Lauren’s Ashtanga Yoga Blog
5 Ashtanga Yoga Myths We Should Let Go Of
In this post, I’ll address five common myths surrounding Ashtanga yoga, explain why they no longer serve us, and why it’s time to let them go.
Uttitha Trikonasana Ashtanga Yoga Standing Sequence
Learn how to practice this foundational asana from the Ashtanga Yoga Standing Sequence
How to practice Setu Bandhasana from the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series
How to practice Setu Bandhasana from the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series
Why do we practice challenging asanas in Ashtanga Yoga?
Have you ever wondered why we tie ourselves into knots physically and metaphorically on our yoga mats during our Ashtanga yoga practice? (Hint it's not so we can increase our social media following)
Why having a yoga community is important for your yoga practice
These days life changes all the time. Jobs are often temporary, and working from home can be isolating. We may live separated from our family and close friends and it’s not unusual to find oneself in a completely new city with very few social connections. All of these things mean we’re lonelier than ever and as we get older it can be harder to meet people we truly connect with.
Conversation with Yogis Podcast
Over the summer I had the privilege of being invited to guest on Ashley Ahrens and Melissa Szpesi’s podcast, Conversations with Yogis. Listen to the full episode here
Foundations - How to create a strong and stable yoga practice
Find out how you can use your foundation to master tricky asanas (yoga postures) and create a strong and stable practice
How to do Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
Padmasana is the most iconic of yoga asanas. It’s often synonymous with yoga and meditation.
When practiced safely padmasana can open the hips, stretch and strengthen the knee and ankle. It improves posture by creating strength and stability in the spine. It also tones the abdominal area which is said to improve digestion and alleviate menstrual cramps.
Improve your Headstand - Take your yoga practice upside down
Headstand is one of those asanas that takes time to master. It requires a certain amount of core strength as well as strong and flexible shoulders. Inversions are reversing our relationship to gravity, so for that reason, we also have balance and fear to contend with.
In this post, I look at the benefits of inversions, including the so-called “King” of asanas, and provide you with some tips and drills to help you take your practice upside down.
Knee pain and the Ashtanga yoga primary series - Practice with insight and avoid injury
Why is knee pain so common in the Ashtanga Yoga primary series and what steps can we take to avoid injuring our knees.
Guest Blog - Tom Norrington Davies - The Rough Guide to… Practicing on holiday!
This is a guest blog from Tom Norrington Davies that looks at maintaining your practice when you travel. You can find Tom teaching with me on weekday evenings at Astanga Yoga London and cooking/teaching on retreats in the UK and Europe!
Ashtanga Yoga and Trauma-Informed Care
Ashtanga yoga has been a profoundly healing practice for me. Over the last 15 years, my daily practice, and the community I’m part of, have been a constant source of support. I can’t imagine my life without it. That said, I understand this practice is not for everyone, nor was it designed as a healing modality for the effects of trauma. That’s why it’s wonderful there are other options available. Trauma-sensitive yoga is a branch of yoga that’s designed specifically to help people (re) connect with their body and sense of self in the aftermath of trauma.
Understanding the Drishti (gaze point) in Ashtanga Yoga and using it to cultivate inner wisdom
Drishti is a Sanskrit word that can be translated as focused gaze. It’s a term you may be familiar with, and one that would have been introduced during your first Mysore Ashtanga class as one of the three pillars (tristhana) of the Ashtanga yoga method.
Prana and Apana – Harnessing the energies of expansion and grounding in your asana practice
Prana is vital energy or life force. According to Yoga and Ayurvedic philosophy, Maha Prana, the vital energy, is divided into 5 parts known as the panca vayu. Those of you familiar with the Ashtanga count will know panca as the 5th vinyasa of Surya Namaskar (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
4 techniques to stay grounded and reduce stress in times of change
Periods of change are often associated with increased stress and anxiety. We get used to things being one way and when that changes it can leave us feeling uncertain or ungrounded. This blog looks at 4 techniques you can use to stay grounded and stress-free during times of change or uncertainty.
What the Bhagavad Gita has to teach us about our relationships
How we interact with the world and how we treat others is an integral part of our yoga practice. This sloka from the Gita provides us guidance to ensure we don't allow our unconscious biases to affect our decision making and treatment of others.
5 Ways to Kick-Start Your Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Keep it Going All Year
Has your yoga practice fallen by the wayside? Are you wanting to start back up but struggling to find the motivation to get on your mat? Read on to kick-start your yoga practice and more importantly keep it going
Why Ashtanga Yoga is more than a workout
Have you ever found yourself wondering how the physical practice of Ashtanga yoga or any yoga asana practice connects with the philosophy of yoga? In this post, I explore some definitions of yoga we can use the foundation of the ashtanga practice (tristhana) to overcome obstacles to practising yoga.
Top tips to bring comfort and ease to your Nāvāsana
Nāvāsana, or the boat pose, is possibly the most unpopular āsana in the primary series. This post aims to shed some light on nāvāsana, and why it’s important so that you can shift your perspective, learn to appreciate and maybe even enjoy nāvāsana.
Landing Bakasana B - Ashtanga Yoga - Intermediate Series
Bakasana comes about a third of the way through the Ashtanga second series. It’s an asana that many practitioners find challenging to master. So if you’re struggling with landing Bakasana B, read on because we’re going to explore some techniques we can use land Bakasana B.