Last night I took my night classes through a bit of the Ashtanga Primary Series. It’s really different from what they’ve been doing all month. In many ways, harder. I wanted to expose them to a different way of practicing; a way that doesn’t leave it up to them (or me) what to do on any given day. Ashtanga is a “system” yoga, (as is Bikram.) No worries about what to do next. Just follow the map.
It’s hard, though. Lots of suns to warm up. 5 breath holds in all the postures. Vinyasas between every posture and between each side of 2-sided ones. No music.
Hardcore.
But man, everybody hung in. Some even said, “WOW! I LIKE THAT!”
Go figure. I remember back on Day 5 when I held them in plank for 5 breaths and they were DYING! Oh my god, the moaning, the groaning, the sweating, the complaining! It was ridiculous. And now?
Last night at least half of them were doing chaturangas in every vinyasa. And now, when I lead planks? Ho-hum. All the elbows automatically unlock, and all the bellies pull up. Not a peep out of anybody. This is just how they roll. “What else you got for us, Teach? Huh?”
How did this happen?
It’s amazing.
It’s Day 25.
