In his workshops David offers a combination both traditional counted vinyasa led classes and clinic style led classes that investigate specific aspects of the practice in varying levels of detail. These important classes feature more verbal instruction; they give students a chance to slow things down, see new ways to orient during practice, get explanations of elusive, often unspoken aspects of the practice, and understand the Ashtanga method in greater, more subtle detail. Mysore, chanting and kirtan classes are also frequently included in a workshop. During the weekend David weaves together studies of asana, pranayama, bandhas, vinyasa, chanting, bhakti yoga, yoga sutra’s and other elements to help develop Ashtanga Vidya (knowledge).
7:30 - 9:00am – MYSORE CLASS
9:00 - 9:45am – SHOULDERSTAND TECHNIQUE
9:45am -12:00pm – BREAK
12:00 - 1:45pm – ASHTANGA’S DYNAMIC VINYASA DIMENSION THROUGH SURYA NAMASKARA
1:45 - 3:00pm – WHAT IS SAMKHYA YOGA?
7:30 - 9:00am – MYSORE
9:00 - 9:45am – UJJAYI BREATHING
9:45am - 12:00pm – BREAK
12:00 - 1:45pm – EXTRACTING STRENGTH THROUGH STANDING POSTURES
1:45 - 3:00pm – LEARNING HIP INTELLIGENCE THROUGH SEATED POSTURES
7:30 - 9:00am – MYSORE
9:00 - 9:45am – HEADSTAND TECHNIQUE
9:45am - 12:00pm – BREAK
12:00 - 1:45pm – SEATED TRANSITIONS, TWISTS, AND NAVASANA
1:45 - 3:00pm – YOGA SUTRAS BOOK 1: 1-4
7:30 - 9:00am – MYSORE
9:00 - 9:45am – UJJAYI BREATHING
9:45am - 12:00pm – BREAK
12:00 - 1:45pm – 2nd HALF OF PRIMARY SERIES GREATEST HITS
1:45 - 3:00pm – YOGA SUTRAS BOOK 1: 5-11
7:00 - 8:30am – MYSORE
9:00 - 9:45am – UJJAYI BREATHING
9:45am - 12:00pm – BREAK
12:00 - 1:45pm – BACKBENDS AND DROPBACKS
1:45 – 3:00pm – YOGA SUTRAS BOOK 1: 12-16
Mysore 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.
This asana class will focus on how proper vinyasa knowledge extends beyond memorizing the number of positions of the asana; you are also meant to know the vinyasa positions dynamically within your body. There is a great art to understanding the subtle progressions of movement that bring you into and out of each asana, exploring this refinement is what brings you into readiness, poise, beauty and alignment in your postures. We'll look at how such vinyasa knowledge helps you understand how to refine your awareness and to learn to see the practice as chiefly dhyana, meditation.
In this class we’ll explore how the cultivating a combination of dynamism and stability in the standing postures provides you a perfect means of entrance into the internal practice of Ashtanga Yoga. We’ll explore the importance of using the feet, legs, and hips to create strength, stamina and concentration. Better understand how the standing postures are an essential key to building a strong asana foundation. Learn to better access to mula and uddhyana bandhas (locks), see how the grounded support of the lower body can awaken the breath and the spine and lead the way to steady gazing (dristi) and to dynamic meditation (dhyana).
The classes will include the basic elements for developing ujjayi breathing (victorious breath), These sessions also aim to help you breathe with more skill and awareness in your asana practice.
In this class David will teach skillful ways to open up your hips safely. There is an integrated thinking process about the action in the hip joint and the transfer of energy through the leg from the hip to the foot that you want to draw from in your approach to opening your hips. You learn to call on the frog like circular action of external rotation, to explore animal like movements that show you the playful and practical possibilities of what your hips can do, and thus you begin to safely reclaim and to discover the natural range of motion of your hip joints without straining your knee or ankle joints.
The intellectual study of yoga is an essential means of ensuring progress and maturity through practice. To be exposed to yoga theory is an important part of using the mind to enter into inward directed states of concentration and meditative awareness. This is the part of the in-depth study where you begin to learn how to apply the philosophical/theoretical basis of yoga to your practice. You begin to see how the theory and the practice are not separate, but rather are two aspects of the same applied, practical study. Meditating on the theoretical teachings helps bring you into more intelligent, accurate and subtle alignment. David will draw from the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika for the discussions.
In general twists are designed to help you awaken the energy known as Kundalini that lies dormant at the base of the spinal column. Kundalini is another name for Prana (life force) and twisting helps you to stir up and generate this energy and at the same time to gently but persuasively churn, squeeze and wring your internal organs, tissues, and body systems. David will also address the challenges, modifications, and benefits of binding.
This class will help you better understand how make progress in all back bends through a study of the foundational back bends of Urdhva Dhanurasana and dropping back. We'll look into how to create a sound, well-grounded foundation in each asana. Focusing on setting a foundation leads you to find an aligned, nectar yielding spinal position. We will also look at strategies for creating smooth transitions into and out of the asanas, and how to effectively and economically combine repetition, rhythm, and breathing in order to stay longer and have more ease. Lastly we'll look into how to devise strategies for how to either increase or decrease the challenge of the positions depending on how you choose to approach your work.
Inversions are among the most valuable yet untapped postures in Ashtanga. In this class you’ll explore strategies to help you to do your inversions with more skill and enjoyment and look at how to overcome common obstacles like fear of falling or not knowing how to practice safely. This class will also help you to think of Head Balance and Shoulder stand as ‘bridge’ postures that can teach you the art of meditation in surprising, unusual, dynamic, and fun ways. For example performing Uddhyana Bandha the 'Flying Up Gesture' when you are upside down can agreeably ground you and help you discover the 'immovable spot'. Also doing inversions while bringing the Central Pranic Axis into focus is a great combination that leads the yogi into meditation spontaneously.
This asana class will investigate the transitions and state of the asana of Bhujapidasana, Kurmasana, Supta Kurmasana, Baddha Konasana, and the remaining forward bends in the 2nd half of the Primary Series.
Classes will be held at:
AYS Raleigh
302 Pebble Creek Dr, Cary, NC 27511
Course Fee: $575
