Why I love to practise with Louise Ellis

Many of you have asked so here is my attempt at explaining why I love practising yoga in the presence of Louise Ellis as a teacher. There are several qualities I admire about her as a person and a teacher, but ultimatly it is a feeling of comfort and ease that I have when I am in her presence that makes me appreciate her most. She is very real, very kind and her overall gentle nature allows me to open and let go, moving deeper into my own practise. She is a very well established female ashtanga practitioner who is soft yet strong, which is beautiful to see in this system of yoga.

By real I mean genuine, down to earth and approachable. You can speak to her on nearly any topic and she welcomes you to do so. Rarely does this occur with such an advanced practitioner, which to me makes her very real. When I was here in March, another student and I went to lunch with her and talked about anything and everything with pure ease. It was like old friends reuniting and I am grateful for that experience. Louise is very honest in speech and eminates very little ego in her personality. This time, we haven't gone for lunch (yet) but in morning Mysore practise she is always happy to speak to you. She'll come to your mat and either give you the most powerfully gentle adjustment or talk to you about the pose you're working on, kindly offerring alternatives and suggestions. There hasn't been a morning yet when I haven't heard her laugh with either myself of another student. She's simply a joyous presence!

Her qualities of gentleness and kindness I find are absolutly critical to be around at this stage of my own practise. Moving into Intermediate series, my work is presently with backbends, which can bring up a lot of emotions and sensations. When we are exposing our often vulnerable front bodies and our delicate hearts in backbending poses, a gentle presence guiding us is most appreciative. Primary series is well designed to open the back of the body with countless forward bends and naturally, we evolve into backbending. For me, I find my ability to open and be what at most times feels very vulnerable in poses like kapotasana and drop backs, is greatly affected by the teacher I am practising with. Being in Louise's compassionate presence feels like a comfortable fit, allowing me to let go and drop back into the unknown. I feel my body open with ease and trust in her guidance and I know this is precisely what I need to move more deeply into the next stages of my practise.

This past week, being sick with a nasty cold, Louise has reminded me not to overdo it but yet to still apply myself. I find it is this exact, oh-so-delicate, line that I am so curious about. How do we engage, in yoga and in life, with effortless effort? Most often I think we walk either side of centre, sometimes glimpsing the middle itself. To me, Louise is not only a good example of strength and ease, but she also allows me to experiment and come more closely to finding my own middle path.

It is often helpful to see admirable qualities in others in order to tap into the place they reside within ourselves. At this time in my life and in my practise, Louise is helping me develop inner and physical strength with softness in what can often be a physically demanding yoga practise. It is this same balance of strength and grace I am working on incorporating into my life.
I am greatful for this experience and look forward to the next 7 weeks to continue the journey of unfolding!