Ashtanga Weekend Immersion: Opposing Forces in Practice
This weekend immersion explores Ashtanga through the lens of opposing forces: grounding and lifting, effort and ease, strength and receptivity. On Saturday afternoon we begin with Extracting Strength Through Standing Postures, using feet, legs, and hips to build power and stability in the standing sequence. Sunday morning is traditional Mysore with one to one guidance from David on your personal practice. Sunday afternoon we work in Backbend Essentials, using key backbends from Primary and Second Series to study clear, safe backbending principles. Across the weekend you will see how playing with opposing forces in each asana strengthens technique, steadies the nervous system, and deepens your connection to the poetic soul of the practice.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
12:30 - 2pm
Extracting Strength Through Standing Postures
In this class we explore how a mix of dynamism and stability in the standing postures becomes a direct doorway into the internal practice of Ashtanga Yoga. We look at how opposing forces work in the body: feet rooting while the spine ascends, legs and hips grounding while the chest and gaze lift. You will learn to use the feet, legs, and hips to create strength, stamina, and concentration, and to see how the standing sequence is a key to building a strong asana foundation.
We will work with accessing mula and uddiyana bandhas and see how grounded support in the lower body can awaken the breath and the spine and lead naturally into steady gazing (drsti) and dynamic meditation (dhyana). Throughout, we stay attentive to the play of opposing forces in each pose so that your standing work becomes both powerful and inwardly focused.
SUNDAY MORNING
8-10am
Mysore
This class provides the student with a concentrated and heightened learning experience that will help he/she develop practical and technical yoga skills and be immersed in the inspirational magic and poetic soul of the practice. Each student will receive valuable one to one guidance from David on developing his/her personal practice. The student will develop skill in applying the practice techniques in ways that are logical, challenging, intelligent and fun. David focuses on learning how to follow the Ashtanga system and at the same time creating a practice that honors individuality, versatility and creativity.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
2-4pm
Backbend Essentials: Primary Roots, Second Series Wings
This class focuses on the backbends of Ashtanga through the lens of opposing forces. We will work with key postures from Primary and Second Series, including Upward Dog, Purvottanasana, Urdhva Dhanurasana, Shalabasana, Bhekasana, Dhanurasana, Ustrasana, and Kapotasana.
You will learn how grounding the legs, buttocks, and abdomen creates the counterforce that lets the chest open, how pressing down through the limbs supports the rise of the spine, and how front body softness is balanced by strong action in the back body. The aim is to build a strong, confident, and sustainable relationship with backbending that supports your whole practice.
The Shala Fort Greene
83 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY
All registration is done through https://theshala.com/.
