Ashtanga Yoga: The Basics, Beautifully Done
In this workshop, you’ll experience the brilliant structure of Ashtanga and
discover how it can serve you and your unique needs and preferences.
You’ll learn the guiding principles behind every pose and movement so you don’t just copy
shapes but understand why you do what you do.
For example:
• Why Samasthiti (the idea of equal standing) is the hidden root of every posture.
• How to adopt the empowering mentality I call the crouch and spring — helping you set up
and launch each transition with strength, intention, and purposeful action.
• How to use your legs and arms as a solid foundation so your spine can awaken and probe
space naturally and creatively.
Crouch & Spring: Foundational Dynamism
Life is constant change, and a common response is hesitation and doubt - protecting ourselves, playing it safe, not even noticing we’ve stopped taking risks. This shows up in practice: transitioning doubtfully, arriving at poses tentatively, accepting mediocre outcomes without realizing you’re squandering the chance to build real strength.
This workshop introduces crouch and spring mentality - the decisive, committed quality that builds both physical power and confidence. We’ll work with foundational transitions and poses, learning to set up, commit, and spring instead of hesitating our way through.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Transitioning into Chaturanga Dandasana in a way that builds strength
- Sun Salutation transitions, especially into Upward Dog, using decisive setup and spring
- Moving into standing poses (Warrior sequences) to develop leg and core strength
- Basic forward bends with commitment, not collapse
- Basic hip openers: the half-lotus progression through Tree Pose and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
- Jump-back transitions that create power instead of grinding
You’ll learn to take risks in controlled conditions, to act decisively instead of doubtfully, and to practice in a way that actually builds capacity.
Mysore Class
Traditional Mysore-style class with one-to-one guidance in the Ashtanga system - but taught through David’s principle-based approach.
You’ll learn the set sequence while developing the intelligence to modify, use props, and apply crouch-and-spring dynamism to your transitions. The focus is on building strength and skill through smart repetition, not forcing yourself into positions your body isn’t ready for.
Each student works at their own pace. David circulates, offering hands-on adjustments, verbal cues, and specific technical guidance tailored to where you are in the practice - whether you’re learning your first sun salutation or refining advanced postures.
This is Ashtanga without the rigidity. You follow the system, but you learn to practice intelligently.
Backbend Essentials: Primary Roots, Second Series Wings
NO EXPERIENCE WITH SECOND SERIES REQUIRED.
Backbends demand that you meet intensity without collapsing or bracing. Most people approach them either by forcing or by holding back - both are forms of doubt that prevent real development.
This workshop teaches you to backbend with precision and commitment, using Primary and Second Series poses to build universal principles you can apply to any backbend.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Purvottanasana and the transition from Upward Dog
- Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel/Upward Bow)
- Dropping back from standing with commitment, not collapse
- Shalabasana (Locust), Bhekasana (Frog), Dhanurasana (Bow)
- Ustrasana (Camel)
- Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)
The focus: activating legs, glutes, and core; opening the chest without collapsing into the lower back; positioning your spine with precision and power. You’ll learn to meet challenge decisively, building strength and flexibility without fear or force.
Mysore Practice
Traditional Mysore-style class with one-to-one guidance in the Ashtanga system - but taught through David’s principle-based approach.
You’ll learn the set sequence while developing the intelligence to modify, use props, and apply crouch-and-spring dynamism to your transitions. The focus is on building strength and skill through smart repetition, not forcing yourself into positions your body isn’t ready for.
Each student works at their own pace. David circulates, offering hands-on adjustments, verbal cues, and specific technical guidance tailored to where you are in the practice - whether you’re learning your first sun salutation or refining advanced postures.
This is Ashtanga without the rigidity. You follow the system, but you learn to practice intelligently.
Arm Balances & Inversions
Arm balances and inversions are perfect risk-training opportunities. You can go up into headstand hesitating and doubtful, muscling through fear, accepting shaky outcomes. Or you can learn to work in steps - setting up, committing, springing - training yourself to keep risking even when you want to stay safe.
Decisive action is one of the best ways to build strength - physical, mental, and willpower. When you approach these poses doubtfully, you squander the chance to develop real capacity.
This workshop applies crouch and spring principles to advanced shapes, teaching you to enter and hold arm balances and inversions with steadiness and confidence.
**What we’ll practice:**
- Headstand: coming up confidently and holding with strength
- Bujapindasana (Arm Pressure Pose)
- Bakasana (Crow Pose)
- Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance)
- Advanced jump-through and jump-back variations
You’ll learn to practice without fear, to build strength through intelligent repetition, and to develop the confidence that comes from meeting
Risk skillfully.
To learn more about pricing and to register visit Avra Yoga.
