NY Reports

[Guest guest]

Please post your workshop experiences here or to the "other" board:<br><br><a

href=http://pub42.ezboard.com/byoga84291

target=new>http://pub42.ezboard.com/byoga84291</a>

[Guest guest]

OUR TIME HAS FINALLY COME!<br><br>Seventh floor

of the Puck Building twinkle lights decorated the

white walls and windows.<br>Six a.m. class with

Guruji!!!!!! There were around 150 students.<br><br>When

Guruji appeared I was struck by his amazing energy and

vitality. It’s unbelievable that he is 86.

<br><br>Surprisingly to me, we only did 3 repetitions of Surynamaskar

A and B. <br><br>I received my first correction! I

was in Utthita Parsvakonasana with my hands in prayer

and he placed one on the floor and one over my head

and said. “Good”. I remember seeing his ring. A gold

square with a rainbow of jewels. His correction was very

direct.<br> <br> <br>His grandson Sharath corrected me

on Supta Padangusthasana. He told me to put my foot

on the floor...and in Uttana Padasana to point my

toes. <br><br>I was suprised at their attention to

detail because there seemed to be 150 or more in the

room.<br><br>At the end of class I bowed to Guruji to thank him

for his teaching. I touched his feet. He turned his

cheek for me to kiss it. I was nervous and didn’t

realize that....so I didn’t kiss his cheek and he thought

that was spunky ....he laughed wholeheartedly.

<br><br>Physically my arms are tired. We held chaturanga dandasana

for a long time....many times! <br><br>I am still

freshly stunned by this abundent teaching. <br><br>There

was someone videotaping at the front of the class.

Very unobtrusively and low key. I will not be posting

footage like Cynxir whose hamstrings feel like cement in

the after week.

[Guest guest]

Beautiful day in NYC; with skylights in the top

floor of the Puck building you feel that you have gone

to heaven, with well over 100 angelic yogis

practicing with Guruji -- just the best it could possibly

be.

[Guest guest]

<<I touched his feet.>><br><br>Why do people touch the teacher's

feet?

[Guest guest]

"Vande Gurunam charanaravide..."<br><br>"I worship the Guru's lotus feet"

[Guest guest]

Thanks but I still don't understand. WHY do you worship the guru's FEET?

[Guest guest]

In Indian culture it's a mark of respect to touch

the feet of someone you look up to ...<br><br>Lotus

feet refers to the lotus which grows in dirty water,

but floats above it all. So 'lotus feet' would imply

someone who lives in the world (maya) but floats above it

- isn't touched by it ...

[Guest guest]

Because feet of a guru have a special divine energy in them, that purify a

student. It is an ancient tradition to show respect and thank a teacher.

[Guest guest]

I respect the lineage of yoga teachers and pay

honor to the current master teacher. It is out of

thankfulness that I bow down and say thank you for my lesson

and the practice. In return to my saying thank you to

Guruji he said "thank you" back to me.... as for his

feet, that is the Indian tradition to touch the feet of

the guru who is of this world and connects me with my

subtle body through the practice of which he is the

Master teacher. I am a newbie.....this is the best I can

currently explain it.

[Guest guest]

cynxir-<br><br>Hey there, I stumbled upon your picture while trying to view some

others. If you don't mind me asking, what is a Kuber Workshop? Just curious.

[Guest guest]

Worship is a strong word. Some translations use

prostrate or bow to the lotus feet of the guru. I took my

translation from Yoga Mala. It is a non western way of honor

to bow to a teacher....and touch his feet. For more

info than I can give

try:<br><br><a href=http://www.practiceashtanga.com/Mantra.htm

target=new>http://www.practiceashtanga.com/Mantra.htm</a>

[Guest guest]

Heh, OK, 1st you misread it a bit. It states

Kuber WorSHIP.<br><br>And, this is just one of my silly

jokes. Kuber is the Hindu God of money and since I work

for da monnee it's 'Kuber Worship' in my eyes.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I get it now. Is everybody expected to touch his feet? <br><br>What

about the kiss on the cheek thing? Does that have special symbolism or was he

just flirting with you?

[Guest guest]

No, everyone is not expected to touch his

feet....it is optional....as is receiving an

assist.<br><br>Your questions are becoming trying to me. Why am I

addicted to this board? It is becoming an attatchment and

a way to avoid the other writing I should be

doing.<br><br>The kiss does not seem like flirting. Have you ever

kissed your grandma or grandpa?

[Guest guest]

<<Your questions are becoming trying to me.>><br><br>Sorry! I'm

trying to learn about yoga and instead I stumble across a foot fetish cult!

Excuse me for being confused!

[Guest guest]

ha ha ha

[Guest guest]

Hi, I didn´t go to Guruji to kiss his feet, I

only made deep bow. It´s a natural thing, if You are a

"believer". For me it´s natural to kiss a priests hand or the

Holy cross in church. I+ve understod, that Guruji is

seen as a channel of divine power to rest of us,

that´s why he is respected and "worshipped". As an

outsider I saw the seremony of bowing and kissing as a

religious one, and why not?

[Guest guest]

In the 8:00 class we have been going up to

navasana, then finishing postures; I guess that is "half

primary" series.<br><br>As for meeting, gotta think about

it. Maybe I'll put up a sign in the corner: "

ashtanga chat board members here" - that would be

interesting! Or maybe we can just wait til those siddhis kick

in - I have a guess as to who el senor is.

[Guest guest]

We could also put up a sign in the other corner: "EZ board members here"

[Guest guest]

"" We could also put up a sign in the other

corner: "EZ board members here"<br><br>Lol. <br>Ever

the segregationalist, eh, Mally?<br><br>With respect

to the touching of feet and bowing and hands to eyes

then feet stuff, my understanding is that these are

common gestures of veneration or respect applied in

every day settings in India. For example, at weddings

or family gatherings, it is typical for there to be

a sort of receiving line in which the senior family

person receives such gestures. Te gesture does not

imply, to my knowledge, some worship or attempt to

connect with the yoga gods. It's just a gesture of

respect.