At the end of 2015 we moved to Shiga prefecture in Japan, two minutes from Lake Biwa (the largest lake in Japan and four million years old give or take). This rural life at the lake, has been an exploration of.... serenity (from the latin serenus - 'clear'), the word that most comes to mind. When the lake is calm, which is most of the time, and in the late afternoon especially I experience a feeling of completeness, fulfilment. The question arises, how to maintain this state away from the lake, on to the mat and cushion and throughout the day in general, in my dealings with others. The Yama/niyamas can help, they too are a practice of course, whether those of the Yoga sutras or of our own tradition(s), seeking to live in accordance to them can help simplify our lives and allow us to see more clearly. Ramaswami suggested once that each night, before we sleep, we reflect for a moment on the day, not in judgement of ourselves so much but merely noticing, in the morning we begin our practice once again.
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| Lake Biwa |
Below then some photo's from here along with some highlighted posts from each month.
A year in posts 2016
The highlight of the year for me, as far as the blog is concerned, has been the completion of the Krishnamacharya Yogasanagalu project (Available for Free Download here ). In 2010 I was sent photos of every page of a copy of Krishnamacharya's, long out of print, second book Yogasanagalu (Mysore 1941) in the original Kannada. At the time I was on Ramaswami TT course in LA. I showed the book to Ramaswami and he mentioned that Krishnamacharya had given him a set of the photos contained in the later editions of the book but that he had never been able to read the text as it was written in the Kannada language. A reader of the blog and Kannada native speaker, Satya Murthy, came forward and offered to translate the text, a few pages at a time. Satya translated the final chapter in October and I was able to format it and send over to my friends in Spain who printed out a copy as a thank you present to Ramaswami at the end of his 100 hour Vinyasa Krama intensive in Madrid that month.
▼ 2016
(89 posts - which I've just noticed is the same number of posts for 2008 although I didn't start posting until July of that year)
(89 posts - which I've just noticed is the same number of posts for 2008 although I didn't start posting until July of that year)
Note: The first couple of words of each post title below should contain a link to the post.
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| From our beach, the first sunrise of 2016, a tradition in Japan |
looking back on our beach and mountain - Ashtanga Yoga Shiga, Japan. Morning Mysore..... officially 'open', kinda.
- अध्यात्मविद्या — adhyātmavidyā (science/knowledge pertaining to the Self within) Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami February 2016
- Asana (and pranayama) as preparation for the third stage of a yoga life. ALSO Avidya. Solace in the kalama sutra. Antharanga_Sadhana (Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi).
- A Krishnamacharya Reading list (inc. Pdf Links).
- Yoga Korunta found? A Hatha yoga project proposal... and Is yoga even necessary here in the Lakeland of Japan.
- No, yoga is not (just) about flexibility...
- New Book and Downloadable video course on Inversions (headstand, preparation and variations) from David Garrigues
- Sirsasana (headstand ) Variations Video Library.
- Lineage, Tradition, Prampara: Constraint or licence?
- Chinese medicine / Acupuncture and Ashtanga: A study.
- Blog Housekeeping: New permanent page, Beginning Yoga / Ashtanga / Vinyasa krama
- Yoga Reading list - A personal selection for Beginners.
- The Rubbish question regarding Ashtanga authorisation, certification, ownership of yoga, lineage holders, the source and parampara.
- Krishnamacharya's 32 sirsasana ( headstand ) Variations.
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| The cherry tree by the lake on the way to our bakers |
planting rice - April 2016 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami— अध्यास (adhyāsa).
- David Swenson on Modification at Ashtanga Yoga Confluence 2016 + Full Primary Also 'How it all began' from Asia Yoga Conference 2015.
- Proficient Primary
rice sprouting
Our local council building with it stupa, the rice flourishing
Tori (shrine gate) Omi-Takashima, a couple of stops up the lake - Asana names - Ramaswami's July Newsletter
- Pushpam Magazine Review issue 2 - Yoga magazine from Hamish Hendry and team, Ashtanga Yoga London
- Ashtanga Advanced series? Why does the Advanced series presentations differ from the 'Original' 1973 Ashtanga syllabus
- Sharath Rangaswamy Jois Resource
- Ashtanga from twenty something to forty something and beyond - Philippa Asher ASLO Advanced series Maha bhandasana
- On Series and Vinyasa - from Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu
- A response to The Luminescent's article "VINYĀSA:...
- Original Ashtanga syllabus as a teaching tool ( Danny Paradise's copy) Evolution of the Ashtanga syllabus (Yoga Korunta?).
rice ready for harvest - Taboo (menstruation) - August 2016 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami.
- Krishnamacharya recommended Four Key asana/mudra..... make that six..
- On being held back and/or moving on to Ashtanga Intermediate, back bending and coming back up from UD (a response to a question on a 2008 post).
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| Swimming in Lake Biwa, pretty much everyday through summer |
Moon over the lake
Texts for Yoga Students - Ramaswami's October 2016 newsletter.- Final chapter from Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu Part II Pranayam. Plus the 1941 section on pranayama
- Origins of Ashtanga Vinyasa: Yogasanagalu and Yoga Korunta (yogakuranti) Also, Was Ashtanga designed for Young Boys?
- Specifics of the breath in yoga asana - Notes from Krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu (Mysore 1941)
- On Vinyasa: "Yogasanas must be only practiced with vinyasas and never without it". Krishnamacharya. Yogasanagalu (Mysore 1934).
- A post on visiting Mysore after reaching fifty.
- Trailer: Mysore Yoga Traditions
- Pranidhi Varshney Led videos: Full Ashtanga Primary, Hallf and 15-20 mins short practice
Autumn - Advice - Sanskrit Chants - Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami.
- Videos: Krishnamacharya's shoulderstand and headstand Vinyasas, Mysore 1938, Chennai 1972 and Madrid 2016
- "Nowadays......." T. Krishnamacharya
- Movie: BKS Iyengar, Leap of Faith (2008) - Did Krishnamacharya teach a three year diploma course based on the Yogasanagalu table of asana?
- Question: Was the Ashtanga Vinyasa count developed...
- Simon Borg-Olivier interview, the Bohr effect and why it can be beneficial to breathe less plus the healing benefit of kumbhaka
- Guna Physiology - Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami.
- Book Review. Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor The Art of Vinyasa. Awakening the Body and Mind through the practice of Ashtanga Yoga
- YogaGlo 15 day Free trial - Exploring Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor's Internal form of the practice'
- Ashtanga for (relative) beginners: Joey Miles: learning the sanskrit names
- Richard Freeman's Vicarious Yoga, being stopped at a posture and the hidden postures between postures.
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| Snow on our mountains ( from our balcony). |
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