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Ashtanga Yoga- 2/22/18

If I had to sum up our in-class Ashtanga practice in one word, I would say challenging. The fact that it was challenging made it an enjoyable class, because I like exercise that challenges me and forces me to work hard. The most difficult aspect of the class was getting into some of the poses because they required so much flexibility, and I am only moderately flexible. The class stretched my entire body, especially my legs, which made me feel good afterwards. One aspect of the class that made a community atmosphere was how the entire class was arranged in a circle, with all of us facing towards each other. This brought a sense of togetherness to the class because everyone was facing each other instead of being in rows towards the front of the room. Another aspect of the class that made it feel like a community was how the class would look at each other for help for some of the moves. Because of this, we weren't doing yoga individually, but rather looking to our neighbors to see how to get into the poses correctly. This probably happened because the class was difficult for many people. In other classes I have taken, people focus more on themselves and don't pay attention to others because the postures are simple and everyone can get into them on their own. Additionally, having to set up the classroom before the class also may have contributed to the feeling of togetherness, because we were working together to move the tables and chairs from the room. Our in-class yoga practices always tend to feel like more of a community than other classes I have been to, which may be because we are all together for those two days a week.

Comments

  1. Laurie GreeneFebruary 28, 2018 at 2:47 PM

    I agree that having to set up and put the class back in order is a "break" from the normal decorum of "class" the fact that we are doing something PHYSICAL together is also an aspect of this "break" and may contribute to yoga's potential to give a feeling of community in the context of the sangha. The fact that the professor practices with you might also have an impact. What do you think?

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