January 2025 Newsletter
Whether you want to take a deeper dive into your Ashtanga practice, or share this practice with others, you might want to take a peek into our 2025 Teacher Training Program!
Our YTT is a 200-hour training based on a progressive approach to Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. The program aims to support you to become a skillful yoga teacher, as well as to deepen your personal practice- fostering self-awareness, community, and compassion towards self and others.
While this program is approved by Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level, this program will be closer to a 400-hour commitment as extended over multi-weekend modules throughout the year.
Spring Workshops
Join us as we explore different elements of the practice with the following workshops:
Spots are limited for these workshops, as they are being offered as part of our YTT, so act fast!
The Eight Limbs: Yama
The first anga (limb) of Ashtanga is yama. Yama is often described as the "abstinences," referring to self-control, moderation, and ethical thinking and behavior.
Within yama, there are five elements of moral conduct:
Ahimsa: non-violence, to not cause pain, harm mitigation
Satya: truthfulness in thoughts, words, actions
Asteya: non-stealing
Brahmacarya: continence, discriminate use of sexual energy
Aparigraha: non-hoarding, non-greed, release, letting go
On your next rest day or moon day, spend some dedicated time thinking or journaling about how you can incorporate these practices into your day-to-day living and asana practice.
Community Feature: Christy K.
Learn more about one of your community members: Christy K.
What brings you to the mat?
I’ve only been practicing yoga for 18 months. When I came to the Shala I was 56 years old and had gotten way too sedentary with a full-time job and a lot of sitting. My blood pressure was high, and my energy and stamina were noticeably decreasing. So, what brought me to the mat was my search to make positive changes with my health and mobility. What brings me to the mat now are still those things (I’ve lost 10 pounds, BP is good) but also the fun Shala community and Ashtanga’s connection to the deep spiritual history of yoga that is still so relevant today.
A pose you’re gaining new appreciation for?
This isn’t an asana, but what I have a new recent appreciation for is my breath. As the Shala continues to incorporate pranayama into our classes, I have begun adding it to my Mysore practice. I want to learn more about pranayama and practice it more. Something so simple and normal as breathing can be used as a powerful tool with many benefits — how cool is that?!
Favorite farmers’ market vendor/spot in the U District?
I love all the coffee shops! But for an after-practice snack, I recommended Korean Tofu House Express, just a few doors down from the Shala. After class, I’ll grab a triangle kimbap with kimchi to go. They make them fresh when you order (they also have tuna and meat options). It’s a triangle of fresh warm rice, with some kimchi tucked inside, wrapped in a nori sheet for under $4.
A cue that has stuck with you?
Oh so many! Several times throughout the first half of Primary Series—after holding for five breaths in Paschimottanasana or each pose Janu series, for example, we pause, look forward and continue to hold a pose for an inhale and an exhale before releasing the pose and moving into vinyasa. During a recent class, Christiane pointed out that this pause before the transition is an opportunity for us to reflect on the pose, to let the pose settle and resonate through us. I usually would either almost forget that step, or take those breaths during the pause as just a means to get on to the next pose. But after Christiane’s cue, now I really savor that pause and extra inhale/exhale as a moment for the asana to continue to express itself.
New Year, New Schedule
We hear you! To meet your practice needs, we've made some shifts to the schedule:
Led Primary has moved to Friday 6:30am-8:00am, to reflect the community's desire to congregate for coffee on Fridays and allows folks with limited weekend availability a chance to have a primary series practice during the week.
Addition of afternoon Mysore sessions from 5pm-6:30pm Mondays and Wednesdays.
Half-primary led by Yuko will move from 8:00am to 8:30am on Sundays.
TYS 2 Year Anniversary Half and Half
To celebrate the Yoga Shala's 2nd Birthday and to honor the practice as "skill in action," join us in a special powerful class combining the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga. This class will be followed by a short get-together in celebration of the second year of The Yoga Shala.
Proceeds for this class go to support the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, a Non-Profit focusing on building immigrant and refugee power in Washington State. More info on WAISN here: https://waisn.org/
Other Tidbits
Did you know Moon Days are listed on our website? Super convenient.
Mysore and More Flex Members: don't forget to use your guest passes!
Newsletters are now archived on our website.