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| Hi y'all...Back from a brief visit to Boston where I managed to get to a class. The hotel was out in the middle of nowhere, so it was only one class - but worth it.
Sucked it up, drew upon some well of courage I didn't even know I had, and dove headfirst into the beginning ashtanga class. Loved it! Nearly died a couple of times, but loved it. Even the teacher commented that it was ridiculously hot - the hottest day Boston had seen this summer combined with being on the third floor of the building with windows facing the sun, and humidity somewhere around 70%.
This is definitely not a class for someone who has never practiced yoga at all before. I can absolutely and confidently say that now based on experience and not just common sense. I would have had no clue what the instructor was talking about without a prior practice. Got about three words of the opening chant out....
Pushed myself a little bit and found I could do much more than I thought I could. Admittedly, though, some of the jump-throughs became crawl-throughs. 
But I liked the adjustments - definitely more aggressive than I'm used to - but worthwhile. I got twisted further than I thought I could in Marichyasana (don't remember A,B,C,or D). Sometimes that extra push is all you need to see what you can do. 
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| Oh, yeah, and the Guiness I had afterwards was the best I've ever had.  |
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| You had a Bikram-fied ashtanga class followed by a fine Guiness in America's most Irish town--doesn't get much better than that does it? |
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| Yeah, pretty tough to top, but it'll be nice to be home and back to my regular Wednesday teacher. She's back this week from a month-long Sivananda teacher training in Quebec with a great new back o' tricks, I'm sure. |
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| I have the Sivananda yoga book and it's a great reference--have to try that some day--course at the back of the book is all that salt water sinus sucking stuff--don't wanna do that. |
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| It always comes back to the neti pot, doesn't it? |
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| Unforunately yes--just trying to get a rise outta Kathy Ann and Stephan. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
  
Location: A Blue State | Hey, that's cool, but third floor in the sun sounds awful.
I did a class in a similar setting in Houston recently, and
all that sun is murder. Was this "Back Bay Yoga" in Boston?
Just wondering, since I've heard of the place and it sounded
like the one you described. BTW, I found a great Ashtanga
teacher in Houston (not at the place with the sun),
www.tejasyoga.com ... his name is Yannis.
I'm going to ask David Williams about the "beginners and
Ashtanga" question when I do his workshop. Seems to me
that beginners can fit into an Ashtanga class if it's taught
traditionally...you know, giving people a few basic poses
to start on in a Mysore (self-paced) format. I've seen plenty
of beginners in other Ashtanga classes, with lots of instruction
and skipped poses... BUT if you are doing the full flow, it's
a lot for most beginners to absorb.
One thing that I've noticed -- a difference between Ashtanga
and Bikram -- is that a Bikram person usually doesn't have
the upper body strength that Ashtanga's vinyasas require.
At the same time (and I know someone will jump on me for
this...), I don't think that Ashtanga prepares you for back
work the way that Bikram does. I know people who
cross-train between the two styles...Ashtanga for arms and
shoulders, Bikram for legs and back. If you want it all in
one practice, Yoga Challenge captures both aspects, especially
at levels 2, 3, 4, and higher. |
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| Bay Guy, which David Williams workshop are you doing? I'm going to the Ft Lauderdale in Nov. |
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| Lora,
I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself! I just got back from vacation last night - I found a studio 5 mins from my house (which was a good thing b/c class was at 730am) and went to several Ashtanga classes there... the nice part? They turned the air on ... ahhhhhhhh.... The hard part was that it was a 60 minute modified primary class... jeez... it's hard enough on my body to do modified primary for 1-1/2 hrs at 9 am... cramming that into 60 mins at 730 was a little tough...
I'm looking forward to my usual class on Saturday to stretch me out from 2 weeks in the 70 dgree weather and 2 days in the car!
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Well, Gruvemom, I'll do the workshop in during the
several weeks and post an opinion afterward. I'm hoping it will
be good, and from what others who've seen him have
told me, it will. The studio hosting it is very low key, no
poseurs, so it should be all pure yoga.
I just did a workshop with a major Iyengar teacher, so
my head is sort of off in Iyengarland these days.
I've done 20 minutes in headstand/variations and another
20 in shoulderstand/variations as part of my practice everyday
since returning. With luck, I'll be ready to think Ashtanga
again by the time I do the Williams workshop. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
 
| Bad Guy - which teacher? Curious Iyengi here... |
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| Bay Guy, can't wait for your "review"! I'm still intending to do the Ft Lauderdale workshop in Nov., though I haven't signed up yet. |
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First Class
