The Matrix of Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is perhaps one of the most misunderstood styles in the yoga world even though so many other styles are influenced by it. The practice is more than just a sequence of postures. It is doing those postures while maintaining breath, bandha, and dristhi.

This is not a workshop that simply reviews the basics that everyone is familiar with. It is about seeing the practice from a new perspective.

In this workshop, we first discuss the context within which the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga method came to be. Then we look at the essential elements that make it distinct and an extremely internal practice. The context that the practice lives in is one of recognizing our true nature. Are the elements in the practice being used to this aim?

The elements that provide the framework for the experience of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga are: vinyasa/breath, bandha, dristhi, and asana. It’s one thing to know what these words mean, and another to have an experience of them. We will be doing small pieces of practice to illustrate the concepts that lead to an actual experience of these elements. We will also take a look at why this method is so often misunderstood. Bring your skepticism and judgments if you wish.