Thoughts on the practice with Chris Paris Yoga - KPJAYI Authorized teacher

I am so inspired by Chris Paris thoughts on the practice of Yoga. I met him in Mysore March 2015 and a year later Chris received from Sharath Jois the authorization to teach the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga. Thank you Chris for your time and kindness.

1- Could you share how was your life before the practice of yoga and what leaded you to this path?

With some difficulty

I first was aware of yoga asana when I was seven or eight years old as my mum had a book and I used to explore some postures.  

I remember when I was fourteen I had a careers interview and I had my idea to be a graphic designer because I liked art and drawing.  Whilst waiting for the interview I was looking at books in the library and remember coming across light on yoga and Iyengar doing Scorpion posture.  I never thought that yoga could be a career at that time, or that the two moments may take on a different meaning in the future.

My life was strongly influenced by theatre and arts in my early days because my parents were in the arts.

Age 10 I bought the Beatles Sergeant Pepper album and heard WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU George Harrison.  I played it over and over and fell i love with everything india.  The lyrics are very philosophical and wonderful about their time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Later around age 15 I remember thinking about philosophy, I became aware of Jung and the collective unconscious, and also read “the problems of philosophy” Bertrand Russell the famous Oxford philosopher.  

Then 17 I had a connection with the Krishna Consciousness movement.  I read Ishopanishada.

At 19  I met my Spiritual master and took initiation from him

So to answer the question, you have to define “before the practice of yoga”  which is not so easy.  There seems that yoga was always around.  But my formal engagement with yoga practice was as a Krishna Bhakta.  

Before this many small things led me to this.  Conversations, books, George Harrison.

Formal Asana practice didnt happen until 2002, which was 18 years later.  

2- Do you see Ashtanga yoga practice as a healing practice?

Ashtanga yoga as taught by KPJAYI ?  Yes it can and ought to be a regeneratve practice.  But it can be a destructive practice if not practiced correctly.  

I dont see it as yoga theraphy in the sense that western physiotherapists are a healing modality.  I think yoga is Holistic approach, so if the vital energy is strong and blocks removed then the body will naturally heal its self.  So we are not becoming obsessed with certain conditions and symptoms.

So healing yes but rather than healing I would say REGENERATIVE.

3- What are the main obstacles in the practice of yoga and how do you overcome them?

Attachment, assumption, false perceptions, personal ambition.  Illness, Practice is itself the best way to overcome these.  But sometimes a small amount of gentle practice is needed, a soft touch.  Not pressure.  But its continuity of application that is the key.

4- What do you advice to students that don't have a shala they can practice regurlary?

Practice in a group regularly.  Either once a month or every couple of months.  But connect with other practitioners and develop links with the community.

Also to practice at the same time and same place if possible daily, and develop breath as a priority before worrying about posture.

5- Sri K. Pattabhi Jois once said 99% Practice and 1% theory. Why regular practice is important and beside physical asanas what type of practices, studies and book do you recommend?

He said that.  But actually the philosophy and practice need to be equal and balanced.  But in the beginning there is no point asking lots of questions, most of which are answered by the practice.  I think that is why he said that.  He wanted his students to do more and question less.

Some formal meditation practice is very usefull after a certain point.  Regular practice develops mental stability and continuity.  That is important.

Everybody needs to consider Jiddu Krishnamurti.  His practice of radical inquiry is extraordinary.  I recommend THE KRISHNAMURTI PENGUIN READER  if you can find a copy, but anything by him is good if you have not met him.

6- Ashtanga yoga is seem to be a very physical practice. How can you help students to seek a more internal practice instead of focusing only on asana progress?

Practical advice to keep bringing the attention back to the Bandhas and Dhristi.  But also when talking to students, talk about deeper aspects of practice.

Also creating a Shala environment that supports internal absorbtion.

7- What teacher(s) made an impactful influence on you?

George Harrison

Bertrand Russell

Carl Jung

Tolkien

Erich Fromm

His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami

Timothy Leary

Krishnamurti

Sri Sri Anandamurti

Adi Da Samraja

My master Vijaya Tirtha

Swami Sivananda Swami Vishnudevananda

Swami Kailasananda

Joey Miles

Hamish Hendry

Goenkaji

Chogyum Trumpa

Patabhi Jois

Sharath Jois

Krishnamacharya

Haidakan Baba ji 

8- Any final thoughts on the practice?

All practice should be seen within the context of Sadhana.  Our entire life journey can be seen as Sadhana.  So practice and life are one.

Ashtanga as a specific practice as taught in Mysore is not accessible to all.  Yet some physical practice can be done by all and it can then grow.  The relevance of having a very powerful shamanic physical practice which pushes you though points of crisis, is that we can really move beyond many limiting ideas in the body and mind.  It is deeply purifying.  My feeling is more and more that we need our community to assist in maintaining our own practice.  This technique is on the path for some, but not all.  Yet everyone is on a path toward greater understanding.

More info at:

http://www.hatha.co.uk/?page_id=42

If your interested in talking to Chris about philosophy, retreats, or classes, or your needing cover or someone to assist for Mysore style, please send an email to :

mail@hatha.co.uk or call 07944 662886

Yoga physical aspects and beyond

   Yoga Asanas or poses(how we call in the west)is the third limb of the Ashtanga Yoga practice. I see the Ashtanga Yoga method as the pure essence of yoga. To experience the deep aspects of this practice we first start with the Yamas and Nyiamas. There the transformation starts. The third limb is the asana, what we generally aproach first in the west and most of the people think what yoga is all about. Yoga is a philosophy of life, which also has the potential to create a vibrantly healthy body and mind.

   Ashtanga Yoga, practiced in its correct sequential order, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscover his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness - physical, psychological, and spiritual. ` In Ashtanga yoga method we practice an asana at a time until we are ready to practice the next one. It takes time, devotion and a daily practice. The goal is not to be able to do the next asana or posture.

  The goal is through the asana prepare our minds for the other limbs of yoga : pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (contemplation). These branches support each other. Asana practice must be established for proper practice of pranayama, and is a key to the development of the yamas and niyamas. Once these four externally oriented limbs are firmly rooted, the last four internally oriented limbs will spontaneously evolve over time.

  Sri K. Pattabhi Jois said to practice one asana 1000 times to make it perfect and at least 100.000 times to start to understand ourselves from that asana. From that point of view we realize how the practice its the main role of the asana limb. How important is to repeat again and again, be humble and learn from whatever feeling comes out of the practice. Everyday people create different styles of yoga, different names for the yoga asana practice.Giving to the student what he/she wants. The Ashtanga series are made to carefully study with dedication and devotion. We all get tempted and curious about doing advanced asanas,but if we just practice what we want or what looks cool, we are just getting attached to the asana itself and not focusing in the main goal of yoga.

  The evolution of asanas comes from Surya namaskara A and B ( The Sun Salutations A and B). It is how in the Ashtanga method we start. We also find called as Mysore style (Self practice). From the Sun Salutations on your own pace you open an space in your body and mind for the following asanas and psych and subtle levels. It is recommended to study under a guidence of a Guru or a authorized/Certified teacher. If is not possible, continue your exploration through practice and study and when the opportunity comes to have a directed teacher from the lineage embrace it! Studying from a directed teacher we call parampara.

What is Parampara?

Traditional Ashtanga Yoga is founded on the concept of parampara, a term meaning direct, experiential knowledge passed in succession from teacher to student. Our teachers have committed themselves to the instruction of Ashtanga Yoga as it was taught to them from the source in Mysore, India by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, R. Sharath Jois, and R. Saraswathi. Ashtanga Yoga and Parampara ‘Parampara’ literally means an uninterrupted succession and denotes the direct and unbroken transmission of knowledge from teacher to student. Traditional Ashtanga Yoga is founded on parampara and a commitment to its established instruction. Shri K. Pattabhi Jois took this method from Mysore, India and disseminated it all over the world. Guruji’s teachings are now continued by his family: R. Sharath Jois, R. Saraswathi, Manju Jois, and Sharmila Mahesh. Surrendering to the lineage of Astanga Yoga is to enter a river of teachings that has been flowing for thousands of years, a river that masters, past and present, have followed into an ocean of knowledge and wisdom.