ASHTANGA DEEP DIVE

LED ASHTANGA YOGA AND PATANJALI PHILOSOPHY

Alex will guide you through a led ashtanga yoga asana practice where we work on integratating the philosophy into our asana practice. Apart from a more traditional led ashtanga vinyasa sequence, we will also look at some individual poses in more detail as an asana laboratory before, after or during our asana practice. Session nr 7 and 8 will be more traditional led classes with less talk.

This course is a great way for beginners to be initiated to the practice, and an excellent way for more experienced practitioners to deepen their practice and understanding of yoga.

To make our yoga practice even more meaningful, we will be studying selected sutras from Patañjali Yoga Sutras chapter I and II before each practice session for guidance and inspiration (about 20 minutes).

After the course you will be able to practice an ashtanga yoga sequence on your own, and continue learning new poses (mysore style) – or – you can continue going to led classes until you feel comfortable in the practice. True confidence starts happening when you memorize your sequence and dares to start exploring the breath, the bandhas, and the focus in your own space and time.

ALL LEVELS WELCOME

Practitioners of all levels are welcome to join this exciting course where we will be exploring the asana practice more in-depth, as well as revisititing the fundamentals.

Beginners welcome, as this is an exciting and perfect way to learn ashtanga yoga. During our first session, we will revisit the very fundamentals of the practice, such as ujjayi, bandhas, samasthiti, and sun salutations, and shine some new light on them.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are just starting out practicing ashtanga yoga, you will need to participate in the whole course and perhaps study the poses more intensely at the beginning of the course, especially if you are participating through zoom. If you skip a session in the beginning you risk getting lost in the practice. Preferably you would revisit the practice a few times a week to keep up with the course (or join the mysore-classes where the teacher will guide you). The course is beginner friendly. Beginners drop-in is NOT possible towards the middle and end of the course – as we study the fundamentals only in the first sessions!

BACKGROUND

A growing number of Alex’s students are speaking other languages than Swedish (which is the official language of Ekenäs/Tammisaari, Finland, and Alex’s mothers tongue). With a mix of Swedish, Finnish, English, Norwegian and German students, this course will be held exclusively in English, so that all students can take part of the teachings. Let’s all join together in the sacred teachings of ancient yoga!

It’s important to Alex that the practices are taught at the appropriate level for each practitioner. Yoga should truly be for all that wish to practice, regardless of age, gender, body type or previous experience.

When practicing with Alex, you can ensure that you will get a safe and effective practice, with interesting concepts to ponder upon.

You will learn to practice in such a way, that you can, and want to sustain your practice for the next 20 years or more.

Alex has been practicing and studying yoga for about 8 years, and specifically ashtanga yoga for about 6 years with mysore authorized teachers by Pattabhi Jois himself (Petri Räisänen, Juha Javanainen, Simon Borg-Olivier, David Garrigues (zoom), and more). Alex has also taken part in shorter workshops with Kino MacGregor, Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev), to mention a few.

Alex’s teacher training (year 2014) was run by: Suvi Hakala, Sue Woodd and Julie Hansen, who were excellent teachers of many important teaching aspects for modern people in the hatha and vinyasa yoga methods. Making the practice safe and accessible for everyone is one of Alex’s passions and areas of expertise.

“Teaching newcomers is something that makes me enthusiastic to continue doing what I do. Even if a beginner never return to class, I know that they still have learned how to breathe, and how to perform the first basic parts of physical a yoga practice. They will carry that as a gift from me to them for the rest of their lives.”

Alex Lemberg – E-RYT & YACEP (Yoga Alliance)

“Alexander Lemberg is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP®), which recognizes this person as an expert in one or more of Yoga Alliance’s Educational Categories.”