Aloha! From Hawaii to Ubud Three weeks of Asthanga yoga 
A six foot eagle Eagle has flown into town. Direct from Kauai, Hawaii, Ashtanga yoga has landed in Ubud initiating the start of an intensive period of internationally recognised Ashtanga yoga teachers. The name Eagle does not refer to his graceful yogic skills nor is it a reference to any romantic Native Indian roots, but rather it is the surname which Doug Eagle began to be known during a seventeen year professional career as a racket ball player. Eagle's rise to success was suspended in 1992 when he was paralysed from the waist down after a horrific car accident. Eagle was told his lifetime of sports was over. Irreversible damage to his lower spine necessitated extensive surgery, including a sacral fusion of the lower vertebrae. After two and a half years of intense rehabilitation including yoga practice, Eagle once again picked up a racket and before long was ranked in the world top ten of international racketball players. Eagle is now one of only around 300 Ashtanga yoga teachers personally certified by Sri Pattabhi Jois. Yoga has always been part of Eagle's life and was a key part of his miraculous rehabilitation, but now Ashtanga – the eight limbs of yoga - is his Life. Arriving in Bali to share his years of training under the direct tutorship of Guruji and his grandson R.Sharat, Eagle exudes knowledge of how to guide a safe and exhilarating Ashtanga practice remaining loyal to the lineage of Ashtanga while demonstrating respect for individual capacities and levels of experience of each member of his daily classes. Eagle's traumatic history of back surgery and use of Ashtanga as a tool to regain the use of his body and to have survived, flourished and stepped back into the world of activity, through what was an incredibly challenging period of his life, dispels the myth that Ashtanga is insensitive to those working with injuries. When replying to the comment that Ashtanga is too hard on the body, Eagle confidently replies: “If people are practicing Ashtanga and hurting themselves then they are not practicing Ashtanga correctly.” Alternatively, Eagle believes that the cause of injury in Ashtanga is either because people are pushing themselves too much, not practicing with an authorisied teacher or not respecting the essence of Ashtanga, which is moving with the practice and never compromising the breath. This philosophy is reflected in the Mysore style in which he teaches. In Mysore classes students practice together but flow through the Ashtanga series individually. The atmosphere is energetic and supportive, as each practitioner focuses inwards, flowing through the series of poses while Eagle covers all corners of the room providing one on one tuition. The wonderful aspect of Mysore is that those unfamiliar with the practice will receive direct personal guidance while more advanced practitioners will have the opportunity for adjustments and advice throughout each session. In this way students can practice according to their own breath, remaining sensitive to their individual needs, while respecting the traditional ancient Vedic texts of respecting and listening to their bodies. Eagle remains committed to living the practice of Ashtanga, sharing his knowledge as he travels between his shala in Hawaii, Mysore and - for three weeks only – Bali. From the 19th September until the 9h October, Eagle will be holding Mysore style classes Sunday to Friday at the Yoga Barn, Ubud at 7.30am. R. Sharat, Pattabhi Jois's grandson and Guru of Eagle, will be visiting to Bali for the first time ever, and teaching at the Ananda Cottages, Ubud. http://www.kpjayi.org/tour.html Friends and mentors of Eagle, Prem Carlisi and Heather Duplex will be opening a new Ashtanga Yoga Centre in Ubud beginning 1st December 2009 until 30th April 2010. www.ashtangayogabali.com ~ www.ashtangaworld.com More info on Eagle and his studio in Hawaii is available at http://www.pineappleyoga.com
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