David Swenson Ashtanga Yoga Weekend
Practice Ashtanga Yoga w/ one of the world's top instuctors
David Swenson Ashtanga Yoga Weekend
Register for all sessions $295/ Discounted early bird registration by July 31st $280
Friday, Sep 26, 2014, 06:30 PM
Friday and Saturday 9am and 1pm sessions at Montclair Women's Club 82 Union Street, Montclair, NJ ------- Saturday 4pm & Sunday sessions at Ashtanga Yoga Montclair, 127 Valley Road, Montclair NJ
WORKSHOPS
Flying, Floating, and Handstanding
A Fun-filled Exploration of Vinyasa and Arm-balance
Friday September 27th 6:30pm-8:30pm
One of the greatest challenges of the ashtanga flow is the vinyasa. In this class David will break the vinyasa down into its basic components. He likes to refer to this as: “the Physics of flight”. Participants will explore techniques for creating greater lightness and efficiency of practice while using less effort to achieve greater ease.
The class will also explore the elements of handstands and arm-balances. It is common to feel intimidated or even frightened by balancing on our hands. David will address this issue and offer techniques and practical methods of approach to allow for greater confidence and ability that can be carried away and applied within a personal practice. This will all be done through the avenue of insightful and simple methods he has designed through decades of practice and teaching others. There will be partner work as well as individual techniques offered. There is always plenty of laughter and fun as well as a depth of information David’s classes. All levels may attend even if you have never done a handstand before. Alternatives are always given. Come and experience the joy of flight!
Workshop session fee: $60
Yoga Chikitsa: Primary Series
Dancing with the Breath in a First Series Flow
Saturday, September 27th 9am-11am
This class is designed for those already familiar with the first series of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga yet it is open to all levels of proficiency from the daily-practicing aficionados to the novice fit-it-in-when-I-can weekend warriors and everyone in between. The class will be conducted like a choreographed dance flowing along all of the way from the opening sun salutations to the closing savasana. David will spend time at the beginning of class to introduce alternatives to some of the more challenging asanas as well as offer user-friendly vinyasa options. There will be time at the end of the flow to enjoy a soothing, deep relaxation. Required items: mat and breath!
Workshop session fee: $60
Inversions and Backbends
Building Roots and Growing Confidence
Saturday, September 27th 1pm-3pm
Whether you are frightened of inverting or love to hang out upside-down and whether you have a flexible back or a stick board-like spine, there is so much to be learned from David's insightful tools for building confidence and gaining control in inversions and backbends
David will take the class on a journey of exploration into the unseen world of gravity and share methods of how to utilize this perpetual energy as a stabilizing force for establishing our roots from which we can grow into inversions and backbends with greater ease and more confidence.
He will teach the participants methods to expand the front of the body and open the heart rather than collapse the back in order to discover greater depth in a backbend with less effort and more grace and efficiency. David likes to encourage patience when he teaches. He phrases it like this: “The strongest trees in the forest grow the slowest!” Take the seeds of information he shares and plant them within the fertile ground of your personal practice and watch them grow and blossom over time!
Workshop session fee: $60
Eight Limbs and Daily Life
How Does This Practice Apply Within the Context of Everyday Living?
Saturday, September 27th 4pm-6pm
Underlying the mysterious and complex philosophy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras there is a truly profound simplicity that may be applied within the context of our daily lives. This class will discuss the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga and explore their applications within our day-to-day life. What is the use of Philosophy without real application? We may memorize quotations or stanzas from great writings but unless we can apply them within our life they are merely words spoken rather than knowledge realized.
Workshop session fee: $45
Second Series Guided Tour
Hop on the Bus and Enjoy a Ride Through Second Series Asanas
Sunday, September 28th 9am-11am
Many people are frightened of or intimidated by the Second Series of Ashtanga Yoga. But it is truly one of the most fun sequences! David will present the Second Series with great compassion, patience and humor. Students should have a regular practice of the First Series in order to attend this class. David will lead the participants through as much of the Second Series practice as seems appropriate for the group. He will offer alternatives and guidance along the way and explain methods and techniques to make the Second Series asanas feel more accessible and user-friendly. This class is a great way to experience the dynamics of second series in a safe and fun environment.
Workshop session fee: $60
Breath, Bandhas, and Pranayama
Seeking the Unseen and Experiencing the Intangible
Sunday, September 28th 1pm-3pm
Our first act of life as we enter this world is to inhale and our last act before departing is to exhale. Breath is our most elemental form of life and unites all of humanity yet we think little about it. The ancient yogis gave it great thought and in so doing developed intricate methods of harnessing breath to gain control of the mind and to see the world with greater clarity.
This class will delve into the realms of specialized yogic breathing as well as the subtle and highly misunderstood internal energy valves known as bandhas. There is much confusion surrounding these mystical tools and the part they play in the regulation and control of pranic flow. David will share information he gained directly from K. Pattabhi Jois as well as a series of practical exercises he has developed himself to assist the practitioner in gaining a greater understanding of these subtle yet powerful energy gateways of yoga. David has an amazing ability to convey complex ideas in simple terms. All are sure to leave with new insights and useful tools for personal practice regardless of their system. Come and feel the prana!
Workshop session fee: $60
David Sweson
David's introduction to Ashtanga came in 1973 when he met David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff in Encinitas, California. In 1975 David and Nancy brought K. Pattabhi Jois to the U.S. for the first time and Swenson was fortunate enough to be there. He then initiated studies directly with the master. Swenson made his first trip to Mysore in 1977 and learned the full Ashtanga system as it was originally taught by K. Pattabhi Jois.
David Swenson is recognized today as one of the world's foremost practitioners and instructors of Ashtanga Yoga.
“Ashtanga Yoga is an incredible tool that seeks to balance our strength with flexibility and to bring about a sense of wellbeing on an emotional and mental level. A steady and regulated practice over a long period of time is the catalyst to these changes. We must be patient and listen to our body and progress at our own pace. By focusing on the breath and moving with awareness then our yoga body/mind grows like a tree. It requires steadfast care and watering through the avenue of conscious and diligent practice.” - David Swenson
Website: http://www.ashtanga.net
Phone: (800) 684-6927
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Swenson/156802887768626