Peter Sanson workshops rule!

Peter Sanson was here for 4 days, doing a workshop. I had heard great things about him, and was interested to see what he was like.  Well for once, everyone is right.  He's wonderful.  If you ever get a chance, go study with him.  His Mysore classes were good, great adjustments, not too strong, just insightful. He would not let anyone away with sloppiness in practice, so would berate you in good humour. But it was the talk that he gave yesterday that really blew me away. I'll try and remember the gist of what he said, but this is just my recollection, so don't take it as gospel.

He started off by telling us how he first experienced ashtanga in Mysore.  Guruji took a look at him and told him that he would teach him privately, upsatirs above the old shala.  There was just Peter and one other Indian woman.  Guruji taught him very slowly.  First week was surya a.  second week, surya b. Then slowly the standing postures. Only when Guruji thought that Peter could get a good grasp on a posture was he moved on to the next posture. And that is how he learnt the forst 4 series.  Slowly, one posture at a time, from Guruji. Amazing. Peter was saying he now believes that it was a blessing to have learnt ashtanga this way, as it is a safe way for the body to open up. He believes that people are now racing through the series, grasping at postures.  That is why so many people are injured, or exhausted.  This is what really connected with me.  He described the practice as  a prana building exercise.  The whole time during your practice, you need to be aware of your prana/energy levels.  As soon as you feel your prana dipping, you need to stop.   Otherwise you won't be able to sustain this practice for life, you'll have to stop, as you can't do the rest of your life and an exhausting practice.  If you feel your prana building, than you know that you're on the right track.  He believes that 7 years per series is a good average. Feel steady and at ease in each posture before moving to the next. It really struck a cord with me. So today in practice, I made that my focus. Steady, deep breath.  Staying connected to my energy.  And you know, it worked. Usually by the time that I get to bakasana b I'm ready to collapse in a heap, find it hard to breathe. Not today.  Sure kapotasana could hardly be described as peaceful, but overall my energy was great.  It felt like a very different practice.  I  felt fantastic after.  Sometimes after doing practice, particularly once I started 2nd, I can feel almost jittery high.  All that nerve cleansing I guess. But today was just prana flowing through. Clear nadis. Fantastic.  

 Another point he made was that every day he's excited to start his practice.  Excited to see how his first sun salute will be. And that is how to approach your practice.  Don't be mentally racing ahead, thinking of what's coming. Start at the beginning.  Stay in the present, with the breath. And also he reminded us that the sun salutes are about  paying repect, a humbling practice.  So thank you Peter.  You've given me back the beauty of my practice