I just got finished reading Guruju: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students by Guy Donahaye & Eddie Stern. It is a collection of interviews done on people who have studied with Pattabhi Jois. It is easy to read and a must for anyone serious about Ashtanga.
The interviews are honest and raw and present some interesting insights. I picked out a few below.
Different Students Were Taught Different Things- Ashtanga is essentially a set sequence. After studying with many different teachers, most of them certified and authorized by Pattabhi Jois, I noticed that there were discrepancies in the sequence. The unique stories from the different students made it clear why this was the case. The differences in the sequences occurred due to the following:
- The Amount of Students Present in Mysore- In the beginning there was a higher degree of personalization because there were not as many students. As more and more students came, things had to become more automated because he needed to be able to teach more students at once.
- Who Else Was Studying With You-If you happened to be mixed in with the Indian students, your practice was a bit easier. The Indian students were householders who were working jobs and taking care of families at the same time that they were practicing with him. He was very strict with Western students because they were there solely as students and had the energy for a tougher practice.
- Your Individual Issues-Slight changes were made based on strength and ability
Jois's Fame Was Due to His Western Students-Many stories allude to the fact that, though Pattabhi Jois was respected due to his education, character and family lineage, the local culture as a whole really wasn't into what he was teaching. He always had Indian students but the business didn't blow up until the Western students came. After that, people in his home country started to recognize him as a Guru.
Like Most Yoga Teachers, In the Beginning, He Had Very Few Students-Don't give up Yoga teachers! During his first 20 years or so of teaching, he had very few students and no money. Now look! Its a movement!
Andre van Lysebeth Was the First Westerner To Study with Jois Around 1964
The Sequences Used To Be Primary, Intermediate and Advanced but They Were Broken Down to 6-Primary is Yoga Chikitsa which purifies the muscles and organs. Intermediate is Nadi Shodhana which purifies the nervous system and Advanced is Sthira Bhaga and it is to build physical and emotional strength.
Squeezing the Hand At The Waist For Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and Prasarita Padonttanasana is for Emphasizing the Bandhas.
Pattabhi Jois Was a Healer- There are great stories in the book of him healing people from various diseases using yoga. He also worked with people with cancer and those who were paralyzed.
His Attitude Toward You Was Directly Related To Your Ego-The bigger the ego the meaner he was. It was a tool to make the person confront their ego and eventually break them down and release them from it.
