Abhyasa
Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
Yoga and Total Health, July 2007
I know of an Englishman who came to The Yoga Institute and stayed in the hostel the whole day. He was learning Asanas. He would sit on the floor, bend the right leg, and try to put the heel under his posterior(buttock). He was seen most of the time defiantly staring at the other leg (left leg). He would try to hold it and try to bend it. He would try this from morning to evening, day after day. He left after three months of stay at the Institute when he was able to sit in Sukhasana, while watching his normal breathing and being able to concentrate. He went away very happy, having experienced peace.
No doubt the learner should have clarity and urge. He or she should, after listening to a good teacher, reading traditional writing, working at the practices for a short while, experiencing its results, carry on with the instructions unhurriedly.
Yoga practices are physical, psychophysical, psychological and more. If the techniques are right, results will come at all levels.
Often what happens is that one hurriedly picks up some practice, tries for a while, then gets attracted to another technique he reads or sees, joins a new yoga tradition, and in the end does not find any satisfaction in what he or she learns.