Ashtanga Yoga Retreat – Salento, Italy – 2024

Dive into the heart and soul of the Ashtanga yoga practice under the inspiring guidance of Laruga Glaser. The retreat will be a complete and comprehensive program offering foundational grounding as well as progressive techniques to mature in the practice. The goal is for all participants to benefit from the retreat, as well as after the retreat, ultimately guiding each practitioner into the heart of their potential, and planting seeds that will continue to grow.

Each morning will be devoted to Mysore practice, except for Led class on designated days. New beginner students will be thoroughly monitored, especially in the early stages of the retreat, to garner greater confidence to self practice under the guidance of David Fredriksson during week two. For experienced students, all will receive full support in developing strength, while deepening their existing practice working through challenging aspects of the sequences.

The majority of afternoon workshops will be focused on the core elements of the Ashtanga methodology – learning to harmonize what appears to be opposing forces, and making deeper connections inwardly through the outer manifestation of the asanas. We will balance both the practical and theoretical, taking time to discuss the philosophical insights that arise in our experience, understanding what it means to live, and more importantly, embody yoga daily.

Establishing the Root
How can we build a solid foundation in practice? In Ashtanga, it starts from the very beginning, as we connect to our internal energy of breath and concentration, and extending conscious awareness throughout the body. In this workshop, we will explore the physical and energetic alignment of the Ashtanga standing sequence. We will discover how each posture interrelates to the next with purpose and intention, while establishing roots throughout the legs and core. Learn how to more deeply inhabit each standing position. What happens here affects all other areas we take forward.

Gateway Postures
All postures in the sequences of Ashtanga yoga are important. However, in this workshop, we will take a closer look at the core postures in both Primary and Intermediate series integral to opening and strengthening the body mind setting the stage to more intelligently grow and evolve in the practice.

The Art of the Press
Ground, center, resist. Learn the core attributes in acquiring strength and activation for pressed based transitions and arm balances in the Ashtanga yoga practice. In this workshop we will concentrate on the definitive progressive steps in learning how to lift and hold the body weight.

Backbends: Liberate the Spine
The paradox of backbending is that we must be firm and soft at the same time, uniting the energy of strength and surrender. Learn the basic components of backbending with integrity to the natural flow of the body. In addition, learn to understand the concept of active release. When actively releasing, we experience use of grounding mechanisms to establish the downward flow of energy, while fully utilizing the breath, to expand and immerse fully into the posture. In this workshop, learn the foundational techniques that allow the body to find its depth and strength, while at the same time, letting go. For all levels.

Ashtanga: The Path & The Journey
Through consistent practice our time on the mat can develop into a work of art, creating stillness in motion. Reaching a flow state comes from uniting all internal elements to then rest in awareness within our physical being. In this workshop, we will explore how to create depth in the practice creating art in motion, while developing conscious attention and strength throughout the body- mind. We will first start by cutting away excess energy draining movements as well as connecting to the downward and upward flow, known as prana and upana, to then sit in a space of simplicity and concentration. This will be an inspiring workshop, giving space to explore and express the beauty of yoga in every movement and every breath.

Core Integrity
In this workshop become more intimately rooted to the internal network of the bandhas as well as our network of core muscles tuning into the central axis of the body. Properly understanding how to engage the bandhas not only bring lightness to the body but also stability and clarity to the mind. Learn to become more closely connected to this often elusive and mysterious part of the practice of Ashtanga yoga, appropriate for all levels.

Ashtanga Transitions
Learn the dynamics of flight. In this class experience helpful techniques accessing the sometimes- daunting flow of the Ashtanga system, the jump-back and jump-through. Even though challenging, transitioning need not be elusive to the practice, and believe it or not, the primary series prepares one to do so. Time will be taken to break down the parts and give useful tools to build inner strength and allow vinyasas to naturally become fluid and graceful. Building upon the jump through we will also experiment with jumping into and exiting out of various postures for added variety and adaptability.

Inversions and Spatial Awareness
Inversions can be both restorative, exhilarating as well as challenging. In this workshop you will be progressively lead through techniques and good practices starting from the most basic inversions working up toward more demanding inverted poses. This will be a valuable workshop in understanding how to establish good technique from the start to help guide you though greater areas of challenge as one builds more strength and awareness upside down.