Ashtanga Weekend Bucharest 2024
Adam Keen an Ashtanga Weekend Bucharest, Romania
April 27 - 28, 2024
Ashtanga Yoga: Method & Technique
The method of Ashtanga is often considered to be about the degree of determination one can exert in squeezing oneself into increasingly demanding postures.
However, there is another way to go about this. One where the body isn’t forced or struggled against and the postures themselves aren’t the central focus. Instead, the postures can flow naturally from utilising the subtle internal technique behind every posture. This is more sustainable over the long term and as well as being essentially easier, it’s more effective for real progress.
Saturday, April 27th
7.00 – 9.00 Mysore
Adam teaches traditionally as he learned and experienced it in Mysore, defined by subtle, inner techniques. Following the sequences as they are in Mysore, adaptations will be given to keep you moving forward.
Practitioners will be approached individually and offered a gentle and holistic approach to physical assistance (if you want that). All are welcome to the Mysore class, there is no problem if you need practice sheets to follow along with.
9:30 - 11:00 Fundamentals
The building blocks of the work in asana are deeper than just making shapes. Using asanas from the primary series Adam will show how you can move forward in all the series’ effectively and safely. We will discuss using active as opposed to passive stretches and how to best work with them using the right tension to set up with forces structured within the body.
12.00 - 13:30 Jump Through & Jump Back
Jump through and jump back are more than just for fun, they engage the core and use the breath in the most basic way. Everyone can attain some form of this movement instead of skipping or ignoring it and get the benefits, which are great.
These movements are more important than the postures they link together. Firstly, it is an incredibly efficient movement through which to mobilise the shoulder blades (the seat of our functional mobility). Second, because of its effect on the digestive system, the seat of our organic health.
This doesn’t mean we have to be floating back and forth necessarily (though with these tips we may build up to it). Through understanding the basic components, which can be done by everyone we can each develop our version of it.
Sunday, April 28th
7.00 – 9.00 am Mysore
Adam teaches traditionally as he learned and experienced it in Mysore, defined by subtle, inner techniques. Following the sequences as they are in Mysore, adaptations will be given to keep you moving forward.
Practitioners will be approached individually and offered a gentle and holistic approach to physical assistance (if you want that). All are welcome to the Mysore class, there is no problem if you need practice sheets to follow along with.
9:30-11.00 Backbends
In changing one’s mentality towards what we are doing here; ‘front-stretching’ rather than ‘back bending’, we can make these postures comfortable where we may have thought this was impossible.
The workshop will focus on the backbend that comes at the end of the Primary Series and the gentler backbends we find at the start of the Intermediate series. Indeed, originally, urdhva dhanurasana came after these postures, only after students had gone through all the intermediate series, which was fairly fast by today’s standards. You may be surprised at how a small switch of focus and a few tips may make all the difference here.
12.00 – 13.00 Practice Chat + Q&A
We will discuss together the roots of modern asana and then how this relates and intertwines with the roots of Ashtanga yoga. Then, how the tradition of Ashtanga yoga has evolved to get to where it is today.
To book contact Irene Zaarour
Tel: (40) 722396563
Adam Keen Bio
Adam has been practising yoga since 1999 and teaching since 2004. He is one of only a few students to have completed the Advanced A series in Mysore with Sharathji and received Level 2 Authorisation in 2012.
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 & YouTube channel, interviewing many of the world’s most renowned Ashtanga teachers and philosophical academics.
Instagram: @adam_keen_ashtanga & @keen_on_yoga