Ashtanga Yoga Library

This photo is from the led class that I taught last weekend at East Meets West Yoga Studio. EMW offers a daily Mysore program in a lovely space with a vibrant community. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by. More photos here.

Dec 6, 2012

{Local} Led Primary Series

Led primary series of Ashtanga yoga

Sunday, December 9, 2012

8:15am, arrive early

@Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala

206 Dartmouth Dr NE (Nob Hill)

More info & registration:
www.AshtangaYogaAlbuquerque.com

Dec 2, 2012

{Video} Guruji talks about the opening mantra

Happiness and true knowledge. Shri K. Pattabhi Jois discussing the opening mantra via Tom Sewell.

Nov 27, 2012

{Video} Hypertension and yoga from Urban Yogis

ABOUT: Can yoga lower blood pressure? Researchers at Long Island University are at work on this question, which could significantly affect the ways we approach cardiovascular disease and treatment.* Yoga instructors Eddie Stern and Blake Seidenshaw have teamed up with physical therapy professor Marshall Hagins to conduct a study on the effects of yoga on patients with hypertension. The participants note their own perceived results and the benefits of the practice, but will the science back them up?

URBAN YOGIS is a unique documentary series featuring stories on the transformative power of yoga and meditation. Beautifully shot, inspiring, and heartfelt - the series delves into the lives of cancer survivors, inner-city youth dealing with violence in their communities, recovering addicts, artists, youth in detention facilities, and more. Comedian Russell Brand, Grammy-nominated musician Moby, "yogi" businessman Russell Simmons, and author/doctor Deepak Chopra also share their stories and insights. Renowned yoga teacher Eddie Stern serves as our host and guide to the stories of these urban yogis.

Click here to watch more Urban Yogis videos from the Chopra Well at youtube.

Nov 24, 2012

{Local} Beginner Month

Monday, November 26 - Friday, December 21

TIME:  8:00 - 9:00 am

DAYS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

(Can add Friday or Sunday for missed classes)

More information and registration

Nov 17, 2012

2013 Sharath & Saraswathi US Tour

US Tour 2013
Greenwich, CT April 1-5, 7-12
Led primary, intermediate, pranayama
More information & registration

Charlottesville, Virginia April 5
Led Primary
More information & registration

New York, NY April 13
Led primary
More information & registration (scroll down)

Encinitas, CA April 19-24, 26-30
Led primary, intermediate, pranayama
More information & registration

Watch more videos from last year's tour

Nov 16, 2012

{Listen} NPR: Struggle for Smarts?

Americans tend to see struggle as a sign of low ability. Asian cultures see it as an opportunity...

Listen to the full segment here:

Or click here to listen/read at NPR:

Nov 10, 2012

{Archive} The Yoga Portfolio

The May 2007 Vanity Fair photo essay featuring Shri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji).

High quality image at Govinda Kai's flickr page here
Article at Vanity Fair here

{Local} ABQ Shala Fall Schedule 2012

CLASS SCHEDULE

Sunday
6:30am door opens
8:15 - 9:45am Mysore with Elise
(8:15am Led Primary Series with Elise replaces Mysore on 11/25, 12/9, 12/23, 1/6, 1/13, 1/20)
10am door closes

Monday - Thursday
6am door opens
6:30 - 9:45am Mysore with Elise
10am door closes

Friday
6am door opens
6:30 - 8:45am Mysore with Elise
9:00 am door closes

Closed Saturdays and full/new moon days.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Thu, Nov 22 Thanksgiving
6:30am door opens
7 - 8:45am Mysore with Elise
9am door closes

Fri, Nov 23
6:30am door opens
8am day after Thanksgiving Led Primary Series with Elise

Sun, Nov 25
6:30am door opens
8:15am Led Primary Series with Elise

More information: www.AshtangaYogaAlbuquerque.com
Frequently asked questions: http://aylibrary.blogspot.com/2012/04/ashtanga-yoga-mysore-faqs.html

Oct 22, 2012

Guy Donahaye ABQ - Bibliography

Source: Guy in ABQ, AAYS

Resources and references mentioned during Guy Donahaye's weekend workshop at the Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala October 19-21, 2012

GENERAL

Guy's Shala in NY: Ashtanga Yoga Shala NYC
A good place to practice and a website full of valuable information.

http://aysnyc.org/

Guy's blog "Mind Medicine: Ashtanga Yoga Darshana"
http://yogamindmedicine.blogspot.com/

Guy's book "GURUJI: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students"
http://bit.ly/RhagPj

Book extracts:
http://bit.ly/QCpfmU

Interviews:
http://bit.ly/OXgeGN

DAY 1: Fundamentals of Practice

Reading list at Guy's website:
http://ow.ly/eGhEQ

What is Yoga?

http://bit.ly/WEqaZ6

What is Ashtanga Yoga?

http://bit.ly/RRM7O0

Pranayama and mulabandha

http://bit.ly/TtDdvI

Breathing

http://bit.ly/VwropM

Practice guidelines
http://bit.ly/RlVPLC

DAY 2: Mind Medicine I

Ashtanga Yoga Mantram and translation
http://bit.ly/RlVIj3

Yoga Sutras & Hatha Yoga Pradipika

http://aylibrary.blogspot.com/p/resources.html

Why right leg first in padmasana

Diet and lifestyle

What is the Self?

Daily practice

Ego, vrttis, householders

http://bit.ly/RQIJTS

Ayurveda, doshas, recipes, and many more resources
http://www.ayurveda.com/online_resource/index.html

Ashtanga yoga history and lineage
http://bit.ly/Rapfc0

DAY 3: Mind Medicine II

3 gunas, Yoga Sutras, and more

http://bit.ly/UtOlsh

When to and not to practice

http://bit.ly/RL6UkY

Pain
http://bit.ly/MrZN4R

First you do asanas

http://bit.ly/TbI4j7

Mind control

http://bit.ly/PmoilT

Guruji teaching

http://bit.ly/X3WQcU

Mad attention

http://bit.ly/PN4gkt

Nadis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_%28yoga%29

Check back soon for more updates...

Oct 15, 2012

A letter from Sri.K. Pattabhi Jois to Yoga Journal, Nov. 1995

"I was disappointed to find that so many novice students have taken Ashtanga yoga and have turned it into a circus for their own fame and profit (Power Yoga, Jan/Feb 1995). The title 'Power Yoga' itself degrades the depth, purpose and method of the yoga system that I received from my guru, Sri. T. Krishnamacharya. Power is the property of God. It is not something to be collected for one's ego. Partial yoga methods out of line with their internal purpose can build up the 'six enemies' (desire, anger, greed, illusion, infatuation and envy) around the heart. The full ashtanga system practiced with devotion leads to freedom within one's heart. The Yoga Sutra II.28 confirms this 'Yogaanganusthanat asuddiksaye jnanadiptih avivekakhyateh', which means 'practicing all the aspects of yoga destroys the impurities so that the light of knowledge and discrimination shines'. It is unfortunate that students who have not yet matured in their own practice have changed the method and have cut out the essence of an ancient lineage to accommodate their own limitations.

The Ashtanga yoga system should never be confused with 'power yoga' or any whimsical creation which goes against the tradition of the many types of yoga shastras (scriptures). It would be a shame to lose the precious jewel of liberation in the mud of ignorant body building."

-K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore, South India