Comments on: Ashtanga Short Forms http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:16:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Selina http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24149 Selina Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:01:09 +0000 http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24149 I have done a '3 breath practice' with Dena Kingsberg, and John Scott said at a workshop that if he is running low on time, he even does a '1 breath practice' - he said that this way, he can do full primary in 1 hour! So I guess doing fewer breaths is fine, as long as they are good deep and focussed ujayii breaths. Leaving out the vinyasas between left and right sides is fine, but vinyasa between each pose is fairly important, otherwise you lose the heat. When you're low on time, it is ok to just do suryanamaskara (at least 3 A's and 3 B's), standing sequence and then closing. I have done a ‘3 breath practice’ with Dena Kingsberg, and John Scott said at a workshop that if he is running low on time, he even does a ‘1 breath practice’ - he said that this way, he can do full primary in 1 hour! So I guess doing fewer breaths is fine, as long as they are good deep and focussed ujayii breaths.

Leaving out the vinyasas between left and right sides is fine, but vinyasa between each pose is fairly important, otherwise you lose the heat. When you’re low on time, it is ok to just do suryanamaskara (at least 3 A’s and 3 B’s), standing sequence and then closing.

]]> By: Claudia http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24080 Claudia Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:36:45 +0000 http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24080 I also agree with the not sacrificing the breath. My teacher told me once to "never ever compromise the breath"... Usually when I only have a limited amount of time I do the practice as usual, with the five breath count until where I can, leaving half an hour for the full close. The closing is very important as the body is mostly turned upside down and gravity helps the lymphatic system to clean up... (this said in a very simplified way of course). Also the inversions have tons and tons of benefits... I also agree with the not sacrificing the breath. My teacher told me once to “never ever compromise the breath”…

Usually when I only have a limited amount of time I do the practice as usual, with the five breath count until where I can, leaving half an hour for the full close.

The closing is very important as the body is mostly turned upside down and gravity helps the lymphatic system to clean up… (this said in a very simplified way of course). Also the inversions have tons and tons of benefits…

]]> By: Heidi http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24013 Heidi Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:13:27 +0000 http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24013 Thanks for the feedback, April! I agree with you that you shouldn't sacrifice the quality of the breath, but what about holding the poses for a shorter time initially? This way you also get the chance to build strength in the different asanas before moving on to a full 5 breath count. Thanks for the feedback, April! I agree with you that you shouldn’t sacrifice the quality of the breath, but what about holding the poses for a shorter time initially? This way you also get the chance to build strength in the different asanas before moving on to a full 5 breath count.

]]> By: April http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24012 April Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:24:35 +0000 http://chaiandyoga.com/ashtanga-short-forms/#comment-24012 I'm no authority, having only practiced Ashtanga for 6 or 7 months, but if I have 30 minutes I do the David Swenson short form. If I have a tiny bit longer, I might throw in a few more asanas, but I do them in order, and I do the counterposes to any major bends or twists. I think twists and backbending are pretty important, so I wouldn't just stop anywhere. And from my teachers and books I've read, breath isn't the best thing to sacrifice if you're short on time. I think leaving out vinyasas, especially in between switching from left side to right side in the seated poses, would be a better way to shorten the practice. Anyway, that's just my thoughts and how I approach it. But if you felt like you needed those asanas, that's also important. I’m no authority, having only practiced Ashtanga for 6 or 7 months, but if I have 30 minutes I do the David Swenson short form. If I have a tiny bit longer, I might throw in a few more asanas, but I do them in order, and I do the counterposes to any major bends or twists.

I think twists and backbending are pretty important, so I wouldn’t just stop anywhere. And from my teachers and books I’ve read, breath isn’t the best thing to sacrifice if you’re short on time. I think leaving out vinyasas, especially in between switching from left side to right side in the seated poses, would be a better way to shorten the practice.

Anyway, that’s just my thoughts and how I approach it. But if you felt like you needed those asanas, that’s also important.

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