GURUJI – Tim Miller, in front, kneeling, in Mysore, India, at Guruji Pattabhi Jois’s 90th birthday celebration. Jois, who first introduced ashtanga yoga to the West, died in May, at 94. His six series of poses are the ashtanga practiced today, and his belief that the student must master each pose before proceeding to the next is integral to ashtanga philosophy. (Courtesy photo)
“He’s got a wonderful way of introducing the practice,” says Telluride Mysore Ashtanga yoga teacher Victoria Hoffman, who has studied with Miller since 2001. “He’s very integrative. He’ll teach some poses, but he will integrate the philosophy, and how it ties into the practice.”
Preferring to reach students on a relatively intimate level, “He doesn’t go for huge venues,” Hoffman says, of Miller, but rather “likes to support the programs at the local studios.
“In that way, he makes himself available He’s got this gravitas about him – he just draws you to him, like Jupiter.”
The planet Jupiter, Hoffman goes on to explain, has 16 moons, thanks to its strong gravitational pull.
In addition to his “gravitational” pull, she says: “Tim is accessible.”
The Encinitas, Calif.-based Miller, who has been practicing Ashtanga for more than three decades, says he was drawn to it, as a young man, because “the practice itself, done consistently, is the real teacher.
“Ashtanga is designed to be self-teaching,” Miller explains, on his website. “My goal as a teacher is to inspire a passion for practice.”
To that end, Miller will conduct three days of classes, at two levels.
For $150, students can sign up for either the introductory level 1 and 2 classes (Fri., 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Sat., 12-2 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-12 p.m.) or level 3 (Fri., 7-10 a.m.; Sat., 8-10 a.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-12 p.m.). A pranayama class for all three levels will take place Saturday, from 7-8 a.m., and a free kirtan will take place Saturday, 2-3 p.m. Individual classes are also available.
In Ashtanga, the study is the teacher. Ashtanga “is designed to be self-teaching,” Miller explains. “If you do the practice consistently, you slowly over time transform. You begin to understand what yoga is from the inside.”
Miller finds that age is a teacher, as well. “With age you become more patient and hopefully wiser, too, with your students, and realize there's no rush. You're not really doing anyone a favor by rushing through.”
For more information about Miller’s workshop, call 970/729-1673 or visit www.tellurideyoga.com; for more information about Miller, visit www.ashtangayogacenter.com.
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