Workshop: Ashtanga Yoga with Andrew Eppler (13. - 15. Okt.)

We feel very happy to welcome Andrew Eppler back in Ganesha! Please join his very inspiring workshops!

Schedule:

Friday

+ 18:30 - 21:00 - Introduction to Ashtanga, Exploring the Basic Elements

Saturday

+ 10:00 - 12:30 - Introduction to the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga

+ 12:45 - 14:15 - Mudra/ Bandha and Breath

Sunday

+ 10:00 - 12:30 - Introduction to the Intermediate Series of Ashtanga Yoga

+ 12:45 - 14:30 - Aṣṭāṅga Darśana

Costs: 180€ for the whole Workshop or 45€ per session

Andrew Eppler has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga for over 3 decades. Andrew is the director of Ashtanga Yoga Studio, the producer of Mysore Yoga Traditions film and organizer of Mysore Yoga Conference. Andrew teaches internationally and also runs an ongoing online yoga training with the help of the Sanskrit community in Mysore India.

Yoga has been a lifelong journey for Andrew. He has grown up with the practice and witnessed its evolution into world culture first hand. Andrew has spent many years studying the philosophy of the Nathamuni Sampradaya tradition that Sri Krishnamacharya belonged to. With the help and support of senior Sanskrit professors in Mysore Andrew has developed an approach to teaching physical postures that fits the modern paradigm. While staying grounded in traditional ideas about philosophy and the sequences of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, Andrew believes that there is inevitable evolution in yoga practice and uses a "global fusion" of techniques. He is constantly researching different methods, comparing techniques from yoga communities around the world as he travels, and refining them to create the best approach possible in his own teaching. Andrew sees yoga as an evolutionary process and strives to help each yoga student fall in love with the practice of yoga in a way that allows them to practice for their whole life and create their own evolving, healing practice that can be both a solitary practice and shared with other practitioners in a gracious, respectful way.

www.ashtangayogastudio.com

Friday 18:30 - 21:00 - Introduction to Ashtanga, Exploring the Basic Elements

The workshop will begin with the fundamental elements of Ashtanga Yoga including breath and bandha. Surya Namaskar, Standing Postures, and Vinyasa technique will be discussed in detail. We will talk about the history of this style of yoga and how it has evolved into Western culture. Andrew sometimes uses magic and illusion to illustrate points about yoga philosophy and the nature of human perception. In his view Yoga is an exploration and cultivation of one’s physical wellbeing, personal awareness, and internal environment which helps us all to replace inappropriate patterns with more appropriate ones. This class is for everyone who has an interest in Ashtanga Yoga regardless of their fitness level or how long they have been practicing.

Andrew will begin his workshop by saying a few words about his approach to the practice:

• Breath and Timing
• Bandha and its role in asana practice
• Essence of Vinyasa - Historical Perspective and Practical application
• Fundamentals of therapeutic work
• Working around injuries
• Developing a sustainable, lifelong, pain free and joyful practice
• Guidelines for communication during adjustment of postures
• How to avoid injuries

Saturday 10:00 - 12:30 - Introduction Primary Series

This will be a led Primary Series class with each breath called out. We will take time to focus on the more challenging postures and explore ideas for how to safely approach them. One goal of this class is to give students more options for how to modify postures. All approaches will be explained in a way that keeps the breath and bandhas stable and uninterrupted. Each of us have different challenges in the practice. The aim of this workshop it to teach the Ashtanga sequences in a way that empowers students in their own sacred, healing, evolving, life long yoga practice.

Saturday 12:45 - 14:15 - Mudra/ Bandha and Breath

After asana practice we will move on to more subtle practices. The Bandhas we use in Ashtanga Yoga are derived from Mudra practices. We will explore the subject of Mudra and the specific exercises that correspond to the Bandhas. Mudra is a vast branch of yoga and involves a very diverse set of practices. Through these techniques students can gain a much better understanding of what the bandhas do and the role they play with breath. These practices lay a foundation for Asana and they are essential for practicing Pranayama.

Bandhas explained in detail with corresponding Mudra practice:

• The Heart of the Sun and significance of Pingala Nadi
• Preparation for Pranayama
• Importance of Pratyahara
• Koshas
• Vayus
• Chakras
• Nadis

Sunday 10:00 - 12:30 - Introduction to 2nd Series Ashtanga Yoga

This will be a gentle tour of 2nd series that is appropriate for everyone. We will discuss how to transition into 2nd series in daily practice and practical ideas for determining when it is appropriate to do so. Intermediate postures can help to create a more balanced practice and take us through the limitations that hold us back in Primary Series. The aim of this class is to demystify the 2nd series and to inspire students to take their practices further.

Sunday 12:45 - 14:30 - Aṣṭāṅga Darśana

In our final session Andrew will speak on Yoga Philosophy. Drawing from years of experience with the Sanskrit Scholars of Mysore, he will express his views on what yoga means and how to define “traditional practice.” We will discuss the relationship between the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali Sutras and how the tieless teachings of yoga apply to our modern paradigm. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers and sharing of experience after the lecture.

• Theoretical Foundations of Yoga
• Fundamental purpose of Yoga Practice
• Freedom and Personal Evolution
• Pitfalls along the path
• Karma Yoga
• Buddhi Yoga
• Bhakti Yoga
• Raja Yoga