Interview with Yogini Louise Ellis

I found about Louise Ellis through the KPJAYI (the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in India) webpage. I saw that she appeared as one of the few women wholy certified to teach by this institution. Then I looked into her own webpage (http://www.ashtangacenter.com/) and saw that she had regular Mysore style lessons in Rishikesh, India. I decided to go and try; after some time of home practice, I was really looking forward to meet an experienced person. She looked really inspiring to me and besides, I liked the fact of learning with a woman. Well, I can say that I was fully rewarded by this experience. Louise appeared to me (and to all my fellow students) as an endless source of knowledge; I inmediately switched to the "sponge mode" to absorb as much information as possible. She seemed to be answering my (our?) questions without having to ask for it and this was great. Despite this, she would always keep a humble attitude, with gentle adjustments, rather suggesting than ordering, and, the best of all..... with an excellent sense of humour!

1. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU START PRACTICING YOGA?

I started when I was 18 in Los Angeles, USA. My first teacher was an old student of Swami Vishnudevananda and I became his student also. It was Sivananda Yoga at that time. I instantly fell in love with yoga. I had never been a very physical person, didn't do sports or anything but I took to the asanas immediately and soon was interested in the meditation and mantra aspects, in fact I was fascinated with all of it.

2. HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW?

I am 57. I have been teaching yoga since I was about 21.

3. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT ASHTANGA YOGA?

I ran into Ashtanga Yoga while I was visiting family in LA. I was taking some other type of yoga classes at Yoga Works in Santa Monica. A student there suggested I should really try one of the Ashtanga classes. I had been doing yoga for years but had no idea what it was:) I took a led primary with Chuck Miller and loved it. He told me to keep practicing and to try to meet his teacher next time he came to the US. So I took that advice and went to see Sri K Pattabhi Jois, the contemporary master, the following year in Boulder, Colorado. After meeting him, he invited me to the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India. At that time, I was 39, had already a family life and three little children! I had never been to India before and this was very challenging. From then on, I managed to make a yearly trip to India to practice in Mysore. Combining this with family life was very challenging (but I had a lot of support from my husband who also had practiced yoga for many years. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to study with such a powerful and compassionate teacher.

4. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INCREASING COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE PRACTICING ASHTANGA YOGA NOWADAYS, ACCORDING TO YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT MAKES IT SO SUCCESSFUL? (Could you define this system in a few words?)

Well, I would rather say that the yoga community is growing at every level (whether ashtanga or not) and this is probably a reflection of modern society seeking for spirituality and a meaning of life. I can say that I have tried many types of yoga systems, but Ashtanga is definitely the most complete one to me. One sees results in a short time and it is of course inspiring. Ashtanga is a path which is suitable for people with strong willpower. It requires a lot of discipline, but the results are very rewarding as well. All tools provided by yoga should be used simultaneously and Ashtanga provides a very complete system to achieve a good level of practice. In my mind we work from the inside out rather then the outside in as in some of the more alignment based systems. There is great emphasis on the breath and many people enjoy this.

5. YOU ALSO TEACH YIN YOGA, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A GREAT COMPLEMENT TO ASHTANGA. COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS?

Sure! Well, I should say that I am not really a yin teacher as such but I have found that practice to be very beneficial for myself and others. Yin yoga consists of a series of stretches in which you don´t engage the muscles at all. You normally keep the pose for around 5 minutes and surrender to gravity that will intensify progressively the stretch. This means that the connective tissue is targeted, contrary to more active yang styles where we engage the muscles. Some meridian points in the tissues are stimulated. Equally important, we start to watch the emotions, thoughts and mind with detachment. This attitude is very beneficial to anyone, but specially to those who are used to always doing something:) I find it a good intro to pranayama & meditations of various types. Some of the poses are strong hip openers and help to prepare for sitting. I always recommend my students to do yin yoga first thing in the morning, when the body is really stiff. This seems paradoxical, but it has proved to be an excellent preparation for the ashtanga practice, in my opinion. I find that the centering opening quality is also good preparation for an active practice such as ashtanga.

6. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THIS YEAR?

I am spending the next months in the USA. Have just done a workshop in Mexico. I am going back to Rishikesh, India for a new term in april, may and june. I usually spend two periods in Rishikesh where I have an ongoing Mysore program. I also have a yearly workshop in Salento Italy, every summer.

7. ANY OTHER HOBBIES IN PARTICULAR?

Reading is a big love of mine and I like to go explore in the mountains of North India:) Also laying on any beach anytime.

MANY MANY THANKS, LOUISE.