Ashtanga Yoga Project

Making the Philosophy and Poses of Ashtanga Accessible for All

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  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shanna Small
  • Submissions
    • Blog Submissions
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instruction
    • Workshops
    • Classes
    • Mentorship
  • Ashtanga Quotes,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    You are the light in between the cracks

    October 16, 2017 / 1 Comment

    “I know better. Why do I keep doing this?” “I know the right thing to do. Why can’t I do it?” “I get it, theoretically, but I can’t stop.” I have beat myself up so many times with the above statements. Have you? I am working to change this pattern. I realize now that this is a good place. Awareness, no matter how fleeting, is a gift. It is one more opportunity to start fresh. One more opportunity to renew. One more opportunity to be my best me. The yogis knew that there was light in between the darkness of suffering.  If we could just cessate or suspend our thoughts…

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    Shanna Small

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    Why It Is Important To Be Uncomfortable in Yoga

    June 23, 2015

    Spiritual Laziness: Active Body, Lazy Mind or Active Mind, Lazy Body

    May 11, 2017

    Ashtanga Vinyasa VS Ashtanga Yoga

    May 25, 2016
  • Ashtanga Quotes,  History,  Interviews,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Ashtanga Vinyasa VS Ashtanga Yoga

    May 25, 2016 / No Comments

    So I am beating a dead horse here but I want to keep you guys posted on what is going on. I recently wrote two posts, Whose Ashtanga Should I Practice and What Is The Ashtanga Practice For? in response to a post where a popular teacher talked about Ashtanga needing to evolve. I pointed out, in both articles, that this person was coming from a purely physical perspective and that Ashtanga Yoga was never meant to be purely physical. The teacher responded back to me, thus proving my point. Hi Shanna, I agree in principle to what you are saying, but not in practice. I do think you’re comparing apples…

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    Shanna Small

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    Highlights From Yoga Philosophy Study with Greg Nardi

    October 12, 2015

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: When You Have Doubts About Your Yoga Practice

    October 19, 2015

    Q & A with 3 Ashtanga Masters: Tim Miller, David Swenson and Richard Freeman

    February 5, 2014
  • Adventures in Mysore India,  Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Ashtanga Quotes,  Conference Notes,  Interviews,  Reblogs,  Review,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy

    Strength and Grace: 10 Quotes From Female Greats of Ashtanga Yoga

    March 14, 2016 / No Comments

    I was very excited to receive a copy of Strength and Grace by Alicia Beale and Derick Yu from Ekam Inhale.  Strength and Grace , a collection of essays from female Ashtanga practitioners,  inspires and provides amazing insights into the world of Ashtanga from a female perspective. Similar to the book, Guruji by Eddie Stern, Strength and Grace contains amazing stories of  transformation and practice with Ashtanga Guru Pattabhi Jois. However, this sets it apart. It includes, The rules of authorization and certification The logic behind ladies holiday How to practice during and after child birth How to balance Ashtanga with children and family life A brief foray into Ayurveda and Ashtanga…

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    Shanna Small

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    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: The Choice is Yours

    March 11, 2016

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: Staying Focused During Yoga

    March 24, 2016

    You’re Only Human…Unless You Are A Yoga Teacher On the Internet

    July 15, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

    February 21, 2016 / No Comments

      Tips on Ardha Paddha Padmottanasana                  

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    Shanna Small

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    Asteya: Stealing a Yoga Practice

    June 24, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Adho Mukha Svanasana

    December 17, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Prasarita Padottanasana

    January 12, 2015
  • Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Backsliders & Yoga Failures

    December 10, 2015 / No Comments

    Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1:30 : Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground. These are the obstacles in the mind field   Defining the Sutra Slipping from the ground gained concludes the discussion on verse 1:30. For more information on previous sutras, go here. Slipping from the ground gained is losing parts of the practice that you worked to cultivate.   Modern Day Application As humans having a human experience, contrast is necessary. It is through the experience of sadness that we can know joy.  How do you describe blue to someone who was born blind?  How do you describe sweet to…

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    Shanna Small

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    Being a Good Person Does Not Negate Someone’s Actions

    March 15, 2017

    Is Supta Kurmasana really preparing you for Second Series Dwi Pada?

    January 11, 2015

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: The Super Human Yogi

    February 12, 2016
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Teach What You Want, Just Don’t Call It Ashtanga

    December 9, 2015 / 7 Comments

    At a workshop, when asked about teaching a modified version of Ashtanga, David Swenson said, “Teach what you want, just don’t call it Ashtanga” The beauty of Ashtanga is that it was laid out count by count, pose by pose by Pattabhi Jois, via what he learned from his teacher Krishnamacharya so that there would be no confusion about the method and to maximize effectiveness. Theoretically, you should be able to go anywhere in the world and seamlessly join any Ashtanga class without missing a beat. There have been some changes made over the years but they have been relatively small. The wheel of Ashtanga has not been reinvented. David…

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    Shanna Small

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    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: Insidious

    August 1, 2016

    Is Supta Kurmasana really preparing you for Second Series Dwi Pada?

    January 11, 2015

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

    November 8, 2016
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga

    Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana

    December 7, 2015 / No Comments

    How To Do Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana  

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    Shanna Small

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    Pose of the Week: Tittibhasana A

    August 23, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

    May 13, 2015

    Random Ashtanga Stuff That Has Been Driving Me Up The Wall

    December 7, 2018
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: A Firm Foundation

    December 5, 2015 / No Comments

    Yoga Sutras of Pantajali 1:30-Obstacles on the path of yoga are disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground…   Defining the Sutra: For commentary on the previous obstacles, go here. Failing to reach firm ground occurs when there is not a solid foundation for the yoga practice to build on. Modern Day Application The previous obstacles are all the reasons why people fail to maintain a firm ground Disease- It is hard to focus on yoga when you are sick Dullness-When we live a life that robs us of vitality and brightness, our mind grows dull Doubt- you doubt the practice,your teacher, or the method…

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    Shanna Small

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    What I learned at Sharath Miami 2016

    June 25, 2016

    Perfect Practice Makes Perfect?

    March 3, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Astavakrasana

    October 21, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

    November 23, 2015 / No Comments

      Tips on Urdhva Mukha Svanasana                    

    Read More
    Shanna Small

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    Ashtanga Yoga: Mind the Gap

    July 23, 2015

    What is the Ashtanga Practice For?

    May 12, 2016

    Perfect Practice Makes Perfect?

    March 3, 2015
  • History,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: An Inconvenient Truth

    November 17, 2015 / No Comments

    Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1:30: The obstacles, which are distractions of the  mind are disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception,   Defining the Sutra This week is a continuation of commentary on Sutra 1:30, for other commentary, go here.  False perception is having a belief that is not rooted in truth. I recently attended a talk at Davidson College by Ta-Nehisi Coates, an award winning author and writer for the Atlantic. After his talk on race relations in America, a student stood up and asked how to change people’s minds on the issue and effect change. His answer was something along the lines of, “you are assuming that people actually want…

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    Shanna Small

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    Taking Away Attention, Taking Away Power

    November 30, 2019

    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: Is Yoga Religious?

    August 8, 2015

    Ashtanga Vinyasa VS Ashtanga Yoga

    May 25, 2016
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