Most of David’s “No’s” to me these last few days of our second series intensive week center around my slow and well-regulated approach to my practice. Everything from the methodical way I walk my hands to my heels in kapotasana … to my slow and careful lift into pincha mayurasana and all 7 of the headstands … to my finicky… Read more →
Day one of Second Series Intensive with David Garrigues … 75 minutes into my 2-hour Mysore practice: DG: peg, you doing the rest of your practice? ME: no. I’m tired. I’m done. DG: (quizzically, as if he didn’t hear my first answer) peg, you doing the rest of your practice? ME: yes. just taking a little rest. DG: (smiles) Of… Read more →
Handstands can make some people crazy. We love ‘em … we hate ‘em … we think they represent everything that’s wrong about yoga – and all we crave at the same time. It’s like talking politics in DC where one person’s answer is another’s crux to the problem. Yet in Ashtanga, it’s a whole lot more complicated. In fact, they… Read more →
If it’s good enough for government work – it’s good enough for me. My husband will tell you, when I fly fish with him – I’m not particularly good nor too bad, either. Mostly, I’m just acceptable. In fact, the way I know when a particular cast has hit that minimum operational standard is when my husband tells me simply,… Read more →
I practice Ashtanga yoga, Mysore style. It’s my daily practice. But it almost wasn’t. Took me nearly 6 years to work up the nerve to step into a class. There was always this cloud of mystery and falsehoods passed around that kept me, and I would guess many, from ever trying. So, pardon this reversion of a blog from long ago, but right… Read more →
A funny thing happened to me on my way to Durham last weekend … well, actually it wasn’t funny at all. It was a caustic post on Facebook that took a disturbing aim at me. Yeah, I don’t know why people use social media to air their grievances either, but it happens. Anyway, that is not what this story is… Read more →
I’m stuck in traffic. It’s raining. And I think I just got my period. Thus begins my workshop weekend with certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher, David Garrigues, affectionately known to his students as simply D.G.- probably because they (like me) have no idea how to correctly pronounce his last name. David is kind of the Peter Pan of Ashtanga Yoga – a… Read more →
i asked david garrigues if i could share with you his recent musings on the physical practice of yoga. like david, i have a dedicated asana practice. (and if you’re reading this – probably you, too). yes, i try to practice more than asana – but i won’t deny that much of what i learn is born from the… Read more →
