I’m not giving up on Ashtanga Yoga, yes even after Saturday’s yoga fail.
After a little research, I learned that’s what we were doing Saturday, Ashtanga Yoga.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is different from many yoga classes in the west in that the order of asanas is completely predefined.
A practice will comprise four main parts: an
- “opening sequence,”
- one of the six main “series”,
- a back-bending sequence, and
- a set of inverted asanas, referred to as the “finishing sequence.”
So it’s similar to Bikram, I wish the instructor would have explained that. By similar to Bikram I mean it’s a (mostly) predefined sequence of posiitons/breathing. I was expecting a class similar to the last class of this level I took at the same place. It didn’t occur to me that with different instructors come different yoga styles and class formats – it seemed to me that the classes would be similar or named appropriately. Not a big deal, now I know. Wonder if anyone else was confused?
Back to Ashtanga… The easiest way to learn the poses seemed either from an instructor or from a dvd. The instructor didn’t go as well as it could’ve, dvd here I come.
Tried it this morning. I know mostly what bothered me on Saturday. Yoga flows.
Yoga. Just. Flows.
On Saturday, even after a fairly lengthy explanation, there was no flow. It was disjoint positions that didn’t smoothly connect. When asked by another class member how to connect a couple positions, the answer was that it’ll just happen. I’m not an expert on yoga, but I’ve taken a few classes at different places. There is always a flow, a sequence of moves that get you from one position to the next, safely, achieving the objectives of that position while not causing injury to other body parts. In yoga, funny as it may sound, few things just happen.
Let me say that again… Yoga flows. Smooth. Not necessarily easy, but there is a flow to a Sun Salutation that brings one position, breath and movement into the next. It flows unless you’re doing individual poses, yes.
I’m so glad I didn’t let Saturday turn me off to Ashtanga Yoga. After spending some time and learning Sun Salutation A & B, it’s all good again.
A great way to start the day.
Do you have a style of yoga that’s your favorite?