Ashtanga yoga at the lounge!

June 22, 2010 · Posted under Asana and Breath Review 

 

We will be offering a special series of Wednesday night workshops to teach the Ashtanga series.  These workshops will be held the last Wednesday of the month in August, September and October.  Please read on to learn more about this invigorating style of yoga.

Ashtanga is a form of hatha yoga in the vinyasa style, meaning the postures flow one to another using vinyasas, or mini sun salutations, to connect them and you continue thorough without pausing in order to retain the heat.  It is also a prescribed sequence, so you perform the same postures in the same order each time, with specific cuing on breath and rhythm.  The pacing is considered an important part of the practice therefore you work through the series the best you can, sometimes attaining a posture, sometimes not, but always keeping on the with the breath and the sequence, striving to complete the Primary Series (first sequence) in 1.5 hours.   

There are four series and many people practice the Primary series for years before mastering it.  The discipline dictates you do not progress to the next series until the previous one is mastered and this is required to limit injuries, as each series gets progressively deeper and more difficult.  The series were defined by Pattabhi Jois, and now his grandson, Sarath, at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India.  The Ashtanga practice is the basis for most of the “gym” and “power yoga” styles seen today.

Some people wonder what can be so interesting about a defined sequence.  Doesn’t it get boring to do the same postures, in the same way over, and over?  Since it is challenging, it is never boring, and the surprising fact is, it is never the same.  Sometimes you feel incredibly open and flexible and the vinyasas, backbends and balance postures come easily.  Sometimes you are very strong and easily power through the standing postures but then struggle with the surrender required for the deep stretches.  When all of the components come together:  strength, concentration, flexibility, balance, and lightness of being, your practice transcends anything you ever thought possible. 

Ashtanga is a study in body awareness like no other.  If the sequence is the same, what is changing in my body, my mind, my emotions and my environment to make things so different?  Ashtanga has taught me many lessons about what works best for me on and off the mat:  a calm mind, release of expectations, disinterest in the outcome, not trying too hard, patience and trust in the process.  Each time I practice, a gift is presented to me and I become more and more aware of all that I have.

The founder of Ashtanga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, died several years ago and he is greatly missed by all of his students.  Although I was never able to meet him, I am grateful to him for his dedication to yoga, his passion for teaching, and especially his diligent efforts to bring the practice to the west.  His students now become the teachers and his legacy continues.   He was often quoted as saying, “Practicing and all is coming.” I agree.

written by Mary  Lasky

Please sign up for these workshops at the lounge (any or all): 

August 25, September 29 and October 27; all at 7-8:30pm

They are included in your unlimited pass or available for a drop in fee of $20. 

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Comments (1)

  1. Sandy Eimers on June 22, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    If you signed up for the Iowa City Yoga Festival and want to experience Ashtanga BEFORE you attend the workshop- don’t miss this opportunity!

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