The Ashtanga Yoga Method

For as long as I have been practising Ashtanga Yoga, the practice has been my great source of support and anchor to everything that I do. I am always grateful for the practice and the fact that I was practising diligently on the Primary Series for a long time. It kept me grounded through the years and made me level-headed.

The practice itself is humbling and has never never failed to make me realise that there are so much more to learn, to explore, to understand and to dig deep. It is time for myself, with myself and gaining insights to who I am. I lost count of the times I had those AHA moments, epiphanies, the emotional struggles, the tears, the pain, the moments where I would be so blissed out post practise that seems so unreal.

When the John Friend's scandal first came to light, I realise that it is always important to follow the practice/approach but not the teacher. The practice 'should be the teacher', the (physical) teacher is merely transmitting the knowledge. It is up to the student to take the knowledge and decides what to do with it. The teacher can offer suggestions, experiences, advices or options but really the student will have to do the work.

The poses, series, authorisation are not a definition of who you are (as a practitioner), your worth as a person or how great you are. Those are merely external. They can disappear anytime. What truly matters is who have you become along the way. How has the practice shapes your life. Most importantly the practice is a tool to help and support you to grow and become a better person. 

The practice has taught me to love myself unconditionally, to accept all of myself - the good and the bad, to be honest with how I feel, to trust myself, to believe in myself, to honour myself and to believe in the goodness of people. And I will continue the practice path for as long as I can for I truly believe this is my calling, my path to service and contribution.

Time to get on the mat.