Perfect Knot :: Classes and Instructors

Letter from Carla
Dearest People with whom I have the great pleasure of studying Yoga:

I want to to express a few things to you. It centers around the relationship between the Bikram sequence, Bikram Choudhury, A Perfect Knot, and who I am.

As many of you know, Bikram Choudhury is a flamboyant figure who receives varying types of media coverage. He has also been known as someone attempting to trademark and control all things connected to the pose sequence that bears his first name, and to franchise all Bikram schools. All franchised Bikram studios would follow the same rules of size (3000 sq. ft minimum.), temperature (105-120) and decor (mirrors, carpet, showers, certain colors), allow only Bikram Yoga to be taught at the school, by only Bikram certified instructors using the exact dialogue Bikram indicates, much of which has not changed in 25 yrs. The hope is that this would maintain the "purity" of the sequence and allow a person to travel anywhere and know in advance what they would be getting at a franchised studio - hence, the media wordplay: McYoga.

For awhile, media reported as though franchising the studios had happened. It has not and appears it will not occur in this country. There was opposition to it from numerous senior Bikram teachers and it appears Bikram has set his sights elsewhere. I am happy about that as I was not interested in a legal battle. Those of you who have practiced Bikram at other studios know that the atmosphere in my Bikram class is quite distinctive from the majority of Bikram classes. I intend to keep it that way and would not want to teach Bikram's otherwise.

As some of you also know, I have chosen to not involve myself in what is sometimes called "the Bikram family". I don't know the inside scoop on what's happening at "headquarters", nor do I want to know. I am extremely grateful for encountering Bikram and being able to practice and teach the sequence. There is no question it has and will continue to enhance my life. I thank Bishnu Ghosh for sending Bikram from India and that Bikram came to the USA or I might never have the experience I get to have today with each of you. (Persons have asked how I started Bikram Yoga. Here's the story: I was visiting a friend in L.A. and while she was getting ready to go out with me, I picked up a magazine and read a 1 1/2 page article about Bikram and this yoga sequence. The last paragraph stated that a training intensive was now being offered. I had the strongest gut reaction/ intuition/guidance I had ever had that I must go take this program. I had never taken a Bikram class nor heard of it. Two months later I was there...and now we're here! I did not go to become a teacher; I went partly because of personal health problems, but mainly because of an internal insistence that I must go.)

There are many things I could write about. The most important things I want you to know are the following:

1	I will not consider franchising. If this is ever challenged by Bikram's lawyers, I will handle it as my heart and my devotion to yogic principles sees fit. I pray this beloved studio is never sued by Bikram.
2.	I encourage you to focus on your personal practice and not the latest story or gossip about Bikram Choudhury or any Bikram teacher or studio. Your practice (and my practice) is more than that.
3	I feel it is crucial to study different types of yoga. There is not one style that is the truest or best in existence, nor one that applies to every individual. Thus, I want different types of yoga taught at The Knot.
4	You can always let me know if you need something different from me than what I am giving you.
5	I do not have plans for expansion or selling retail items except on a occasional basis. There are plenty of places you can buy Stuff that is marketed as yoga Stuff. One of the beautiful things about yoga is it does not need special, expensive yoga Stuff! Because The Perfect Knot Yoga Center is small and simple: there are less overhead costs passed on to you; it stays easy for me to manage so I enjoy and don't burn out or go into debt; I can see and stay aware of every student in the class; and because that's the kind of girl I am. One does not need fanciness to have a good practice (not that a glorious wood floor, parking lot and showers wouldn't be lovely...) If every class we offered was overflowing, I would seek a larger location. Under 10 classes/year that I heartbrokenly hang the WE'RE FULL sign will not cause me to move. The truth is I really love our spot. Also, I am basically unambitious in "business" as "business" does not interest me. During the life of this studio, I have adhered to my own desires and principles and common sense without any interest or study of marketing or "business" skills. I am happy with the continuing result!
6	By personal and professional ethics, what you say to me in private or what happens in class is confidential. This has been true for 15 years in my Massage Therapy practice as well.
7	If you really want to practice more but cannot afford the full fee, phone me and we'll work something out.

Thank you for taking the time and mind to read this. I am utterly blessed with how lovely you make The Perfect Knot. So be it.

I bow to the flowers blossoming in you!
Carla

Below are some ideas to ponder and below that is some thoughts about your Hatha practice to consider. (Drawn from various teachers and texts)

Paramahansa Yogananda:"The end result of all spiritual practice is happiness."

There are no energies in the body that are not also in the universe and there are no energies in the universe that are not in your body.

Notice how you've already made a HABIT out of the poses.

PERCEPTION: Remember, we see out of our beliefs. Since childhood, we've built a lattice by which we understand and everything is filtered through this grid. What you believe is what you see. We bring our beliefs to the yoga mat-- what this class is about, what we should be doing, what the teacher should be doing.

Ask yourself respectfully and kindly to do things:"Leg, would you be willing to straighten just a little more?"

5 mantras from Judith Lasater (a yoga teacher who started Yoga Journal):
1. What can I learn right now?
2. How can I experience love right now?
3. Uncertainty is the norm.
4. It's just a thought!
5. Time is big.

The true practice of yoga is off the mat, the Yamas and the Niyamas.

The tribe always worries "what will they think of me?" To be an individual, leave the tribe mentality.From Pilot Baba:"Choose a path which leads you more and more into aloneness. Remember that only individuals have become enlightened. Only individuals-those who have the guts and courage to be alone-are capable of stopping the movement of the mind and can settle into their own innocence."

From Rod Stryker: "Separating the observer from the observed, the soul from the mind, or Parusha from Prakriti is ultimately what the Yoga Sutras convey. It is about separating ourselves from our negative parts, of heightening our capacity to witness and of getting closer and more aligned with the inner guru - our inner teacher. Robbi Svabodha calls the core conscience that resides in a person or thing as "Adesha" (the first guide). It's the concept of Adesha, this inner light that we're trying to get to and activate.One of the most important things you must address is drama. Consider all the unnecessary drama you live with, both internally and externally. It's not enough just to clear it out externally, it must also be internal. Most of us don't even know there's internal drama. We just assume this is what it's like to be ourselves. One of the things we really have to look at in our lives is how do we get rid of drama. I'll ask you to consider that all your drama is built out of just a few core insecurities and fears, just a couple of core insecurities and fears, are the source of all the drama and major conflicts in your life. At the same time it is important that you avoid committing to a false sense of detachment or to do this deep work too fast, in an inorganic way. It's easier to not really resolve the dramas, and instead to actually unplug from them, pretend they're not there or don't matter to you. Then you become unenergetic, unimpassioned, and undynamic, a person without vital energy. I don't want you to become devitalized to avoid drama. Be clear about the difference in these two approaches. One is denial. The other is a holistic and conscious process."

Excerpt from former new student intro letter: First and foremost, although we are all practicing similar postures, this is your personal practice so develop the ability to keep your focus inward and make these postures your personal tools. Each of us have different reasons and goals that brought us here. Each of us has a unique life so please do not waste one second of this precious life comparing or competing with another. (I still do it sometimes--it's a cultural training we all have--but it is nothing like it used to be!) How "advanced" your physical pose is of no matter. What you are doing with your breath and your mind is the key! I will, however, be paying attention to your correct alignment in the pose, whatever stage you are practicing.

Second, enjoy yourself. As the Dalai Lama said,"Happiness is a mental discipline." If you don't already have it, develop the ability to decide what you are going to think about. Re-organize your mind whenever necessary to have the best, most liberating experience. In this class, if you start to feel you are suffering, see if you can free your mind of this idea and let your body continue to exert itself while the mind stays calmly focused on your breathing. This is a practice that will empower your mind throughout your life. If you cannot do that, slightly lessen the intensity with which you are practicing a pose until you find you can stop the feeling of suffering. Remember, there have been no medical studies that found frustration or suffering beneficial to human health!

Third, don't do any more than you want to do. Respect that the Bikram sequence is well researched and has lots to offer AND respect that some days you'll do more or less than other days. Patience and awareness! Prioritize developing your concentration to stay on one focal point-- in this case, your inhale and exhale. Remember, hatha yoga is just one branch of Yoga, and not the most important one. If you practice hatha for exercise only, I'm happy to tell you, you'll get more and better results than many other forms of exercise. Some of you will decide to study Yoga further and will find it fascinating. Through deep meditation and contemplation, the sages of India had direct experience of the divine reality that is everywhere. With this knowledge they founded the most ancient religion of the Vedas in which Yoga is grounded. Study of the Vedas reveals teachings that are timeless, universal, and meant for all. It contains every religion in the world in it's principles and is not limited to Hinduism. Yoga recognizes the existence of the Godhead within each human being. When the mind becomes still and clear through yogic practices, a person knows her or himself as she or he really is and always will be: one with, never seperate from, the Absolute Divine Reality. Ultimately, this is the goal of yogic practices if you find yourself in it for spiritual as well as physical reasons. Happily, it is often a perfect choice of exercise if you are here for purely physical needs.