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What might yoga look like if it we weren't making shapes? As Mary Richards explains in Teach People, Not Poses, the purpose of practice is self-inquiry, so one way to start is by getting more familiar with physical form, instead of contorting to follow instructions.

Mary’s approach is down-to-earth, yet shaped by decades of study. A self-described “anatomy nerd”, she’s also guided by philosophy, having first encountered yoga via the Bhagavad Gītā as a teenager. Among other topics, our conversation explores:

* The extent to which everyone’s body is different

* How a fixation on postural alignment causes injury

* Why many modern classes teach unhelpful methods

* Which specific āsanas might be worth abandoning

* Whether one-to-one teaching makes most sense

* How physical practice unwinds mental issues

* What it means to be the “Sith Lord of Yoga”

Mary’s book is published by Shambhala, and she’s offering a webinar via Yogacampus (on January 26) that shares some techniques for getting grounded in gravity...

I like how Mary call herself a facilitator. I’m doing more facilitation too – in the form of a men’s group that starts on Sunday, and a philosophy immersion in February.

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