Ashtangaworkshops

🙏 Thanks to everyone for joining the first ashtanga workshop in Arnhem last weekend! We will start thinking of new ideas, and if you have any thoughts on the format, length and content - let us know! Until next time and good luck with all the prep for the holiday season ❤️
~Zhenya, Nanna, Victoria

We are looking back at the wonderful workshop with , who brought gentleness, energy and motivation to our weekend practice in Arnhem. Thank you Kristina, we are looking forward to a next time! 🙏🙏🙏

Questions to Kristina yogapractice.gr ~

What do you advise to those who are just starting out in their practice.

“For those who are just starting out in Ashtanga, or are in the beginning of their journey, my advice is simple. It’s such a beautiful practice and it is something you can only discover with time. So it’s the most important thing - to give it time. It has so much to offer, give it a chance… when you start, take a least 10 lessons and trust the process. So much is awaiting you.”

Tonight, we are heading into an ashtanga weekend together with . And thus, it is a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the strength of this verse in the opening chant.

"Holding a conch, discuss and sword" , refers to Patanjali, whose name is yet to make an appearance at the end of the mantra. Yet, we have already built a beautiful image in our mind's eye - a story that is more about the inner experience, rather than the appearance.

The instruments are the symbols of work we do to bring awareness into our daily life, to recognize and cut out the clutter that keeps creeping in. Perhaps the practice is the embodiment of all these instruments, transforming into whichever tool you need in the moment.

We are looking forward to practising this weekend together and to chant in dedication to our practice and all the teachers in our life's journey.

~ Questions to

This weekend Kristina will be teaching a series of workshops in Arnhem, with a primary focus on the ashtanga practice. We have asked her several questions about her practice and her motivation as a teacher.

"What keeps you motivated is the beauty of this practice and the fact that it is full of surprises. The fact that it is revealing something new. The fact that it gives me confidence and it gives the confidence to my students. It is a journey of exploration and a journey of discovery."
❤️

Embark on the journey of exploration with us this weekend. We have a few spots left (especially Sunday).

Time to get ready for action and thus - some practical information about the workshop with 🎉

If you have already signed up for the workshop - look out for an email - it is coming your way and should answer all your questions and more. You can of course always reach out!

In case you are still not sure if you would like to join or not - here is a small glimpse of the location we will be practicing at. Isn't it wonderful? We don't promise a view with green leaves on trees but the rest is there for you to enjoy!

Join us, there is a wonderful group of people participating, so not only will you enjoy the location, but also great company and an amazing teacher.

See y'all soon ❤️

~Taking the form of a man to the shoulders

The revered Patanjali is considered to be an incarnation of the serpent Ananta, the endless one, taking the human form in his upper body. Merging with this divine figure is Patanjali - the author/compiler of the "Sutras" on yoga.

The study of yoga in the Western culture oftens begins with the study of asanas, and most students who stick long enough with the practice, start cautiously venturing into other aspects of the yogic philosophy or other adjacent fields and modalities of living and being. The endless nature of this self-exploration hopefully points to the endless self, a conciousness that transcends time, space, and the separation of self from other. That's the promise and the premise of yoga. There is no destination, just the experience itself. And the value of that experience is not its accumulation, expressed in a skill or quality. Its value is the having of the experience in its multitude of forms, time and time again.

If you contemplate this verse of the opening mantra - what thoughts come to mind?

PS. The Ashtanga weekend with in is almost upon us. While we are contemplating the endlessness of the yoga experience, we are happy our wait is almost over. There are still a couple of spots available (mostly on Sunday). Will we see you there?

Hi, nice to meet you! ~

For those who don't know us, here is a very short introduction. We will do a more detailed intro a little later on, should anyone find that interesting - but we thought that it would be good for you all to see the faces behind Ashtangaworkshops 🙌

Victoria (left) is the tech guru behind this endeavour, so when you are booking your tickets, you know who's set it all up! Victoria started her yoga practice over 3 years ago with Tara .yoga, back in our lovely shala in Arnhem. And - as many already know - Vicky is the heartbeat of our little group, her practice is so consistent, it would inspire anyone to keep showing up! As it does inspire us :) Not so long ago .vitayoga advised her to do more Urdhva Dhanurasanas encouraging more focus on backbends, and yes Vicky thought 9 is a very doable number. :) She keeps it up too!💪

Zhenya (middle) is all things text and pictures. So if you like what you read and see, then she is very happy! Zhenya is the fearless one, first do then think. Or rather - trust that the body knows what it's doing and go for it. She brings the playground to the practice! Zhenya started almost at the same time as Victoria at the same shala and has had the opportunity to experience the many healing benefits of practice in the last 3 years🥳

Nanna (right) is the organizer of all things that need organizing. Coming from the event industry - there couldn't be a better partner in crime! So you can be assured the workshops are going to be smooooth! She brings the kind of softness to the energy of our mini shala that melts away any unnecessary forcefulness and brings focus to what really matters - the practice. Nanna is not new to yoga, having practised on and off for over a decade. She is loving Ashtanga and we often see her little ones join her on the mat! 🌸

(more in carousel)

We are looking forward to the workshop with as an important highlight in our yoga year. It will be a great moment to warm up and energize our practice in the cold winter months. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the journey we will have travelled this year and to reconnect with each other after so many years of isolation and uncertainty.

Click on the link in bio to read more about the workshop and to join. 🔥

~ 'Relief from delusion, the poison of Samsara'

Life is not always easy. It is certainly challenging these last few years, as we have been plunged into deep social, economic, and political crises. And it may sometimes seem we are reliving the same patterns over and over - the samsara of life. But under these turbulent currents are the calm waters that are oblivious to the storms raging above. These waters are eternal and surrendering to their depths brings relief from the strife and the struggle.

Every day offers us new chances for surrender - for me, today that comes through the exploration of the asana and ahimsa practice. Meditation is still making its powerful way into my routine, slowly but steadily. I am a forever student of the practice of surrender, forever longing for the deep and calm waters of existence.

What is your practice?
~ Zhenya

Join us in Arnhem for a personal and dynamic 3 day workshop with a senior Ashtanga teacher Kristina Karitinou You are welcome to join, wherever you are on your (Ashtanga) yoga path. Restart your practice, or go deeper into it, get inspired and energized.

Unfortunately the ashtanga workshop with Kristina has been postponed. The new date is 9th-11th December 2022! Tickets are available via the link in bio.

We are planning more workshops during the year, follow us to be the first to know!!