Ashtanga with Day Christensen
Led Ashtanga, Mysore, Technique & Discussion
A Weekend with Authorized Level II Ashtanga teacher Day Christensen
Day has a YouTube channel with many videos that may be of interest. Choose from Surya Namaskara to Third Series.
Facebook Page Link Here
April 1-3, 2016
Friday, Apr 1, 2016, 06:30 PM
Ashtanga Yoga Montclair, 127 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ. This workshop is being held at AYM Yoga Shala.
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Morning Practice Sessions with Day Christensen
- Saturday, April 2nd: Guided Full Primary 9 am to 11 am A guided primary class is conducted following specific vinyasa counts and the names of each posture called in sanskrit. Following the rhythm of the vinyasa counts is meant to develop physical strength and mobility, mental clarity, emotional calm, and spiritual awakening. All Levels.
- Sunday, April 3rd: Mysore session 9 am to 11 am Mysore style is the traditional method taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois named after the small city where Guruji lived for much of his life. In this style, the method of Ashtanga yoga is transmitted from the teacher directly to the individual student through physical adjustments and minimal verbal cueing. Gradually the student is able to commit to memory series of postures and breaths that comprise the series. Some familiarity with the primary series is suggested.
ASHTANGA 1% THEORY: Fri, April 1st: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, the Guru of Ashtanga yoga and a scholar of sanskrit and yoga, said yoga is "99% practice... 1% theory." Despite his education, he understood that the true transformative power of yoga is in the practice and not in the philosophy. As a long time student, I know that for whatever energy you put in to your practice, the practice will return to you exponentially.
In this opening session, we will discuss the theory that supports this practice. We will focus on the fundamentals, the what, and perhaps equally important then, the how.
Despite the debates, confusions, and misconceptions that Ashtanga is "too hard" or only for the"young" and "athletic", the practice of Ashtanga yoga is literally for every body. Guruji said, “Ashtanga yoga is for all people: old people, young people, fat people, skinny people...the only people who cannot practice are lazy people." What many of us miss is that the practice is meant to be learned and digested slowly over a long period of time. We will discuss the journey of practice and how to approach your own personal practice with patience and perseverance.
TRANSITIONS: Sat, April 2nd: 2 pm to 4 pm
This session will explore ways to refine a seasoned practitioner’s skills in yoga as well as the newcomer. We will put into practice how to approach various transitions that we find in the vinyasa approach of the Ashtanga method.
Day will describe the main obstacles or “hidden locks” that prevent students from experiencing the lightness, grace and strength of a master. We will work on various techniques for jump throughs and jump backs, headstands, forearm stands, and handstands, and more. This will be a fun, light-hearted class with lots of room for exploration, hands-on adjustments, and questions.
Learning the transitions in Ashtanga and how to approach this part of the practice will set you up with the necessary tools in the journey of your own personal practice as well as give a more experienced practitioner more insight. All levels are encouraged to attend.
INCREDIBLE BACKBENDS: Sun, April 3rd: 2 pm to 4 pm
Backbends are perhaps the most important postures to counter the stresses and activities of modern life. They are the most important and often the most daunting. When learning and practicing primary series, a practice of mainly forward bends and twists, it can seem like a cruel joke to then ontop of an already challenging practice end with a round of backward bending. Backbends can feel exhausting and impossible when we first learn them. We will explore the postures in primary series that will lead to the most pleasant backbending experience possible.
In this session, we will explore ways to work with backbends that will focus on how to build openess in the front side of the body, open your hiips and shoulders and inspire overall strength, making the common sore back a thing of the past. We will look at some alignment principles and practices that can forever take the painful and uncomfortable associations with the lower back and transform them into the exillerating experience they can be.
Though strength is not often associated with deep backbends, and more flexiblility is emphasized, you will walk away with a new understanding of the important role strength plays in your backbends and over-all health of your spine. Compound that with good form and you will gain some new insights into the power of deep backbends. Practices and a demonstration will be included to guide you to eventually stand and drop back from urdhva dhanurasana on your own. All levels are welcome.
Ashtanga Yoga Montclair
Email: ashtangayogamontclair@gmail.com
Website: www.ashtangayogamontclair.com
Location: Ashtanga Yoga Montclair, 127 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ, United States
Phone: 973 985 1503
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshtangaYogaMontclair/?pnref=lhc