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You are here: Home / Practicing / Retuning the compass

Retuning the compass

Matt Jermyn · Oct 26, 2014 ·

L-sit
L-sit

After almost 5 months since teaching and practicing a Bikram Yoga class, I drop in to see what I’ve missed. My expectations were low. It wasn’t until I received a short, heartfelt email from a student a few weeks ago, that I realised I’d missed teaching. It prompted me to practice to an audio playback of my class, recorded at BY Kawana earlier this year; I felt the energy in the room, even though I was practicing alone on the cold, tile floor of a granny flat. At that point, I wasn’t sure if I missed teaching or the practice.

Why has it been so long? A few personal reasons that wouldn’t hold up on their own but thrown together, make a pretty convincing argument, at least to me. I think for the most part, it’s the lack of direction in Bikram Yoga and my life (yes, I do take responsibility).

Practice with Ian, Galway Ireland
Practice with Ian, Galway Ireland

Maybe I missed the guidance of senior teachers but for the most part I think there’s a lack of leadership from Bikram himself. I met the man for the first time in Mumbai, India as a student; I didn’t know anything about Bikram and so was excited, awed and a little intimidated. At Bikram teacher training, any respect I had, diminished rather rapidly. I felt a mixture of confusion, frustration and anger that during a 9 week teacher training course, you could learn basically nothing. Bikram himself even told us how stupid we all were for paying 10k to do his training; I remember the nervous laughs; after all, it was a very bad, expensive joke or was it.

Alas, the Bikram world is slowly fragmenting but that’s a topic for another blog post.

Matteo's room, Dublin Ireland
Matteo’s room, Dublin Ireland

During the past year, I’ve regularly practiced yoga at home and abroad to Tony Sanchez’s dvds. I set up my mat, laptop and go for it, wherever, whenever, even my nephew’s room in Ireland with space, barely for a yoga mat; during handstands my feet would get tangled in his aeroplane light dangling from the ceiling. They’ve been around a while now but the Yoga Challenge 1 through 4 dvds are still an excellent resource to expand your practice and knowledge. In the past, I tried the “Advanced Series” at Bikram affiliated studios and even though I wanted to join the elite club, my interest faded. Call me a pussy but I found a heated advanced class beyond me and with my general lack of flexibility, my knees couldn’t take it. With the Yoga Challenge series, I discovered I could build a disciplined practice at home, in my own time; interestingly, my knees are the best they’ve been since I started advanced postures. I still haven’t worked that one out.

Upside down ring pull up
Upside down ring pull up

Yesterday, after approx’ 140 days AWOL, I practiced a Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class and followed up with teaching this morning. I was surprised it went so well. Even though I’ve maintained a home practice the whole time, I was a little nervous of the heat. I enjoyed the practice, especially Chat’s (co owner of BY Kingston) passion. One thing I miss, is the encouragement a Bikram teacher gives during class. I had fantasies of practicing a 30 day challenge but when the time came to class this afternoon, I was busy having fun, playing around with olympic rings in my mate, Nick’s garage. It’s interesting how a lot of the exercises we were doing are related in some way to yoga. 

I realise I don’t need to practice a Bikram Yoga challenge, even though I love challenges but I do have to find balance. I’ve given up on Bikram but not his Beginning Yoga Class just yet; I’ll still practice and teach and enjoy that wonderful energy as I will other forms. However, direction in life does change and now, I’m retuning the compass.

Practicing, Teaching Advanced Series, Bikram Challenge, Bikram Yoga Kawana, Bikram Yoga Kingston, Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, Tony Sanchez, Yoga Challenge I II III IV

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