Heather - Days Twenty-Six - Twenty-Eight: David Swenson!!!!!

David. Swenson.
O. M. G.
L. M. A. O.

For those of you who aren't as familiar with David Swenson, he is a big name teacher in the Ashtanga world and he is HILARIOUS!!! We were very honored at Back Bay Yoga to have him for a weekend of 6 workshops followed by a week of teacher training, which, I am sad to say that I have not had the opportunity to partake due to scheduling conflicts. I hope to next time around, for sure!

I can't even quite begin to explain the joy of practicing in a room of so many dedicated Ashtangis. We did a full primary on Saturday morning and, admittedly, by the second or third Sun B, I am usually feeling eager for the standing poses. But Saturday morning, it felt soooo easy - the WHOLE primary, relatively speaking. The energy in the room was so focused and everyone was working so hard. It was electric and I almost felt afterward like my body practiced for me rather me making my body go through practice. It was sensational! I started giggling in svasana because I was so euphoric.

And he made it so easy with his voice and general attitude. This is not to say that my body wasn't sore or tired later on, but it didn't feel like a struggle at some of the places that I often struggle - whether it be with my ego or my body. Everything was OK. I am going to definitely try my best to keep that in my practice!

As I write this, I realize that I could spend thousands of words trying to explain everything I learned in this series of workshops from Mr. Swenson. There are just a few problems with attempting to take on such a thing. One, if you weren't there you won't really be able to grasp exactly what he was saying because his classes were dependent so much on the experience of what he was talking about. Two, I am not a co-author or collaborator, so I am not even sure how much of his stuff I should actually share without his permission. Three, as I practice in my life everything I think I have learned from him will have a totally different perspective, so I can guarantee that I don't have a very full understanding of the information covered.

Let me just highlight what I found really noteworthy. He emphasized something that I have always tried to bring to my practice. Someone asked him about meditating and his own practices. He said an actual seated practice is not part of the Ashtanga prescription, but that most teacher do some sort of seated practice independently of the Ashtanga practice. Then he said it: The thing that just solidifies what I have instinctually felt for a long time, but no one has ever said quite so directly. The practice, the movement, is itself a form of meditation - in motion. The striving of trying to get into this posture or that posture shouldn't be the focus. Breath, concentration, deep listening, the union of mind, body, heart - those things are yoga. Strength, flexibility, stamina, increased health, even a quiet mind are all side benefits of yoga. No one NEEDS to be able to do a full split or stand on their hands. The physical demands of a human existence don't require anything that fancy. So whether it takes someone one week or one year or ten years or never to be able to bind in marichasana D, it doesn't matter. It is a fun goal and something that as you work toward it can have visible results. But true yoga is for learning patience, surrender, acceptance, and universality. For me, it is learning that inner peace isn't dependent on and doesn't necessarily result in ideal external situations. It is learning to walk your path with diginity and delight - to set goals with intention and honesty, but work towards them with sincerity and flexibility. Yoga is learning to know that no one is special because everyone is special and that we all struggle and strive, laugh and learn, and have our ugly moments and our beautiful ones.

Thank-you David Swenson!

WishIng you happiness and metta from a little dot in the universe called Boston,
Heather