
Yoga ah! Blog
Yoga Lineage
Yoga as taught in India over the past 1000's of years existed mostly as an oral tradition. The teachings were passed on from student to teacher and teacher to student. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900's discovered a bundle of palm leaves with what was later to become The Ashtanga Yoga Sequences thet were taught by Pattabi Jois. Krishnamacharya worked very close with Pattabi Jois as his student. One time Krishnamacharya and Jois were asked to move into the Mysore Palace to help the Maharish's son walk. After sometime passed with the help of Jois and Krishnamacharya the boy walked again. Yoga instructors were seen as Medicine Men or healers. As vigorous as the Ashtanga Yoga practice may appear from the outside looking in, ultimately it awakens a spiritual fire which heals body and mind.
Increase your focus through dristi and yoga
When I discovered the Rocket routines I knew I had found my yoga. Being 20 years old at the time it was a gift. One of my first yoga classes was a Rocket 2, I thought thats just what yogis do, as a beginner it was really amazing to see all kinds of people going upside down with a breath cue from Larry.
My body was so flexible and rubbery when I began practicing, really all over the place. The flexibility came very easy yet the strength was a whole other animal. The first time I did a handstand I thought my arms were going to break. Even just balancing in tree pose my body would blow with the most gentle breeze. However something deep inside me kept making me want to practice.
Healing with Yoga and Nature
I do believe that if one person is suffering we all are, if one person heals we all heal.
If you have ever experienced loss in your life you know you can not change the outcome of some situations. How can you quantify the relationships we have with other people and spirits? The human spirit is beautiful and complex with many layers. The human experience is a gift from nature, we are nature. Have you ever noticed that nature just happens?
Preserving Yoga Lineage and more about Rocket Yoga
Preserving our lineage, this is the way it was meant to be. Some greater energy protects the lineage and moves it where it needs to be. Moving as powerful as mother nature herself, unstoppable. Sacred energy, eternal.
When I'm out and about naturally I begin talking to people about yoga and tell them I practice the Rocket and there like what's that? How do I describe something has been so transformative in my life, something I believe in so much that I practice it all the time. Something that I make the number one priority in my life above relationships and other activities. Rocket Yoga is the best relationship I've ever been in. It never lets me down, it always makes me feel good about myself. Rocket Yoga is the best gift I could ever give myself so I want to share it with everyone. For me its all about restoring your energy and feeling the benefits of a well nurtured nervous system.
Building Strength through Yoga
Larry talked a lot about strength. He would always tell we were going to get stronger. We would feel his hands and he would say feel how strong my fingers are. The Ashtanga Rocket Practice is built upon strength, "your stronger then you think you are we heard a lot" As I have observed myself practicing for the past 15 years I notice that I am still building strength.