ashtanga yoga?

I was just curious if there were any others here who practiced ashtanga.

I've been doing classes for about a year now and I love it. I'm slowly toning up and getting a stronger upper body. Plus, I think the whole mind body thing is slowly seeping its way into my brain. I'm not the best for meditation - I still fall asleep, but for that time on the mat I can honestly say I am only in that moment. So any other ahstangis?
shan

never heard of that source of yoga...  but it sounds like the type of meditation workouts that I would enjoy...  I am hoping once I loose some of my weight to join a Ti Chi class...think i spelled that right...  and plan on starting with my pilates video's real soon.

I did Ashtanga for about 6 months in the US. I loved it and found that it was a better workout than Hatha yoga, which I also love for different reasons. In fact I can honestly say that my muscles were more sore after a good yoga session than they ever have been after lifting weights. I'm a huge proponant. The only thing I didn't really like about Ashtanga was that if you were incorporating new poses, it was easy to get them a tiny bit wrong because you moved on to the next one so quickly - in my Hatha class we used to practice one pose at a time for long periods and the focus was very much on perfect form.

This thread reminds me how desperately I want to find a yoga class. I've missed it a lot and doing it to a DVD is just not the same....

Anne - yeah it is much faster than hatha. I like connecting all the movement s to the breath. I'm a bit fidgety so staying in a pose for longer than my five breaths is hard for me. I know I may not have 'perfect' alignment in every pose but I am 'there' and working at it. Plus, I really like the class style of 'mysore' (traditional ashtanga teaching) so that I get a personal adjustment and it just isn't a teaching telling everyone to get in their downdog.

mfredericka- here's a definition of ashtanga. it's less meditative, more along the lines of "power yoga"

Ashtanga. The practice of Ashtanga that's getting mainstream attention today is a fast-paced series of sequential postures practiced by yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois, who lives in Mysore, India. Today, yogis continue to spread Jois's teachings worldwide, making it one of the most popular schools of yoga around.

The system is based on six series of asanas which increase in difficulty, allowing students to work at their own pace. In class, you'll be led nonstop through one or more of the series. There's no time for adjustments?you'll be encouraged to breathe as you move from pose to pose. Be prepared to sweat. For more information, visit Ashtanga teacher Richard Freeman's Web site (www.yogaworkshop.com).

the definition is taken from yogajournal.com

I am more of a Kundalini/Vinyasa yoga girl myself. Ashtanga yoga is simply too rough for me, and as far as I am concerned once one removes the core spiritual and medatative aspects of yoga from practise; can it really be called yoga or some bastardised western implication of such?

Lol just general commentary, not related to ashtanga (8-limbed) yoga.

Cheers,

Samantha

I totally agree. You cannot have the physical without the spiritual. Ashtanga is really a breathing meditation ... it is a spiritual practice ... not just an exercise  routine. The postures are merely a distraction to help you master your thoughts and calm the inner chatter which constantly fills our minds. The real magic is learning how to stay in touch with your breath, go within, and still the mind.
namaste
shan

I practice Inyengar Yoga...my first yoga class ever was Ashtanga and it was really hard.  BUT, I was still hooked.  The guy I took the work shop is one of the top Ashtanga teachers in the UK (Chris Gladwell in Bristol)...he did Iyengar yoga for 14 years before he went to Ashtanga.  He recommended Iyengar to me because I have weak wrists.

Anyway - Iyengar yoga and Ashtanga yoga are both Hatha yoga styles and use the same asanas.

Ashtanga does focus on the breath and you do more sequence poses.  Iyengar yoga holds the asanas for longer. 

Like in "Salutation to the Sun" in Ashtanga you will repeat the sequence like 500 (kidding!) times, while Iyengar yoga will concentrate on one element of the sequence (like Uttinasana) and hold it for a long time to gain the body memory. We do the sequences in Iyengar as well, but we take apart the sequence one piece at a time and the concentration is more on alignment. THEN we do the sequences.

I believe Vinyasa (please correct me if I am wrong!) is called "Hot Yoga" in the States.  You do the asanas in a heated room?  I cannot do that method as I have lo-blood pressure and I would more than likely fall over!   Vinyasa does the same asanas as other Hatha styles.  (again correct me if I am wrong).

As Chris Gladwell told me at the end of my first yoga class "It doesn't matter what method you practice, as long as you practice".

I have never looked back .... I start yoga teacher training next September (2005). 

I believe Vinyasa (please correct me if I am wrong!) is called "Hot Yoga" in the States.  You do the asanas in a heated room?  I cannot do that method as I have lo-blood pressure and I would more than likely fall over!   Vinyasa does the same asanas as other Hatha styles.  (again correct me if I am wrong).

I think "hot yoga" is Bikram Yoga? I could never do that either, Jacky - I know I'd pass out!!!! You actually just reminded me that my very first yoga experience was Iyengar and I LOVED it. I'd give anything to have a good class near my house - I miss it SO SO SO much!

Anyone come across any DVDs/videos that are worth doing?

I think "hot yoga" is Bikram Yoga? I could never do that either, Jacky - I know I'd pass out!!!! You actually just reminded me that my very first yoga experience was Iyengar and I LOVED it. I'd give anything to have a good class near my house - I miss it SO SO SO much!

Anyone come across any DVDs/videos that are worth doing?

Let me know where you are - I can find you an Iyengar Class. 

The best DVD I have found is one done by a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher here in the UK.   It's definitely in a "home video" style, but it's quite good. 

I have an Iyengar program that I can create classes and then follow along.   Do a search for "Iyengar Yoga" on Amazon.com for the program. 

The DVD is called "Iyengar Yoga - Practice and Enjoy with Julie Brown"   her email is julie.brownie@virgin.net if you are interested in getting a copy...I got my copy at a yoga convention for £16.99.

Let me know if you want me to look for a class for you. 

btw it is Bikram yoga...thanks for the reminder...there are so many methods - sometimes I get them confused. 

Let me know where you are - I can find you an Iyengar Class. 

OK, I'm definitely going to look for that DVD that you mentioned! Maybe hubs would even get it for me for Christmas....

I'm in Gerrards Cross - a London suburb- SL9. The prob. is that I don't have access to a car - when I get off work hubs has taken the car to his job and isn't back until I'm ready for bed. So if it's not a short bus/train ride I'm unlikely to make it to a class.  But Jacky if you find me one that I can actually get to you'll be my HERO! 

I don't know London very well...but follow this link and there is a whole list of teachers around and in the London area...see if any of these are close to you (check the South East section)....if not I will try some other resources that I have...

http://www.iyengaryoga.org.uk/regions.htm

Oh wow! There is actually a class in my village if this website is pretty up-to-date! And that's amazing considering the only other one in my area is a pretty lengthy train ride away! A woman called Monica Steiner-Çelebi teaches here Monday nights! I've emailed her to find out time and cost and if all goes well I'll be practicing on Monday! Ooooh, thanks Jacky - I'm SO excited!

Oh wow! There is actually a class in my village if this website is pretty up-to-date! And that's amazing considering the only other one in my area is a pretty lengthy train ride away! A woman called Monica Steiner-Çelebi teaches here Monday nights! I've emailed her to find out time and cost and if all goes well I'll be practicing on Monday! Ooooh, thanks Jacky - I'm SO excited!

WICKED!!!

Of course I think that gets me promoted to status of hero?   

Just kidding...

As far as I know that site is pretty up to date... if not let me know...my teacher is part of the management of the Iyengar Yoga Institute in the UK.

I am chuffed to bits for you! Enjoy!

Yup, hero without a doubt!

I haven't heard back from this Monica character and the website doesn't give a time! Still, maybe she's a weekend email checker! I still have hope. 

Yup, hero without a doubt!

I haven't heard back from this Monica character and the website doesn't give a time! Still, maybe she's a weekend email checker! I still have hope. 

Hey Anne, how about giving her a ring?  Her phone number is posted on that site.  Or would you rather I rang her for you?