Back bending, August 2022
The last three days were very exciting. I had the opportunity to be part of a workshop with Danny Paradise. Every day we practiced pranayama and asanas in a group of about 12 people.
The Ashtanga community is rather drifting to a more regulated and strict practice, while Danny blends different sources and styles. We exercised martial art techniques, Egyptian forms and classic Ashtanga Yoga asanas from all the series. One could feel the free spirit, the creativity, the attentiveness and energy.
When Hundreds of students come together individual teaching is no more possible. So I absolutely understand that there must be clear rules in order to teach the masses.
To get individual instructions is a luxury these days. Individual training allows to break the rules, to move away from what everybody does to a more free practice.
You learn from the teacher and then it’s your own practice and knowledge, Danny said. No ‘guru’ is necessary. Who is a guru anyway?
The asana practice looked like I practice at home these days. The series are the skeleton. I add asanas when I want to. Sometimes they are easier than the classic one, sometimes more difficult.
Every day one has to approach the practice with attentiveness. Every day is different. Nobody can repeat what was yesterday.
The 90 minutes of pranayama on two days were great. We learned different breathing techniques.
Here is a link that I found on YouTube. The video with Danny Paradise is recorded during a conference in Bali in 2013. It lasts 2 hours and it’s absolutely worth watching.