By Sue Eisenfeld
When I walked into my first ashtanga class, John Sherburne sweetly introduced himself and asked, “Do you know what you are getting yourself into?” By which, I think he meant, the rigor of the Ashtanga method of practice. By regularly taking vinyasa class twice a week, I felt I did. After the hour and a half (plus) class, I left with a refreshed mind and body and a sense of accomplishment and, definitely, wonder about it all. I did also pop two Advils, anticipating soreness the following day.
A classical form of practice, Ashtanga follows a prescribed sequence of poses that begins with sun salutations followed by standing and seated poses, leading to a closing sequence. Challenging, indeed! One person flopped back on her back instead of flowing through yet another vinyasa; one followed the well-memorized sequence exactly. I tried to pace myself, per John’s advice about rationing energy, taking a break from the sequences occasionally. Even so, I think John’s kind but stern focus on the proper poses and forms worked its magic on me.
Did I think about paying my bills or what I had to do tomorrow for work while holding downward dog for another of John’s five long breath counts? No. Did I wonder if I fed the cat or obsess about that thing I said to someone yesterday while teetering in revolved triangle pose? No. Did I even consider for one moment what someone else in the room might be doing or thinking or if I’m really headed in the right direction in life? Not for a second. My mind was laser focused on John’s demonstrations and instructions, my breath, his counts, the strength of my core and legs holding myself up, keeping my eye on the point of my fingers stretched over my head—the rigidity and the routine becoming a mantra and a meditation in and of itself. Even with the adaptations my body sometimes required and John’s gentle nature, it’s an intense experience, requiring self-knowledge about limits and self-confidence about possibilities. A tough-love kind of class, and that comes from without as well as from within.