Ashtanga Yoga: Introduction to Ashtanga

[108farley]

Richard was a gymnast in high school.He has spent many years in india studying with Pattbhi Jois and BKS Iynengar.I took a teacher training with him last summer.I will have to say that he is one of the most inspiring and knowledgeable yogis I have ever met.His understanding of the yoga sutras and yoga philosophy is astounding.You can learn more from his yoga matrix cds.He has a deep and profound understanding of the asanas.He knows that his practice and his body are temporary.

[ashis1953]

Yoga is union of self to higher level of being. For this the mind has to be still. Asanas and Pranayamas are parts in the process of yoga. Asanas balance body enzymes, removing toxins helping mind. Practice of Pranayamas sooths nerves, removes stored emotions for mind stillness to one point and then to no-mind. This beingness can control sensual actions/reactions at will and realizes oneness with higher level with supreme bliss attaining completion of yoga. An expert in asanas only is a gymnast.

[jisunsshi]

omg..he's so flexible.i tried but not this good.how i wish...

[inyomawth]

what happens if i'm not that flexible?

[LeeVaan]

You'll be, it just takes time. And don't over do it at first.

[MikhailBortsov]

absolutely. also you better be careful of the common mistakes, so you look for a guru or a teacher.

[koreenwar]

real yoga? this is real yoga.

[marcielo40]

it is a very nice video; and would be even better if it were real yoga...

namaste!!!

[kaelinjohns]

actually this yoga rules all the others its the highest so how is it not real yoga, hows it not??

[cspace1234nz]

No no no, you've got it all wrong, this is little more than gymnastics, it's a sophisticated exercise program based on a few of the simple yoga-style postures.

Real yoga is something completely different, this is the westernised version of yoga exercise, really the most insignificant part of what true yoga is.

In the same way that sitting in a garage doesn't mean you are a car, calling something yoga does not mean that it is actually yoga.

[lauraleesmithagain]

@cspace1234nz You are right... Instead of calling it Yoga class they should call it Asanas class...since true yoga has nothing to do with looking good or doing great postures, but rather has to do with forming a union with between mind-body- and something higher. However I believe that this instructor does practice true yoga (in his own time) because his are the only videos I've found that put so much enfasis on the breath- which is the most important physical component of true yoga.

[cspace1234nz]

@lauraleesmithagain Yes well that sounds good but in reality pranayama is still an entirely physical practice and combined with asana couldn't be considered otherwise. Whilst breath control can at times be useful for bringing about a stillness of the mind it can equally stir the emotions bringing about tremendous disturbance in the mind as well.

Don't get me wrong, if you want great heath and a sense of well-being this is a good practice for some but it's still little more than gymnastics.

[ybyainc]

@cspace1234nz It sounds like your saying that S.K Jois did not teach real yoga. If you would make such an argument i would have to say firstly that your simply wrong and secondly, even worse, you are believing it and saying it out of pride in THINKING that you know something the rest of us dont know. Asanas alone, the pure physical aspect of them .. yes its just exercise, but any well taught Ashtanga practice is real yoga, the postures, concentration and breathing techniques are yogic.

[uqsnara1]

wot he wearing ? granny panties ???

[hijabiflower]

lol it is kinda feminine isnt it? He could've worn longer shorts lol

[kaelinjohns]

no its not feminine where do you see this?? femininism is for everbody male or female, it doesnt matter

[hijabiflower]

Feminism is for females.... unless your a dude that wants to be a dudette.

[kaelinjohns]

no its for everybody then why else are gusy feminine and not tryign to be, just like females can be musculine and feminine can be for anybody why si it that it would just be femine for girls and musculine for guys?

[hijabiflower]

Umm no... Masculine is for men, feminin is for female. Stop making everything complicated for the world

[yeco22]

le gusto a mi sobrino hasta lo hizo

[alice19990112]

Feel very serene and yoga sense.