REBEL ASHTANGA YOGA with Sarah Willis

TO START APRIL 1!
Please join certified Jiv@mukti and Ashtanga teacher, Sarah Willis, in on-going workshop / classes in the honored Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition of Krishnamacharya and Sri K Pattabhi Jois, and yet, this class won't be your grandpa's Ashtanga. We are calling the work "Rebel Ashtanga," because in deference to the rich tradition of Classical Yoga Teachings of  Patanjali and Asana practice, we are aiming to de-rail certain trends towards over-exertion, injury or competition. Patanjali recommends equal doses of Abhyasa and Vairagya, repetition of practice, and non-attachment to ideas about the future pay-offs of practice, and he further recommends honoring the vow of Ahimsa (non-harming) as a primary focus. In 'Rebel Ashtanga' we will draw from the rich teachings of the Vedas and Patanjali and examine how esoteric teachings provide an interior road-map of consciousness and the body. Sarah bows to her teachers, Richard Freeman, Eddie Stern, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Sharon Gannon and David Life, and respectfully acknowledges their tireless contributions to spiritual trekkers on the path.

The class will meet Wednesday and Friday mornings, at Lila Yoga, Dharma & Wellness, 302 Bowery on the 3rd floor : www.lilawellness.com, beginning Friday, April 1 at 7:30 AM for the first class. Here is an idea of what to expect:

7:20 - 7:30 = arrive and get suited up
7:35 - 7:45 = chanting and translation of mantras to Ganesh and Patanjali
7:45 - 7:50 = warm-up (may include squats, lunges and setting the 4 corners of hands and feet)
7:50 - 8:10 = Surya Namaskar A & B with attention to correct breathing and application of bandhas
8:10 - 9:00 = Primary Series Standing and seated postures working up to Padmasana
9:00 - 9:15 = Play! (may include work on handstands and back-bending postures & closing sequence)
9:15 - 9:30 = Closing Padmasana sequence and Mangala Mantra
9:30 - 9:40 = Savasana

This time-table is a basic template and guideline. All levels of Ashtanga Practitioners encouraged. You may arrive late or leave early, you may self-practice and then join in for any of the instructed sections. If you are a new student, please arrive at the beginning of class for a few weeks to set the foundations and absorb the direction of the work. We will build towards creating a workshop environment, where you are free to practice Mysore-style, or to play with alternative sequencing, props and partnering. I am hoping to de-rail the hesitation to 'move-on' or try 2nd series and other postures-- we will use the traditional sequencing as a guideline and keep things in the same basic order, with permission to play and modify from time so we are thorough in addressing certain structural issues, and pitfalls to be avoided.

$18 class fee