ashtanga yoga

[Sybil gallor]

Does anyone have any experience doing Ashtanga yoga?  I'm having some struggles with my current hatha yoga class and am thinking about trying out some other options.  I have found a new class locally where the gal teaches Ashtanga vinyasa flow yoga.  Talking to the teacher, she said it is definitely 'active' yoga and that I will work up a sweat.  I wonder if it is do-able for a curvy gal?  I probably should have been more direct in my questioning.  :)

I'm thinking to go on Monday or Tuesday and just see how it goes but I was curious if anyone has any experience.

[stacey shulman]

it's been my experience that Ashtanga yoga is very verticalist in nature.  i was taking some workshops in an ashtanga-based studio (we were just renting the space), and there were signs posted everywhere stating that the teacher had the right to tell students at any time that they were not appropriate for a class for reasons of physical ability (stamina and strength) or yoga experience.  i don't know if that is the case in all ashtanga studios, but i do know that the emphasis is on an athletic/acrobatic style of practice - lots of arm balances, handstands, etc... and not very prop-friendly. 

that being said, i think that any style can be do-able for us curvy yogis, provided that the teacher is open to the idea that our bodies may mean that we experience asanas a bit differently or use props to support ourselves in them.

best,
stacey.

On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 11:23 PM, Sybil gallor <sybiliz...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anyone have any experience doing Ashtanga yoga?  I'm having some struggles with my current hatha yoga class and am thinking about trying out some other options.  I have found a new class locally where the gal teaches Ashtanga vinyasa flow yoga.  Talking to the teacher, she said it is definitely 'active' yoga and that I will work up a sweat.  I wonder if it is do-able for a curvy gal?  I probably should have been more direct in my questioning.  :)

I'm thinking to go on Monday or Tuesday and just see how it goes but I was curious if anyone has any experience.

--
stacey beth shulman
m.ed. ryt200 iayt
CurvyYogini:  love the shape of your life
Positional Release Yoga Therapy:  help your body heal itself
www.curvyyogini.com
www.yogatag.com/curvyyogini

[Sheryl Hagenstein]

I have done ashtanga in the past, I practiced mysore and love this form of yoga.  There are no props, and few modifications offered.  However, like stacey said if the teacher is open, this is a wonderful practice. It is very active and sweaty.  The primary series does not have a lot of arm balances, however there are a lot of vinyasa's.  There was more than one curvy gal doing the mysore at the same time as me and we all seemed to have varying capabilities.  Mysore was a great way to start ashtanga, it allowed me to work at their my own pace, and poses were only given to me as I grew strong enough and able to do more poses.  

Best of luck!

Sheryl 

[Sybil gallor]

Thanks gals!  I'm going to my first class with her in about one hour.  Wish me luck!

[Anna Guest-Jelley]

Hope you enjoy!

Best,

Anna

--

Anna Guest-Jelley

Founder

Curvy Yoga | CurvyYoga.com

an...@curvyyoga.com | (615) 852-8789

[Sybil gallor]

Wow.  I amazed myself.  :)  Not only did I keep up, but I wasn't 1/2 bad!  It was hot and it was active - but in a good sort of way.  She also said that she could help me in my efforts to move my foot forward between my hands into lunge (from Down dog).  For me, I don't think it's because my belly is in the way - I think I lack the abdominal strength and perhaps even lack technique.  

So, I'll definitely be going back.  And, one fun thing.....I was able to get into shoulder stand on my own today.  It certainly wasn't pretty - and I had to use a bit of rocking motion rather than just smoothly lifting myself up - but I did it and I stayed there for awhile.

Even if, as always I was the biggest person in the class - I felt comfortable there.  Color me happy!

Kris/aka Sybil

[stacey shulman]

so happy for you!  i'm in an advanced asana workshop right now - 4.5 days of learning pretzel poses lol  i'm actually surprised and delighted by what my body can do these days...

and glad you felt comfortable.  sometimes i think that's half the battle -

best,
stacey.

Positional Release Yoga:  help your body heal itself
www.curvyyogini.com
www.yogatag.com/curvyyogini - class schedule

[Elizabeth Cappo]

I have practiced Ashtanga in the past, and I look forward to doing it again when an injury I am nursing heals a bit.  The Ashtangini that I have practiced with really believes that yoga is for every body, and as such makes the practice accessible for everyone.  I use props when I want/need to, and I skip poses that aren't right for me that day.  We're all our own best teachers, so we have to approach any practice that way -- it makes it truly personal.  I think it's awesome you tried it! Om shanti, Elizabeth Gallo eca...@yahoo.com --- On Mon, 2/21/11, stacey shulman <curvy...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Sheryl Hagenstein]

Yah!  Awesome Sybil! 

 

sheryl/everybodyyoga