This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to study Yoga with the man who. Discussion of how David thinks Ashtanga Yoga should be taught and

Transcription

1 ASHTANGA YOGA FOR THE REST OF YOUR Yoga Point with David Williams 4 Days, 5 moments July 2-5, 2015 Location: La Fontaineplein BX Woerden Price 249 euro for all 4 days This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to study Yoga with the man who brought Ashtanga out of India. Thursday- 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm Talk and practice. Discussion of how David thinks Ashtanga Yoga should be taught and practiced based on his 40+ years of uninterrupted daily practice and teaching. This class is the foundation for all students, and particularly teachers, who want a greater depth of understanding of the "big picture" of the most beneficial way to practice and teach Ashtanga Yoga. 1st series practice led by David. Friday- 5:00 pm- 7:30 pm Talk and practice. Continuation of 1st series in depth led by David with thorough explanations of every step. Saturday- 10:00 am- 12:00 pm 1st series completed with less interruption by David's commentary, except for postures not covered the day before.

2 Saturday- 4 pm- 7:00 pm History of Yoga, description and the history of Ashtanga Yoga, David's travels and adventures in Yoga, and his bringing Ashtanga Yoga to America and its eventual spread to the entire world. Introduction and practice of the Ashtanga yoga pranayama, as taught by Pattabhi Jois, led by David. Sunday- 10:00 am- 12:00 pm An introduction to 2nd series in a way that everyone at all levels can try and enjoy. 2nd session of the Ashtanga yoga pranayama led by David. Full workshop 249 euros For those who can't come to the entire workshop, David really encourages everyone to attend the Thursday class. Attend Thursday's class for 60 euros and all other classes are 60 euros.

3 About David David Williams has been practicing Yoga daily, without interruption, since In 1972, David met K. P. Manju, the son of K. Pattabhi Jois, and saw Manju demonstrate the Ashtanga Yoga 1st series. This was at Dr. Swami Gitananda's Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry, South India, where David received his 6 month Yoga teachers training course certification. In 1973, David began studying Ashtanga Yoga with K. Pattabhi Jois at his home in Mysore, India, and became the first non-indian to be taught the complete Ashtanga Yoga system of asanas and pranayama directly from Jois. David introduced K. Pattabhi Jois and Manju to America and the western world when he, along with Nancy Gilgoff, organized and sponsored their first visit to Encinitas, California, in David is responsible for teaching the Ashtanga Yoga system to many of today's leading teachers and practitioners, including David Swenson, Doug Swenson, Danny Paradise, Cliff Barber, Baptiste Marceau, Bryan Kest, Jonny Kest, Tracy Rich, Chuck Miller, and Maty Ezraty. David is 65 years old. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has lived on the island of Maui, Hawaii, since l976, and teaches private individual or group classes by appointment.

4 What others are saying about his last workshop: Hi David, Just thought I'd write to you while the going is good. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and am very happy that I had the experience of sharing yoga with you. For many years now, I have been questioning the way that Ashtanga has been taught and I too have been saddened by the injuries and bad name that Ashtanga has in the yoga community. I started yoga to find freedom in my life and then one day I looked around and realized that I was surrounded by a system that was rigid and full of doctrines and dogmas. To hear you, the 'legend of Ashtanga yoga', come out and say that, "if it hurts you are doing it wrong", that "it should feel wonderful", and that "the person who enjoys it the most today is the one most likely to practice tomorrow", was so refreshing and so important. You have inspired me to practice daily for the rest of my life, to love it, and to get real. Thanks. Aloha mate, Mark Thanks David for unshackling years and years of self-doubt that certain individuals along the rungs of the "Yoga hierarchy" have bestowed in me because I didn't and wouldn't agree with their dogmas and doctrines (I heard you well and clear Mark). It enabled me to completely change my daily practice and my way of teaching this very art of Yoga with a clear conscience and total freedom. Good on ya. George

5 Dear David, My epiphany... How could so many of us have it wrong? Could it be that we were ALL just taught wrong? We all see the form and the strength and have been taught to focus on the outer alignment. All of the workshops and teachers focus on advancing your postures, not your prana. We believe that the more advanced postures bring some kind of secret, and try to perfect the posture like we see it. We desire to understand, but keep searching in the wrong place, led by teachers who are doing the same thing. The search never ends because the information is never clear. After over 20 years of workshops, study and practice, I feel like I am also guilty of teaching wrong knowledge. It makes me cry to think that I may have hurt someone by my own ignorance. You not only have lit my candle, but blown my mind to realize that I made it too hard on myself and others. You have given me the missing puzzle pieces and my search is over. I only hope I can convey your message to others. Happy travels, Laura P.S. Jalandara Bandha was never a focus point for me, I never understood it. My neck has been stiff for a year, and it feels better already. Too many injuries later, I thank you! Hi David! Before it gets too far away, I want to say that you gave one of the best workshops I have ever been to. You were spot on and had so much to share. It made a huge impression on everyone including me. I am trying not to

6 think so much and seeing the real value of what you said about that. Don't worry just Ommm. Be present...somehow I really needed to hear that. Thank you form the bottom of my heart! It was so good to see you. I hope to meet again before too long. Much love to you. Aloha, Andrew

7 AN OPEN LETTER TO NETHERLANDS YOGA STUDENTS Greetings and Salutations from Maui! When I teach Yoga, I am always reminded that there are some major concepts about how Ashtanga Yoga is taught and practiced, based on my personal study, observation, and uninterrupted practice, that I feel are important to share with my classes. First, and foremost, I hope you can learn from me that in your practice, "If it hurts, you are doing it wrong." Through the years, I have observed that too many people are hurting themselves and hurting others. Yoga practice can be (and should be) pleasant from the beginning to the end. What is important is the mulabandha and deep breathing. With daily practice, it is inevitable that one will become more flexible. I have learned from my own practice and observation that pushing your current limitations to get into a position can result in injury, which results in one needing to rest the injury to recover so they can resume their practice. This entire sequence of events is not only unpleasant, it is contrary to my belief that through slow, steady daily practice, one can achieve greater flexibility by generating one's own internal heat to relax into positions, rather than being forced into a position. I have observed this slower, steadier method is not only healthier, but it allows one to develop greater flexibility of a more lasting nature, than the kind that is forced. Unfortunately, as many have found, pushing one's current limitations can result in having to severely curtail or limit activity during recovery. This cycle can lead to unpleasant associations with one's yoga practice, rather than the pleasant experiences I work to instill, and that I feel are

8 necessary for a lifelong practice In my workshop, I want to show each of you how you can do the Ashtanga Yoga series in a lifelong practice that is a totally pleasant experience. I suspect that when you first saw the practice, you said to yourself, "If I did this, it would be great for me!" You have observed the practice and you want to do it. The key is being able to continue practicing Yoga for the rest of your life. From over 40 years of observing thousands of people practicing Yoga, I have realized that those who continue are the ones who are able to figure out how to make it enjoyable. They look forward to their daily practice and nothing can keep them from finding the time to do it. It becomes one of the most pleasant parts of their day. The others, consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously, quit practicing. It is my goal to do everything I can to inspire you to establish your Yoga practice not just for the few days we are together, but for the rest of your life. Secondly, I hope to share with you my belief that the ultimate goal of Yoga is not to increase flexibility and strength. Increased flexibility and strength are simply the natural results and benefits of daily practice. While additional flexibility and strength are important and apparent benefits of Yoga, I believe the goals of Yoga practice are self-realization and keeping oneself balanced and healthy on a daily basis. Health is your greatest wealth. The body's DNA knows how to heal itself; all it needs is the energy. The energizing, rejuvenating Yoga practices can be the source of this energy. Lastly, I hope you will find that my workshop is for everyone at all levels. I am occasionally asked if someone is "good at Yoga." I quickly respond that the best Yogi is not the one who is most flexible, but the one who is most focused on what he or she is doing, the one most intensely

9 doing the mulabandha and deep breathing. It is with some sadness that I have observed people "competing with their Yoga practice." I have also observed others who are discouraged in their practice because they feel this competition and worry that they will never be able to do their practice with the flexibility and skill of others more advanced in the series. My goal is to convey the idea that the greatest Yogi is the one who enjoys his or her Yoga practice the most, not the one who can achieve the ultimate pretzel position. It is my belief, and I hope to convey to you, that in your practice of this moving meditation, what is really important, is what is invisible to the observer, what is within each of you. I believe in the Yoga. I believe that anyone who has the desire can do the Ashtanga practice, perhaps with personal modifications, in a way that is totally pleasant. For years, I have said, "If someone said to me, 'You have 15 minutes, one hour, etc., do something good for yourself. You can use barbells, bicycles, or whatever,' I would start doing the Ashtanga Yoga Salutations to the Sun and First Series." If someone can show me something better, I am ready to learn it. In my more than 40 years of searching, I have learned five or six systems of Yoga practice. For myself, I have not found a better physical, mental, and emotional fitness program than the Ashtanga Yoga system. I hope you will feel the same after our days together. I look forward to sharing my practice and experience with you. Yours in Yoga, David Williams