Interview with Sara Granström (“Le Vie del Dharma” web site)

In the course of your experience as an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (AVY) teacher, you have also developed a “soft” approach to the practice: what has motivated you the most to offer this type of approach?

Answer: It comes ultimately from inspiration from different teachers that I respect and feel connected to, but also from the contemplation of the yogic texts that talks about the importance of keeping up a regular practice for a long time to be able to grow on this path but also mentions the importance of HOW you practice and highlights that your mindset and your approach will determine what the fruits will be. In the end I’ve tried to apply this understanding in my own body and I like the way I feel after practice when I choose the slow and soft approach.
Who is a soft AVY practice intended for?

Answer: It’s for us all I believe, beginners as well as more experienced yogis. For people who are new to yoga the soft and calm way makes the postures more approachable because there is time to feel the body and watch the mind. You also have the time to connect to your breath and let the breathing guide you through the movements. When I think about it I guess the same reasons applies to the more experienced practitioners, to slow things down increases your chances of feel all the different parts of your practice!
What kind of response did you get from those to whom you proposed this approach?

Answer: Almost entirely positive. Sometimes people that are more use to the flowing aspects of AVY can feel a bit frustrated that we stay for longer in the poses and not complete as many asanas in a class but I usually explain what the aim and focus will be and why we do it which gives the group an idea of what I’m trying to do and then they can enjoy their practice and their bodies in a different way.

Has this approach attracted the interest of people who, for different reasons, would usually prefer to practice a type of Yoga that is less “demanding” than the “standard” AVY?

Answer: Yes, fore sure. Some express that they started AVY but then gave it up when the body started to protest in different ways but this approach has made it possible for them to work with the same sequence from a different point of view where how many poses you do becomes unimportant and rather the quality of the poses done is being acknowledged.

What are the benefits of a soft AVY practice?

Answer: I would say greater connection with you body, mind and breath, understanding your limitations and learning how to work with them and respect them, but also knowing when it’s possible to go deeper. A soft practice gives the opportunity to move towards balance in all aspects.

What does it mean, in concrete terms, to take a soft approach to the AVY practice? Is there anything of the essence of the AVY which might go missing if one practices it in a soft manner? Does it entail a modification of the asana in the sequence? Can this soft practice be applied only to the Primary Series, or to the others as well?

Answer: It’s not a way of practice that only suits one particular style of yoga, it’s an attitude, an approach to practice in general and it can be applied to any asana, modified or not, or to any series weather it’s primary, second, third and so on.

Can a soft approach to AVY be taken also in case one follows the “Mysore” method? If so, what is the teacher’s role as opposed to the one s/he would play in case of guided classes where a soft approach is applied?

Answer: A soft approach is ideal I think in a mysore setting since you are able to move freely and at your own pace. In a lead class the role of the teacher, apart from talking everyone through the actual poses and explaining the steps, becomes a lot about transmitting the atmosphere he or she is trying to create, so in a way explaining the inner feeling we are aiming for with words. In a mysore setting it’s more up to the student to find this inner feeling, but of course a teacher can set the standard by how they act in the room, how they adjust and how they deal with different situations. A calm teacher gives calm students I think.

What is the structure of an AVY class, both in its classical version and the “revised” soft version that you propose?

Answer: When I teach from the soft we spend more time in the poses, focus a lot on technique and try to stay in touch with the breath as much as possible, there will be many extra breaths and more static then in the classical version where the counting moves the group through every asana and vinyasa according to the traditional set up.

What would you generally recommend to an AVY teacher about how to teach with awareness, and to those students who start practicing this stile of yoga and would like to practice on their own by following the soft version that you offer?

Answer: Ultimately it comes down to your own practice and you own interest in this field. How do you explore awareness in your own daily meeting with yourself, the techniques, the breath and so on? Are you willing to let go of expectations, accomplishment and desires to get somewhere? I guess also it’s good to really define for your self why you want to do yoga, to make that question clear in your own head, what is important to you and what do you hope to support with the help of this practice? When you know this you also know how to go into the practice and how to meet yourself in it.

Can this softer approach to AVY be suitable to elderly people or people with disabilities, or what kind of alternatives would you suggest in this regard?

Answer: I think the soft approach makes AVY accessible to a bigger variety of groups, the whole idea is to feel your own body, have the time to get to know it and allow it to be as it is. For people with different limitations modifications of the postures will also be needed, with these two rules I think you can address most situations and cases.

Does the teacher training course which you organize in Sweden also include a module devoted to the soft approach to AVY?

Answer: Our TT has a foundation in classical Hathayoga which means that it includes aspects such as asana, pranayama, chanting, kriyas, mudras and meditation. We teach the same principles that is present within any style of hatha (as well as AVY) but we don’t use the AVY system as a structure for out asana practice. I would say that the attitude of “softness” goes as a connecting thread through the whole training together with the idea that there is no one way that will fit all.

Your educational background as a Yoga teacher also includes a thorough knowledge of Ayurveda. What role can Ayurveda play in regard to the practice of AVY, in particular in regard to the soft approach which you offer?

Answer: Ayurveda teaches that we are all different and will need different things to move towards balance. This is a fundamental fact within this science that can be applied on everything from food to climate to exercise. All things need to be adjusted in a way that supports the individual. A yoga practice is no different.