Hurray for our guest teacher, Rebecca Frascone! Many of you have practiced Bikram yoga. Maybe it was called “Classic” or maybe it was called “Hatha.” As an aside, I would be remiss if I didn’t stop here to tell you that ALL physical practices of yoga would be labeled “hatha.” Specifically, I’m talking about the set series of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises popularized by Bikram. Well that series is part of a much larger lineage of Ghosh yoga. In this practice, Rebecca leads us through the intermediate/ advanced series (40 postures). With the exception of the two sun salutations at the beginning, this class is performed one pose at a time. It does not flow. ON PURPOSE. This series is as much about the stillness between the poses as the poses themselves. I find it very challenging. It’s very different from how I practice. Give it a try!
A little more history…
“Ghosh Yoga” is a set of values and traditions passed down from Bishnu Charan Ghosh. It shares a lot of history and values with other yoga systems, since most yoga traces its roots back to early texts and philosophies.
Generally speaking, the goals of Ghosh Yoga begin with health in the body and stillness in the mind. It is characterized by its use of stillness during and immediately following yoga postures. This system of tension and release emphasizes relaxation between periods of effort. (This is different from many modern styles of yoga that incorporate Sun Salutes between postures and link postures together.)
Ghosh yoga is from the Bengal region of Kolkata, India, developed at the same time that Pattabhi Jois, “The father of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga” – that’s what I practice – and Iyengar, of Iyengar yoga, were learning from Krishnamacharya in Mysore, India.