Ashtanga Yoga — The Intermediate Series by Gregor Maehle

Author:Gregor Maehle
Language: ru
Format: mobi
Publisher: New World Library
Published: 2012-05-22T09:45:28+00:00

General Guidelines

REMEMBER THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF YOGA

While practicing postures, remain aware of the fact that yoga was created to support you in the process of realizing that you are the infinite consciousness (sometimes called the soul or the spirit) and not the body. Although you are practicing the methods of one of the many schools of Karma Yoga, you are working toward the same objective as that of the ancient Jnana Yoga. Follow “instant enlightenment” approaches if you are attracted to them. If they do not prove successful, you can always return to structured Karma/Ashtanga Yoga practice.

Practice the postures with a devotional and respectful attitude. Do not look at the Intermediate Series as a whimsical combination of stretches. Look at it as a sacred dance that existed in its eternal perfection long before the ancient seer Vamana saw it in samadhi. Practice it with what Patanjali called a “good attitude,” an attitude of devotion.1 This means expressing gratitude to the Supreme Being for having taught yoga; it means practicing with an attitude of giving and of service rather than of personal gain. Move your body in a way that extols the glory of the aspect of the Divine that you worship. To practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is to pray in movement.

If you do not have a form of worship but are open to the idea, then use the mythological descriptions of the posture names combined with further study of shastras (scriptures) to find your ishtadevata, your own private communication frequency to the Supreme Being (see chapter 2). Remember that the Indian scriptures agree on this point: There is only one God. Different cultures and individuals have described the One in various ways due to different constitutions. All ways to the Divine are equally valid.

To find your ishtadevata and deepen your practice, study shastra. If you have a mystical constitution, study the Upanishads. If yours is an intellectual-philosophical mind-set, the Sutras are the most appropriate set of scriptures. If you have a devotional-emotional tendency, the Puranas will best fit your constitution. If you have more of a physical-athletic attitude, study the Tantras. If you are a teacher of yoga, study all these scriptures so that you can cater to the various dispositions of your students.

Do not feel superior because you believe the mode of Karma Yoga that you practice is better than the others. Each form of yoga is suited to a different group of practitioners. Further, different stages (bhumika) of practice accommodate different levels of fitness (adhikara) in practitioners.

If you practice with devotion and dedication, be open to and ready for the descent of grace.

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