“Don’t Fear…”

this is the start of my second week practicing here in Mysore. my body seems to have accepted the Indian environment, and i’m finding practicing here at the shala to be a wonderful experience. after 17 years of practicing Ashtanga i am really happy to have made the journey to be here.

so far i have received no physical assistance from Sharath except for the drop backs at the end of practice, but i find the influence of his ever present observation and the power of his vocal instructions to be much more useful then an extra push into a forward bend. i’m finding an ease in the practice which i have not felt before. the climate certainly helps, given the mix of cool morning air with the humidity of South India, add to that a room full of more than 60 bodies breathing “with sound,” and it feels to me to be the perfect atmosphere to practice in.

i’ve heard people say they’ve gotten into difficult postures practicing here in the shala which they could never achieve at other times in other places. let me be one more to add to the list. this morning after completing my 5 breaths in Kurmasana, Sharath just happened to be laying on the person’s back next to me, so i turned to him to ask if it was okay for me to sit up and place my legs behind my head? ala Dwi-pada sirsasana. i didn’t add that i’ve never been able to this before without assistance, but he smiled to me and said “yes, go ahead,” so what was i to do, but sit up and proceed to place both legs securely behind my head. he watched me the whole time, and said, “that’s good, now lower down, and take back your hands.” i was both pleased and amazed at the same time. i didn’t at all feel like i was forcing anything on my body, it all happened so simply, the next thing i knew i was in Supta Kurmasana without any physical assistance, more neatly than i have ever been before.

from that point i sort of floated through the rest of the series, and stood up from my third Urdva danurasana. at this point i stood and waited as i’ve done the last few days in mysore practice. so i’m standing with my arms crossed and my eyes closed just trying to let my breath be very smooth. for the last few months since i’ve been dealing with my elbow/shoulder issues i’ve been a bit reluctant to drop back unassisted. i did a couple the first day here, but i’ve been waiting for Sharath since then.

so i’m standing there with my eyes closed listening to my breath, and from a distance i hear “Go, drop back, don’t fear!” i hear it repeat again and suddenly i feel a self-recognition that it is addressed to me, i open my eyes and Sharath is looking at me while he is assisting someone a few mats away. “GO, Dropback, Don”t Fear!” so, i exhale back, inhale up three times, and i as i come up the third time he is standing there smiling, “that’s good, now cross your arms, Inhale…exhale back.” there is something very calming and grounding i feel when he assists me, i find an increase of energy and a willingness to proceed beyond my usual stopping point. moving beyond the discomfort, an opening occurs which i never imagined to be available.

i’ve been pondering the sutra Satya-pratishayam kriya-phalasrayatvam

this is Patanjali’s explaination of the practice of the 2nd Yama, Satya. it says that the words of one established in truthfulness, produce the appropriate result. or you can say that by only speaking the truth, whatever you say will be true.

i feel this is an essential aspect of Sharath’s teaching. the transmission of the power of the lineage comes through his voice, as he guides us into a true state of experiencing our own potential through the practice. this is the role of the teacher, to lead us from the unreal to the real, from the untrue to the true. i am grateful, and honored to be here.

Hari Om