Ask the Experts: “99% Practice, 1% Theory”

by laura

When Pattabhi Jois says, “99% Practice, 1% Theory”, by Practice does he
mean the practice of all 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga or specifically Asana
practice? — Debby

One could speculate (as many have) for a long time about what he meant by that statement; and I suspect he considered this from a number of different viewpoints. To Pattabhi Jois you couldn’t separate asana from the other limbs of the practice, so certainly he was not only referring to asana as the practice. At the same time, he was very clear in his teaching that the mind–in the form of too much fear, too much analyzing, etc.–can hinder an asana practice. So part of what he intended referred to this; keeping the practice fluid without the interruption of mind wandering (and theorizing) via the joining together of opposite patterns of breath and movement. — Richard