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
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Life: What is Good and Evil To a Yogi?

    December 5, 2016

    Teach Whatever You Want, Just Don’t Call It Yoga

    May 12, 2015

    False Positivity Is Not Yoga

    March 7, 2014
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Do You Agree That “Ashtanga Doesn’t Work Unless You Do It Everyday?”

    May 3, 2014

    Ashtanga Teacher Certification/Authorization Is Rubbish?

    February 21, 2016

    Ask the APP: Why Practice Ashtanga 6 Days a Week?

    July 7, 2015
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    The Lesson, Not the Event

    July 5, 2018

    Fidgeting on the Mat: Ill Fitting Yoga Clothes or Road to Enlightenment?

    April 14, 2017

    Check This Out: What’s Faith Got To Do With It?

    December 23, 2013
  • 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                  

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Different Yoga Styles: You Got It All Wrong

    March 23, 2016

    Perfect Practice Makes Perfect?

    March 3, 2015

    Can Rolfing Help Your Ashtanga Practice?

    February 17, 2014
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Garbha Pindasana

    April 12, 2014

    March 24 Sharath Mysore Conference Notes

    April 29, 2014

    Conference Notes From Mysore: Ashtanga Does Not Need Us

    December 28, 2014
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Coming Home: A Journey Out of Addiction & Into Ashtanga Yoga

    September 9, 2015

    Tough Yoga Practices: When Doubt Touches the Heart

    October 27, 2016

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

    August 6, 2018
  • 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  

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Tips on Marichyasana A

    May 24, 2015

    Pose of the Week: How To Do Marichyasana C

    April 13, 2015

    Thank You Pattabhi Jois

    May 18, 2015
  • 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Dropping Back/Standing Up During Urdhva Dhanurasana

    November 9, 2015

    The Good Old Days of Ashtanga Yoga

    December 8, 2017

    The Reo Speedwagon of Ashtanga Practices

    July 10, 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

    You May Also Like

    Pose of the Week: Tittibhasana A

    April 3, 2015

    Tough Yoga Practices: When Doubt Touches the Heart

    October 27, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Paschimottanasana

    July 20, 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…

    Read More
    Shanna Small

    You May Also Like

    Highlights From Yoga Philosophy Study with Greg Nardi

    October 12, 2015

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: Yoga Is Not an Escape From Life

    September 24, 2016

    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: Is Yoga Religious?

    August 8, 2015
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
  • Zoom Consultation $15.00
  • BIPOC Mentorship $200.00

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 ©