It is good to sometimes see the opposite side of what you normally experience. If you can experience the opposites, you can find the middle, the mid line, the still place in the center between the two extremes. That's a good place to find, and a good place to be. - Fiona Stang
Derick Yu: I wanted to take some pics and footage of Fiona’s practice that day for the purpose of reference for an upcoming workshop. While filming, I started to notice that she wasn’t having the best of days (given Fiona just recovered from being slightly ill, plus the previous weekend had been hectic). It became obvious that Fiona was still going to keep on practicing and doing whatever she can do along the series despite that fact that she was having some problems with some poses she could easily do most of the time.
When I asked her if I should just come by another time when she felt better, Fiona insisted that it wouldn’t be consistent with her values to only show her practice on good days. She wants to show there will be challenging days as well and there are lessons learned from those times.
"Life is full of surprises. Practice is full of surprises. Are we being reminded not to have expectations?" - Fiona Stang
Fiona: Sometimes we fall, figuratively or literally. And that's part of the process. That's how we learn. And sometimes, that is just the day is flowing, there's no rhyme or reason. But in those moments when I fall, I flail, or I struggle. I like to persevere and see the other side of falling. The other side of flailing. The other side of the struggle. It is good to sometimes see the opposite side of what you normally experience. If you can experience the opposites, you can find the middle, the mid line, the still place in the center between the two extremes. That's a good place to find, and a good place to be.
FIONA STANG first journeyed to Mysore in 1999 where she met her teacher Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, Sharath Rangaswamy. Fiona continued to study with Guruji to receive his teachings of devotion, grace, faith, compassion, patience, and yoga. In 2000, Fiona was authorized to teach by Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, and in July 2009, she was in the first group of 40 students worldwide to receive Level 2 Authorization. Fiona is the director and teacher at Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver. Visit their website at Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver