ASHTANGA YOGA
YOUR PRACTICE
Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic sequence of poses, tailored to the individual, linked with movement on breath, and specific gaze points, that leaves infinite room for growth and adaptation. Students who practice regularly (3x’s plus per week) may experience weight loss, increased focus, and increased ability to stay calm and present in their lives.
Ashtanga Yoga is taught one on one in a group setting. Beginning with the first portion of the primary series of poses, a student will gradually grow her practice as she develops technique and awareness. With guidance from a highly experienced teacher and repetition she will cultivate a yoga practice to do in a group setting or on her own.
Primary series will build strength, flexibility and improve her focus. While receiving those benefits students will also experience digestive and other circulatory health benefits as well.
It is important to note that the practice isn’t a one size fits all and every progresses at their very own unique pace.
Some indications include new and full moons as days of rest and students who’re menstruating are asked to observe their heaviest days as rest days. Also, women who are menopausal or perio-menopausal are encouraged to observe extra rest days as needed or around the new and full moons. Men are encouraged to take extra rest days as needed around the moondays as well.
Given our unique times, we are solely digital. learning digitally provides a great opportunity for accountability, community, and the technique of self-practice. Ideally, we would have the option of a room where verbal and physical adjustments are accessible. For now, we are ever grateful for our platform on zoom that we have lovingly dubbed zoomshala.
Ashtanga Yoga is mostly embodied and the larger work is done in concentration during practice. However, we do enjoy extra technique talks, meditation sessions, and philosophical teachings as a community. Interested students are encouraged to deepen their knowledge of yoga through these extra classes! Courses of study are free or at a reduced rate for members.
MANTRAS
OPENING MANTRA
ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शित स्वात्म सुखाव बोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जङ्गलिकायमाने संसार हालाहल मोहशांत्यै ॥
आबाहु पुरुषाकारं शंखचक्रासि धारिणम् ।
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
ॐ
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde sandarśita svātma sukhāva bodhe |
niḥ-śreyase jaṅgali-kāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāṁtyai ||
ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śaṁkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
auṁ
OM
I bow to the lotus feet of our great teachers, who uncovers our true self and awakens happiness
Like a Shaman in the Jungle he brings total complete well-being. He can even heal the most awful poision of conditioning and illusion.
The upper body of human shape, carrying a mussel horn (original tone), a discus (infinity) and a sword (power of differentiation)
having 1000 bright heads, I bow to Patanjali.
OM
CLOSING MANTRA
स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्यः परिपालयंतां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः ।
गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनोभवंतु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham-astu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino-bhavaṁtu ||
auṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
May good success be with all cows (divinity) and scholars May all (samastah) the worlds (lokha) become (bhavantu) happy (sukhino).
Om peace, peace, peace
MOON DAYS
MOON DAYS 2020
January
FULL. 10
NEW. 24
February
FULL. 9
NEW. 23
March
FULL. 9
NEW. 24
April
FULL. 7
NEW. 22
May
FULL. 7
NEW. 22
June
FULL. 5
NEW. 21
July
FULL. 5
NEW. 20
August
FULL. 3
NEW. 18
September
FULL. 2
NEW. 17
October
FULL. 1
NEW. 16
November
NEW. 15
FULL. 30
December
NEW. 14
FULL. 29
MOON DAY INFO
Like all things of a watery nature (human beings are about 70% water), we are affected by the phases of the moon. The phases of the moon are determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. Full moons occur when they are in opposition and new moons when they are in conjunction. Both sun and moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth. Their relative positions create different energetic experiences that can be compared to the breath cycle. The full moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded. The Upanishads state that the main prana lives in the head. During the full moon we tend to be more headstrong.
The new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards physical exertion.
The Farmers Almanac recommends planting seeds at the new moon when the rooting force is strongest and transplanting at the full moon when the flowering force is strongest. Practicing Ashtanga Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can live in greater harmony with it.
SOURCE: ashtangayogacenter.com
