Lessons From Tony, Part 2

When we studied Advanced Practice with our teacher Tony Sanchez, I wrote down some of his insights. 

ON PERSONAL PRACTICE:
The positions need to be cultivated in a gradual way.

In the 3rd set you will be able to reach the maximum of your ability.

You will get a lot more benefit when you find that place of stability and hold it motionless.

When you have reached your limit [in a posture], it is important that you learn how to stop the world.

The only way to make your practice simple is by practicing a lot.

It's not just doing the practice, but also studying; increasing your knowledge.

The mind can be very, very effective. But for most people the mind is very, very lazy.

We are like carbon. We can become diamonds, but it takes a lot of time and a lot of work.

The idea is to keep practicing no matter if you achieve those things (like samadhi) or not. Devotion to your practice.

A yogi becomes transparent, almost invisible.

ON HIS PERSONAL APPROACH:
I'm so happy just doing my own practice and ignoring the world.

To me, sustainability is everything.

The power that I want is not human power. It is divine power.

For me, the hands and the feet are assisting the position; that is my spine.

When people do things a certain way because "this is how Tony teaches it," then it becomes dogmatic. I don't want it to be dogmatic.

ON BEING A TEACHER:
You have the responsibility to stay healthy. You are the role models.

At least half of your class needs to be the standing positions.

Your objective should be to cultivate what is missing in [your students'] bodies. (strength or flexibility)

ON THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF YOGA:
The standing positions are the most important for our society right now.

It is like practicing yoga in hell. (during a discussion of heated yoga)

Scientific yoga has to rely on all the other sciences.

We're in a big rush to get somewhere, but we don't know where we're trying to get.

Savasana is the most important posture in the whole class.