Before You Go, A Few Words on Krama...
The word krama means a system, a way, a progression, a sequence, series, or order. It describes the properties of how something moves into action and then progresses. In T Krishnamacharya's teachings, there are three kramas that we can follow, depending on our stage of life.
1. Srsti krama is for expansion, growth, creating energy, vitality, and new skills. This stage is characterized by energetic asanas where we can gain strength, mobility, flexibility, and expand our sense of possibility. Relaxation may not be as important here, as we have energy for work, creativity, and activity. Dynamic asanas characterize this stage.
2. Sthiti krama is when we take the learnings from srsti and consolidate our learning towards maintenance and preservation. We've built energy, now we want to keep it. Sthiti means stability, and in the middle stages of life we want there to be stability. The focus may shift towards static asanas and practices that maintain our nervous system such as more pranayama.
3. Antah krama is the interior stage. The outside world does not demand as much of our attention, and we can begin to interiorize. Our practices may shift again towards meditation and practices where we contemplate the completion of our lives.
According to Krishnamacharya, asanas and pranayama occur at each stage, but the way that they are done will shift. How do you know when you are ready to move to the next stage? Your body will indicate to you when it is time to shift your practices, the trick is to listen, and to follow. I've observed over the past three decades that in Ashtanga Yoga there are really no options given for practices to change when they need to. This is a flaw in the system. We
should not be expected to practice with the same vigor and facility when we are 60 that we had when we were 20 - if we can, then it's great, and some people can. We salute them! But if we can't, then there should be new teachings for us. And we salute us! Our enthusiasm doesn't need to waver, nor our dedication, but what we should not be is stuck on an idea of "the practice" as an ideal that has to be lived up to forever.
Don't get me wrong, I think the sequences of Ashtanga Yoga are great - but there are some ideas that we get stuck on, that I keep hearing from people, and that I've gotten stuck on in the past as well. Most of these ideas have to do with feeling guilt or shame or "less than" when we can't do "our practice" or a "full practice" (like that's even a thing!) We put so much pressure on the performance of asanas that we forget the substance of what it is we are doing.
When we get stuck on an idea, we basically end up just being stuck. And Yoga is about getting unstuck, right? Even the Ashtanga Yoga sequences themselves can be done in different ways, and still have a great effect.
So, why do I bring all this up? Basically to say that in our new incarnation at the Broome Street Temple, we are going to think more about these stages of practice, and begin to make them more prominent as our approach to yoga. Each stage is good, and the stages are not defined by age alone - they are defined by our life needs.
That's all. See you soon! We can't wait!
With love,
Eddie and Jocelyne
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