The foundation I was fortunate to receive: A reflection on discipline, philosophy, and inner orientation

We can’t really blame people if the main teachers themselves are missing the point in the Yoga circle. Think about this:

• If teachers won’t teach the real substance of Yoga, how can we expect future Yoga teachers to carry it forward correctly?
• If the emphasis continues to remain only on the physical aspect of Yoga, that is, Asana practice and fancy movements, how would the world ever come to know what real Yoga is?
• And if the schools themselves do not take care of the foundational limbs of Yoga philosophy, like Yama and Niyama, how do we expect new students to value or live them?

My recent 1-week course

These thoughts did not arise in isolation; in fact, they emerged while attending a recent one-week yoga vacation course. Now, to be fair, not everything felt lacking;

• The pranayama sessions in themselves were good in content. But often shorter than planned, as the teacher would arrive late and leave early.
• The Ashtanga practice, too, was sincere in its own way, but extremely fast-paced. It felt more like moving through a sequence than being guided into a Yogic experience within the body and breath.
• There was one good alignment session of about 45 minutes, which again felt limited in terms of the depth one seeks when coming with the intention to learn.

Otherwise, there were delays, almost every day, sometimes last-minute cancellations and an overall casual discipline around the container. Moreover, late dinners, along with light entertainment and an energetic atmosphere around the space, with a retreat-like tone that did not always convey the seriousness of Sadhana (dedicated spiritual practice).

After all these observations, honestly, I did not feel angry, but I felt sad, because so many people come with high hopes from all over the world. They spend money, effort, time, and bring a certain Sankalpa (inner intention) to learn. I made some friends from Europe during the course, and in conversations, I figured most of them carried similar sentiments. And then, there are people like me who genuinely want guidance, structure and direction, but can sometimes feel a bit lost in such setups.

Nevertheless, I do understand the business angle. Everyone has the right to earn, to build, to offer programs to grow their schools or shala. But when we are talking about Yoga, one hopes the sanctity of the space is held with a certain sincerity, a certain Parampara bhava (lineage-rooted spirit). Isn’t it? And somewhere in the middle of all these reflections, my heart also felt extremely grateful. Grateful for all the good things I had received during my RYT certification in 2021, thanks to our main teacher, who had organised it so sincerely, for which I remain extremely grateful even today after 5 years.

Relevant article: Thinking of Doing a Yoga TTC? Here’s What to Know

A good Yoga TTC

In my experience, what a sincere Yoga learning container holds:

1. There was a detailed agenda shared on the very first day itself, so students did not have to wonder what would be taught.
2. Everyone followed that agenda from 7 am to 5 pm, rarely shifting beyond five or ten minutes.
3. There were no late evening classes, and dinner was by 7 pm, so students could sleep on time and begin early the next day.
4. There was no unnecessary casual chatter during the classes, to ensure focus, discipline and sincerity. This does not mean it was not fun. It was very, but also deeply sincere.
5. We were taught to keep our primary focus on mindfulness, not on Asana practice alone.
6. We were taught not to force an asana, especially Sirsasana, the headstand.
7. We were taught to be careful and mindful first, before trying, experimenting, or particularly performing.
8. We were served super delicious and healthy sattvic food, always on time.
9. We were taught to be independent in our Yoga journey, as it is ultimately a journey within.
10. We had daily sessions of Yoga Nidra, and we were also taught how to facilitate it.
11. We were taught every detail in alignment classes, from wrist alignment to toe direction, where to look while being in an asana and two to three variations for inflexible people like me.
12. We were also taught the basics of Yoga and Ayurveda, along with their history.
13. We were expected to behave in a way that the Sadhana of other students would not be disturbed, even maintaining silence before morning practice and after Shavasana.
14. We were taught to correct students without touching as much as possible, and when needed, to ask and then assist respectfully.
15. And most importantly, we were taught that Asana practice is only a tiny part of Yoga. The objective is not to master postures, but to attain a certain state of mind and build a certain way of living.

When one experiences such a foundation, they realise how deeply teachers shape the lens through which Yoga is understood. The students eventually teach what they receive. And what gets emphasised at the root quietly multiplies through the branches. Which is why reflections like these arise not from criticism, but from gratitude and concern both.

In my case, it brings me gratitude for having received a sincere Yogic foundation and concern that the essence of Yoga, which is far beyond the mat, continues to remain under that very mat.

I hope this article helped you gain some perspective. I invite you to stay connected. Here is my LinkedIn where I write regularly about my diverse learnings — Healthy lifestyle, Yoga, & Mindset.

For a basic introduction to Yoga, check out this article.

Thank you for reading!
Namaste.