SOLD OUT Adam Keen – Ashtanga Weekend London 

June 24^th and 25^th, 2023

This workshop is fully booked, if you would like to join the waitlist contact us

Ashtanga yoga has a traditional aspect in its repetition of a set sequence of postures done in a certain way. But, in seeming contrast, Mysore style yoga, another name for Ashtanga, was used to denote an approach to a practice that is person-centred and adapted to the individual.

So, come and see how we can do them both; be part of something deeper than just bodily movement, a tradition and a perspective on life and living, whilst preserving our autonomy to move in a way that is comfortable, nurturing and effective for progress.

SATURDAY JUNE 24th

8.00 – 10.00 Mysore

Adam gives yoga assists that are safe, and non-intrusive, he does not believe in forcing people into postures. He uses energetic pointers and resistance stretches so everyone can progress naturally and safely as their bodies dictate. The class is based on an exploration of how you can find profound work in what you are doing.

10.30 – 12.00: The Five Fundamentals of An Effective Practice

There are basic techniques to establish safe and sustainable progress. Through the following principles, using demonstration and partner work, you will be able to incorporate these into your practice:

• Stretch safely through breath-based action
• Strength building by use of opposing forces in your body.
• Stability, the importance of the medial stretch for scapula strength and mobility.
• Bandha as a tool to engineer diaphragmatic breathing
• Alignment, a more effective approach.

 12.30 – 2.00 pm: Ashtanga Yoga’s Top Ten

There are specific postures that stand out in the primary and intermediate series. Adam calls them showstoppers: the big ones we all know and either love, hate, fear, or a mixture of all these emotions.

In this workshop, we will look at these postures in detail.  I will break them down into accessible bite-sized chunks in a way we don’t have the luxury of doing in real-time practice.

We will round up the usual suspects; such postures as marichyasana D, jhuja / kurmasana and their transitions, kapotasana, eka pada sirsasna, mayurasana and pincha mayurasana and endeavour to take the sting out of their tails through careful and precise consideration.

These will all be accessible with variations to include all body types. All postures have an essence graspable to everyone. Everyone can get this quality of the posture and then increase the quantity as the natural expression of their body.

2.30 – 3.30 – Philosophy & Practice Chat
Yoga philosophy can often seem irrelevant to daily life and our asana practice. However, it is just as valuable as ever, especially in these challenging times of change. This talk will present a fresh approach to The Bhagavad Gita, taking in our modern lifestyle and interests with practice in an honest and humourful discussion.

Adam has a background in philosophy as well as a uniquely open and honest approach to how he has used the ideas of yoga philosophy to overcome his challenges in life. There will be time for Q&A.

SUNDAY JUNE 25

8.00 – 10.00:  Mysore

Adam gives yoga assists that are safe, and non-intrusive, he does not believe in forcing people into postures. He uses energetic pointers and resistance stretches so everyone can progress naturally and safely as their bodies dictate. The class is based on an exploration of how you can find profound work in what you are doing.

10.30 – 12.00: Transitions and vinyasas

Starting with an overview of the principle of vinyasa Adam will explain why it is essential to use them to build focus and awareness in practice. They stand for a great deal more than the jump-back vinyasa.

Vinyasa means ‘special placement’, but some placements are more special than others! We will go through the more difficult, fancy transitions, that are both fun as well as often helpful in building strength and mobility. Adam will cover how to amend and modify them so you can find a version to work on as well as keep the flow of your practice.

1.00 – 2.30: Jump Through & Jump Back – Lighter Lifts

Are you completely lost on how to lift your body weight? Or are you halfway there but getting stuck? Or you can generally complete the movement but doubt the sustainability for your shoulders in the long run.

If any of these relates to you, this workshop may provide some answers or, at least, a clearer idea of your path forward.  This workshop will focus on understanding diaphragmatic control as the foundation of developing the strength to hold your weight in your hands.

Be prepared to discover that the work is not exactly where we think it lies – in stronger abs or arm muscles. Indeed, the technique is not so hard physically, but more mentally, in working with body awareness and the epicentre of this as the elusive muscle of the diaphragm.

Cost for the weekend: €150 

Priority will be given to those who attend the whole weekend, please contact us if you wish to go on a wait list for single sessions.

About Adam Keen

Adam completed the Advanced A sequence of Ashtanga yoga in 2013 with Sharathji in Mysore (authorised level 2 in 2012).  He has been a yoga practitioner since 1999, starting with hatha yoga while studying philosophy at university.

He has taught internationally and spent over ten years running a Mysore program in his native London, UK.  His style is open, non-dogmatic and eclectic while remaining rooted in an appreciation of the tradition as taught in Mysore. He has a unique way of making everyone welcome and meeting students where they are with humour and kindness.

Adam is also the host of the Keen on Yoga Podcast and YouTube channels and co-founder of Keen on Yoga, an online yoga platform.

When not practising yoga, Adam likes to cook, in his earlier years, he was a vegetarian chef at Buddhist centres and yoga retreats to support himself while studying yoga. This took him to Purple Valley Yoga, where he was employed as the chef and met his wife, Theresa.

Still a philosophy student at heart, Adam shares his thoughts and experience daily on social media, where you can find him discussing many of the questions that come to our minds, but we’re often afraid or unsure how to ask. Find him on Instagram @adam_keen_ashtanga

Cost for the weekend: €150

Priority will be given to those doing the weekend, if you are only able to do single sessions contact us to be put on the waiting list.

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