Overview

The full immersion will take place at Yoga Shala of San Antonio.

September 2020 Dates To be Announced

The Ashtanga program is open to students who are serious about learning the discipline of Ashtanga Yoga, and who have been practicing yoga consistently for a minimum of six months. .

Why yoga? Or better, what for? To be able to sustain a practice through controversy, sickness, health and loss, we have to be willing to walk the path to understand the deep benefits of the practice and become the master of your own self.
Why Yoga Shala? We believe in the tradition of passing down true, deeply rooted knowledge and experience directly form the teachers that created the lineage (Parampara). You'll experience and become a part of a community of dedicated loving teachers and practitioners. The support of a community is very important during this journey.

Get more than the equivalent of YA 200 hrs. The intention is to provide the students with an education, not with a certification. Only R. Sharath Jois & the Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India, can grant you an official certification or authorization to teach Ashtanga Yoga. It is a prerequisite to have studied with an authorized teacher in order to be accepted at the KPJAYI to study with Sharath Jois. We want to inspire our students to maybe someday make the journey to India.

The course is designed to give participants an in depth experience of the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by K. Pattabhi Jois. With consistent and dedicated practice, the practitioner develops concentration, strength, flexibility and stamina resulting in a clear mind, open heart and strong but light body. There are two basic methods for transmitting this teaching. One is the “Mysore style” method in which students in the class work independently at their own level of proficiency with hands on assistance from one or more teachers. The second method of teaching involves guiding the students through the practice by counting the vinyasa in the traditional Sanskrit. In this course we will have an opportunity to experience these two types of teaching.

Participants are expected to take part in ongoing classes at the studio for their personal practice, a minimum of 3 classes a week is required.

Immersion Hours

Saturdays 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (except holidays) and Evening Sessions TBD

Sample Schedule

8-10:00 am Simple Pranayama, Philosophy & Mythology Study
10-11:30 Led Primary Series
11:30-12:00 Break
12:00-1:00 Yoga sutras & Chanting
1- 3:00 pm Asana study (anatomy, benefits, Sanskrit vinyasa count, adjustments)
Expect surprise projects and homework

Schedule may change

Faculty

Ana Hollis Lead Teacher, Authorized Level 1 by Sharath Jois Yoga Centre Asana, Sanskrit counting and Philosophy
Hetal Nayak, MD Anatomy, physiology, nutrition, chanting and philosophy
Paulina Zamudio
Lila Prats
Yoga Shala Staff

Fees

TBD. To secure your spot a $500.00 deposit is required and monthly payments can be arranged. The full amount must be received 1 month prior to the completion of the course.
*All books, classes and materials are included.

Required Literature

Yoga Mala by Pattahbi Jois
Yoga Sutras by Swami Satchidandanda
Bhagavad Gita
Yoga Anatomy

Yoga Philosophy

Pattabhi Jois says that “Ashtanga Yoga is Patanjali Yoga.” This part of the course will explore the Yoga Sutras as the philosophical basis of the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. We will examine basic questions like “What is the purpose of yoga?” and “How can we use the technology of yoga to achieve the state of yoga?”

Pranayama and Mantra

This part of the course will explore pranayama as the connecting link between the external and internal practice of yoga. Just as asana is the foundation for pranayama, pranayama is the foundation for working with sound (mantra), which prepares the mind for meditation. We will learn basic techniques of pranayama, and explore sound through mantras, slokas, and bhajans.

Asana

In depth study of all the postures of the Ashtanga Primary Series with their Sanskrit names and count, adjustments and benefits.

Adjustments

We will guide you through the basis of the use of safe and gentle hands on adjustments. Learn how to observe the body of the student and make individual appropriate anatomically safe adjustments.

Sanskrit

Memorization of the full Vinyasa count and the asana names. Mantras and chanting.

Nutrition

Nutrition is an important part of this lifestyle change and we'll provide the tools needed to fuel your practice while nourishing the body.

Yoga Sutra 1-32 "Tat pratishedha artham eka tattva abhyasah" The practice of concentration on a single subject or the use of one method, is the best way to prevent the obstacles to become the master of your own self.

Life is not easy but life is much easier after yoga practice" -David Swenson