Ashtanga Workshop in London with Adam Keen
Ashtanga Yoga Workshop in London, June 22/23, 2024
Cecil Sharp House, Camden
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
7.00 – 10.00 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, or Theresa might be able to help you. There will be 2 start times and we will contact you about yours.
10.30 – 12:00 The Work Inside the Posture
In this class, we will look at how to use the breath and bandha to work within the postures rather than focusing only on the exterior shape. These techniques are applicable to all asanas from primary series to advanced and when you know them, not only will you find progress easier, but you will find your daily practice is much more interesting.
13.00 – 14.30 Open Your Hips & Protect Your Knees
The hips are the foundation of the yoga practice, without exaggeration, every asana targets them. However, in terms of opening the hips, it's not the as we think of them as being in the front for doing lotus or getting knees to the floor in badha konasana.
It is actually the back of the hips we are looking to work with. In other words, the sacrum area. This is more subtle than the external rotation of the hip joint. In this workshop we will look carefully at the effective work to be found here, whether your challenge is lotus, marichyasana D or leg(s) behind head, you will find a new approach to solving your personal challenge.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
7.00 – 10.00 am Mysore
As above
10:30 - 12.00 Arm Balances & Inversions
From the basic principles of how to balance on your arms, we will build up to headstands - and for some handstands - learning how to do this in a way that is not only strong but safe and sustainable. Suitable for all levels.
12.30 – 13.30 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 has today.
Cost for the weekend: €160
Saturday or Sunday full day only: €80
Mysore classes only, Saturday and Sunday: €40
Please contact us if you wish to sign up for single workshop 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
