A must-read rundown of an adjustment clinic with Nancy Gilgoff

Of the now six Confluence teachers, Nancy Gilgoff remains the one least online. Dena Kingsberg may give her a run for her offline money, but Nancy just doesn’t pop up nearly as often as David Swenson, Richard Freeman and the rest.

So that makes this blog post we just came across — from Prague, no less — pretty valuable. It goes into real detail about taking one of Nancy’s adjustment clinics.

From http://www.ashtangapraha.cz

The blog is “Traditional Ashtanga Yoga in Prague,” a title we can get behind. Here’s the link, and a little taste to get you to go check out the whole thing:

Nancy is loving. She does not seem upset about incorrect method. She is smiling and being patient. She was very busy with adjustment. She does not correct students by voice as she does not want to interrupt student`s practice, mind, she want them to focus on their own practice. By the time, I was quite happy, that I did not practice, as it was different experience for me and believe me, I have learnt a lot from only observing. My body was like in fire, still did not feel well and I know that I needed rest. But you know me and you know how I love Ashtanga, I can be easy lost in my practice. It is great experience, to listen to my body. I already have nice discipline, I call it my morning rituals, and in this stage, you need to know, when your body needs rest.

[snip]

Some words about Pranayama. Nancy does not teach pranayama in regular basics, she said you when you learn all second series, you start learning pranayama from her. It is important to learn as it quieted the ego. You must learn

pranayama from experienced teacher, only. Nancy has told us couple of stories of her also.

Pattabhi Jois used to say: “Asana is the fastest way to become healthy.” When you become older, you do less and less asana and you start doing more meditation. In asana practice, movement follows the breath, not opposite. Our breath control the mind. Nancy said: “be careful what teacher you choose, because you can only end up like them. If you don’t like something … hmm … you will get it. If your teacher is greedy … Laugh …

There is a lot of detail, which is terrific. It all seems very familiar from the Confluence and then what I heard from Bobbie from her own adjustment clinic with Nancy back in March.

This type of write-up gets me all enthusiastic for the Confluence, which is still so far off. Patience?