scottlamps

Hi John–

Where to begin… We went to Mexico last December for two weeks to study with Tony. It was his Master’s Core System training (also called the Core 40), a series of 40 postures in the Ghosh lineage, an intermediate series to build on Bikram’s beginning class. The series includes all of Bikram’s 26 plus some more warm ups, some arm balances and a lot more restorative postures and stretching postures. It is a little more advanced than the Bikram 26 and a little more complete for the body. I’d be happy to write what the postures are, but it would be a long and possibly boring post.

The most eye-opening part of Tony’s teaching was not the asanas he teaches but his approach to the practice. He encourages individuality, modification, self-reliance, calmness and stillness. A bit of a departure from Bikram’s style. Tony’s calm, controlled demeanor and encouragement have had a profound impact on our practices, making us more stable and healing a small handful of injuries that my wife and I had. Not that Tony is a saint or that his yoga is perfect or anything, but he encouraged us to trust our own bodies and not just the dogma of a tradition. That has been transformative.

If you want to get a taste for what Tony is doing, you can get his practice videos on Amazon. He has four of them at different levels. They are good examples of his asana and guidance. Also, it is not difficult to study with him if you want, just that you have to go to Mexico.

This spring my wife and I went to a posture clinic workshop with Esak. It was at a Bikram studio and he pretty much toed the Bikram company line, telling us that everything we needed to know was in the Bikram dialogue. He is an inspiring guy, but I didn’t find his teaching to be particularly enlightening. I am still curious what he offers at his own trainings when he can teach with his own words and intentions.

Regarding the heat: practicing without the heat was strange at first, but just because I hadn’t really done it before. I didn’t know what my body felt like at room temperature. But it was never difficult. I could do everything just as deeply as with the heat, just with a lot more sensitivity in the body and mind. Now I find the heat to be a hindrance. It short circuits my body’s sensation and feedback (he talks about this in Hell Bent, I think), so it becomes difficult to feel my muscles with any detail. This “numbness” is what was originally attractive about practicing in the heat, but now it is an obstacle. So I practice at room temperature.

Hi Everyone,

I am glad to find this conversation. I have the same issue. I keep myself very well hydrated, drinking at least 100 ounces of water per day (I weigh 170 lbs). I sweat like crazy and don’t urinate for 4-6 hours after a hot yoga class. Then my urine is dark yellow as if I am dehydrated. Also, my sweat is salty and stings my eyes.

Does this thread suggest that there is some sort of electrolyte deficiency? It is not dehydration?

Thanks,
Scott