Leadership and Yoga David Swenson on Ashtanga Yoga & Life Beyond the Mat
Join me, Shawna Krueger, for a special interview with David Swenson. In today’s episode, David gives us a behind the scenes look into Ashtanga history and his adventure-filled life. From police showing up when he was practicing in the park in 1969 to becoming one of the world’s foremost practitioners and instructors of Ashtanga Yoga, there are stories that will make you laugh and leave you shocked. We talk about his first impression of Ashtanga, being present when Pattabhi Jois arrived in the US, and driving from Texas to Costa Rica three times to make a Yoga and Surf movie.
David shares how after completing all the sequences he was still left without answers and went on a subsequent search that took him from only eating grapes for 40 days to 5 years as a Hare Krishna. Plus, we get to hear what he really learned after a life through the lens of yoga and the first chapter of his memoir book: Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow.
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Time stamps:
00:00 Welcome
01:00 Intro
05:00 Police pull up to the park in 1969 to investigate yoga
09:00 Starting at 13. Not knowing life without yoga. David’s other jobs.
10:30 David’s parents instilled the belief that pursuing his dreams was an admirable quality.
13:00 A brief history of Ashtanga: David was in California when Pattabhi Jois arrived from India.
15:00 David’s friend met Manju by chance in India.
17:40 David takes us to the moment that he first experienced Ashtanga.
18:45 I thought the walls were breathing.
20:45 It wasn’t just the practice, it was the people.
22:00 It wasn’t about mastery as much as it was fun.
27:05 The growth of Ashtanga yoga: We were on the fringe of the fringe of society.
29:30 Surfing and Yoga movie: Why David wasn’t in the famous filmed primary series class with Pattabhi Jois.
33:00 Should we bring David and Doug’s movie back to life?
36:00 David learned all sequences by 1977. But now what? Letter to Pattabhi Jois.
37:05 Nothing but grapes for 40 days.
38:45 David’s Hare Krishna era.
42:00 David’s mom was the sweetest and supported him no matter what.
43:45 Coming back to yoga asana after 5 years.
47:00 Pattabhi Jois remembers David.
48:30 Answers should give birth to 3 more questions.
49:40 A life without drugs or alcohol.
52:00 Teaching was something that just happened.
53:20 Writing the Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual.
56:20 Breath is the heart of the practice.
1:00:00 David’s memoir book: Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow
1:02:00 The first chapter of David’s book.
1:06:00 When we can’t see beyond the mess of difficulty.
1:07:30 When life gives you poop, make compost.
1:08:00 What makes an exceptional teacher? And on taking personal responsibility and independence.
1:12:00 David’s billboard message.