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Two Weeks of Mysore

I am currently attending the summer immersion program at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville with David Garrigues. He seems much more subdued this time than last year. The first led primary this sunday was at a very slow pace. Indeed, he mentioned a few times to slow things down. Many people have commented that Jennifer Elliot leads a very quick version of the primary series. While I believe in "traditional pacing", I belive what this means is very different from person to person and when they were in Mysore. My sense is that the primary series, if done at an intelligent pace, with vinyasas between sides and a goodly time for savasana at the end, should take about 90 minutes. Anything less and I suspect that the practicioner is probably not getting full breaths for the five counting breaths. Of course, this could vary for body size and type, but I think generally speaking 90 minutes is a good amount of time.

I was speaking with a fellow practicioner after class today, and apparently the immersion has been cancelled. David is here only doing Mysore. Doesn't seem like it would be worth his while to come here just to do Mysore. Had his immersion been part of a larger teacher training, it may have been different.

The general air at the studio has been quite subdued the entire time he has been here, even among the practicioners at the studio. David has provided a couple practice points. For one, his jump back advice is quite good. I love the assist he gives when he picks up the hips for jumping back. My headstand on Sunday and Monday completely sucked. I could not stay up at all. I don't know why this has happened. In any event, he suggested I clasp my hand entirely and then put my head just behind the clasp (this is instead of creating the "basket" for the head to sit in. The effect was that the tripod was decreased. It was more challenging, but seemed more stable. He also suggested I strongly externally rotate the upper arms in the uttitha parsvakonasana and reverse version. This feel amazingly good on my shoulders and seems to be making a difference in terms of opening up my shoulder area. Most of the adjustments I have received from David have been in the form of shoulder engagement, much to my delight.