Ashtanga Inspiration

Four months ago, I began teaching a new led class at BTY. Instead of Intro to Ashtanga, I opted to call it Ashtanga Inspired Yoga. I wanted to get aways from using “Intro” in the name as I felt it would send the message that the class was only for beginners. I imagined my class would loosely follow the set ashtanga sequences but that on some weeks I might insert a little more creative sequencing to throw in a little intermediate series or possibly invite a pose or two from the advanced series.

After teaching mysore only for all these years, I was a little unsure how I was going to like teaching an hour long led class. I thrive on teaching in the mysore room and I love my students. But over the past few months, a core set of Ashtanga Inspired Yoga students return week after week. As I get to know these new students I draw inspiration from their practice, questions, and even the curiosity a few have expressed about a particular pose. In my own personal practice, I explore new ways of inhabiting a pose. I play around with ways to insert a pose from beyond the half-way mark of primary series into the first half of the sequence. I am inspired to have fun on my mat. For this, for my students (old and new), I am inspired. More than that, I am grateful.