Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Angie Kielar Speaks Out about the ever-changing Power Yoga Practice

ASHTANGA YOGA IS FOR EVERY BODY
Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Angie Kielar Speaks Out about the ever-changing Power Yoga Practice

This was written with the intention of explaining why the entire path of Ashtanga Yoga is accessible to all modern practitioners. The fundamentals of breath, bandhas (energy locks within the body), drishti (the focal point of the gaze), and vinyasa (sequential movement) are the basic foundations of the traditional Ashtanga Yoga system as taught by the late Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois. I am happy to say I had the honor of studying with the guru in Colorado almost a decade ago. At that time, Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois traveled and taught all over the world with his daughter and grandson. Jois would teach several hundred students at a time, who would turn up to workshops. Richard Freeman organized the Boulder, Colorado event that I attended.

I recall meeting Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, and having pictures taken with him, his daughter and his grandson, Saraswathi Rangaswamy, Sharath respectively. Saraswathi Rangaswamy encouraged me to keep working on my lotus by commenting "It will come".

Just as Lotus came, it also went. I recently sustained a sprained right knee from an accidental fall. It has been a few weeks, and the recovery is coming, but I am patiently waiting to resume my full practice. The lesson I learn from every injury is how to work around it, and that despite minor setbacks, that I can still practice Ashtanga yoga.
The lesson for all want-to-be Ashtanga Yoga (power yoga) practioners is that regardless of your level, YOU CAN PRACTICE!

Yoga for Inflexible People
Yoga increases muscular strength, reduces tension and stress, has a low potential for injury, is non-competitive, has spiritual and psychological benefits, and a 5000 year track record. Yoga postures, or asanas, range from simple bending and twisting to contortionist types which are reserved for the most advanced practitioners.
The yoga postures developed 5,000 years ago were not created for people who are already flexible, but rather to help inflexible people to become more flexible. A wide range of poses are taught and modified to help both beginning and intermediate students experience the benefits of yoga. No matter how flexible you are, a competent teacher can help you find a modified version of every posture that YOUR body can assume.

Guidelines of Practice for getting started at home or in the studio

Anyone can develop a yoga practice. Those who posses a sincere desire to grow and learn and have the patience to persist are sure to be successful in the path of yoga. Yoga is especially recommended to those who are inflexible!

While yoga can be practiced any time of the day, Ashtanga Yoga practice is best undertaken in the early morning. This is a time when the environment is most free of worldly distraction. If this is not possible, then find a time that you may dedicate each day to the development of your practice. It is very helpful to practice at the same time each day, but if that is difficult for you, then just practice whenever you can.

Traditionally, Ashtanga yoga is practiced 6 days per week with one day taken as a rest day (usually Saturday). A minimum of 3 days per week is acceptable for beginners.
Famous words from my guru ~ Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory. ~ Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois


The practice environment should be one that is pleasant, clean and free of distractions. I prefer to warm the room I practice in to about 90 degrees, but that would be too warm for others.

Clothing should allow for maximum movement and allow the skin to sweat. The feet will be bare. I prefer to wear a racerback cotton/lycra blend close fitting sports top with the same material pant.

As a general rule, one should begin with an empty stomach and calm mind. Practice about 2-3 hours after a full meal and about 1 hour after light food. Additionally, resist the urge to drink water during the practice session, as this will cool the digestive fire generated during practice. Drink plenty of water following your practice session.

It is recommended that you have your own yoga mat. Also, if you are particularly sweaty in your practice, a cotton rug or “skidless” is helpful. Props may be included. This would include for example, yoga bricks or belts may be used or even the wall.

Special notes for Yogis and Yoginis new to Yoga: You will notice an occasional soreness develop in the muscles from practice. It's important to keep with the practice. It is helpful to begin your practice slowly and patiently. Your body will "open" and become more flexible over time. I have been practicing yoga for many decades and teaching for over 10 years. I can assure you that regular practice has allowed me to attain an intermediate / advanced level with help from my teachers, the late Pattabhi Jois, Tim Miller, Trevor Monk, Bryan Kest, Veronica Zador, Sequoia Neptune, Baron Baptiste, to name a few.

I would like to end this article with a few words of wisdom regarding the practice.

"There is no need to be overwhelmed by the many dimensions of Ashtanga; just come in and take from it what you want." --Kathy McNames, co-owner of Yoga Vermont, Burlington's Ashtanga studio


"After asana & pranayama are perfect, pratyahara, sense control [the fifth limb of ashtanga yoga], follows. The first four limbs are external exercises: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama. The last four are internal, and they automatically follow when the first four are mastered. Pratyahara means that anywhere you look, you see God. Good mind control gives that capacity, so that when you look, everything you see is Atman (the God within). Then for you the world is colored by God. Whatever you see, you identify it with your Atman. The scriptures say that a true yogi's mind is so absorbed in the lotus feet of the Lord that nothing distracts him, no matter what happens in the external world."
"Do your practice and all is coming."---Pattabhi Jois, originator of Ashtanga Yoga

Angie Kielar
C.P.T., R.Y.T., C.G.C.S.
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