Something that is actually not about Ashtanga....

...although it is still about yoga, specifically teaching a mixed-levels, mixed-interest class...

Carl Horowitz is one of my teachers, and a colleague of mine at New York Yoga. He has a really interesting blog that is a veritable "kaleidascope" of yoga; hence, it is "Yogascope". Anyway, before I was bitten by the Ashtanga bug, I used to take Carl's class at New York Yoga every Thursday morning, and afterwards, we would chat and debate and theorize about some esoteric yoga topic right up until either one or both of us had to literally run out the door to get to our next class or other obligation. When he got his (long awaited) blog up and running, I eagerly devoured his discussion of structuring the teaching of vinyasa yoga to suit the individual student. Nevertheless, I felt like something was missing for me...what about those mixed level classes, especially the crowded ones like my Monday 6:30 p.m. class? How do we teach to the individual when there is a room crowded with individuals? And individuals with widely varying physical skills levels and widely varying spiritual interests at that. An interesting (at least in my opinion) discussion ensued....so I am linking to it here. Enjoy! YC