Friday, March 30, 2012

David Robson on practicing to the correct vinyasa count

I just read David Robson's latest post on Elephant Journal about doing the practice to the correct vinyasa count. If you practice the primary series to the correct vinyasa count, you can actually complete the practice in an hour and five minutes (those of you who have practiced to Sharath's led primary CD, or better yet, have done led primary in Mysore with Sharath, will know what I'm talking about here).

But trying to do the practice to the correct vinyasa count is such a humbling experience. Well, at least for me, it is. For me, the attempt to keep up with the vinyasa count reveals with brutal honesty how I often consciously or unconsciously "cheat" in the practice by taking extra breaths to get into more challenging postures or to do fancy stuff like floating or jumping back with straight legs (yes, these things cause you to "cheat" in the practice, because most mortals--well, at least this particular mortal--have to take at least one extra breath to do such fancy stuff, which messes up the vinyasa count). In this sense, the vinyasa count really calls me out; it's saying to me, "No fancy bullshit, my friend: Just do the practice!"

But back to Robson's article. It's such a great article. I learnt so much from his words. The following passages really stand out to me:

"...more struggle often seems to create an opportunity for more mindfulness. My practice is just as often about the discrepancies in the vinyasa as much as it is the times I actually match the count. Both experiences are mired in citta, and can provide the same opportunities for observation and non-attachment.

However, while I don’t have to be able to do floating jump backs, or get into Marichyasana D in one breath to gain the benefits of the practice, I do have to try as hard as I can—whether I can do it or not, the vinyasa count does matter. The count keeps me focused on the breath and in the present moment. And it is only by striving to match the vinyasa that the deep, internal heat of tapas, and its corresponding purification, will come.

In Ashtanga we work at our personal edge every day. That work is to balance sincere effort with ease and surrender. The vinyasa frames our experience during practice, limiting our focus to the prescribed breath and movement. But we also need to apply non-attachment, vairagya, to the experiences that practice yields.

I believe that the unattainable quality of the vinyasa count and the never-ending difficulty of the poses are designed to cultivate softness as much as strength. We need the ideal, the strong rules of the practice to direct and focus our energy. And we also need to accept the results of our efforts, whatever they are, with equanimity. When both sincere effort and non-attachment are present in our practice, correct vinyasa might just happen."

I totally agree with Robson here, especially that last paragraph. Very often during the practice, I tend to get a bit too attached to the physical outcomes of the postures. When that happens, a lot of chitta vrtti is aroused ("What?! How come I can only just barely catch my fingers in Supta Kurmasana today? Oh no, am I getting fat?! But I practice everyday, and do my best to limit my intake of potato chips. Why is this still happening to me? Why?!..."). Keeping to the vinyasa count is the practice's way of telling us that none of any of this really matters. Just breathe and move, and all is coming. It's like this with the practice. And it's also like this with life. In a word: Vairagyabhyam. Non-attachment.

14 comments:

  1. Looking for a lesson in non-attachment?

    Nancy Gilgoff's take on this -- from what Bobbie passed on -- is that wherever you end up at the end of that single breath (not quite bound in Marichy D, perhaps) is where your pose is that day.

    I wonder how many folks would be practicing Advanced Series under that of practicing?

    We've obviously been thinking lots of "no dinking" since encountering Nancy over this past month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "wherever you end up at the end of that single breath (not quite bound in Marichy D, perhaps) is where your pose is that day."

      Point taken :-) I'll keep this in mind: No promises that I will do it, though...

      Yes, "no dinking" is a good practice slogan :-)

      Delete
  2. I had the opportunity to go to David Robson`s Mysore room. It was mindblowing. SO much focus there. And heat. He`s very lovely. If you`re ever in Toronto, check him out. There`s a student of Nancy Gilgoff teaching in Halifax. She goes extremely fast. Not only does she want you to get in and out of postures in one breath, but her version of five breaths is radically faster than mine. I count up to one in her supta kurmasana and kapotasana. I feel it`s much easier and more realistic to get to the pose in one breath if you have someone adjusting you. But if you only have your big black dog, I wonder if one gets to make exceptions. That said, there is dinking around, and then there`s dinking around, and one must practice accordingly. I`m sure you know what I mean ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! I don't know if I'll even make it to one in the student of Nancy's class, especially with my stiff back in Kapotasana...

      Well, if I have only myself, do I also get to make exceptions? Yes, you are right that there is dinking around, and then there is dinking around... come to think of it, maybe that's why I like Kino's led. It's fast-paced, but she allows you to cheat a little when it comes to gateway poses like Mari D and Supta K.

      Delete
  3. I like to balance both approaches in my own practice. 2 or 3 practices a week, I'll stick to the count and maybe not go into the asanas so deeply, and the other 2-3 practices, I give myself more time to work into the postures and refine. I've been taught that this is the purpose of led practice on Fridays: to bring everyone back to the count. A "reality check" of sorts.

    As for the correct count taking only 65 minutes, this number can't possibly account for the undeniable variation in the optimal breath of each individual. I appreciate the structure and the limitations of the method, but must we be so exacting as to whittle it down to the minute?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel the need to clarify: 2 or 3 practices per week I TRY to stick to the count. In Primary, I come within range on my best day, but Intermediate is not even close. Just so we're clear. ;)

      Delete
  4. Find the suggestion of a 'correct count' uncomfortable unless of course were talking about a correct count 'for you', i e a focussed practice on the breath without any faffing about, all for that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am not a musician and I am not a dancer, but I thought his post made reference to rhythm and to the attempt to adhere to a shall we call it choreography or arrangement that sometimes works out, and it is just overwhelmingly satisfying, beautiful, and just plain awesome IF it happens.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great article by David Robson. I find when I do try to adhere to the discipline of the vinyasa count, it does add another "layer" of concentration, yet everything else just feels lighter, for a lack of a better word. The mind becomes much quieter. There's less angst!

    Nancy is definitely all about NOT futzing around! You are trying to retain the energy you have, so that you end your practice feeling refreshed and alive vs. exhausted and depleted. You release prana through fussing and fidgeting, and this can actually lead to greater depletion at the end of practice, and can cause injury, too.

    Nancy teaches you to get into the posture as best you can in one breath, and then...breath! No messing with your mat. No fiddling with your hair. No wiping off the sweat. Find the posture in the first breath as eloquently as possible, then breath your five breaths, take vinyasa without fanfare, and do the other side. Wash, rinse, repeat.

    The practice becomes even more quiet, lovely and focused with this method, I've found. There's less striving for the asana. The focus on the tristana intensifies, and you can actually relax more. I sometimes find a wavelike rhythm that carries me lightly through the practice.

    Try it up to Navasana (half Primary) during a self practice. If you aren't depleted at that point, continue. If you are depleted, reassess/investigate where you may be releasing prana (weak bandhas, wayward drishti, shallow/incomplete breath, fidgeting or pushing too hard.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi there, just became aware of your blog thru Google,so interesting so good , i realy enjoy your blog ,nice site!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a better-quality article as they all are. I am waiting to read even more about this topic. I make fun of been wonder wide this an eye to some beat now. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Dear your article is fully informative about yoga. I think yoga is necessary to leave a happy and healthy life. I wanted to buy the Primary CD and start doing yoga asap.

    Thanks
    Punch Punch

    ReplyDelete
  10. "French toast has always been my kids’ favorite breakfast. They don’t ask for it much any more, though. I think it may have gotten a little old. I can’t wait to try this new recipe out on them. Maybe it will be an exciting twist for them. It sounds really good and I bet they will love it. "

    ReplyDelete
  11. "you write in a lucid manner and I have no difficulty to understand what you have said, even though I am a novice. "

    ReplyDelete