Ashtanga Yoga Project

Making the Philosophy and Poses of Ashtanga Accessible for All

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shanna Small
  • Submissions
    • Blog Submissions
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instruction
    • Workshops
    • Classes
    • BIPOC Mentorship
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shanna Small
  • Submissions
    • Blog Submissions
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instruction
    • Workshops
    • Classes
    • BIPOC Mentorship
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Interviews,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Videos

    Get the Help You Need For Your Ashtanga Practice w/ Jen Rene

    August 6, 2018 / 2 Comments

    Meet Jen Rene Jen ran a successful Mysore group in DC and is now practicing with and assisting her teacher, Tim Miller, at the Ashtanga Yoga Center in Encinitas, CA.  Jen Rene has created Ashtanga and Pilates courses on her site, Jenrene.com, that provide helpful tips on backbending, hip opening, muscle recovery and much more.  I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jen about her online Ashtanga courses as well as pick her brain about working with new students, backbends, hamstring injuries and more.   AYP: What was your vision and purpose for releasing video courses? JR: I want to share what I know and love with more students…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Paschimottanasana

    July 20, 2015

    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: A Firm Foundation

    December 5, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Dwi Pada Sirsasana

    March 7, 2016
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized

    Coming up with an Injury Strategy

    April 6, 2018 / 2 Comments

    It happened. That thing that you have been so careful to avoid. The thing that you have taken hours of yoga anatomy and alignment courses to avoid. You have an ouchie. An injury. What to do? If you are mindful, patient and compassionate with yourself, you can continue your yoga practice.  However, you have to be really honest with yourself. If you: Are an all or nothing type of person Hate modifications Refuse to modify in front of others Feel like you are not doing a full practice unless you are doing “everything” Have an inhumanly high pain tolerance to the point where you only feel things when it is…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Padmasana

    March 28, 2014

    Pose of the Week: Baddha Padmasana

    October 26, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Parsvottanasana

    August 9, 2015
  • Adventures in Mysore India,  Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Confessions of an Ex-Yoga Assist Whore

    July 3, 2017 / 3 Comments

    I used to be an assist whore. Symptoms Waiting around for my teacher to put me in poses without trying to do it myself a few times first-I mean really trying. Not just putting my arms and legs in place and waiting Being pissed when I don’t get any assists Thinking that the teacher is bad or the class was bad if I don’t get any assists Expecting to be assisted in all poses that I find difficult Doing the bare minimum until the teacher comes around and “deepens” me Thinking that if my teacher can put me in it, I have arrived   Negative Side Effects No understanding of what…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    A.P.P Goes To Mysore: Ashtanga Yoga Pre Social Media

    November 15, 2016

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: Why Are We Here?

    January 2, 2017

    The Good Old Days of Ashtanga Yoga

    December 8, 2017
  • Ashtanga Adaptability,  Interviews,  Pose How To,  Review,  Social Media,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Videos,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Kino MacGregor: World’s First Yoga Channel

    January 16, 2017 / 5 Comments

    When Kino MacGregor asked me to take a look at her new project, I of course said, “Yes!” I have always admired Kino’s work ethic. When it comes to innovative ways to spread Yoga around the world, she always seems to think a few steps ahead. When I saw the new project, I immediately thought, “Kino is starting her own yoga channel. Brilliant.” When it launches, the OmStars channel will be the first of its kind. OmStars, an online Yoga channel started by Kino and Yoga teacher, Kerri Verna, will provide a comprehensive online platform that will allow practitioners to effortlessly integrate authentic Yoga experience into modern life. The channel will provide:…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Parsvakonasana

    February 1, 2016

    The Spirtual Side of Yoga w/ Kino MacGregor

    April 1, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Kapotasana

    March 23, 2015
  • Adventures in Mysore India,  Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Ashtanga Quotes,  Conference Notes,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized

    A.P.P Goes To Mysore: Mysore Backbending aka Catching

    November 8, 2016 / 7 Comments

    Urdhva Dhanurasana is important at Sharath’s shala. Sharath says that catching keeps the spine from getting hunched in old age,  opens Granthis, which are energetic knots in the body, and it raises the Kundalini.  The Granthis keep Kundalini from rising. As Kundalini rises, awareness rises.   For many, it is the only pose that you ever get assisted on.  “Catching” or grabbing the backs of the legs during backbending is something that almost everyone works on. Even if you don’t “catch” someone will help you walk in as far as you can as if you were going to catch. It is rare for someone to not have to attempt to catch. For most in the Shala,…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: The Choice is Yours

    March 11, 2016

    Tips For Ashtangis Without Regular Teachers

    February 20, 2014

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: Is Your Pose an Asana?

    September 15, 2017
  • Pose How To,  Social Media,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Videos

    Ask The APP: Should You Video Your Yoga Practice?

    September 2, 2016 / 3 Comments

    Yes!! Not necessarily for Instagram or YouTube but for the improvement of your own practice. I will illustrate this with my own story. I went through a period where sometimes I could grab my ankles in Kapotasana and sometimes I couldn’t. I could not figure out what I was doing different on the days I could from the days I could not. One day  I was practicing at home so I decided to watch some videos on You Tube on Kapotasana. After I watched the videos, I decided to video myself. I watched myself and compared it against the videos and it became completely obvious why I was failing at…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana

    December 7, 2015

    A.P.P Goes To Mysore: Mysore Backbending aka Catching

    November 8, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Supta Padangusthasana

    November 29, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Utthita Trikonasana/Triangle Pose

    June 6, 2016 / No Comments

    English-Triangle Pose Sanskrit: Utthita Trikonasana oo-TEE-tah tree-cone-AHS-anna Utthita-Extended Tri-3 Kon-Angle Asana-Pose Difficulty Level: Beginner Physical Benefits: Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, neck and ankles Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine How To Do Triangle Pose:    

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Supta Kurmasana

    April 11, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Ubhaya Padangusthasana

    June 9, 2015

    Yoga: It Took 10 Years To Be An Overnight Success

    May 17, 2016
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Drop Back and Stand Up From Urdhva Dhanurasana

    May 11, 2016 / No Comments

    Tips on Dropping Back and Standing Up in Urdhva Dhanurasana

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Coming up with an Injury Strategy

    April 6, 2018

    Different Yoga Styles: You Got It All Wrong

    March 23, 2016

    Ask the APP: Can you learn Ashtanga without a teacher?

    May 21, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Supta Kurmasana

    April 11, 2016 / No Comments

    Tips on Supta Kurmasana      

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Parsvottanasana

    August 9, 2015

    A Deeper Conversation on Pain In Yoga with Gregor Maehle and Satinder Khalsa

    December 3, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Supta Padangusthasana

    November 29, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Utplutihih

    March 28, 2016 / No Comments

      Tips on Utpluthih      

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Yoga For When the Pain Speaks

    February 24, 2016

    Yoga: It Took 10 Years To Be An Overnight Success

    May 17, 2016

    Confessions of an Ex-Yoga Assist Whore

    July 3, 2017
123

Mailchimp Sign Up

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

Products

  • Zoom Consultation $15.00
  • Full BIPOC Mentorship $500.00
  • BIPOC Mentorship $200.00

Recent Posts

  • Treat Me Like Your Headliner
  • Deconstructing Ashtanga, Reconstructing Me
  • Performative Love
  • Why I Am Not Interested in Your Virtual Ashtanga Course
  • True Community on Social Media

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

Front Page Photos by Wanda Koch Photography

Archive

Products

  • Full BIPOC Mentorship $500.00
  • BIPOC Mentorship $200.00
  • Zoom Consultation $15.00

Stay up to date on my posts, workshops and classes

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

Yoga For All

Recent Post

  • Treat Me Like Your Headliner November 30, 2020
Ashe Theme by Royal-Flush - 2021 ©