JONATHAN DUPUY
Jonathan captured at Kia´s retreat in the Spanish mountains 2019.
Jonathan and Kia working on Supta Kurmasana adjustments during the In-depth Training in Paris.
“There’s a grounding that happens in the practice for me — I feel more stable, centered, and part of a larger conversation.“
Name: Jonathan Dupuy
Age: 21 (or 45 if you want to be technical, okay fine I’m 46)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Fictionist and lecturer
When and how did you start practicing yoga? I was always intrigued by the idea of yoga, but it seemed somewhat unapproachable, similar to being intrigued by Christianity — how do you learn more? Do I just walk into a local shala? Are all shalas the same, what are the differences? I had all kinds of questions… would I look good in leggings?
It wasn’t until the day I met my wife, in one of our first conversations she talked about her practice, Ashtanga—and the way she talked about the practice and the glow that was within her—I went to a class the next day. I started learning more and was drawn in, but we moved shortly thereafter and the daily practice faded without a community. It wasn’t until almost two years ago that I began my regular personal practice.
“Are all shalas the same, what are the differences? I had all kinds of questions… would I look good in leggings? ”
In the summer of 2018 I was a writer-in-residence in Edward Albee’s studio in Montauk, NY and while writing all day I needed to get out of my head. I found an Ashtanga shala nearby. Each day, I would start by bicycling 5 miles to the shala and spend the rest of the afternoon writing. Two months later I met Kia.
How did you first meet Kia and Mysore Yoga Paris? Meeting Kia changed my life. Living in Siberia is a bit of a cultural void, so during semester breaks I try to get away. Paris is one of the few places I can fly to without a layover, so in Oct of 2018, I researched who was teaching Ashtanga in the area. I found two places online. Kia was the furthest from where I was staying, a 40-minute walk, and I wrote her and she invited me to come visit and practice with her. On that first day, I met Mangus, Maura, and Lise and of course Kia. New environments can be daunting, navigating an unfamiliar geography, being a new member of a community, but I felt so comfortable that first day. I went back every day for the week we were in Paris. At the end of the week Kia said I should consider going to Spain. I signed up for Spain, and then signed up for IDT and spent the summer of 2019 back in Paris at the shala. What I most admire is Kia’s patience, awareness, kindness and possibly more importantly, I think you can tell a lot about a teacher by the students and community that the teacher builds. The community of Mysore Yoga Paris is a loving group of interconnected practitioners who support each other, laugh together and meet up for coffees after practice, dinners, talk online and look forward to the next time we can see each other.
“I think you can tell a lot about a teacher by the students and community that the teacher builds. The community of Mysore Yoga Paris is a loving group of interconnected practitioners who support each other, laugh together and meet up for coffees after practice, dinners, talk online and look forward to the next time we can see each other. ”
Has a committed Mysore practice influenced you, how? There’s a grounding that happens in the practice for me — I feel more stable, centered, and part of a larger conversation. I don’t see the practice as something that starts or ends when I’m on the mat but something that permeates through every moment of my day.
“There’s a grounding that happens in the practice for me — I feel more stable, centered, and part of a larger conversation. ”
You are taking Kia´s in-depth training, can you share some of your experiences? On the first class, after five minutes my immediate thought was, “Oh, I have to do this again.” There is so much to learn, and I’m really glad that these teachings are non-linear, that it’s not something to complete, but to immerse yourself into and like my own practice, is ever evolving. What is wonderful about the IDT community is that the group that finished last year still talk on a regular basis and we keep up with each other—connect in Spain and online.
Describe what the Shala and its community is to you? In the last two years the shala has moved three times, first from the 10th arrondissement, then most recently to the 11th, and in April, online. The shala isn’t a building or place but a community that I connect with whenever I’m on the mat, no matter where I unroll it.
“The shala isn’t a building or place but a community that I connect with whenever I’m on the mat, no matter where I unroll it. ”
In this time of quarantine, how do you support your practice? I wake up every day and read poetry and have an espresso, meditate and then practice. Some days it’s longer than others, some days it’s very short. In this time of endless days, where for almost two months we couldn’t walk outside, and the health of family and friends and the future is uncertain, focusing is hard—so having some semblance of a schedule is important. I don’t always stick to it as rigidly as I should but it’s a baseline for me, it’s something to return to. I see it as a line in my life that I may deviate from at times, but I always know it’s there and I always know I can return to it without judgment and it’ll be there waiting.
The online shala was a revelation. I have a lot of zoom meetings with students and peers, and I knew of Kia’s apprehension about going digital, and I can understand that—my own classes went online this semester and the contrast from face-to-face classes to digital is a complete loss of intimacy. There is a distance in talking to someone over video, and trying to talk to one hundred someones could be fragmented or end up like a prerecorded instructional video—but the second I logged on I felt the warmth of the entire community. Everyone yelling out to each other—saying hello, and giving updates of our well-being and status, and this is before Kia signed on. The class keeps us grounded, connected while apart. Kia is at the center of something very special. Like the hub of a great wheel with all these spokes shooting out from the core.
“...the second I logged on to the Online Shala I felt the warmth of the entire community. The class keeps us grounded, connected while apart. Kia is at the center of something very special. Like the hub of a great wheel with all these spokes shooting out from the core. ”
How can we practice sangha (community) while being apart? I think keeping in touch with loved ones is important. Because even in moments when we are in lockdown we can find ourselves incredibly busy, and so we must make time to check in with friends, and relatives, if nothing else but to say “I love you,” and “I miss you,” because it’s our relationship to others that is necessary and binding. Seeing all the friends from Spain and IDT and the Paris shala online during quarantine has put the biggest smile on my face every day.
When and where do you experience Nowness..? Epictetus said that we must distinguish the things that are outside our control from the things that are within our control. Those things which are outside of our control we need to learn to let go of. We should only focus on those things which are within our control, as in my intention and reactions, actions, and my devotion. Still after more than 1800 years Epictetus is right—most of the stress of the world is spent on worrying about things outside our control. What is outside my control is when this quarantine will end or if someone I love will be hurt, or if I will finish primary series by December, but what is in my control is that I am kind, and honest, and when I practice I am honest with what my body needs in the moment. Nowness is, for me, understanding that dichotomy and centering my focus on only those things that I can affect.
Describe your practice in 3 words: personal, humbling, omnipresent.