Geoff Mackenzie
Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Authorized Level 2
I’ve been doing yoga since 1996 when I was initiated into breath-body mindfulness on a forest floor in coastal France. In 1998, I went to my first formal class in Bali and stuck with it for four years, jumping on and off the Commitment Wagon, as you do in your Twenties. I got serious in 2003 and took a YTT 2004 at Moksana Yoga Centre in Victoria, BC. I began teaching classes almost immediately and have continued ever since.
In 2004, I took up Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as my primary practice, which remains to this day. I travelled to Mysore, India, in 2006 to study with the Jois family at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. I returned there regularly for ten years, completing nine extended study periods under R. Sharath Jois and receiving Teaching Authorization at Level 2 in 2012.
Ashtanga Yoga Structure meets Need
People thrive when [yoga is] adapted to fit their needs rather than strictly imposed.
I’m primarily self-taught, though, and go less by the book as the years go by. I appreciate the structure of the Ashtanga method but find that many people thrive when it’s adapted to fit their needs rather than strictly imposed.
The fundamental technique of Ashtanga Vinyasa practice is Trishtāna: steady attention applied to the breath, the body and a visual focal point simultaneously. It’s an excellent baseline technique for many of us and is a practical primer for formal pranayama and meditation. What’s most important, however, is cultivating Tristhāna as a self-practice: Yoga is a personal, inward journey we ultimately take alone.
Dynamic breath work, quiet sitting, mobility routines, and kettlebell training all influence my practice as much as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
If you are interested in the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Practice, join me at my Yoga Shala, First Light Yoga.
I look forward to supporting you with your practice.
Contortion Poses – Flexibility the Ashtanga Yoga Way
Ashtanga Yoga is a disciplined practice emphasizing the integration of flexibility and strength in the body. This article will explore various types of contortion poses names, ranging from intermediate poses to the hardest contortion moves, requiring extreme flexibility performed by advanced yoga practitioners or professional contortionists.
Exercise for a Clean Stomach: 8 Ways To Better Gut Health
Maintaining a healthy digestive system is crucial for overall well-being, ensuring our bodies can efficiently process and absorb nutrients. One effective method to support digestive health is through regular exercise. This article explores the importance of incorporating exercise to clean the stomach. Highlighting various exercises and lifestyle changes that can enhance digestion and promote a healthy gut. Understanding and applying these practices can significantly improve your digestive health and overall quality of life.
Sphinx and Seal Yoga Pose: Salamba Bhujangasana Guide
The Sphinx Pose, or Salamba Bhujangasana in Sanskrit, is a fundamental yoga posture renowned for its simplicity and profound benefits. This beginner-level asana is an excellent introduction to backbends and core strengthening exercises in yoga. Its close cousin, Seal Pose in Yin Yoga, offers advanced practitioners a deeper backbend.
The Sphinx Pose name comes from its resemblance to the mythical Sphinx, with its majestic and poised appearance. In Sanskrit, “Salamba” means supported, and “Bhujangasana” refers to a cobra. This pose is a gentler variant of the Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), making it suitable for beginners or those with back sensitivity.
The seal yoga pose name comes from its animal’s name sake. The pose attempts to imitate a Seal on its front fins upright and proud
