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You are the light in between the cracks
“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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Ashtanga Vinyasa VS Ashtanga Yoga
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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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
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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Pose of the Week: Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
Tips on Ardha Paddha Padmottanasana Shanna SmallShanna Small has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga and studying the Yoga Sutras since 2001. She has studied in Mysore with Sharath Jois and is the Director of AYS Charlotte, a school for traditional Ashtanga in Charlotte NC. She has written for Yoga International and the Ashtanga Dispatch. Go here for more information on AYS Charlotte. For information on workshops, please e-mail shanna@ashtangayogaproject.com. ashtangayogaproject.com
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Yoga Backsliders & Yoga Failures
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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Alignment and Injuries, Ashtanga Adaptability, Teaching Ashtanga, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
Teach What You Want, Just Don’t Call It Ashtanga
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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Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana
How To Do Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana Shanna SmallShanna Small has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga and studying the Yoga Sutras since 2001. She has studied in Mysore with Sharath Jois and is the Director of AYS Charlotte, a school for traditional Ashtanga in Charlotte NC. She has written for Yoga International and the Ashtanga Dispatch. Go here for more information on AYS Charlotte. For information on workshops, please e-mail shanna@ashtangayogaproject.com. ashtangayogaproject.com
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Alignment and Injuries, Ashtanga Adaptability, Teaching Ashtanga, Uncategorized, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Sutras
Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: A Firm Foundation
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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Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Tips on Urdhva Mukha Svanasana Shanna SmallShanna Small has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga and studying the Yoga Sutras since 2001. She has studied in Mysore with Sharath Jois and is the Director of AYS Charlotte, a school for traditional Ashtanga in Charlotte NC. She has written for Yoga International and the Ashtanga Dispatch. Go here for more information on AYS Charlotte. For information on workshops, please e-mail shanna@ashtangayogaproject.com. ashtangayogaproject.com
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Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: An Inconvenient Truth
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…
Acessible | Trauma Informed |Philosophy |Social Justice
