On the run up to the move I began establishing contact through social media (see, it’s really good for something, LOL) with any and all Ashtangis I could identify in the Nashville area. The first one was the owner of the web domain that we wanted to use - ashtanganashville.com. He was super nice and supportive and offered to give it to us. The second was Roland, who I had lunch with when I came in May to find a house, and we hit it off easily and have become good friends. It continued like that until I’d managed to gather a group of about twelve folks - most of whom then began practicing with me at the shala in the month preceding the official opening. It was awesome to have them with me and made the transition much easier.
A super interesting aspect of that coming together was that all of us were coming to the practice through different teachers: David Garrigues, Tim Miller, Richard & Mary, Matthew Sweeney, Laura Spaulding, Sharath, Saraswati, David Keil, and Tim & Kino. I immediately picked up on some pretty significant differences in how and even what we practiced from day to day. It was eye-opening and sparked me to dig deeper into my own thinking and approach to this practice we all love. Did I think I was going to convert them all over to “my way”? Is that what I needed to feel “successful”? Would I have anything to offer them? How would we possibly teach together (I already knew some of them had that desire)? What sort of shala culture would that cultivate? Is that “good” for the students?
I let these questions percolate while we practiced together and readied the shala for opening day. I spent time with them, had conversations about practice, and observed them. Respect for each of them came easily, along with a deep appreciation for the support they were offering me and the shala.
Then, the shala opened and a few folks trickled in. Mostly those that had some exposure to the practice and were coming with their own impressions of how it's done. So, I met them where they were and allowed a settling in process -- letting them guide the way as we developed an appreciation for one another’s roles. I allowed space for them to come to me for assistance rather than asserting that they needed it -- and they did ask.
It also became clear that Ashtanga is an unknown in Nashville. Many in the yoga community don’t seem to know what it is or if they do then it’s seen as “crazy” or “rigid”. And Mysore is just completely non-understood. It feels like starting with a blank slate - an untouched canvas - with a core group of somewhat seasoned folks gathered around looking at it and not sure where to make the first mark or lay down the first brush stroke.
I quickly realized that I could take one of two approaches as the leader of this venture. I could go out strong, my-way-of-the-highway, this is how it’s done and if you don’t like it, there’s the door. Or I could recognize and appreciate our differences, step back and the cultivate group dynamic. So, I’ve opted for the latter. At the end of the day, what’s important to me, is that we’re coming together in a space we consider sacred, honoring it and one another as such, and engaging in a meaningful and safe practice that is grounded in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and the 8 limbs of Patanjali. That’s what we are doing and it feels amazing.
In addition to that, I also aspire to build something that will carry on with or without me. None of us know how many days we have left in this body. We just don’t. Part of my daily practice for some time now has been coming to terms with that fact -- accepting it and becoming comfortable in it. So, when I look at what we’re doing here at AYNash, I step back and I think, “what can I do to further cultivate these relationships: with practice, with the community, and with one another?” because if, for some reason, I should no longer be available, it would do my heart the greatest good to know that these beloved yogis are carrying on in my absence. For me, that would be true success.