Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Pattabhi Jois has a very practical approach. This makes it very effective for the human mind. It only works though if it is practiced correctly. Some say that this practice is very rigid and repetitive which makes it hard to stick to. This is a matter of perception. I find it not rigid but simple. It tells me exactly what to do, how to breathe, were to look, what to listen to so that my thought producing disposition is arrested. It forces me to be focussed, to be present. Of course it is repetitive. It is a spiritual practice like the repeating of mantras, Pranayama or meditation. If you confuse it with sport or a hobby, it will seem rigid, repetitive and boring.
Doing the same movement, breathing, looking place etc. everyday is a great tool to quieten and bring under control the thinking mind. If we stick to it and can surrender to the repetition and let go of the desire to be entertained, we can in time still our thought stream. Then we can have access to the true intelligence of our being. The constant chitter chatter in our head is not it.
Ironically the practice of this method is often changed to make it more entertaining. If we carry on entertaining our thinking mind it will absorb all our attention. This is defying the purpose of Yoga. The movements in this practice must be carried out in harmony with the breath, bandhas and drishtis. If a posture is difficult, don’t go into it so deeply or stop at the one beforehand. The practice becomes rigid and tense when you have to use all sorts of tools to do an asana perfectly or at all. If you set yourself goals to perform advanced asanas at all costs, you’ll be taking your attention to a future point in time where you might be able to do the asana. You won’t be present. It is not yoga. Your life won’t change with the possibility to do a handstand in the future, it will change with peace of mind now.
“The state of mind that is steady in flow, is the source of happiness; it is but peace. He whose mind is steady, finds all success at his door. We with a scattered mind must find the path of yoga, our only door.”
—Sri T. Krishnamacharya
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Jnanananda (Sunday, 10 June 2018 20:24)
Inspirational! Few human beings have the discipline you what you do. You are being TRUE to yoga. I have just one word to describe how I feel after reading your blog: RESPECT.
Doug (Tuesday, 25 September 2018 05:32)
You show discipline, something I am sometimes short of. You show physical fitness, something I need. You show radiant, sensual beauty, something I admire. You show self awareness and self love, some we all should strive for
timothy schlotter (Monday, 01 October 2018 20:42)
I wish I were young enough to try what you do. Do not let anyone stop you, you are truly enlightened.
Wouldhave (Sunday, 25 November 2018 06:35)
Regarding the yoga porn, I think that 20,000 people would like to see a link to a site where they can pay $99 to see this series with no clothing in 4k. That's $1,980,000 for you, probably more than you are making off Youtube. Ok. It's not 'porn'. There is no touching. 2nd. Do the world a favor a be the first to show what a perfect woman looks like. With someone like you, showing what a body can do better than any sculpture, it would be a first. Sure, you'll get some people sending you hate mail, but darn it, and the end of the day, if they did the work you've done, they'd be able to show off too. You"ve done the work. They haven't. They can't do what you do. And they are jealous. Certainly, you would have to fend of creepos who try to find you, but that's probably happened already. Just take precautions. But seriously, I don't think it will be a major problem. Most likely they will stay at home. But seriously, you would be quite unique out there, you'd probably break the internet, and then you decide what to do from there. Why not? We all come and go. Why not? Let me impart a story to you. A very, very close person to me is an extraordinarily brilliant and beautiful woman. Gorgeous face, hair, stunning body and long legs. Not dissimilar at all to you. She was always very conservative with what she explored about her body in life. Later in her life, she was hit, through no fault of her own, by a piece of very large equipment that was neglected and fell on her, and is now triplegic. She can only move her right arm. She has to scoot around in a mechanical chair. She can do nothing for herself and relies on aides who have to do everything for her, 24/7... and I don't know if you know about triplegics who have zero control of their body, this means EVERYTHING. She has no control or sensation of her bladder or intestines. She can feel nothing from the top of her ribcage down. Nothing. It's all gone. No sex. No walking. No simply getting up by herself in the morning. Someone has to toilet her. She has to be lifted out of bed in a crane. The injury happened in a second, bringing her as close as you can be to death. I've known her for 27 years, and all she can think now, as she she recuperates (although this is a life-sentence for her) is...
"Why didn't I just go for it and try this, and try that? Why didn't I take a chance? Or explore? Now everything is taken away from me. I will never have a chance again."
Go for it.
David Beech (Sunday, 02 December 2018 01:59)
I have tremendous respect for your achievement. Thank you for being so inspirational.
Larry Wetzler (Monday, 03 December 2018 04:44)
Well, yoga porn? That's a new one for me. I've been on Fire and Rescue team, worked many years in hospitals, divorced and have raised two kids, I'm still going to have to look that one up. lol lol Don't worry about it. It's their way of criticizing you and trying to make you as unhappy as they are. You're beautiful and happy at doing yoga. It shows in you're great smile. I think you have as perfect a body as I have ever seen. Nudies? Go for it. The ones I have seen are in good taste and quite complimentary to you. Have fun.
Louie (Saturday, 09 February 2019 03:16)
A yoga beginner but really inspired by this to continue.
roberto russo (Monday, 18 March 2019 11:47)
you are a very very attractive person, congratulations for your art
Jeff (Sunday, 09 June 2019 02:20)
You're wise beyond your years, and a beautiful person inside and out. Thank you for your inspiration and beauty. I've seen a lot of your work, and what you do is tasteful, and beautiful.
(( Haters gonna Hate)) I'm a proud Yoga Flocke Patron, and in my humble opinion, you take Yoga to a beautiful new realm. Keep enjoying what you do.
Bart (Tuesday, 03 September 2019 14:31)
Happiness, like anything else, is just a word, like GOD or MONEY ; words ! Personally I think [with words] that WORDS themselves, language, is the enemy of the human mind. Language has a way of caging the soul, imprisoning it in some kind of word servitude. I have read all of Carlos Castaneda's books and all of the Seth books by Jane Roberts. One of the things they claim is necessary in order to free oneself from the crippling effects of human drama, is to STOP THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE. This is an incredibly difficult task. We have all been taught to use that inner voice for everything we do, BUT if it could be done, if we could see with the eyes of a newborn baby again, just imagine the possibilities for your reality. I love that you embrace such philosophy, Andrea. I wish we could all help the world to be a little more silent ; to empty oneself out. Because less is more, isn't it ? Thanks for all your posts at FB, Twitter, etc. Your sexy body is sweet, but your spirit is what turns me ON.
JOHN (Tuesday, 24 September 2019 01:49)
What I would love to know is where were you born? I think you might be European. How old are you? I know you are not supposed to ask a woman her age, but I think it would give me a greater understanding of the significance of how this keeps you healty if I had a point of reference. And lastly...what the heck is your name?
DD (Thursday, 02 April 2020 22:55)
As a man, as a photographer, as a performance artist, as a massage therapist, four times hurray for you! Needless to say I'd love to work with you some time? :)
mesh (Tuesday, 14 April 2020 20:10)
inspirational. educationsal. motivational. international yet a true individual. big big fan
Theo (Monday, 27 April 2020 03:17)
Hello Ashtanga
So gorgeous. Keep doing your awesome yoga. Keep Moving.
God Bless You
livemood@gmail.com
Jim (Wednesday, 13 May 2020 20:22)
keep your mind free, ignore the faint hearted in their need to judge others....
Enjoy your life & feel free to continue your journey how you feel....love your blogs.....
Augusto Campos (Thursday, 18 June 2020 01:08)
Hi
I would like to make Yoga
With you
I need to travel
Do you have whatsapp?
Keith (Monday, 09 November 2020 01:34)
Many thanks for sharing so much. Truly wonderful
!
Mr_fasu (Wednesday, 12 May 2021 13:44)
Hij
Wahby (Saturday, 18 December 2021 11:22)
Hello how are you I hope you be fine always and I like know your real name if you can my dear