我们的阿斯汤加

阿斯汤加瑜伽练习对于不同的人有着不同的含义，对同一位练习者，在其人生的不同阶段也会有不同的感悟。一位年轻的练习者会在一级序列中感受练习带来的兴奋和激动，一位受伤的练习者会更用心并带着意识去感受练习带来的能量。而一位成熟的练习者则会在练习中会获得无比的平静以至于达到某种程度的无念。在同样的阿斯汤加瑜伽练习中，不同的人会有很多不同的体验和获益的方式。

当你问起你身边的练习伙伴们他们练习阿汤的原因时，你会惊奇地发现答案是如此多种多样，他们为什么会爱上这个练习系统，阿斯汤加瑜伽中对他们最重要的是什么，每个人的答案是如此的不同，有时甚至是矛盾的。从一个存粹的生理层面来说，一些人喜爱阿汤练习的高强度及肾上腺激素飙升带来的愉悦，另一些人则更爱练习给身体带来的放松和释放。从心理层面来说，对于很多学生，特别是练习的前5年，练习是关于挑战自我的过程，超越自我的极限。序列练习带来无可否认的进步同时让人感受无与伦比的自由和解放。一部分的练习者或者那些更年长的学生，练习的关注点则是完全不一样的：对于他们练习是和自己和解从而获得和平，接受自己的不完美，和自己建立一个健康的连接和关系。练习是一个强大的工具让我们从各种社会强加于我们的纷繁和“暴力”中得到解脱和放松。练习变成了聆听，接受和疗愈的地方。

我们遇到练习者在练习的“量”这个问题上也会有不同的选择，一位练习者对于练习投入多大的精力和多少才是最优的练习量：一周练习几次，一次练多久练多深，等等。。。对于初学者最好的方法就是听从老师的教导和指示，到一定时候，练习者要开始对自己的练习负责，细想一下，没有一个人比你自己更了解你的身体，只有你可以感知你的能量高低以及你头脑中的思绪。当然也只有你最清楚你的酸痛，疼痛和你受过的伤。

我相信我们提的大多数的问题是没有一个标准答案的，因为每个人的年龄，性别，身体结构，生活背景，性格等都是不同的。。。。。。因此我们要培养我们的意识，增强我们的意识能让我们在阿斯汤加之旅上安全地愉快地前行。

练习的复杂性会让一些人包括老师们在内感到畏惧，因为大家都希望得到简单的答案或者“现成”的配方或者等等……对于我来说，正好相反，复杂性正是人类拥有的一个美丽特征，是我们应该去欢迎它，珍惜它和喜欢它，所以我还是非常热爱阿斯汤练习的框架和体系，我把它看作是一个让自己不断探索的邀请，一个无限去探知发现的承诺。

The Ashtanga Practice means various things to different people. It also offers a wide range of perspective for the same practitioner, in different phases of his life. The enthusiasm of a young practitioner who discovers the thrill of the primary series, the countained energy of an injured practitioner who learns to practice mindfully, and the serene equanimity of the mature practitioner who has reached a certain level of detachment; there are many  ways of experiencing and benefitting from the same Ashtanga Vinyasa practice.

You would be surprised by the variety of answers you get when you ask fellow practitioner about the reasons they practice, why they love this system, what is most important to them in Ashtanga. The answers are so different they almost seem contradictory. From a purely physical point of view, some enjoy the intensity, the adrenaline, while others love the releasing/relaxing dimension. On a more psychological level, for a lot of students, especially in the first 5 years, it's about challenging oneself, going beyond one's limits. The sequence allows undeniable progress and provides an amazing sense of emancipation.

For other profiles, or older students, the focus is radically different: the practice becomes a place to make peace with oneself, to accept the imperfections and establish a healthy relationship with one's body.  A powerful tool that could allow us to break free from the many forms of symbolic violence our societies are packed with. The practice becomes a place of listening, accepting and healing.

We encounter the same idea of different approaches when we look at the way practitioners manage their 'amounts' of practice. What is the optimum amount of energy one dedicates to his/her asana practice: how many times a week, for how long, pushing to what extend, etc... While it's true that for beginners the best way would be to follow their teacher's instructions, there is a time when a practitioner should take responsibility for him/herself. Think about it, no one knows your body better than you do, only you can evaluate your energy level, your mental availability, and manage whatever soreness/pain/injury you are experiencing.

In most questions we may raise, I believe there is no single universal answer for all practitioners regardless of their age, gender, body types, background, personnality,  etc...

That is why we need to cultivate awareness, to be able to navigate safely and joyfully through this Ashtanga Vinyasa journey.

Complexity may frighten some people, including teachers, who prefer simplistic answers and 'ready to use' formula.

To me, au contraire, complexity is a beautiful caracteristic of Human Beings. It is something we should welcome and cherish. That's why I still love the Ashtanga framework: I see it as an invitation to constant exploration, a promise of countless discoveries.