“Know the atman to be the master of the chariot (vehicle); the body, chariot; the intellect, the charioteer (driver); and the mind, the reins (steering wheel). The senses, they say, are the horses (wheels) and their objects, the roads.” - Katha Upanishad

You are driving down a heavily trafficked freeway. Three lanes of traffic are moving at the same speed. In theory, one lane should move quickly, another at moderate speed and a third slowly, but all three lanes are backed up and moving at the same speed.

But some drivers are weaving in and out of different lanes, every time they see a few metres of space, to have the opportunity to get marginally ahead of the rest.

In doing so, they endanger everyone. They are driving on adrenaline, even though they are only moving at a relatively slow average speed - accelerating abruptly and then slamming on the breaks. Quite possibly, they actually end up moving more slowly than if they had just stayed in the same lane.

Quite likely, they will end up causing an accident that injures or kills, not just their own passengers, but those travelling in other cars. It is an insanity. But it is a disease that infects every feature of society. Even yoga.

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“The wise call the atman - united with the body, the senses and the mind - the enjoyer.

If the buddhi, being related to a mind that is always distracted, loses its discriminations, then the senses become uncontrolled, like the vicious horses of a charioteer.

But if the buddhi, being related to a mind that is always restrained, possesses discrimination, then the senses come under control, like the good horses of a charioteer.

If the buddhi, being related to a distracted mind, loses its discrimination and therefore always remains impure, then the embodied soul never attains the goal, but enters into the round of births.

But if the buddhi, being related to a mind that is restrained, possesses discrimination and therefore always remains pure, then the embodied soul attains that goal from which he is not born again.

A man who has discrimination for his charioteer and holds the reins of the mind firmly, reaches the end of the road; and that is the supreme position of Vishnu.

Beyond the senses are the objects; beyond the objects is the mind; beyond the mind, the intellect; beyond the intellect, the Great Atman; beyond the Great Atman, the Unmanifest; beyond the Unmanifest, the Purusha. Beyond the Purusha there is nothing: this is the end, the Supreme Goal.” - Katha Upanishad ctd.

~

Why hurry?

We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare: slow and steady wins the race. Nowhere is this truer than in yoga.

So may people are in a hurry. So many people operate out of stress. The beauty of yoga is that it could teach you to do things differently. It SHOULD teach you to do things differently. If it does not, it is not yoga.

Most people practice yoga with the same mentality they do everything else. What a missed opportunity.

The Customer is Always Right!

For this reason, yoga teaching has adapted to the desires of the people. Yoga is medicine, but it is sold as a drug. Just as there is an epidemic of drug misuse, there is an epidemic of yoga misuse.

It is the teacher’s fault! But perhaps she can be forgiven - she is just trying to earn a living and after all, she is giving the customer what he desires.

Because we have become disconnected from our true inner nature, we crave to find security in the material, in our bodies, relationships and possessions.

Modern yoga recognises this, even exploits it - it can give you the perfect body, beauty, attractiveness. Through this you can attract the perfect partner and create a life of security and wealth. You can follow your dream!

But it is just a dream… that becomes a nightmare.

Yoga is designed to make you go inside, to make you discover your true nature. This is where we find security, truth and true pleasure. This is what gives confidence, tranquility and peace.

The source of truth and pleasure is inside!

~

Yoga is a method that should be gradually developed. This is the essence of Mysore Style - it is a step by step method. Perfect one stage and then move to the next.

If you jump ahead, if you attempt postures your body is not ready for, you end up in pain. You become disenchanted with practice, you feel like giving up.

Stop looking around the room at other students and comparing yourself. The process is internal. It is a journey into yourself, into depth. There will always be someone more flexible than you, always someone stronger, more graceful…

Look for peace on the inside. Look for fulfilment on the inside. Look for truth and pleasure inside. None of these things exist outside.

~

Why is it called Mysore Style?

Because it describes a way of teaching that was given in Mysore. We created this expression in the 90s to describe a particular way of teaching that we experienced in India.

The way people learn in Mysore today has changed. There, are, of course, those who still teach in the traditional way, but most teaching now accommodates the mass market which has seen thousands of students descend on Mysore today. Today it’s more about quantity than quality.

The same can, of course, be said about the Western approach to teaching. It also accommodates the mass market. After all, yoga teaching has become a profession, teachers have overheads and families to feed.

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Mysore style is misunderstood. Today, it is typically taken simply to mean self-practice in a group at a yoga studio (or even online[!?]). But the Mysore style does not describe a way of practice, but a way of teaching.

The primary feature of Mysore style teaching is to move a student slowly, step by step form one stage of practice to the next. This system is found in the traditional South Indian approach to the teaching of music, language, dance etc..

The idea is that you should perfect what you learn through practice and then move to the next step.

It is, perhaps, understandable why this idea is unacceptable to many people in the West. We do not expect to work hard, or diligently, we expect to be able to acquire things instantly.

People feel they should be able to do a whole primary series right away. And of course, people can do that if they wish, but they will miss out on what is really valuable and important. Quantity not quality - that is our modern mantram.

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In order to justify this approach, people suggest that a teacher who holds a student back at a stage of practice and does not encourage them to do more, is exerting a manipulative power dynamic.

This is to completely misunderstand the logic of the Mysore approach. On the contrary, the teacher really cares about the student’s progression, s/he knows the value of a practice that has depth and integrity.

Skipping over challenges and “progressing” in practice without depth simply diffuses the potency of practice.

Of course, some people do not want depth. Some people cannot cope with depth, they need to just skim the surface, because going deep may bring up their inner demons. Fair enough.

But if you are not interested in depth, then you are not interested in yoga - you are looking for something else. Yoga is for those who want to overcome their suffering, to overcome their demons, to evolve and become free.

If you just want to keep skimming along the surface and just feel OK from day to day, that is understandable. Yoga may not be for you. Stretching and breathing is good. Exercise is good. Going to church and praying to be saved is good for some people.

~

Apart from the step by step method, Mysore style also depends on the repetition of simple practices until they are perfected. This repetition is done in silence, in synchronisation with one’s own breath, in one’s own time.

You don’t need a teacher constantly speaking and giving corrections, you need to get out of the head and into the body, to feel what is right.

The support for this is guidance through the teachers hands. Of course some verbal guidance is needed, but if the teacher will not stop speaking, there is no space for your own ideas or experience. That experience is unique for each person.

Hands can transmit more than words can say and leave the student free to have their own thoughts and experiences. Of course, those hands need to be well trained. That teacher needs to be in service of the student and not pushing his own personal agenda.

~

MINI TEACHER TRAINING IN TRADITIONAL MYSORE STYLE ASHTANGA

With a Focus on GIVING and RECEIVING ADJUSTMENTS
in Karkur - July 20-23

Mysore Style is practice in silence with the help of physical adjustments from the teacher. Each student has a unique practice, unique needs, abilities and desires - this is honoured in the Mysore Style approach.

This workshop involves practice, training in giving assists and explanation of the Mysore approach to teaching.

The training is open to teachers, experienced practitioners and students with an established practice.

Early Bird Price before July 1 - INS 950

https://buy.stripe.com/00g6rM8W49Tp1aweVM


Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credits and Certificate is available to those who complete the course.