Madonnasana
“I'd like to be more involved in making the world a better place.” - Madonna
Madonna was performing at the Miami Amphitheater over the weekend. (http://www.madonna.com/) I was sweating and jamming along with hundreds of other people that took in the event. What an experience. This was the first time I had seen the material girl live and it was truly invigorating and for lack of a better word FUN to let loose, whoop it up and genuinely enjoy the evening. Madonna came on stage around 9 PM and from that point on it was continuous music, dancing, lights, spinning disco balls, and a mock bull riding contraption that she hooked her legs onto and from there hung upside down while spinning in a circle. At that point I had to ask myself, “hey, doesn’t Madonna practice yoga”? Yes, indeed she does. In fact she has been practicing the primary, intermediate and advanced routines of Ashtanga daily since the early nineties. And to see her glide effortless on stage attests to the healthful practice. Ashtanga Yoga means eight steps or eight "limb" yoga. These are described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
The eight steps are divided into two parts - the first four are called external limbs, they are: Yama (suggestions for social behavior: non-aggression, truthfulness, non-theft, appropriate sexual behavior and non-greed), Niyama (suggestions for personal disciplines: self purification, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and surrender to the ideal of yoga), Asana (physical postures) and Pranayama (breathing exercises).
The four "internal" limbs are Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (single pointed concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (the state of yoga in which the ultimate truth is experienced). Once the four "external" limbs have been mastered, the internal limbs start to unfold naturally. So the physical postures create a stable foundation for pursuing the other aspects of yoga. They return the practitioner to good health and eliminate the distractions caused by disease and an unstable mind. (*Sri K Pattabhi Jois interviewed by Sandra Anderson in Yoga International Jan/Feb 1994)
There is a new Ashtanga yoga studio called Native Yoga Center (www.NativeYogaCenter.com) that has been open for a few months. It is in Juno Beach on the north corner of Donald Ross and US1. Todd and Tarnara McLaughlin direct the classes in the traditional Ashtanga form with the traditional primary poses lasting approximately 90 minutes. Their studio is brand new, and easy to find. Todd & Tarnara have studied in India and Thailand and completed courses to further enhance each student’s time on the mat. Todd also provides traditional Thai massage, giving you a well rounded experience. If you are seeking to enhance your Ashtanga practice, this is the place to find. And those who are new to this style, handy folders are given out during the session depicting each pose in succession. They also sell mats and Mysore rugs from Barefoot Yoga (http://www.barefootyoga.com/) and provide towels in case you’ve forgotten anything. Overall it is a great studio for the individual dedicated to starting, expanding, and furthering their Ashtanga practice.
Here's to the vitality of life and the practice of getting into the groove. Rock on!
