At the Iyengar convention I attended in May, Abhijata talked about the importance of attending class in person.
She said: "What happens in an only online format when you are not proficient or sensitive enough is that you assume that what you have heard, you have implemented on your own. But that is often not the case. And it is a problem. Patanjali lists this as one of the obstacles on the path to yoga. It is called bhrantidarshana or illusory knowledge."
Illusory knowledge is when you assume your leg is straight but it isn't. Or that your chest is open in Trikonasana but it isn't. Or that, or that your hips are open in Virabhadrasana II, but they are not.
In this picture, my front leg is straight, but my chest could use more opening and my left hip could be rolled back more.
Abi said that “Yoga is a darshana shastra. Darshan means mirror. Shastra is a rule or teaching. It is a reality check to what is going on.”
When most of you practice online, you set your screen up so that you can only see me or whoever is teaching. You cannot see yourself. Have you implemented the instructions? Or, do you just assume that you have.
It is important to see yourself, really see yourself, and what you are doing in the poses.
I wasn’t trying to be critical of any one person here. I just wanted to share a screenshot highlighting the difference between what you may assume you are doing and what I see online.
Here is an example of someone in Sirsasana. I must assume they think they are straight. If this person was in class, in person, I could adjust them. But online, I am not able to affect much change in someone’s posture. Doing the pose this way can actually create a problem on the neck, shoulders and low back.
It is hard enough for me to see you online, let alone give you a correction or an adjustment that will change your pose.
A good adjustment can often teach you what it otherwise might take years to learn on your own.