I've been taking led classes in the evenings lately. I've been skipping out on morning mysore, partly to practice with my hubby, and partly because I've missed the group energy of the led class. But for some reason, and I'm sure it is all me imposing this feeling on myself, I feel less serious about my practice. Like I'm no longer "hardcore" and what not.
I'd like to take a poll, leave a comment if you would be so kind: Do you practice Mysore style in the AM or led classes any time of day?
Also, in your comment, if you want to be even kinder: Do you think that Mysore style classes in the AM are more "hardcore" than the led ones?
And by hardcore, I mean more devoted, more serious about the practice, all around a more committed ashtangi :)
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11 comments:
I currently practice in the AM (5:30-7:30), but for some time I had a self-practice somewhere around 4-6pm - this was because I couldn't make it to the shala. And I had an evening practice for about a month or so from 6-7:30pm. Generally, I find huge differences between AM vs PM practices, but this is just me. I think it could be diff for diff people.
AM -
Pluses: Gets me going for the rest of the day. I like to practice on an empty stomach. And my diet is much more regular. I try not to eat three hours before sleep.
Minuses: Cold, hard to break into the first Sun Salutation. Not as bendy. Hard to wake up at that time. Tight schedule for work. Rush rush.
PM -
Pluses:
Body flexible as heck. Makes sense. You've been moving around all day. Don't have to rush as much (self-practice), but hard to maintain the heat. Can take my bloody time.
Minuses:
More tired. Cold in winter months when it gets dark early. And sometimes I'm so energized I can't sleep at night. Also, I get really hungry late at night and I hate it.
If I could I think my ideal practice would be 6:30 or 7am.
Hope this helps, Y.
Oh, your 2nd question: No, I find Led classes much more difficult than AM practice because of the pacing of the teacher's counts. Sometimes the teacher goes too fast for me. I really break a sweat in Led.
Y.
I practise am mysore because I tend to work late into the evenings and the evening classes in the shala starts at 530pm. Also I get to avoid the traffic and get a free carpark in the early hours of the morning. Nothing to do with hardcore or not.
I do mysore in the a.m., led class on Saturday. I ended up with this schedule based more on when I could get time for practice without impacting the family too much.
I would say for myself, it does feel more committed or serious than hitting led classes. The main reason, I think, is being able to follow your own rhythm rather than the teacher's count. I find that makes a big difference.
But that is my own view. I am reluctant to generalize about other people's practices, and question the value of people comparing their practices with others.
I practice whatever my shala offers in the morning - it is led on Friday and Sunday, but I prefer Mysore style. I can go as slow as I want in Mysore style, and the adjustments are much deeper in the Mysore setting because they seem to be based less on "need". So, for example, I don't need any adjustments really at all to get through Primary. But in a Mysore setting, I will get adjustments in random poses that make them so much better - like Mari A, or even Supta KONasana, which would probably never be adjusted in a led class.
It's not that Mysore is more hardcore. But the Mysore style will produce more changes than the led style. I think of the Mysore style as a practice, but the led style as more of a performance.
It's your practice though...you have to do what is right for you, and that changes from time to time, right? You can't always be intense. Didn't you just finish teacher training? That was probably a LOT to deal with. So, maybe you need a bit of space. Sometimes, taking led classes or practicing alone is exactly what you need...
Well "hardcore" for me is having a sustained practice over many many years, not what time you practice at.
I practice mysore in the am, because I prefer it and it fits into my schedule properly that way, but I have a lazy time once in a while and really just get through the series without pushing very much. Is that "hardcore"?
"Commitment to practice is evidenced by your willingness to be present on the mat for whatever comes up right now". (Judith Hanson Lasater.)
Do your thing x
Wow! Thanks everyone. I love all your comments!
Tim, you are right it is dangerous to compare practices. It is nice though to read others thoughts, to relate to one another, and to see if others feel the way I do. I really don't have too many Ashtangi friends in person, so I like to bounce things off all my bloggy friends! :)
YC, you are so right. What I need does seem to change often, and yes I did just finish training! :) I do sometimes wonder if I'm giving myself what I need, or if I am slacking off.
CJ, love that idea of measuring "hardcore" by number of years on the journey. I've got a long way to go to be there! :)
I have such a hard time finding classes of any flavor that I will take what I can get!
The only Mysore in town is from 6-9 am. My kids have to be at school at 8. I would have to leave my husband to get them up, fed, dressed, and out the door by himself. I haven't done it yet. Seems unkind to do that to my DH, since I don't work.
However, led classes are nearly as impossible to get to. There is only one place in town right now that has them during the day, and it's intermediate level, so it's not even full primary.
In my ideal world, Mysore would go until 10:00 am and I'd be on my mat at 8:30 (or else starting a led primary). I am stiffer in the morning, but I love practicing then. I'm much more apt to do it, as well. In the evenings, we have the same kid issues - homework, baths, packing lunches, etc.
So "hardcore" will probably never happen for me at all, unless I tap into some as yet unknown well of motivation to practice at home, alone!
I don't think it is all that important if you practice in the morning or in the evening, just that you are practicing. Does that mean a full primary, not necessarily, just that you are doing something. We are not in India, therefore our Western lives dictate when we are able to practice.
Also, I prefer Mysore style to a led class. I like to practice at my own pace and I am able to moove deeper into my inner-self because I am not listening to anyone else calling out the next posture.
As someoene else stated, it is your practice, do what feels good and right to you.
i think there are the same amount of "hardcores" practicing at all times of the day.
-night practice-for me-i do not like. too open, can't sleep, not a night person.
-mysore-i self practice very early cause i teach at 7am each day. if i don't do it then, it does not get done.
-led classes-how i wish i could take led primary on fridays, but i'm the only one in town teaching that slot. often i am jelous of my students, even though the class is unusually small. sad, since it's called in sanskrit & is a good learning tool.
your backbend is lovely
I practice led style some nights of the week, when I have time, because of my night classes.
Mysore style in the AM seems more hardcore, but maybe that's because waking up that early is pretty hardcore. At any rate, anyone who practices Mysore in the morning is a dedicated and 'hardcore' practitioner.
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