PROPS: 2 BLOCKS, COUCH, WINDOW SILL, WALL, OR PADS

1-Upward Bow
A) Hands on blocks two stations
B) Arms at the wall variations
C) Without the wall coming up and working shoulder, elbow, wrist towards and opening the chest without losing the legs

2-Drop Back
A) Drop back with pads at the wall...

In this video I give instruction for using the wall to help refine the leg foundation. This video is advanced and challenging.

Talk 5
Yoga Sutras Book 2, Sadhana
Sutras 2.20-2.27

Recommended Reading
1- Yoga, Discipline of Freedom by Barbara Stoller Miller
Pages 49-51
Review Part Two, “The Observer and the Phenomenal World”

2- Yoga Sutra Workbook, Certainty of Freedom by Vyaas Houston
Review Sutras 2.20-2.27

Talk 7
Yoga Sutras Book 1, Samadhi Pada
Sutras 1.33-1.34

Recommended Reading
1- Yoga, Discipline of Freedom by Barbara Stoller Miller
Pages 38-39
Read Part One, “Tranquility of Thought”

2- Yoga Sutra Workbook, Certainty of Freedom by Vyaas Houston
Review Sutras 1.33-1.34

Start building every pose by considering which of the three pelvic settings applies to the posture. It is a neutral pelvis, forward pelvis, or backward pelvis. Neutral pelvis postures include Samastithi, Utkatasana, Virabhadrasana A and B, Sirsasana, Baddha Konsana (upright position) and Padmasan...

This challenging and fun day is devoted to the foundations of back bending. You’ll work with Purvotanasana (Eastern Stretching Pose), Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose) as well some of the foundational back bends from second series including Shalabhasana (Locust Pose) Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) an...

Weekly Thoughts for February 25th

PROPS: AS NEEDED BY STUDENT TO MAINTAIN PRINCIPALS AND HAVE SUCCESS

On the last day of the course David walks Sarah Durney Hatcher through the entire Ashtanga Finishing Backbend Sequence as taught by Sri K Pattabhis Jois.

The sequence is:
A) 3 Urdhva Dhanurasanas. The last one you come up to s...

In this Short & Sweet Philosophy talk, David narrates the famous myth of how Ganga, the Goddess who became the Ganges River, came down to earth in service to human creativity. This talk includes the following themes:

-Importance of contemplating and manifesting the five elements of Earth, Water,...

Roll out your mat and join David for this Vinyasa Lab on Prasarita Padottonasana A. He teaches the "swoop move" and how to catch the hidden Uddiyana Bandha.

If you are experiencing back pain, this is a great short form practice to either help you warm up or a complete light and protective practice all on its own.
Class includes:
Vrkshasana holding chair for support
Forward Bend with chair
Plank to Downdog with chair
Surya Namaskara with blocks

Here are the backbends and exercises covered in Session 5 of David's video course, Finishing Backbends of Ashtanga Yoga.
1-Upward Bow
A) Using pads to lift heels and create deeper backbend

2-Drop Back
A) Using wall to understand and work on grounding legs
B) Place block between legs and dropping...

In this video I teach you how to further refine Pasasana. I give you ideas how to enhance stabilization of the legs and feet so that you can continue to explore the twist.

Day 15 (20 minutes)

Ex 1 - Samsthiti to Handstand
Ex 2 - Boat Posture to Handstand
Ex 3 - Chaturanga Dandasana Variations (4 Limb Staff Posture)

The final class of this course takes you through a 20 minute action packed routine consisting of 5 strength exercises. The exercises include an abs...

Video is from David's video course, Asana Skill Building.

In this talk, David uses Hindu stories to define and examine the 3 gunas. The word guna literally means “strand” or “fiber” and implies that, like strands of a rope, the gunas are woven together to form the objective universe. Philosophically, the theory of the gunas explains what this universe...

Short Form class that includes asanas from the 1st and 2nd series:
Surya A (3)
Surya B (3)
Navasana
Budjapidasana
Upa Vista Konasana A & B
Supta Padangusthasana
Pasasana
Krounchasana
Shalabhasana A & B
Dhanurasana
Ustrasana
Kapotasana A & B
Matseyasana
Bakasana
Urdhva Dhanurasana
Drop Back with w...

PROPS: AS NEEDED BY STUDENT TO MAINTAIN PRINCIPALS AND HAVE SUCCESS

On the last day of the course David walks Sarah Durney Hatcher through the entire Ashtanga Finishing Backbend Sequence as taught by Sri K Pattabhis Jois.

The sequence is:
A) 3 Urdhva Dhanurasanas. The last one you come up to s...

Surya Namaskara A (5), Surya Namaskara B (5), Padagushtasana, Pada Hastasana, Utthita Trikonasana, Parivrtta Trikonasana, Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana, Parivṛtta Pārśvakoṇāsana, Prasārita Pādottānāsana A, B, C, D, Pārśvottānāsana, Utthita Hasta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana, Ardha Baddha Padmottānāsana, Utkaṭāsana, ...