In the end, I have approached the problem from the other end. I practice and teach a method of awakening spiritual awareness and after 18 years of practice and 12 years of full time teaching, I cannot say for sure that there is a God. I have my suspicions, but am not certain. I wonder if it really matters. I think that what matters is how you live your life and here, my practice has definitely provided some answers. It shows me that if you live your life with honesty, respect and compassion then you will live a peaceful life.

It is interesting that when you consider honesty, respect and compassion, that they operate on 2 levels, or in 2 directions. You need to be honest to yourself, respect yourself and have compassion for yourself, but all 3 attributes also apply in your dealings with others and with your environment. Whatever your spiritual practice may be, whether it is attending church, chanting kirtan, practicing asana, running along a beach at sunrise or a combination of many things, the result of these practices should be to bring honesty, respect and compassion into your life. If your practice has the effect of insulating you from life and the realities of living, then the trap is that it may become a self-indulgence. Yes, we do need to look deeply inside ourselves, but it is on the interface of ourselves and life that we discover how to live a good life. A practice should not rule the lives of those around you, or your own life. It should, instead, be a joy to yourself and to others.

What has this got to do with Learning to Listen? To get back to Kara-Leah’s question, I am not sure I have learned anything, but I am learning lots. One of the biggest things the Astanga Vinyasa Yoga practice continues to teach me is to listen. I am learning to listen better to my body, my heart, and to those around me, my family and my students. I still have a long way to go, but my practice is teaching me. To really hear, you need to create silence within yourself and that is what my Yoga practice is slowly leading me towards.

We are closing the school for a Mid-Winter break. There will be no classes from Sat. 10th to Sun. 18th July. Classes resume as normal on Monday 19th July.

Stay warm. A friend of mine once said “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad dressing.” Dress warm. Plenty of layers and plenty of wool. I have also found that oiling my body helps to keep me warm. I use a beeswax based body wax but any vegetable oil will do. Not only is this good for the skin, but it keeps you warm. Drink warming drinks like lemon, honey and ginger. Heat up your practice space. If you don’t have a warm space at home to practice, then come into the school. It is always warm.

Do plenty of Suryanamaskara. In his “Yoga Mala” Sri K Pattabhi Jois writes;

“If we reflect on the saying, “Arogyam bhaskarad icchet [One should desire health from the sun], it is clear that those blessed by the Sun God live healthy lives. Therefore, for health—the greatest wealth of all—to be attained, the blessings of the Sun God must alone be sought.”

You cannot do too many Sun Salutations. When you begin your practice, keep doing Surynamaskara until you can feel that your body has begun to generate some heat. If this means doing 10 A’s and 10 B’s, then do them. There is no harm in getting the Sun God on your side, especially in Winter.

Practice less but more often. This is always true, but doing less more often will make it easier to get started on those cold, cold days when the burden of doing your full practice can sometimes feel like a mountain too high to climb. Winter is the perfect time to purchase a membership or concession card and get into the Yoga school as often as you can while outdoor activities are less appealing. Practice with lightness of body and of spirit. Accept that in the cold of Winter your body is not going to be able to go as deep into Asana as in the warmth of Summer. A light, brisk practice is the best way to bring some warmth into your life. Laugh and enjoy practicing.

Change the focus of your practice. Make your intention the mastering of the combination of Ujjayi breath, Bandhas, and Dristi. These three combined will bring lightness and suppleness and warmth to your body. I often find myself saying to people in class, “tuck your tummy and breathe steadily” and I don’t think people realise how powerful these actions can be. It is the combination of Breath, Bandha and Dristi that stimulate the internal fire. It is this combination that drives the Prana around the body, healing and de-toxifying. Whatever Asana you are doing, it doesn’t matter, as long as these three aspects are in place, it will be beneficial.

Listen to your body. The cold goes to your joints. This is not the time of year to push your knees!! Be gentle with yourself and remember that every practice you do is another step on the journey. Don’t be in a hurry. Always let your body decide the pace of your practice, not your ego. Most of all, ENJOY!!

There will be no classes on Sunday 6th or Monday 7th June in celebration of Queen’s Birthday. Classes resume as normal on Tuesday 8th. Enjoy the long weekend.

The next Beginners Courses start on Wed. 2nd June and 21st July. Only 3 places left on 2nd June so book now!!

Sunday 23rd May, 10am: Please join us for 108 Suryanamaskara A in memory of “Guruji”, Sri K Pattabhi Jois and any others close to us that we have lost recently. If you have never tried 108 Sun Salutations before, it is an amazing and uplifting experience and not as physically demanding as you might think. We will shorten the Salutes, so will not be holding the “Down Dog” position for 5 breaths. You will be able to rest at any stage and then join back in if you need to. There will be a Koha collected with all proceeds going to Project  Air. Chai and snacks will be avaiable afterwards.

First Fri. of the Month Mini-Workshop:

Our new 1st Fri. of every month format will start on Friday 7th May. These will be mini-workshops where Mike works closely with 4 people on the specific issues they may be having with their practice. Obviously, booking will be essential and preference will be given to people who have not already had a session and people with memberships (year pass holders and people paying by AP). Unless all those booked want to start earlier, these classes will start at 6pm and end at 7.30. We can go out for a meal afterwards as well.  No extra charges apply to these sessions. To book click here or contact Mike on 565 4060.

Once you have found the teacher and method that resonates, then you must dedicate yourself to that practice. There are no shortcuts in Yoga, so you need to learn patience. Yoga is surrender, so you need to surrender to the teacher, the method and the process. Your desire to teach should come from your passion for your own yoga practice, not because you think that being a yoga teacher sounds nice. When my Guru, Sri K Pattabhi Jois was asked what is the most important attribute a Yoga Teacher should have, he said “A strong daily Practice.” It is essential, if you intend to lead others through a process, that you have experienced it yourself. This requires years of practice, not just a few weeks at a Yoga Teacher Training course. A Yoga practice will gently, but steadily dismantle the ego. The tradition provides a safe framework for this. A teacher must be strong to provide support and guidance within that framework.

The tradition of Yoga says that your teacher will tell you when you are ready to teach. This is why it is important to choose the right teacher! Beneath all that we think we are and all that we think we need, is the breath. On the other side of the breath is the divine. To pass through the breath into the divine you must be one-pointed like the arrow. Firing a shotgun and hoping one pellet gets through won’t work. The method of throwing the net wide hinders the process. The less clutter in your mind the less you have to shed. Take one path, respect the method and respect your teacher. Choose a teacher who understands and respects the tradition that is Yoga. Let your teacher guide you towards the choice to teach.

Travel to India to study. India is the home of yoga, and to truly understand it you should travel to its source. Most Yoga Lineages will have a home somewhere in India where you can go and study. Make the commitment! A trip to India to study Yoga is a life changing experience that can only enhance your teaching.

If your passion to teach has survived this, and your teacher has said you are ready to teach, then it is best to find a supportive environment, like an existing school, in which to take the first step. If you cannot apprentice yourself to your teacher, or teach in the same school, then ask for their advice. They will have been through the same process and will be able to help you avoid some of the mistakes that they made. See if you can offer your time to help at a school in exchange for the chance to observe or help in classes. This is when the real learning begins. Every student that comes to you is a chance to learn. You will never know all there is to know about Yoga or teaching Yoga. That is the beauty of it! Respect your students and treat them with the compassion and love that your teacher gave to you, and you cannot go too far wrong. Have no expectations and be humble with respect to what you have to offer. Teach from the heart, not the head. Most important of all, enjoy.

My thanks to Kara-Leah and to Nick Potter for asking the question and getting me thinking about it. The thoughts are my own but would not exist where it not for my Guru, the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois. I humbly offer them in his memory.

No classes from Thurs. 1st to Tues. 6th April. We are taking a little longer break this year to give Mike and family a chance to travel to Ohope to visit his father who is unwell. Normal classes resume on Wed. 7th April.  Enjoy your Easter holiday!