ashtanga (un)chained

Have you ever said no to rules?​​

This sequence was an experiment, continuously changing and re-adjusting, born during Covid. 

Self-isolating and self-practicing, I started to teach online my personal practice which was a combination of Ashtanga series. It was not a commercial strategy to find new attractive reasons to practice with me, but a need to be gentle to my body and Vata mind.

 

My intent was to be more gentle, but also a need to disrupt the strict and layered order of Ashtanga. The traditional approach lacks of compassion and understanding of the infinite combinations and changes of their psyches and bodies. By being strictly preparatory - "first this, after that" or "do it only this way" - this approach makes the practice mainly concerned on the form, on how we look from the outside, more than how we feel inside. Moreover, it perpetrates a mindset where we are not responsible for ourselves and doesn't teach how to listen and respect our mind.

It's not an enemy, if you learn how to talk to it.

 

I don't refuse the traditional approach, this experiment doesn't aim to be a substitute, but a compound practice to give another perspective, an alternative to soften the study of the self without leaving the Ashtanga system. 

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The vision​

Ashtanga (un)chained is a breath-focused primal vinyasa, inspired by Ashtanga Series. It combines the asanas of Ashtanga  Series, traditionally taught in a strict succession which takes years to access, or maybe never. Here, we play with them.

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Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the foundation of this sequence because it creates a deep awareness on the power of breath, a courageous attitude to work in discomfort to meet our emotions, the research of stillness and conscious transitioning.

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In ashtanga (un)chained we alternate yin and yang positions and sequences, and combine dynamic and static approach to some positions, inspired by Thai Yoga Massage fascia work.

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It's an intense sequence aiming to give more importance to the way we vibrate, instead of how we should be, look and obey. Ashtanga (un)chained is a more playful attitude towards the practice and a message to change the patriarchal system which stands behind every social construction, also spiritual ones. 

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It's contaminated by Thai Yoga Massage, traditional Hatha, and Dhrama Yoga.​

Please, come and join to give your contribution to the exploration!

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