Saraswathi's Conference

After the last class on Saturday, Saraswathi took some time to answer questions and make some comments. (I didn't take notes, so this is a paraphrased summary of what Yoga East teachers remember.)

Saraswathi beginning the conference talk about yoga originating in India. She said it was India's "property", not that India "owned it ", but it originated there. 

First she was asked how she liked going to the Oaks, and she answered that she liked it a lot but it was very crowded.

Then she was asked if she had studied with Krishnamacharya, her father's teacher. She answered that yes, she passed examinations with him and received two certificates.

Another student asked how one knew the difference between pain coming from an injury and pain that was not from an injury but was caused emotionally. Saraswathi smiled and answered, "You know."  Then she continued to say, "Keep coming to practice. Pain will go. Take practice for pain; if you don't practice pain will happen. If you're in pain and don't come to practice for one day, pain will be worse."

Saraswathi said that many students were not breathing correctly, that the breath was not strong enough and not making the right sound. She emphasized the importance of correct breathing and the correct drishtis, the gazing points.  We need to breathe more deeply and fix our gaze in the asanas. Move into the postures slowly and correctly while breathing deeply - she said she could not hear us breathing.

Then she talked about the importance of following the guru's (teacher's) advice.  That one could not learn yoga from watching videos or reading books, but needed to practice with and learn from the teacher - that is the Ashtanga method. She emphasized the importance of learning the asanas slowly, one-by-one. Many students are impatient to get new asanas, and want to skip asanas they cannot do, but it is very important to learn the asanas correctly.  All kinds of people are coming to practice, students who are older, injured or who have chronic illness. It is very important to practice asana in the correct way, learning the poses one-by-one. Then anyone can do yoga and take benefit from it.

Another student asked how to get over the difficulty of gazing at the toes during the forward bends. Saraswathi answered to keep practicing to get the correct drishti. Even when the chin touches look forward always. Even in Maricasana B, chin touches though harder to do.  Maricasana C and D, look to side.

Primary series is chikitsa, "treatment".  Paschimattanasana is good for back pain, Janu shirshasanas are helpful for diabetes.

She talked a lot about the power of the breath and the importance of correct breathing and a steadfast practice. Yoga is lifetime practice and other activities such as running and gymnastics only are for a period of time.  Guruji demonstrated this by his perseverance in teaching to the age of 93, even when she and the family members asked him to take a break, he continued teaching and practice. She teaches breathing at the end of class because students aren't breathing properly. 

She thanked everyone, especially Babs Freibert for her hospitality in hosting them at her house and to her son Bart for taking good care of them.