JOIN US FOR ASHTANGA PLAYDAY ON WITH INGA!
Many of us focus so heavily on work commitments that we never seem to have time for pure play. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stop playing. When we do make space for down-time, we tend to zone out in front of screens rather than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. Play is not only essential when we are young; it’s a critical element to relaxation and stimulation at all ages. Playing fuels our imaginations, creative impulses, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being.
If you regularly practice new skool ashtanga and are interested in having some fun learning hands-on adjustments and the back-bending poses in intermediate series ashtanga, consider joining us for ashtanga playday on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Discover for yourself the genius of play and join us for ashtanga playday!
For old school ashtangis this may feel weird at first because old school ashtangis tend to take themselves rather seriously. Old school ashtangis don’t seem to smile much during practice. They tend not to relax in between poses. They hardly ever chat or cheer each other on. It all tends to be very serious business with old school ashtangis.
We feel life is serious enough not to have a sense of humor - especially with something as fun and funny as yoga. We even refer to the sequence of poses between boat and bridge in primary series ashtanga as the “ifart” series because farting is funny!
What’s not funny is injuring ourselves as a result of the intensity and repetition of the twenty-four forward folds in primary series ashtanga. Because the postures in primary series ashtanga are so heavily focused on forward folding, we may greatly benefit from the counter back-bending emphasis in intermediate series ashtanga. These counter poses can also re-inspire our connection to asana practice and our bodies by exploring something new in a fun way, helping to shift settled patterns, shake up stuckness, and joyfully expressing ourselves through the poses.
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING
We recommend wearing comfortable layered clothing to help regulate preferred body temperature. If you have postural practice supports like mats, blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps, please bring them with you. We have community practice supports for you to use as well. Feel free to borrow any community practice support to facilitate and enhance your practice. We also suggest bringing water to maintain hydration after practice.
A NOTE ON THE ORIGINS OF ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga originated from a sequence of poses created by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya based on what he learned from Rama Mohan Brahmachari in the early 1900s. Krishna Pattabhi Jois, a student of Krishnamacharya, began teaching the sequence in led classes that emphasized synchronized group movement. Jois coined the term “ashtanga yoga” to describe his sharing of postural practice in this way. The practice spread through the efforts of many of Jois’ early students, including David Swenson and Richard Freeman, and influenced many current styles of postural practice, including all types of vinyasa flow and power yoga practices. Over time, this style of yoga has evolved, leading to various interpretations of the practice.