This 4 day immersion with certified Ashtanga teacher David Garrigues blends Mysore practice with focused workshops to build strength, clarity, and confidence in how you move. You’ll learn smart repetition, effective modifications, and how to generate real power without forcing, guided by David’s principle-based approach and decades of dedicated daily practice in the Ashtanga tradition.
David has been immersed in Ashtanga study since 1991. He met Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in 1993, traveled to Mysore to study at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, and received a teaching certificate directly from Jois in 1996. That lineage, along with David’s clear and practical teaching method, shapes the way you’ll work throughout the weekend.
You’ll work on
• Mysore-style classes with one-to-one guidance, adjustments, modifications, and props
• Crouch & Spring transitions for decisive, strong movement
• Standing postures for leg and core strength, spinal freedom, and steadiness
• Backbend essentials using Primary roots with optional Second Series shapes
• Arm balances and inversions taught step by step for stability and confidence
For all levels, from first-time Ashtanga students to experienced practitioners refining technique. No Second Series experience is needed. When Second Series postures appear, they are optional tools for teaching universal principles.
June 19th
Friday Morning
Mysore
Traditional Mysore-style class with one-to-one guidance in the Ashtanga system, taught through David’s principle-based approach. You learn the set sequence while also learning how to modify, use props, and bring crouch-and-spring dynamism into your transitions. Each student works at their own pace as David circulates with hands-on adjustments, verbal cues, and specific technical guidance—whether you are on your first sun salutation or refining advanced postures. The focus is smart repetition and intelligent practice, not forcing your body into shapes it is not ready for.
Friday Evening
Crouch & Spring · Foundational Dynamism
Life changes fast, and we often meet that change with hesitation. In practice, that shows up as timid transitions and half-commitments that block real strength.
This workshop trains the Crouch & Spring mindset: prepare clearly, commit fully, and move with decisive power, building both physical strength and inner confidence.
What we’ll practice
You’ll learn to take smart risks in controlled conditions and practice in a way that builds real capability, not caution.
June 20
Saturday Afternoon
Standing poses often get treated like warm-ups. Five breaths per side, then on to the “real” practice. That’s a mistake.
These are the gold mines of Ashtanga. Standing poses teach the craft of asana: set your foundation, free your spine, and find depth instead of chasing complexity. You can build strength, absorption, and healing power here for a lifetime.
In this class you’ll learn how to use feet, legs, and hips to create real stability and power. Grounded support in the lower body awakens breath, engages mula and uddiyana bandha, frees the spine, and opens the possibility of clear spinal gesture, steady drishti, and meditation in movement.
Put your energy where it counts. Standing poses are the foundation of everything.
Saturday Late Afternoon
Backbend Essentials: Primary Roots, Second Series Wings
Do not need any experience with Second Series.
This workshop teaches backbends with precision and commitment, using First and Second Series postures to build universal principles you can apply to any extension.
What we will practice
Focus areas include activating legs, glutes, and core, opening the chest without jamming the low back, and organizing the spine with strength and stability. You’ll learn to meet the work with determination, without fear or forcing.
June 21
Sunday Morning
Mysore
Sunday Afternoon
Arm Balances and Inversions
No experience with Second Series necessary.
Arm balances and inversions train your relationship with risk. You can creep into Headstand with doubt and get shaky results, or you can work step by step, prepare, commit, and keep taking smart risks even when you want to play it safe.
This workshop applies crouch & spring principles to advanced forms, so you learn to enter and hold arm balances and inversions with stability and confidence.
What we will practice
June 22
Monday
Mysore
Oudescheldestraat 16, 9000 Ghent
To register and learn class timings visit www.ashtangamysoregent.com
