Contortionism
Why do we practise Ashtanga yoga?
It would be wrong to conclude from the pictures of advanced Ashtanga yogi(ni)s, who
can achieve the most incredible positions with their bodies, that unnatural postures
are the goal of Ashtanga yoga. It is not to impress a spectator in a circus that the
Indians, who developed this asana and pranayama practice living alone in remote
places centuries ago have been working on for so many years. At least we don´t think
so.
Does the ability to place one’s feet on one’s shoulders make a better teacher? Is
someone a better yogi who, stimulated by such pictures, forces himself into asanas for
which his own body is just not suited, e. g. because the spine cannot be bent beyond
a certain point? We would consider these for misconceptions, by teachers as well as
students.
Your own practice does not have to look like that because there is no objective
standard of comparison (cf. also Modifications and Dogmatism and the Truth about
Ashtanga Yoga). There is no "good" or "bad". But there is a "healthy" or
"unhealthy" and a "reasonable" or "unreasonable".
Nothing is wrong with contortionists - but this isn’t how you have to look. The
essence of yoga is invisible to the eye.
Stay away from teachers who are known to have injured their students. Almost no
yoga teacher has received proper training in giving adjustments! Ask your teacher
whether he or she has ever injured a student. We think that the answer should be an
honest "No!".
Why do we practise Ashtanga yoga?
It would be wrong to conclude from the pictures of advanced Ashtanga yogi(ni)s, who
can achieve the most incredible positions with their bodies, that unnatural postures
are the goal of Ashtanga yoga. It is not to impress a spectator in a circus that the
Indians, who developed this asana and pranayama practice living alone in remote
places centuries ago have been working on for so many years. At least we don´t think
so.
Does the ability to place one’s feet on one’s shoulders make a better teacher? Is
someone a better yogi who, stimulated by such pictures, forces himself into asanas for
which his own body is just not suited, e. g. because the spine cannot be bent beyond
a certain point? We would consider these for misconceptions, by teachers as well as
students.
Your own practice does not have to look like that because there is no objective
standard of comparison (cf. also Modifications and Dogmatism and the Truth about
Ashtanga Yoga). There is no "good" or "bad". But there is a "healthy" or
"unhealthy" and a "reasonable" or "unreasonable".
- "As the bodily constitution of each human being is different, it is important to
practice the asanas accordingly. The benefit to be had from one asana or
pranayama can be derived just as well from another that better suits the
structure of a person´s body. Some asanas are not suitable for particular
people and may be painful."
- Shri K.P. Jois, Yoga Mala, pp. 29-30
Nothing is wrong with contortionists - but this isn’t how you have to look. The
essence of yoga is invisible to the eye.
Stay away from teachers who are known to have injured their students. Almost no
yoga teacher has received proper training in giving adjustments! Ask your teacher
whether he or she has ever injured a student. We think that the answer should be an
honest "No!".
Sowhatasana Y