H
H has been back teaching in London now for 2 days following his trip to Tokyo. It's the first time I've practiced under his watchful eye and his guiding hands. It's been an interesting experience.
I've heard people mention that he doesn't give you much help. Well, I guess to some degree that's true. I'd put that down to the number of students in his shala to be honest. The place has been pretty busy since he came back, though I've no real base line to compare it to as I thought it was busy enough when the replacement teacher was covering for him. The other thing I think's going on, and this is purely my interpretation of it, is that he gives you as much as you need at the point you are at.
Take Supta Kurmasana for example.
Recently I've been able to bind my fingers but only with the help of a good adjustment. I can't hold it if the teacher lets go. I can get my shoulders pretty far underneath and in some shalas this is where the focus for me has been. I stay in kurmasana until teacher has some time for me, this period can be quite long so I get enough opportunity to relax into my shoulders and easy out my breathing. Then the hands and shoulders get adjusted to touch (maybe), the feet get lifted nearer the head, then the big squish happens, head down to the floor.
H approaches this differently. He goes straight for my hands and elbows, holding them in a bind position and then as I can't hold the bind by myself he'll let me go and head off to help someone else. To me this signals that this is the key aim for me in this asana. Get your hands bound and be able to hold it. He never went anywhere near the front of my body once he started to work my hands. After that he doesn't come anywhere near me in my practice which again is fair enough. I think this is where he'd have me stop, I may even ask him that, though for sure I'd want to go further through.
Still. His adjustments are great. He's helped me both days in Mari D. My thoughts are he tries to get you in on the first go, then he doesn't have to spend any longer with you than he has to. He's got an assistant that helps out with him which helps alot for sure, but there are a lot of people here for him to look after.
It's worth the visit for sure.
Comments
Been wonderful hearing about different teachers as you travel! Thanks for the great posts.
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You're welcome
Posted by: karen | May 1, 2007 12:16 PM
I was interested to read your comments. I have been practising at AYL for nearly 3 weeks but have only had 3 mornings with H so far.
His approach with me in Supta K has been much the same as yours. On my first day he gave me a really strong adjust. I can bind my hands but they always pop apart once I, or in actual fact the adjuster, crosses my ankles. Subsequently, he has just got me binding the hands and left my legs put.
I now stop at Supta K, even though I had been given more postures elsewhere.
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I had the foot adjustment too but I think there was 2 people having a go at me. It's that octupus arm thing where it feels as if there are arms and hands everywhere but its probably only one person as you can't really tell as your face is eating dirt at the time.
Hey you must've started about a week before me!
Posted by: clare | May 1, 2007 3:00 PM
"people mention that he doesn't give you much help"
Geez most of the time I get more attention than I want from him! :-)
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Well, that's what I'd heard. He's helping me in all the places I need it too. Yeah, I know what you mean. I've been in places where sometimes I've thought "Gonna just leave me alone so I can give this a go on my own!"
Posted by: Vanessa | May 1, 2007 7:07 PM
hey there! i had the pleasure of hamish's adjustments the two days i went there last year, came away thinking how amazing and kind he was! he was the gate opener for me in both marichyasana d and garbdha pindasana.....he asked if i could get my hands though my legs and i said i don't know i've never tried, don't think there is enough space...so he proceeded to put his arm through my legs! shocked is not the word! but what a good lesson! am so so looking forward to going back there! soo kind and soo firm a teacher! glad you've been enjoying it too!
Posted by: Esther | May 3, 2007 8:03 AM