Autobiography of a Yogi

I’ve resolved this past summer, after 15 years of practising Yoga and Meditation, to study for my Hatha Yoga Teaching Certification. One might ask why I’ve waited so long to do this? There is no simple answer and a hodgepodge of reasons for it: time and cost, looking for the right place and the right teachers, the level of confidence in my own practice, etc. A major reason that I have balked from getting my Teacher certification is because I felt that Yoga was becoming so diluted and commercialised in the main stream; a fashion. Quite honestly, when I leaf through many of the Yoga magazines today, it seems like I've picked up a copy of Cosmo as opposed to a magazine supposedly dedicated to this ancient and spiritual practise. Then there are the constant claims of many in the "business" who sound more like... well... business people - more focused on making money than a difference. Through the many Martial Arts I have studied, I also witnessed this lack of theoretical or philosophical substance. I absorbed many of the writings of Aikido founder Morihei Uyeshiba regarding to the philosophies behind the Art and manipulation of ki, but classes were purely physical experiences with no teachings ever being shared. I found this to be true in the other Martial Arts classes that I have taken in Tae Kwon Do, Kali and Judo. However, as I grow older and, hopefully, wiser, I'm learning to let go of my personal zealot nature and realize that we are all on our own path. In the end, it's about finding something in this life. I am grateful for those who I have shared this trip of a lifetime with.

Gandhi stated that we should “be the change that we wish to see in the world”. When I took the step of becoming a Yoga Teacher, and to this day, I  carry these words with me. Taking on the role of being one’s spiritual mentor or guru completely is in no way my aspiration. I am so far from perfect that it’s not funny. True teaching, in my opinion, is about facilitating another's sense of self discovery for a moment in their lives. An imperfect role model, perhaps, assists us in accepting our own imperfections.  It is not a matter of “being like me”- (G)god(s) forbid! - so much as encouraging others to “be who they are” and find one’s own purpose.

I started doing Yoga in 1997. I would tape this show on the local cable network hosted by a woman named Gerta Krebs. Through my collection of episodes, I began my practise. As I am prone to do, I started reading a lot on Yoga and Eastern Philosophy at this time. It was a year or two after this that the catalyst for my catharsis began, with two intensive years of study in Iyengar Yoga with an amazing teacher named Elfriede Meyer. After my time working with Elefriede, my new career as a Correctional Officer, doing shift work, ended my tutorage under her. From this point on, my reading list expanded significantly, and I would do the occasional course and drop-in classes around the city.

I received my first taste of Teaching Yoga this past August when I took a Teaching Yoga to Children Teacher Certification course. This class put me off in some ways, but also gave me some insight. The turn-offs lied in the fact that many of those taking the course had taken little or no previous Yoga - again speaks the Yoga zealot in me - learning not to judge!..  This, however, clearly illustrates one of my main points of contention with the fashion Yoga presently permeating itself through North American culture. It’s the same as these Martial Arts places awarding black belts after only a couple of years study. The physical sides of Yoga or Martial Arts can be easily depicted, but this is not a complete learning of an Art or way of life.

So, what is Yoga in my mind? The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise. The word Yoga means “to join or yoke together,” and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. Many of Yoga’s “life teachings” come from “The Yoga Sutras” by Patañjali and the sacred Hindu text “The Bhagavad Gita”. 

So, as a Teacher, where would I recommend that my student, new to Yoga, begin? I would first state that Yoga and its benefits are a lifelong pursuit and, just like our lives, ebbs and flows and takes us down several different chutes along the way. It will be a constant challenge, but is not a competition. Take in what is presented to you in books and by teachers, and synthesise that which resonates with you to be what you wish to become and what you feel to be good and correct.

In the first month, I’d recommend that a student visit 3-4 different Yoga studios around town, to get a feel for the different styles of Yoga and a sense of the teaching being done. Inevitably, students will come to have a favourite style: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, Moksha, Iyengar, Kundalini, etc. This is good, but we must, in our practise, be open to other forms as each has their place. I, personally, have a strong preference to Iyengar, Kundalini and Hatha styles, and dislike many of the flow Yoga’s such as Ashtanga. This is largely because I lack grace and the flow forms often make me feel like I suck. But this is good and tells me that I need to challenge myself more. Again, pushing from our zone of comfort and into the torrents is necessary to impose tranquility on our turbulent times.

While a new student get their feet solid on their sticky mats, I would recommend that they read a plethora of books. Based on these readings, one would be better able to deepen their knowledge and provide conversational and discussion piece for when they meet with other Yogi’s and their teachers. I would break these books down into two categories: asanas (poses) and theory (philosophy and teachings).

Recommendations for Asana based information:

“Light on Yoga” by B.K.S. Iyengar

“Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness” by Erich Schiffmann

“Yoga for Beginners” by Mark Ansari and Liz Lark

Recommendations for theory based information:

"The Inner Tradition of Yoga" by Michael Stone

“The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings” by Thich Nhat Hahn

“Light on Yoga Sutras” by B.K.S. Iyengar

“The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff

“Thus Spoke Zarathustra” by Friedrich Nietzsche

These writings will provide the student with ample information and ideas about our perceptions of the world in which we live and differing ways of approaching life. Once these books have been indulged, I strongly recommend that the serious student read the many writings of the following authors:

Thich Nhat Hahn (wonderful stuff on peace, mindfulness, etc.)

Eknath Easwaran (brilliant insights and highlights of many Eastern writings including “The Bhagavad Gita”, “The Upanishads” and “The Dhammapada”)

Jon Kabat-Zinn (one of the best writers out there on meditation)

As a person, I tend to be rather cynical and do not like the fluffy or flakey writings that are filtered through many of the books written on Yoga and Eastern ideas. This is a personal preference – to each their own (this is my new mantra!). The authors that I have recommended here are largely indicative of my ideological perspective

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The last recommendation I would have for a student, new to Yoga, would be to download a few different guided meditations from iTunes. There are many good ones out there, and also some pretty horrible ones. I would recommend that the new student commence with meditations focusing on deep relaxation. It is during deep relaxation that the yoking of the physical, breath and mind truly flourish. If you truly wish to open your mind, I have come to enjoy doing my meditations on a Shakti mat. This is essentially a bed of nails ( you can order them on-line from www.shaktimat.com ). I was first introduced to them when I was teaching in the former Czechoslovakia by one of my students. While uncomfortable initially, over time, the Shakti becomes very pleasant and provides a wonderful rush of endorphins. Everyone will respond differently, of course, but I swear by mine!

In closing, I wish you the best on your voyage, and thank you for taking the time to read what I have set on offer. Peace.