Daphnée St. Pierre, teacher at several locations in Montreal, including Joy of Yoga and the YMCA, has gone to India for study and seva. Here she reports on her experience in Pune.

I want to write to my yogi friends a little about my practice. I have not been twisted in all directions, or put into any vigorous asana. Some of you may be surprised to learn (except maybe for Hart who will know this is what I needed) that upon arrival, my teacher started by giving me restorative postures. He felt that my mind was to busy, and my breath erratic. After some time, I discovered for the first time what Hart meant by ‘’space in inner ears’’ by creating space in the pelvic floor. I understood the concept in theory, but on a particular evening after a class, riding back home in the rickshaw, I could not help but laugh and think of how many times I had tried to feel this with no success. At last, my femurs were grounding!!! I have learned many things from this teacher, but none of it had to do with going more deeply into postures. Instead, I have learned many details to help me focus my mind, and calm the breath. This has changed my practice tremendously. I feel more centered, and I actually feel the postures more.

I know many of my yogi friends are taking the Advanced teacher training 2 with Hart, and I really do wish I was there with all of you. I know you will learn so much, I look forward to learning from you when I get back. I know that what I need to learn for now is right here. It is not much use for me to practice yoga, or even visit India with a hectic mind. So I am back to the beginning, learning the basics of the practice.

Know that while I am here in Pune, Abhay is a very therapeutic teacher, he wants to first heal many different things in my body. But in 2 weeks or so, I will be going to Mumbai for a while, and most of you have been to Father Joe’s workshop. So you know I will be in for a rough ride when it comes to asana. I must admit I am a little ….well, apprehensive! Father Joe also wants me to study with the President of Light on Yoga, I can’t remember his name right now, but I heard from someone that I’m in for a ride! …yek!!!

I also injured my knee 2 weeks ago as I carelessly went into padmasana without awareness. So this has also slowed down my practice. But I see it as a message that I had other things to learn…
Abhay is also a teacher at the Iyengar Center, but wants to eventually only teach from his home. He has been practicing his whole life, as his parents are also Iyengar yoga teachers.

I think you would all be so surprised to see a class of 40 or so year old men, all easily going into padmasana, and then just as easily lying on their belly. The first time I saw this, my jaw dropped. People here really have a “yogi” body.

What surprised me, as well as disappointed me the most, was peoples’ vision of yoga. Many people have very little respect for the practice, and many think it is all childs play, and that they could just as well be yoga teachers also. This reaction from many surprised me, and I spoke about this with Abhay. He confirmed that most of the time when he meets new people, he doesn’t even tell them he is a yoga teacher. He says he’s a freelancer of some sort. Why? he thinks it’s because yoga has been a part of their culture for so long, everyone learned how to do it at some point in their life, but it was not taken seriously. The only comparison that comes to mind is like taking religion classes in grade school for us. Ya, we all had to learn it, but we don’t all really practice it, but some think they know all there is to know about it, and could teach it to others. It’s a bit the same idea when it comes to yoga in India. Maybe Hart has more thoughts on this….