Ashtanga Yoga for All

This weekend is dedicated to giving you the basic framework through which to take charge of developing your own practice. There are only two fundamental principles in yoga asana: the use of the diaphragm, and certain muscular tension (bandha). Although these are subtle, whatever your ability, once you've got a handle on these ideas that govern all postures, you'll be amazed at how your practice develops. With clear instruction in a safe and supportive space, this workshop offers to turn your practice around or reignite the flame if it’s been going out.

SATURDAY

08.00 – 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: Mobility & Flexibility

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.

12.30 – 13.30: Break

13.30 – 15.00: Building Strength in Yoga

Although yoga is balanced towards flexibility and not strength, we can still use our practices if careful to build strength in understanding the basic principles of how to hold the joints firm while moving from the muscles that support the joints, in this workshop we will look at basic arm balances with this in mind, including the jump through and back along with a short extra strength building sequence at the end of the class to take away and use.

SUNDAY

08.00 – 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 – 12.00: Comfortable, Effective Backbends

There is a way to approach backbends. That is, if you consider them as front stretches and not ‘backbends. For, once again, there’s no term in yoga that translates as ‘backbend’.  Instead, we find ‘bow’; that is, ‘bowing’ the front of the body between two equal and opposing forces. And, in this, the key is surprisingly in a better use of the legs. Experience how we can turn backbends, literally upside down, from backbends to front-stretches rendering them pain (and fear) free in a few easy steps.

12.30 – 13.30: Break

13.30 – 15:00 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.

Bookings taken and managed by Vanessa at Olistic Network.

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