Usha in Rishikesh

When I first researched Usha Devi online to determine if I wanted to sign up for her 9 day intensive course, I was a bit apprehensive about her style of teaching even though my primary teacher in San Francisco, Darren Main, had recommended her. Actually I was quite turned off by the idea of Rishikesh all together (even though yoga was the primary reason for my trip to India) when every tourist I'd spoken to upon landing in New Delhi seemed to be heading to the supposed "Yoga Capital of the World" -- I envisioned a scene akin to a Las Vegas of yogis. So, I got sideswiped into going to Kashmir instead. After that first week's fiasco, I learned about Yog-Ganga while waiting in the New Delhi hospital and signed up with a leap of faith. How did I end up at Usha's in the end anyway? Well, the more I researched and asked around, the more it seems credible yoga teachers come from Iyengar style, and there are far and few between. It could be that serious yoga student-teachers are typically from the Iyengar lineage...unless of course one is of the high energy super octane fueled followers of Patabhi Jois' ashtanga yoga. Perhaps the primarily Iyengar student-teachers at Yog-Ganga could've been a bit biased in their opinions. But all arrows pointed me back to Usha. One can certainly find all kinds of yoga in Rishikesh and whatever one fancies as well, I imagine. There certainly is no "flow" nor encouragements of "feeling good" at the Chanchani's nor at Usha's, unlike most of what I've found around yoga studios in San Francisco, New York and London!

I didn't realize I was in for a shock my first day of class with Usha. Was it from the frustration of being dropped to #19 on the waiting list from #3 when I'd originally signed up a month before? And the anticipation and anxiety of not knowing if I would actually get into the intensive course, the very one I'd been avoiding the past few months. Or, it could've been because for the last 2 months at Yog-Ganga, Rajiv, our teacher had been hammering into our heads that yoga is sooooooooo not about shin-shank-shoulder-left-foot-in-right foot-out and what have you...aka, asanas. But at the end of that first class with Usha, I was hurting quite a bit. Quite a bit. I can almost still feel the pain. It's been almost 3 weeks since the last class I had with her. And not from the "whackings" she dished out lavishly. I was holding basic poses to the max intensity like I've never done before.

Usha's intensive course is...well, what can I say? INTENSIVE. And all about asanas. We had 2 standalone lectures on the Bhagavad Gita, which was lovely, and also 2 evening classes of pranayams and self-practice. Otherwise, it was 8 days (thank God and Shiva for the one day break in between!) of asanas twice a day to the extreme. And I don't mean extreme like what you'd find in power yoga classes where it's all about adrenaline pumping, sweating yoga junkies (yes, admittedly me sometimes.) There were days we only worked through maybe 5 different poses, but I was stretched/straightened/bent to points I never thought possible. Even in just adho mukha svanasana, sweat was seeping through my pores. I think I finally learned to straightened my legs. Almost. I wasn't getting whacked on the back of my thighs anymore by the end of the general class.

Usha's style of teaching is certainly classical Iyengar method I'd heard of, perhaps feared, and most certainly been avoiding. It's like the traditional style of strict, stoic teaching I'd been accustomed to in Malaysia, even with the mild whackings. I found her dry, somewhat sarcastic humour quite entertaining however. She especially liked to pick on the "trouble" students. I ended up taking the general class for another 5 days, which I have to admit is more manageable. It was great to have self-practise time every day coupled with Usha's teachings. I don't know how this 70 year old lady made a class of 60 students from all around the world extend their limbs to the max while holding poses for seemingly torturous length of time but she somehow does, with finesse and quite a few laughs.

TriYoga on Primrose Hill, London

I arrived at Triyoga 5 minutes late, trying to locate the studio from the main street and having passed it several times. It's not quite the scene like at YogaTree in the Castro! The neighborhood is quite serene with quaint shops and eateries. I was trying to look out for Marina like looking chicks toting their yoga mats, but perhaps because I was late, had barely seen any. No...even after class ended, they either dispersed very quickly or had some secret hiding places for their mats. I must've looked like quite a dork carrying my black travel yoga mat on the tube!

Anyhow, Nadia's class was quite nice. A big one, about 40 students or so...and just like the neighborhood, it was serene. No loud music, no real loud panting or calling out of asanas. I believe it was a hatha level 2. There was a sense of seriousness...perhaps much to the likeness of the English traditions, but Nadia did break out a few laughs here and there. I'm looking forward to going back for the rest of my 5 class pass!

More teachers at Yoga Tree

OK, so it's been a long while since I started this project. Been extremely busy with the 200hr Teacher Training. So, since I was going backwards in time, I'll continue on till I reach probably early this year?!



Daren Main - YogaTree Stanyan

Ah...Darren. He was one of the first teachers I started with at YogaTree, starting in March this year. It started being an easy access due to schedule and location, but after the first class, I was pretty hooked on Darren. I actually just got back from his class tonight! According to YogaTree's history of my classes, this is my 9th class with him, not counting the Yoga For Hope event. This is quite a number of classes considering my attempt all year has been and still is to experience as wide a breadth of teachers as I can. But I keep going back to Darren. And he is definitely one of the reasons I ended up choosing to do my 200hr-YTT at YogaTree.

Elise Lorimer -YogaTree Castro 8/19/10
She is one of the "mega teachers" at the Castro location, I guess you could say. I like Elise's energy - her classes are very much vinyasa-flow style. High energy with enough centering.

Peter Guinoso - YogaTree Stanyan

My first class with Peter was back in June and then again on 9/21. While I can appreciate his good energy, I found him just a tad flirtatious. The more recent class was more of a workout for me and some challenging asanas. He is pretty light hearted.

Elizabeth Rosser - YogaTree Stanyan

Elizabeth usually teaches in the late evenings, 8p.m. So it was a mellow one I went to and thoroughly enjoyed. She plays a flute at the end of class which is absolutely delightful. It's a great winding down and centering sort of vibe.

Diego Del Sol - YogaTree Stanyan 5/23/10

Gosh, now my memory is starting to fade. I believe I found his class OK. It was relatively packed. He delivers a more "testorone" packed class...not so much that it's hard, but rather not the feel-good cuddly vibe!

Stephanie Snyder - YogaTree Castro 3/4/10

I did not know what I was getting into when I first decided to check out YogaTree. I had just finished my trial period over at YogaGarden, so, this was next. And of all teachers, I ended up in Stephanie's class not knowing she was one of the most popular teachers at YT-Castro! Her class was pretty much what propelled me into more classes at YogaTree. There were probably around 80-100 students in the studio, all moving in synchronicity, giving their all, sweating it out, getting grounded, getting centered. And then all chanting at the end, putting forth their souls out there. It was beautiful.

OK, so hopefully, I'm now all caught up back-dating at Yoga Tree. Now I have to catch up from when I first started this blog-project!

namaste,

~Magi

experiencing different teachers

In all of 2010, I think I've gone to about 20 different yoga teachers' classes. Maybe more. This is an attempt to record that experience, and hopefully be able to continue a more "up-to-date" write up as I go along my 6-month long 200hr Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with YogaTree that just started last weekend. I'll work my way backwards for now, from the standpoint of taking advantage of freshest memory first!

Janet Stone - Radiant Flow on 9/15 at YogaTree -Castro.
This was actually Janet's second class I've attended ever. It was not as "hard-core" as the first class I attended back in June, which is funny since I just now realized that the one in June was a Level 1-2 class and last night's was a 2-3! Or maybe I'm a little better conditioned now? Granted, I was sweating like a pig 10 minutes into class! But I wasn't hurting. Or perhaps I'm also being more mindful about how far I stretch myself?

Janet's class is very spiritual and energetic. She incorporates a lot of singing and chanting with her glorious voice and enigmatic persona. Her classes are typically pretty jam packed, in the 80's I'm guessing. And she has 2 assistants. It's a workout for sure, but also spiritual.

Chrissandra Fox - Lunchtime Flow on 9/14 YT-Hayes
This too was my second class with Chrissandra, though I did attend a retreat with her in June as well. I've also taken her class at YogaGarden. Chrissandra tends to be more on the centering side of yoga, focusing on rebalancing and tuning in to your self. This last class was particularly beautiful for me where I felt energized and centered and calm afterwards. She has a very soft demeanour. And while it's not a workout where I sweat like a pig, I did break a sweat in the last class! She spends time in savasana where she goes around class pressing down on everyone's shoulders, which is just heavenly!

Christopher Love - Hatha Flow All Levels on 9/13 YT-Stanyan
It was my first class with Chris. He's very methodical...not the warm-fuzzy feeling you get from someone like Chrissandra. He's serious about his yoga and your practice! But at the same time exudes warmth and care too. He focussed more on the meditation time in class, which is then much like guided meditation.

Les Leventhal - Vinyasa All Levels on 9/11 YT-Castro
My second class with Les who plays 80's music! How can you go wrong with playing 80's music anywhere?! Well, I suppose there could be occasions... but I enjoy it much in Les' class - never would've imagined I'd find yoga and 80's music together. But it works! And a workout it is too. Les' yoga is very energetic and he brings in some humor, also touching on self acceptance/love/caring of yoga philosophies in his teaching. He also explains some bit of the sanskrit words in the asanas.

Saul David Raye - Living from the Heart workshop on 8/28 YT-Castro
This was a 3hr workshop which was like a long yoga class with lots of asanas enfolded into his teachings on the philosophies behind the asanas. A beautiful workshop! Saul also exudes lots of warmth/compassion and caring in his class. No sweaty class - thank goodness as I wouldn't have lasted for 3hrs! He did break into a dance 2/3rds into the workshop!

OK, that's 5 teachers written up for now. Bed time!

Namaste,
~Magi