Friday January, 29

6.00 – 7.30 pm: Intro Chat & Half Led Primary with Instructions

This unique style of led class is a guided class as well as giving the fundamental cues for each

posture. Everyone will be made to feel welcome and safe in participating in this class, with options given for variations depending on your body, level and energy that day.

Saturday January, 30

8.00 – 10.00 am:  Ashtanga Led into Self Practice

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.

10.00-10.30 am: Break

10.30 – 12.00 pm: 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.

12.00 – 1.00 pm: Break

1.00 – 2.30 pm: What Exactly is Traditional Ashtanga Yoga?

People often think Ashtanga means the rigid adherence to the series’ as they are currently known, but these have changed over the years as has the teaching method. In this session we will look at how to define Ashtanga yoga and what being a ‘traditional teacher’ means.

We will look at:

• How did the name originate? Did it come from Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga and if so, why doesn’t it seem to incorporate the other limbs Patanjali mentions?
• What came from Krishnamacharya and what came from Pattabhi Jois?
• How does the Ashtanga yoga of Jois differ in methods and aims to other styles of modern yoga – for example, to what his contemporary B.K.S Iyengar taught?
• How has the approach to Jois’ Ashtanga developed from when he first started teaching it to Westerners in 1972?

Sunday January 31

8.30 – 10.00 am:  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.

10.00 - 10.30 am: Break

10.30 – 12.00 am: Jump Back & Jump Through; Are They Worth the Effort?

This movement is one example of a vinyasa (breath movement combination). It joins many primary series asana up together, because it builds strength and mobility of the fundamental back muscles. But, what happens if you can’t do them? And is it the case that some people have too short arms to ever do this movement? We will look here at building up the movement from the start, with everyone gaining the technique to get the most out of it – whatever level you’re currently at. Indeed, this movement is a ‘trick’, and in this workshop we shall share the secrets to this trick.

12.00 – 1.00: Break

1.00 – 2.30 pm: Modern Yoga Development in the 20^th Century.

Find out how key ‘early modern’ yoga teachers. Krishnamacharya, Yogendra, Yogananda, Kuvayalananda and Vivekananda interpreted the older practices of yoga to fit into the modern context. Then, what other influences, those outside the yoga tradition, they may have drawn from to create modern yoga. A term we shall explore in its differences and similarities to the pre 20^th century iterations of yoga regarding breath, asana, and the guru-disciple relationship that defined yoga in the past, and, indeed, the aims of these practices..

Bookings are taken and managed by Hanane, click below for more info.