David Garrigues in Edinburgh June 14-16th 2024

We are delighted to welcome back Certified Ashtanga teacher David Garrigues back to Scotland (and online)!

The full immersion is suitable for anybody with *some* prior yoga practice.  If you are attending the full intensive which has Mysore classes, knowledge of the first half of the Ashtanga Primary Series is encouraged.  *ALL LEVELS WELCOME* to the workshops and talks- just a keen motivation to learn!

David is skillful in providing explanations of elusive, often unspoken aspects of the practice and this time he will be focusing on pranayama. 

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SCHEDULE: 

FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH:

Mysore 08:45-10:15 (doors open at 8:30am) 

Workshop 10:45-12:15  Pranayama: the path of discovering the miracle of breath

This class will include opening up to the compelling beauty of breath by using a selection of asanas and transitions from the Primary Series as well as work on the early sections of the Ashtanga yoga pranayama sequence. When Sri K Pattabhi Jois, late founder of Ashtanga Yoga, said that Ashtanga yoga is “all including” he meant that all the important hatha yoga techniques (including pranayama and bandhas) are built into the structure of the practice. This lively, engaging class will bring into focus precisely how doing asanas and vinyasas in the prescribed way can give you a new curiosity about your breath that leads new skill in breathing and enhanced ability to understand and perform mudras (bandhas).

SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH

Workshop 13:00-15:00 The 3 Sublime Aspects of Pranayama (part 1)
Featuring the art of exhaling, the art of inhaling, and the art of retention. Further playful explorations of the Ashtanga yoga pranayama sequence—including work with Bhastrika, Surya and Chandra Bhedana, and Sitali techniques. Applying “Sthira Sukham” to your pranayama seat (both supine and upright options). Working with some helpful layers of breathing techniques that lead up to Kumbhaka—the central focus of pranayama.

List of layers of breathing techniques as follows:

1. A) Natural breath
2. B) Ujjayi
3. C) Prana and Apana Vayu’s (twins that are opposites)

1) Apana Vayu-the downward-moving contraction of force awakened by exhaling

2) Prana Vayu-the upward-moving expansion force awakened by inhaling

1. D) Mudras or energetic seals, locks,

1) Uddiyana Bandha during retention after exhaling

2) Mula Bandha during retention after exhaling

3) Jalandhara Bandha during retention after inhalation

1. E) Kumbhaka retention, creating a pause/rest/gap between breaths

1) Viloma interrupting the breath in stages (ex and in)

2) retention after exhaling before inhaling

3) retention after inhaling before exhaling

Talk 15:30-17:00 Pranayama According to the Yoga Sutras

“The learned know that philosophy and discipline are one and the same.” – Bhagavad Gita. In this talk David will detail what the yoga sutras 2.46 – 2.54, say about pranayama.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16TH

Mysore 09:00-10:30 (doors at 8:30am)

Workshop 12:30-14:30 The 3 Sublime Aspects of Pranayama (part 2)

In this class we will work with the technique called Viloma (interrupting the breath with mini retentions). Viloma teaches and awakens the full spectrum of power that can be summoned and harnessed through catching bandhas and valuing the quality of stillness during Kumbhaka. Lastly, we will enjoy an uninterrupted flow through the complete Ashtanga Pranayama sequence! Don’t fear--this will be a gentle, fully customisable, nicely challenging culmination of the weekend.

Talk 15:00-16:30 Connections Between Breath, Prana, Karma, and Dharma
This talk will center around interpreting passages from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Pradipika, and other texts—highlighting such themes as summoning courage to maintain a daily practice, walking your own unique chosen path, developing skill in risk taking,
and exploring the role of breath in helping you to act skillfully and awaken the life force within.

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BOOKING NOTES

For booking there are 2 options: 

• Full Immersion (Mysore, Workshops + Talks) IN PERSON - this is limited to 18 spots only. £250.
• Online only- Workshops + Talks. £180. Recordings will be made available 72hrs after the immersion has completed. 

Individual days will be made available after 1 month of the booking being open. 

No refunds- please pass any spaces onto your friends/colleagues. 

Please email Emma ([email protected]) with any questions or queries. 

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ABOUT DAVID

David is among a small group of Ashtanga yoga teachers who received teaching certificate directly from the late founding master of ashtanga yoga Sri K Pattabhi Jois. David met Pattabhi Jois in 1993 and over the next 16 years he traveled to Mysore India more than 12 times to study with the great yoga master. In 1996 Pattabhi Jois granted David a teaching certificate, David returned to Seattle and opened the first ever Ashtanga yoga studio in Seattle. In 2002 David hosted Pattabhi Jois (along with his daughter Saraswathi and his grandson Sharath) in Seattle. He is the founder/director of Ashtanga Yoga School (AYS) of Philadelphia and also travels extensively throughout the US, Europe, and India offering workshops, in depth studies and retreats.

David also writes passionately and eloquently on the subject of yoga. He is the author of numerous books on yoga that offer expert technical instruction and poetic inspiration.

For more than 20 years David has maintained an enthusiastic personal practice that is dedicated to asana and pranayama study in the Ashtanga tradition. His intense dedication to practice and to teaching inspire his students who form a diverse soulful, open hearted, and serious global learning community. David's mission is to help students of yoga flourish within the living, contemporary lineage of Ashtanga Yoga. He aims to be part of the circle of hatha yoga lovers who are devoted to applying the teachings of ashtanga yoga in ways that promote physical, psychological, and spiritual growth in themselves and others.