In this Ashtanga Yoga course you will get started in this style of Yoga, which promotes strength, endurance and emotional control. In addition, you will learn the keys to the practice of this style of yoga, which are also common to other styles:
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Ujjayi breathing, which slowly contracts the glottis in a way that promotes slower and deeper breathing and brings us vitality.
- The Bandhas, which are muscle contractions that help control the effort in each asana and gives us lightness.
- The Drishti or focus of sight on a fixed point, with attention and intention.
In addition, it is a very interesting course if you want to get started in the practice of Yoga, regardless of the style you want to practice, as it explains each posture and its correct alignment, offering a variety of asanas.
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
It is a dynamic and physically demanding style of Yoga but suitable for everyone, even for those who have never done physical exercise or have limited flexibility.
This style of Yoga originated in the city of Mysore (India) by the great master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Ashtanga yoga literally means "yoga of the eight branches", which were defined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. According to Patanjali, the path of inner purification to reveal the Conscious Self involves the following eight spiritual practices: Yama [moral codes], Niyama [conduct towards oneself], Asana [posture], Pranayama [breath control], Pratyahara [control of the senses], Dharana [concentration], Dhyana [meditation], Samadhi [absorption in the universal].
This method of yoga consists of synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures. A process that produces an intense internal heat and a purifying sweat that detoxifies the muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a strong body and a light and calm mind.
The daily practice of Ashtanga brings continuous growth through repetition of the asanas, challenging your mind and body as you discover something new about the postures and yourself. In addition, greater emotional and stress control is achieved, the mind is stimulated, illness is prevented and the immune system is activated.
In this course we will explain step by step and in detail, the postures that make up the first series of Ashtanga or Chikitsa series oriented to eliminate toxins, fats and other harmful substances accumulated in your organs, tissues and glands. This series contains the necessary elements to restore your health and purify your organism.
The course consists of 6 sessions:
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Session 1: yin yoga class, which although not an Ashtanga style class, helps to open our body by working in a passive and prolonged way each posture, affecting the deepest tissues, the fasciae (connective tissues that surround our muscles).
- Session 2: a class for you to learn how to practice the Sun Salutations (Suryanamaskar A and B), explained step by step. Sun Salutations are warm-up postures practiced in Ashtanga Yoga and also in other styles of Yoga such as Hatha or Vinyasa. They are postures that prepare us to perform the rest of the asanas and awaken our body to avoid injuries. If one day you do not have much time to practice yoga, the practice of Sun Salutations can be a very good alternative. In this class we will end with a breathing exercise.
- Session 3: a class where we will integrate the Sun Salutations learned in the previous session and add the rest of the Ashtanga Series 1 Standing postures.
- Session 4: in this class we will look at the seated postures that make up Series 1. Not included are those postures from the Series aimed at advanced yoga practitioners. We recommend that before practicing these asanas you do the Sun Salutations explained in Session 2 to warm up your body.
- Session 5: this class includes the advanced postures of the Series (not recommended for beginners)
- Session 6: this class includes all the postures seen in the previous sessions. If you are a beginner, practice the first part, up to Navasana (min. 49) and the second part from the bridges (1h).
