating, personal and connecting (in the deepest sense).
Thanks for the article. Namaste
I love Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and can relate to this. beautifully written. thank you. Namaste.
Thanks for the great read Claudia, I’m interested to look into this caster oil bath you mentioned (although it probably would help if I had a bath). I’ve been doing yoga for exactly 1 month now and am loving it, despite my little hamstring issue. Any chance I get, I am reading about yoga, looking up the correct way to do poses, looking at pictures of yoga etc. I’m going to classes 3 times a week (although one of those is a restorative yoga), and trying to do my own home ashtanga practice on most other days. I’ve found lots of benefits to the practice and only 1 negative if you could call it that. The good that I have found from yoga include a little less muffin top around my hips, I’m eating better and don’t crave sweets as much, eating less, my body just feels more ‘nimble’, I’m sleeping better, I feel generally happier in my day to day life, and my skin is looking fantastic. Really, the only downsides are that I’m too focused on my yoga instead of on my impending uni exams, and that I feel so tired afterwards that I give up studying for the day and just relax in a daze. I do hope I can keep up a regular practice as I definitely feel better for it, but I am someone who gets bored easily, particularly with repetition (I can’t even stand watching the same movie more than once). Although in saying that, as you mentioned, the repetition is part of what motivates me to do my home practice as I know exactly what I need to do. Well, I’m really tired from yoga tonight, so I’m sure I’m rambling on, but just wanted to share my appreciation for your blog and article.
Interesting opinion piece! But “no “feel the Earth’s energy flow through you” was ever heard in a class) and the mythological superstitions that some forms of yoga employ.”
That is incorrect. You assume that it’s a characteristic of Ashtanga to not focus on the “spirituality” side of things. Perhaps you have been to classes that teach Ashtanga in this way, but I have experienced Ashtanga taught with a focus on “spirituality”.
Ashtanga yoga is my favorite too! Thanks for sharing this Claudia. Keep it up! 🙂
Hi,
I started practicing yoga a few months ago.
And though I was used to running to some extent in hot climate of India, I was still not strong. And I developed cervical spondylitis, perhaps because my running posture was not correct. So I had to stop running. Until I joined yoga classes, I had firmly believed that everything is controlled by mind, and you can control and create anything with the power of mind. But you know, excess of anything is bad. Yoga taught me to let go of myself and trust into the power within me- the power of God. It not only helped remove some fears it also made me stronger and gave my body more proportion. I think that is just GREAT for just a few months of practice.
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