Talk about a fierce pose.I landed on Matthew Sweeney's website today (he's the one on the left). It's filled with fascinating insights and a very contemporary take on Ashtanga yoga. Purists might have think he is being heretical, but he has studied extensively in Mysore (he's rocking Advanced B currently) and he is respectful of the traditional approach while being clear and sensible about the challenges many students face today.
Here are a few abbreviated points that interested me which you can read further on his site and in the Musings section:
* He has developed five vinyasa sequences that emphasize different parts of the practice (Moon, Lion, Bound, Flying and Fifth) and offers alternatives to the standard series
* Astanga as we practice it today is about 35 years old
* Mysore instructors should have an active practice and at a minimum, should be doing full intermediate currently (or in the past)
* As a teacher and practitioner, he likes having an adjustment-free day once a week to help encourage practitioners to figure out the difficult poses themselves
* Self-practice is very important
* Regretting a missed practice is a form of ahimsa
The Yoga Peeps interview is also recommended listening for all ashtangis. It's a bit long and the interviewer is not very polished, but it's worth hearing. It's even provided new inspiration for my practice.
18 comments:
Dude - Matthew Sweeney rocks. I have his book, Astanga Yoga As It Is, and it's FULL of really really useful, well-written information on just about damn near everything. I consider his book and Gregor Maehle's book my two super-totally-awesome Ashtanga books. I'll check out his website for all of the extra goodies you mentioned.
And, since I'm slow in reading your blog, I should note how cool you are for making me Daphne. But dude, I'm nerdy, funny-looking, and wear glasses that I can't see without. I may not be smart enough to be Velma, but I think I have the look!!
Oh, yeah - I'm going to go see if I can score a radiator. I'm probably too late, though.
Hi Armani
If regretting a missed practice is a form of ahimsa, I'm full of regrets this week
Thanks for the post
Arturo
also, I'm looking forward to Karen's and Patrick's posts when they practice with Matthew Sweeney in July up north.
cheers
Arturo
Pi': I'm definitely buying "As it is" and his new one coming out this month. I love Maehle's book.
At least I didn't make anyone Scooby. I can't imagine the flak I would get for that.
They did a ton of stuff this morning. I didn't see Carl's lamps and I fear your radiators may no longer be there. :(
Arturo: I've missed a number of practices due to circumstance beyond my control. I'm learning to just roll with it.
I think I know Patrick's blog, but which one is Karen's? I will also be interested in reading what they have to report.
Hi Armani
You might be forgetting that Karen's is Donutzenmom.
I have Maehle's book, Pi'ikea. I guess I better start reading it. (I have Sweeney's too.)
Have a nice weekend.
Cheers,
Arturo
Hey Armani, when's your bday?
hi armani!
i hadn't listened to matthew sweeney, it's awesome to hear him. i've always liked his objective approach to the practice, questioning the provenance of the yoga korunta, and historical constancy of the series. he reminds me a little of norman sjoman's, "the yoga tradition of the mysore palace". on the other hand i think of gregor maehle as relying heavily on the basis of thhe korunta, and his take that we're in the depths of the kali yuga(who can blame him with our current u.s. administration)which seems much less "modern" compared to matthew sweeney.
Hi Eeyore: Thanks for your comment! It's good to know both acccounts, isn't it? I think it helps to keep your perspective in check. :)
Hi Arturo, Matthew Sweeny is cute but he lost me on the last workshop of his I went to when he asked us to find our ovaries :-)
I would like to tag you for the 5 things meme thing
Sam, why do you have a problem with knowing where your ovaries are? It makes good sense to me to be able to identify one's parts. If I were a popular yoga teacher and you were to attend a workshop with me, I'd ask you to find your ovaries and then write a 500-word essay on how much you like them and why you prefer them over testes.
carl, carl, carl. sheesh.
Carl knows where HIS ovaries are.
Hi, Sam: I wonder what the context was for MS's ovaries comment.
Thanks for tagging Arturo. hehe.
maybe matthew doesn't know where they are so he was pulling the old 'show me' thing so he could find out.
I'd guess Matthew Sweeney got his interest in ovaries and testes by way of some Taoist literature and practices. If you want to know more about this little peculiarity of his teaching then go do some reading. It's not so weird to have an interest in one's organs.
yeah, but those aren't his organs. those are mine. why's he interested in those?
Hi Armani
I think Sam means to tag you. Alfia already tagged me. Found the comment about passing out if becoming a billionaire funny, Sam, by the way.
Cheers,
Arturo
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