Last Saturday at sunset time at Candolim beach, we met with Rolf and Marci, the founders of Yogabones in Goa. Their yoga shala is very hidden. You may get the directions, only after email contact.
Every day, deeply relaxed – their normal way of being -, they enjoy sunset with their students, along with their 8 dogs, who never miss this daily event. Both are dog lovers.
On this Monday morning we had an easy early morning scooter ride from Anjuna to Candolim. At this time you hardly see a car nor people on the road. Goa doesn’t wake up early!
This is different in Rolf and Marci’s hidden yoga shala. It’s the end of the season, yet the class is full. 30 students practice Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga at a very high level.
For 16 years, Rolf, from Germany, spent a couple of months every year training with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He lives in the old guru-disciple tradition, just passing the pure teachings of his guru forward, instead of inventing a “Rolf Yoga”.
Like his guru he gets up at 2 am and starts the day with self practice. From 5 to 9am, he and his wife Marci teach in a quiet and intense atmosphere. “Hands together”, “keep looking up”, “you can do finishing poses in the center of the shala” – such short sentences guide students in their self practice from Monday to Thursday. Friday is the teacher-led class – it’s all the same practice schedule as with K. Pattabhi Jois. After the class, Rolf himself cleans the shala, alone.
In the afternoon, we met them both again for a swim. Students love Rolf, as he is quiet and has no ego. “He sets an example to us in just being himself” one student said, while the others agreed. He is just happy as he is.
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