Chris Swain Workshop November 2011

Deepening your practice: Jan - Nov 2011

This year long course is designed to deepen your understanding and practice of yoga asana in a sequence of 5 workshops.

Chris Swain Each workshop will take the form of a general practical yoga class, but focus on a theme within the yoga asana, for example 'standing postures' or 'forward bends and twists'. Especial emphasis will be placed on the alignment of the body within each asana and the inner directional action and movement. As such we will be exploring the meaning of 'vinyasa krama'. 'Krama' refers to a step and 'vinyasa' means "to place in a special way". The concept of vinyasa krama means that with reference to the yoga asana each step needs to take us in the right direction and be made in the right way. It thus describes a correctly organised course of yoga practice. Vinyasa krama is also a philosophical concept which is reflective of natural principles. It would describe the sequence of the seasons throughout the year or the order of the process of growing a plant from planting a seed to harvesting a crop. Because this course is sequential it is essential to attend the first workshop on Standing Postures.