Ashtanga Workshop in Prague, 2026
Ashtanga Workshop in Prague with Adam Keen
October 17-18, 2026
A Look at Tristana for the Modern Era
Bandha, breath and drishti are all ultimately talking about one technique of bringing our energy - literally and figuratively- towards our centre. Practically, this means balancing the three curves of the spine, learning to use the diaphragm, and paying close attention to the position of the neck at all times. Come and enjoy a practical reappraisal of Ashtanga, and its impact and use on real-life concerns.
SATURDAY OCT 17
08.30 – 10.00: Mysore Self-Practice
This practice is based on individual exploration, kindness, and fun. Adam gives yoga assistance in a safe and non-intrusive way. He does not believe in forcing people into postures, rather, he uses verbal and light physical touch to open new directions for you to follow if you wish. All are welcome to the Mysore class. Adam is happy if you need practice sheets, but you should have memorised at least the sun salutations A and B and some of the standing sequence.
10.30 – 12.30: Breathing Basics
The diaphragm, when connected to most effectively through a certain application of bandha, is what makes the breath in yoga unique. The result is not only a liberating effect on the deep muscles of the back, but, most importantly, the ability to put oneself into the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system at will. This is not the technique of ujjayi which tends to encourage a mistaken breathing in the throat. Yoga clothes not required but dress comfortably.
12.30 – 13.30: Break
13.30 – 15.30: Mobility v Flexibility in Yoga
Yoga is often assumed to be about flexibility; however, it should be more about mobility. Flexibility is what happens when you stretch outwards most superficially. Overstretching your ligaments and tendons, soon enough this is only destabilizing to the body. In contrast, mobility is a way of moving muscles in effective relationship with each other. It develops range of motion while also cultivating a strong and stable body. Find out how the difference of approach feels most pragmatically in the basic asanas and see if you can recognize the difference between the two approaches to a stretch.
SUNDAY 18TH
08.30 – 10.00: Mysore Self-Practice
This practice is based on individual exploration, kindness, and fun. Adam gives yoga assistance in a safe and non-intrusive way. He does not believe in forcing people into postures, rather, he uses verbal and light physical touch to open new directions for you to follow if you wish. All are welcome to the Mysore class. Adam is happy if you need practice sheets, but you should have memorised at least the sun salutations A and B and some of the standing sequence.
10.30 – 12.30: Jump Back & Jump Through for Everybody
Everyone can all do a version of this movement. And it doesn’t mean we need to ‘fly’ – although we may (or may not). There are unique benefits of this movement for both the scapula as well as the digestion. It’s simply a question of breaking the component movements down then into ‘bite sized’ chunks, so that everyone can effectively worked with it. You might feel your arms are too short or your tummy too big, but you’d be surprised how a few tips for this can change the whole experience for you, taking you from frustration and confusion to grasping what you need to do to keep developing these somewhat elusive movements.
12.30 – 13.30: Break
13.30 – 15.30: Tristana, Vinyasa and What It Really Means
This is probably the subtlest workshop offered, but also possibly the most informative. In it we discuss how the three fundamental movements of breath (meaning the diaphragm), bandha (reappraised as three points of the spine), and drishti (the position of the neck) all come together in the deeper understanding of vinyasa – not as a count to get right, but as a way to contain energy in the body as opposed to expending it.
The workshop will be held at V korunách stromů, V Stráni 11, Praha 5 – Košíře, 150 00
Bookings are being taken by our hosts Petra and Zuzna, details are below.
Workshop page
https://petrakastneryoga.com/
https://www.astangaceskyraj.
https://www.jogadnes.cz/akce/
Reservation link
https://astangaceskyraj.
The reservation system should normally be displayed in the local language. If not, there is a short tutorial in English
Tutorial link
https://docs.google.com/
About Adam
Adam has been a yoga practitioner since 1999 and has taught Ashtanga yoga internationally for over twenty years. His style is open, non-dogmatic and eclectic while remaining rooted in an appreciation of the benefits of the method of ashtanga as he learnt it in Mysore, India.
In 2012 he completed the Advanced A sequence with Sharath who granted him authorization to teach. Adam meets all students where they are, hopefully, with humour, kindness and inspiration, holding a safe and supportive space for personal enquiry. Equally at home teaching all levels, he gives all students attention and interest. He is democratic in his approach and kind and believes that the practice should not feel like a test.
Coming from an academic background in philosophy and a professional one as a chef, he is knowledgeable, practical, and relatable in his approach. Many consider him humorous too.
Adam and his wife Theresa run the online yoga platform Keen on Yoga and he hosts the Keen on Yoga Podcast interviewing many of the world’s most renowned Ashtanga teachers and philosophical academics.
Instagram: @adam_keen_ashtanga & @keen_on_yoga
