YOGA
BALANCE ON AND OFF THE MAT
With Ron Reid
YOGA
like that that has been
so profound in your life,
then it is really just about
sharing that with others.
It’s the endless possibility in the physical realm
and outside of it. What
amazes me about asana
is that it is all doable if
you approach it properly.
It goes back to patience,
trying to push your way
into something isn’t really going to get it done.
Even in the most challenging poses the best
thing to do often is to let
go.
PMAG: What does surrender mean for you in your
life?
E
lla Isakov,Yoga Editor: Ron Reid’s insights and wisdom from over three decades of
studying yoga philosophy, asana and meditation are rich in depth, but what I love
most about Ron is his gentle nature, kind heart and pure humbleness.
Parvati Magazine: What has been the greatest lesson you have gained from your practice?
Ron Reid: One thing that yoga teaches us is patience. Time and practice brings us our rewards or benefits. Anytime I have wanted to push anything, that’s when there have been
problems in my practice or in my life. It teaches us observation as a learning process and
ultimately being patient with things and seeing things happen in their own time.
PMAG: As a teacher to the teachers here in Toronto and worldwide, what is the one thing
you would want students to take from what you have to offer?
RR: I feel fortunate that my first teacher focused more on meditation, yoga philosophy,
pranayama, and yoga as a way of healing. Even though I really enjoy asana, it came
later. I see how yoga is so asana based, and many people think that is all there is and I
think that’s such a shame, as yoga is such an endless practice, both in form and beyond
form. In so many ways yoga centers me, grounds me and holds me to a certain path. My
yoga practice is something that has always stayed with me. When you have something
RR: We can control things
to a certain degree in
our own lives and actions
but that is all we can do.
Within that process of
doing our own work, it
is best to allow things to
unfold. When we look at
asanas, we can have a
vision and take steps to
see it unfold, but so many
people are hindered by
not being able to take
the first step. You won’t
know what the second
step is till you take the first
one, and if it is not right
you can have that reflection. Part of the practice
is to help us overcome
fear and insecurities that
we aren’t good enough.
It is a way of kind of working it through and then
realizing that things can
change and things can
transform, and reflect on
what it took.
PMAG: In our yoga practice and daily life there is
a play between action
and surrender, or strength
and letting go; what are
your thoughts on gaining a balance between
these two on and off the
mat?
RR: Sthira Sukham
Asanam from the Yoga
Sutras is about finding
the balance between
the effort and the letting go. Sometimes I see
people working so hard
at their practice and I
tell them to maybe cut
it back 10% and see if it
still holds together. I feel
the effort and struggle
and try to alleviate that
without everything fall-
ing apart. I also play with
the Koshas (five bodies in
yoga), reflecting on am
I physically engaged in
this process, what’s the
energetic component,
am I using intelligence,
am I allowing intuition
to flow through me, and
am I actually enjoying
what I am doing. When I
see students starting their
practice it takes a while,
it’s the process of the
journey. Sometimes the
smallest shift can have
the greatest impact.
The shift is usually having
more effort some place
and less effort someplace
else. One word to describe yoga is balance.
Everything that takes us
here is balance.
Crystal
early
30s Yoga gal
a passion
forHe
community
and
Ron Ellis
Reidisisan
one
of Canada’s
topwith
yoga
teachers.
studied with
Sri K.
continuous
can and
always
found
with
her
head in ateachers
book, in a
Pattabhilearning.
Jois and She
Sharath
wasbe
one
of the
first
Canadian
silly to
yoga
pose, or sharing
her musings
over
on her
blogtaught
or Twitter.
With
a fiery
be authorized
to teach
ashtanga
yoga.
He has
yoga
since
personality
she
constantlyand
strives
to motivate
others to see
their
greatness,
1988 and
is co-owner
Director
of the Downward
Dog
Yoga
Centre
while
always making
sure
to laugh at herself. Follow
alongtoon
her journey
at
in Toronto,
Canada
(downwarddog.com).
In addition
regular
classes
yogicrystal.wordpress.com
or on Twitter
at @YogiCrystal.
at Downward Dog, he conducts
workshops
and teacher trainings in
Canada, the U.S., Europe, the U.K. and Asia.
Ron is also an accomplished musician and performs with his partner
Marla Meenakshi Joy under their group name “Swaha” (swaha.ca).