Integrating Systems Thinking into Ashtanga Yoga Community Support

Integrating Systems Thinking into Ashtanga Yoga Community Support

How tailored support networks and practical interventions can not only enhance individual practice but also strengthen our collective journey towards well-being.

From fostering collaboration over competition to extending our reach beyond the studio, we explore innovative strategies that enrich our community interactions and extend the benefits of yoga to broader societal contexts.

From Violence to Vision: The Radical Potential of Ashtanga Yoga to Combat Systemic Oppresion

From Violence to Vision: The Radical Potential of Ashtanga Yoga to Combat Systemic Oppresion

Using Ashtanga Yoga to dismantle systemic oppression and promote healing. Reflections from my enriching experience in Birmingham, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee, alongside friends like Heather Sullivan and Cory Bryant. Explains the appeal of systems thinking after a life-altering hate crime.

Ashtanga Yoga can be a vehicle for inclusivity and empathy, challenging entrenched systems of oppression. Lets talk about it.

The Case for Functional Range Conditioning and Ashtanga Yoga

The Case for Functional Range Conditioning and Ashtanga Yoga

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Yoga Practice: Discover the Synergy of Ashtanga and Functional Range Conditioning (FRC)! Dive into our enlightening article where Michael Joel Hall reveals how the fusion of traditional Ashtanga Yoga with the groundbreaking principles of FRC can transform your practice. Experience enhanced flexibility, strength, and joint health like never before. Get ready to challenge your perceptions and elevate your yoga routine to new heights. Click to explore how this innovative integration can revolutionize your approach to wellness and movement. 🧘‍♂️

Echoes from the Forest: Insights for a Thriving Mysore Community

Echoes from the Forest: Insights for a Thriving Mysore Community

Today’s post intertwines the wisdom of my mentor, Kristen Krash, with my work as a mysore style Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Kristen, an inspiring figure in both my life and in her groundbreaking work regenerating a cloud forest in Ecuador, offers profound insights into the interconnectedness of all things.  Kristen’s article “Why those big-tree planting projects fail. And why ours is succeeding”  is a story of resilience, regeneration, and the intricate tapestry of community building— all in a forest environ. The gist of it is that it takes more than a bunch…

Embracing the Chaos Muppet Within: The Art of Teaching Ashtanga Yoga

Embracing the Chaos Muppet Within: The Art of Teaching Ashtanga Yoga

Are you a Chaos Muppet or an Order Muppet? Explore the challenges and joys of being a ‘chaos Muppet’ Ashtanga Yoga teacher. I discuss finding a balance between the structured discipline of Ashtanga and a spontaneous, adaptable teaching style. The piece highlights the importance of being true to oneself in teaching and the advantages of blending structured methods with creative freedom. This approach fosters an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.

Dismantling Dogma in Ashtanga Yoga By Examining Tradition:  Embracing Evolution and Individual Paths

Dismantling Dogma in Ashtanga Yoga By Examining Tradition: Embracing Evolution and Individual Paths

This article explores the nuanced meanings of “traditional” in Ashtanga Yoga. It critically examines how this term, often associated with rigidity, contradicts the dynamic nature of Ashtanga as a living tradition. The article addresses the balance between traditional and modern approaches in practice rooms and how rigid interpretations can stifle the evolution of the practice. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing Ashtanga Yoga as adaptable and inclusive, advocating for a practice that respects lineage while acknowledging its continual evolution.

The Dharma Talk I Couldn’t Give: Conscious Consumerism

The Dharma Talk I Couldn’t Give: Conscious Consumerism

Confronting the farce of conscious consumerism, this week’s dharma talk became a journey into stark reality. As an Ashtanga Yoga teacher, I grappled with the hypocrisy of our consumption patterns. From the Washington Post’s strike to Kristen Krash’s radical shift in Ecuador, these contrasting scenarios reveal the deep chasm between minor lifestyle changes and true liberation from consumerism. Acknowledging Carl Jung’s wisdom, we explore the unavoidable pain inherent in our societal system. This article delves into making conscious, albeit limited, choices while fostering compassion for our constraints. It’s a candid exploration of the struggle to find balance in an imperfect world