Coming up at AYC

Several things to report today - for this week as well as events coming up over the next few months.  As always, check the calendar at right before attending class, and let me know if you have any questions!

This week - December 10-15:

Monday: Ashtanga Led 1/2 Primary at Yoga Garden 6-7:15pm
Tuesday: Mysore at AYC 6-9:30am
Wednesday: No Classes
Thursday: New Moon on the Pond at AYC 6-7:30pm
Friday: Mysore at AYC 11:30am-1:30pm
Saturday: Mysore at AYC 9-11am

Christmas/New Years:

Christmas Eve Ashtanga Led 1/2 Primary at Yoga Garden CANCELLED
Christmas Day Mysore at AYC CANCELLED
New Years Eve Ashtanga Led 1/2 Primary at Yoga Garden CANCELLED
New Years Day Mysore at AYC CANCELLED

Upcoming Workshops in the New Year:

John Bultman Weekend Workshop Jan 5/6, 2013
There are only a few spots left for this workshop! It will be a great weekend, and opportunity to learn from an authorized Ashtanga teacher.  This workshop would make a great gift as well!

•    Saturday, January 5, 7-10am at AYC*: Mysore followed by Chanting 10:10-10:30; $25
•    Saturday, January 5, 1-3pm at Yoga Garden** in Apex: “Asanas of Antiquity” talk and short practice; $15
•    Sunday, January 6, 7-10am at AYC*: Mysore followed by Chanting 10:10-10:30; $25
•    Sunday, January 6, 1-3pm at Yoga Garden** in Apex: Led Primary Series; $25

$90 for the whole weekend.  Contact me soon to reserve a space inghamsk@gmail.com or 919-880-9409

Ashtanga Yoga: From the Beginning - a 4-Week course with Stacy Ingham
Tuesdays, 6-8pm, January 22-February 12, 2013 at Yoga Garden

Ashtanga yoga is a traditional vinyasa style practice with its modern roots in Mysore, India. This is a dynamic practice designed to purify the body and calm the mind by combining a set sequence of poses with breath and movement (vinyasa).  

Over the course of 4 weeks, we’ll discuss the background and basics of the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga system, with an eye toward building a foundation for a strong, consistent personal practice. The discussion sessions will include history and terminology, as well as key components of the practice (eight limbs, breathing techniques, drishti, etc), and the physical practice will include alignment instruction, vinyasa count and individual modifications as needed. Home practice guides will also be provided for students to begin practicing at home between sessions. Suitable for complete beginners to yoga, or those with some experience.

• Week 1: History and terminology (short discussion and handout), Ujayii breathing technique, Sun Salutation A
• Week 2: Discussion/review of previous week, Sun Salutations A&B, and a few Standing poses, Bandhas
• Week 3: Discussion/Review of previous weeks, Sun Salutations A&B, Standing poses and first few seated poses in Primary Series
• Week 4: Discussion/Review of previous weeks, Introduction to Mysore style practice, closing sequence postures, Q&A

$100 for the 4-week Series

Sign up at www.yogagardennc.com 

Weekend Workshop with Michelle Dorer March 22-24, 2013
AYC is excited to host Michelle Dorer, Owner of Ashtanga Yoga Center Outer Banks, NC!  The weekend will include Guided and Mysore style classes, as well as discussions, and lots of wonderful insights into this traditional practice!  More details to come...I'll keep you posted!

AYC Hosting John Bultman Jan 5/6

Yes, that's right folks!  Ashtanga Yoga of Cary is hosting its first workshop!  I'm so excited that John has agreed to come and share some of his insights with us.  I hope you can make it!  Details below- contact me directly to reserve a space: Stacy Ingham

Ashtanga Yoga of Cary Presents:

A Weekend workshop with John Bultman

January 5-6, 2013

·      

• ·         Saturday, January 5, 7-10am at AYC*: Mysore followed by Chanting 10:10-10:30; $25
• ·         Saturday, January 5, 1-3pm at Yoga Garden** in Apex: “Asanas of Antiquity” talk and short practice; $15
• ·         Sunday, January 6, 7-10am at AYC*: Mysore followed by Chanting 10:10-10:30; $25
• ·         Sunday, January 6, 1-3pm at Yoga Garden** in Apex: Led Primary Series; $25

Early Bird Special: $75 for the entire workshop if paid by December 1. After December 1, $90 for entire workshop

 John Bultman is a KPJAYI authorized Level 2 teacher and head of the UVa Contemplative Sciences Center's Mysore Ashtanga Initiative. John grew up in a spiritual family and has studied and practiced science, dharma, music, and art his whole life. He has previously been a sponsored skateboarder, a touring musician/songwriter, a professional Geologist, and Geology instructor. He has studied with several great teachers including: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, R. Sharath Jois, John Campbell, Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, Dr. Jayashree, Narasimhan, and others. He strives to practice and teach yoga and as it was graciously taught to him so that he and others may find lasting happiness.

*Ashtanga Yoga of Cary – 207 Joseph Pond Lane, Cary, NC 27519  ashtangayogaofcary.blogspot.com

**Yoga Garden - 101 East Chatham Street,  Apex, NC 27502 www.yogagardennc.com

 

Ok...I give up...for today

Practice today was short...like they have been frequently lately.  Last week, with my studio doors being installed, and various other things that came up, there were several days where my practice was short, or non-existent...oh well.  This week it has been an energy problem.  Probably I have overcommitted myself - which is typical for me - and my energy for practice is sapped...oh well.  I know my energy and enthusiasm will come back to me, and I'm looking forward to my mat time tomorrow to see if it is back.

David Swenson says we should think of our practice in terms of decades.  I took my first class in 1998, so that make only 14 years.  Definitely my practice has changed, become more...well...more.  But I'm not one of those Ashtangis who can say I've practiced 6-days a week for 14 years.  For me it's always been a tricky balance.  During those 14 years, I've had a baby, moved, and settled in deeply to domestic life as a homemaker.  So there have been many times when someone else's needs came first - even ahead of (Shocker!) my yoga practice.  Of course there were times when that was frustrating - ok, more than frustrating...Oh well.  I've still managed to work my way through all of Primary Series and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga, and some of Advanced A with the help of many wonderful teachers, and diligent, patient practice.  I've been fortunate enough to study with Matthew Sweeney and learn some of his complementary sequences, as well as balance out my physical practice with meditation. 

My kids are older now, and have their own interests, and I can spend more time in my yoga studio.  I know soon I'll miss  them needing me, and I'll have all the time in the world for yoga - decades more.  So knowing it will all balance out in the long term is what helps me stay in balance now...its still tricky, but it's enough to come to my mat each day and see what happens.

Namaste

Ashtoberfest

Well, the 1st Annual Ashtoberfest was truly great!  Nothing like spending the weekend in a beautiful setting in Chatham County with yoga friends, talking about everything yoga!!  Thanks so much to Skip and Mary Ann for hosting, and for the teachers who came down to share their unique views on the Ashtanga practice: Bobbi Misiti, Michelle Dorer, and John Bultman.  I can't wait for Ashtoberfest II.

Bobbi is a student of Nancy Gilgoff, who went to study Ashtanga yoga with Pattabhi Jois along with David Williams in the 70's, and she learned the sequence from Jois differently from other students. She was sick when she arrived in Mysore, and Jois litterally carried her through her practice until she was strong enough to do it herself.  Nancy has passed on this approach to teaching the practice to Bobbi, and Bobbi passes it along to her students.  Bobbi talked with us about balancing out your practice - finding the middle ground between working hard and easing off - both on and off the mat.

Michelle Dorer is a student of Tim Miller, who studied with Jois and was the first American to be certified by him.  Michelle owns Ashtanga Yoga Center in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  She is deeply dedicated to the practice and traditions, and I'm hoping to have her come again soon for a longer visit...

John Bultman has just returned from Mysore, India and teaching alongside Sharath (Jois's grandson).  He is newly authorized, and is heading up the Ashtanga Mysore program at University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.  John shared some of his experiences with us last weekend, and I'm also hoping he'll come for a longer visit to the Triangle soon!

So between the three of them, and all the dedicated and knowledgeable Ashtangis in attendance last weekend, there was a lot of inspiration to be had!  I personally came away with renewed dedication to my practice, and a sense of balance.  There were a few of us there that have started or finished learning the third series of the Ashtanga system, and it was really nice to talk about some of the challenges and highlights we've all encountered.  I have started the series 3 times, and it is a difficult practice!!  It was good to see that others agree!  I've come away from the weekend with a new plan...practice diligently, building a solid foundation for my third series practice, including my teacher, Matthew Sweeney's sequences - Moon, Lion and Bound.  But that's just the physical practice...there's so much more to yoga than jumping around on the mat.  That's the beginning, of course, but as my physical practice matures, I find myself drawn deeper and deeper into the subtle practices of yoga - meditation, devotion, study of yogic texts and karma yoga.

My home studio is under construction this week, so I've had to be creative with where to hold classes, and you can see that my cat, Moby has put himself squarely in the center of the action!  The work should be done soon, and classes will be in their usual place starting this evening.  Thank goodness my neighbor is also a yogi, and has a studio in her home - how convenient it that!  Her space is really cool, and she recently added a yoga wall!  I'll be encouraging her to hold a workshop soon, and will keep you posted on that as well...That's all for now...

Namaste

Here's a great picture of my friend Skip Doty with the fabulous Beryl Bender Birch.  The first yoga class I took was based on her book, Power Yoga.  I fell in love with the Ashtanga practice in that class, and never looked back!  Thanks for sharing this photo, Skip!

I've been making a few changes to the blog - hopefully it is more informative and a little easier to find what you need...be sure to check it out and share it with others!

This has been a great week at AYC so far, and ASHTOBERFEST is this weekend!!  I'll be there for as much of it as I can manage, including the Saturday morning Mysore session with John Bultman from 8-10am.  So this Saturday's Mysore here at AYC is cancelled, but please join me at Skip and Mary Ann's place if you can!  Here is the link to the flyer for the event, with contact info for directions:  http://www.befityoga.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ashtoberfest-2012-pdf.pdf
Skip and Mary Ann have a great place out in the woods in Chatham County, with a beautiful yoga studio.  They are hosting three teachers over the weekend for lots of yoga, discussion, food and friendship.  Check out the flyer for times, and contact Skip for directions at jpskipdoty@aol.com or 919-663-3687.

I'll be subbing for Brittney at Yoga Garden on Friday mornings through the end of October - which means only two Fridays left (where did the time go??).  Join me this Friday or next at 9:30 at Yoga Garden: www.yogagardennc.com

The next full moon is Monday, October 29 - Join me for Moon at the Garden on Monday, October 29, 6-7:15pm in place of my regular Monday evening Ashtanga class.  The Moon Sequence was developed by Matthew Sweeney as a complement to the Ashtanga Primary Series. It is appropriate to do this practice on New Moon, and Full Moon days, as well as those days when your energy is flagging. This series shifts the focus of practice from upper body to lower body and core, giving the shoulders and wrists a break, and going deep into the hips and sacrum with grounding energy and innovative backbends. The closing sequence is restorative and lovely, resetting the body for what lies ahead.  www.yogagardennc.com

Namaste

Stacy