Would you try to learn 3rd Series via DVD?
Kino MacGregor’s DVD focusing on 3rd Series is out — or at least she’s suddenly promoting it more heavily on her website — and I’ll be honest about two things:
- I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
- I don’t really have to think about it, because 3rd ain’t coming in this lifetime.
Still, having friends who recently were given some of the 3rd Series poses, I know it’s an intense practice (which part of Ashtanga isn’t). And it makes me wonder whether there comes a point when having a real, live teacher there working with you doesn’t become critical.
Kino, who in her writing always gives major nods to both Guruji and more recently Sharath, seems to suggest as much:
This DVD provides three useful tools for everyone. The Introduction explains the philosophical basis of the Third Series as well as Ashtanga Yoga. The How to Work segment gives helpful tools on the development of core strength, the illusive “bandhas” and many key postures of the Third Series. The Practice disc is a flow through the postures of Third Series in traditional Vinyasa Sanskrit count. It is not recommended that you practice along with the DVD but instead use it as inspiration. When embarking on the yogic quest it is crucial to have a teacher as your guide.
3rd Series, of course, isn’t the “embarking” on the quest. You’ve slayed some dragons, rescued some prince(sse)s and found some gold by the time you get there.
I know Rose a little while back asked whether 3rd was becoming the new 2nd. (She noted the beginning of Kino’s promoting of the DVD, so maybe I’m right that it is recently available.)
I wonder, too, whether anything more significant than just a DVD coming out is happening here. Does this signal that today’s Ashtangis are more intent on moving ahead in the practice? (Well, other than those very first Ashtangis, who seemed to crank on through a bunch of the series, under Guruji’s eye, in a few months.) Does it reflect the changing nature of how many Ashtangis (and other yogis) relate to and do their practice? And by that I do mean the addition of the Internet, on top of such things as David Swenson’s seminal book and other early videos.
More to the point: Would you try to learn 3rd Series this way?
Here’s the trailer; it’s been viewed more than 30,000 times, which is part of what makes me unclear on when the DVD came out:
Posted by Steve
Sure, why not? I ‘learned’ my 3rd from David Swenson’s 3rd series dvd and most of 4th from David William’s poster. I have Kino’s 3rd series DVD, it’s very good, excellent treatment of bandhas that I’ve found has made a tremendous difference and that also allowed me to appropriate more of what Richard Freeman was saying in his workshop at AYC. the posture tutorials are very good also, my Durvasana improved right away.
Most of the arm balances of 3rd I’d already learned from The Rocket DVD years ago and the other postures I’d come across in Ramaswami’s Vinyasa Krama (via the book). Not that interested in the arm balances, not such a big deal for a guy with reasonable upper body strength, I like the second half though.
There’s a sense where you don’t ‘learn’ anything from a DVD, book or perhaps from a teacher either for that matter but rather from just working the postures themselves, from doing the practice, embodying over time the direction or instruction you receive from whatever source.
Lot of interesting ideas picked up from the Richard Freeman workshop Youtube video but it’s going to take a long time before I work them all into my practice appropriate and embody them such that I feel I’ve learned what he has to teach/share
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I made a decision recently that I wasn’t going to practice 3rd in the Ashtanga context, know of too many who seem to define themselves by the Advanced series and get all wrapped up in the asana rather than other aspects of the practice ( I have that leaning myself), I prefer to practice the advanced postures in the context of Vinyasa Krama where they just come as an extension of what has gone before and are thus …less of an event, just practice Primary and 2nd series in the Ashtanga context, seems to be working nicely.
Not a popular position but as you say by the time you get to 3rd you should have enough tools for taking your practice further on your own anyway.
It’s admittedly intimidating to engage you on this one; you have years of both practicing alone and writing about it. You could probably answer anything I say with a “see this post from Nov. 2009.”
It does seem to me that an interesting twist for you would be to make the leap into a fairly sustained study with a teacher. (Let’s say Freeman’s month-long? A Tim Miller two-week training?) Something where there was a lot of interaction and discussion with the teacher about the asanas and the thought behind it. And lots of hands-on … so not just spending a month somewhere with a teacher, but in something a bit more structured.
I wonder what would come into clear focus in an instant (i.e. Durvasana) and what might be unraveled and made into a new challenge (or, “quest” as David Swenson talked about at the Confluence).
I’m obviously not telling you to do that. But it does feel like it would be … interesting.
I’d hasten to add that if someone is practicing with a teacher and not learning anything, might be best to move on to a different teacher.
S
As it happens I did spend five weeks with Ramaswami taking his Vinyasa Krama TT course, pretty structured and interactive and wonderful. As an ex educator (University, school system, private and company) I’m still interested in pedagogy, self directed learning in particular.I seem to using my ashtanga practice as a kind of case study. One thing though, although I’m questioning what it is and how it is to learn in this context, all week I’ve been going on about what a treasure those senior teachers are and how much I’ve learned from studying them.
I suspect your answer is in Boulder, Colo.
A few of the third series poses (hand balances and foot behind the head) are practiced regularly in other schools of yoga, so maybe this is a way to expand the reach out to other students who want something more, which is precisely how I came to Ashtanga yoga. It works in both directions, I think, people leave Ashtanga wanting less discipline and others like me, come to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga wanting more from their practice.
I hate to say this but she has a studio to run and a worldwide schedule of classes to fill. People these days want hard evidence as to what the credentials of their teachers are, if there are no videos of them practicing with KPJ in the late 70′s or 80′s. When I first practiced in her Miami studio, it was her youtube videos that drew me to take class with her. PS – she carries a lot of shakti and the effects of being adjusted by her is amazing. it is interesting topic though, the playing of the edge of marketing and humility. I can stay by personally meeting her, she is the real deal, but sister’s got to make a living.
I don’t have any doubts about her cred and her teachings. I certainly didn’t mean to suggest that. It’s just I’m not sure I’d even want to do Supta Kurmasana without someone around to offer my some suggestions.
I suspect there is a push to get all the series spread around (at least, perhaps, the first three) so how they are taught and practiced aren’t lost.
S
In my experience, it has been very helpful to have a teacher experienced as guide when learning third. I knew, and could do most of the asana before starting it. Many of them are interesting and fun in a more open vinyasa format. This however did not come close to representing what they are like linked together with attention to breath and steady pace. Intense is an understatement, particularly if they are added slowly to full intermediate to build stamina. Finding a steady rythm of breath and movement without stalling (steady strength) is the challenge here. It is very easy, and likely even, that a practitioner will hurt themselves if not guided by someone who knows the path and its pitfalls for different bodies. That said, it is not easy to find such a teacher, they are few and far between.
If you have the opportunity to learn from one directly my advice is to take it.
My thanks are to Dominic Corrigliano, who I had the good luck to study with while he was in the boston area. My regular teacher Kate ODonnell has been through the series and is a very helpful muse in his absence.
G
One has to wonder why Pattabhi Jois’s early students moved so much faster through the series than the vast majority of ashtanga students today, especially since so many more people are practicing.
A general decline in physical capability, or spiritual devotion in students over the years?
I somehow doubt that.
Lack of teachers maybe?
Anyway, for sure i would try to learn 3rd series from the DVD as there is nobody to teach it where i live.
The early students I have talked to believe that a slower pace is preferable. The intensity of that early experience, the energy and concentrated interaction with Pattabhi Jois was a unique early window. Not without its risks. That kind of interaction became impossible as the number of students grew. Dominic also said that Guruji was changing his approach as his experience grew, and it was obviously different depending on the practioner and their strengths/weaknesses. Those few intense early students were also very cooperative with each other, they had to be. I of course pour over relevant media, books and video to learn as much as I can. I also occasionally take class with teachers of different styles. Shh, dont tell anyone. I am also a strong believer in 99% practice 1% theory. That said, I prefer to have a heads up about pitfalls in the path ahead. My limited experience with injury and the focal points of third that can lead to problems make me appreciate Dominic’s guidance all the more. Specifically, he held me at kasybasana and purna matseyendrasana longer than I would have stuck with on my own, once the slow opening associated with these hold points became apparent to me it was of course much more understandable.
thanks for your response Gary.
heh I dont even know what kasybasana is
…yet…
Though have no plans of just racing through the series – i would hope to use the DVD to learn slowly , one thing at a time.
You are very fortunate to have had the guidance of such a good teacher.