SATURDAY

07.00 – 9.00:  Ashtanga Led & Self Practice Combined

Adam will lead the class through the first part of primary and standing asana, after which you will move on to self-practice following the Ashtanga sequence at whatever level you are at. All physical levels are welcome, and you are free to follow from printed sheets. It’s a fun way into self-led practice.

9.30 – 11.00: Open Your Hips

We all know that yoga needs open hips, but what does this, actually, entail outside of jamming ourselves into lotus postures and hoping they’ll gradually becoming easier in doing so? This workshop takes us through the subtle business of hip rotations to help create more mobility at the hips in practicing known postures more skillfully, while, also leading everyone through a hip-opening sequence Adam used to recover from a recent hip surgery.

11.00 – 12.00: Break

12.00 – 1.30 Vinyasa And What It Really Means

Vinyasa is the very foundation of the method taught by Krishnamacharya which went on to influence the sequences of Ashtanga yoga. Yet it does not mean the sequences themselves, rather a way to enter and exit the postures through a certain breath-movement format. A method that brings together an evolution in scapula (upper back) mobility, along with the development of asana practice as a ‘ritual’, where a unique mental space and awareness is built up.

SUNDAY

07.00 – 9.00:  Ashtanga 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.

9.30 – 11.00: Can Backbends Ever Be Fun?

Maybe not, but they can be comfortable and effective for purpose – and for all of us. Even so, depending on certain anatomy of our body, all of us will bend backwards differently. So, first we need to look at that. Then, we need to find a way not to keep bending at the same spot of our lumbar spine – already one of the weakest spots of our bodies. We will do this with reference to upward dog, the most practiced ‘backbend’ by far, and then, the first postures of the Intermediate series, which we shall also discuss how to include into everyone’s practice.

11.00 – 12.00: Break

12.00 – 1.30: The Hidden Philosophy Inside The Practice Of Asana

“Do your practise and all is coming” or “ninety-nine percent practice, one percent theory” are well-known quotes from Pattabhi founder of Ashtanga yoga. But, can the exclusive practice of yoga postures really be the teacher, or should there be more context around what we do on the mat?

In this session we will explore:

• The application of different aims/philosophies and what this might mean for your postural practice
• What lies in the physical: repetition and variation
• Should we be challenging ourselves with asana or making ourselves comfortable?
• How to relate between the wish for progress and acceptance of what is?
• What does it mean to take our yoga practice off the mat?
• The role of the teacher and relationship between intuition and disciplined learning/
• How group practice works and what it can do.
• Why things aren’t meant to go right all the time and how to best cope when they don’t

Bookings are taken and managed by Yvette at Yoga Sangha Manchester