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| Gyangiri, the founder of Mountainyoga: ““I’ve given up dressing nicely. I’m no longer interested in those things.” [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/William Wang] |
But in one class, another local teacher who speaks both Chinese and English failed to give an adequate bilingual instruction to a Chinese visitor, something which would never take place in any of Beijing's posh yoga studios. “It’s not bad,” said Liu. “If they have a foreign teacher teaching foreign students it should be no problem, but if Chinese people go they should also provide proper instruction in Chinese.” A man from Germany thought his first yoga experience at Mountainyoga was fantastic. “I hope to continue,” he affirmed.
In fact, Mountainyoga does invite popular and professional instructors to teach there, but such courses have an additional cost attached, and aren't included in regular retreats.
Also, the daily schedule includes an optional early morning session of karma yoga. Some unfortunate person has to inform gung ho guests that karma yoga will not include downward dog or inversions, but could involve mopping the floor or wiping down windows. Karma yoga equals "selfless service," much to the dismay of guests who aren't yet as selfless as they hope to someday be. "Karma yoga in a traditional ashram," says Gyangiri, "is part of the lifestyle; in the form of volunteer or physical work without any reward."
Gyangiri himself is a big fan of karma yoga. He chuckles as he describes himself as he's done many times before; beginning with the boast that he's not a yoga practitioner. "I don't do yoga because I don't want good health. And I don't want to be in good shape: I don't care. And I don't want to be enlightened. I don't have a spiritual quest by doing yoga. So why would I do yoga?"
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