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  • Shanna Small
    • Contact Shanna Small
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  • Study
    • Sacred Vitality Online Yoga Studio
    • Harmony and Clarity
    • Privates
  • Refund Policy
  • Ashtanga Quotes,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    You are the light in between the cracks

    October 16, 2017 /

    “I know better. Why do I keep doing this?” “I know the right thing to do. Why can’t I do it?” “I get it, theoretically, but I can’t stop.” I have beat myself up so many times with the above statements. Have you? I am working to change this pattern. I realize now that this is a good place. Awareness, no matter how fleeting, is a gift. It is one more opportunity to start fresh. One more opportunity to renew. One more opportunity to be my best me. The yogis knew that there was light in between the darkness of suffering.  If we could just cessate or suspend our thoughts…

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    Shanna Small

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    You’re Only Human…Unless You Are A Yoga Teacher On the Internet

    July 15, 2015

    Do You Agree That “Ashtanga Doesn’t Work Unless You Do It Everyday?”

    May 3, 2014

    “There are some people who know yoga very well, but often these aren’t the popular teachers” Sharath

    February 11, 2014
  • Ashtanga Quotes,  History,  Interviews,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Ashtanga Vinyasa VS Ashtanga Yoga

    May 25, 2016 /

    So I am beating a dead horse here but I want to keep you guys posted on what is going on. I recently wrote two posts, Whose Ashtanga Should I Practice and What Is The Ashtanga Practice For? in response to a post where a popular teacher talked about Ashtanga needing to evolve. I pointed out, in both articles, that this person was coming from a purely physical perspective and that Ashtanga Yoga was never meant to be purely physical. The teacher responded back to me, thus proving my point. Hi Shanna, I agree in principle to what you are saying, but not in practice. I do think you’re comparing apples…

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    Shanna Small

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    Check This Out: Is There a Relationship Between Mula Bandha and Ahimsa?

    January 5, 2014

    Slow and Steady Yoga Injury Recovery

    March 20, 2017

    Tough Yoga Practices: When Doubt Touches the Heart

    October 27, 2016
  • Adventures in Mysore India,  Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Ashtanga Quotes,  Conference Notes,  Interviews,  Reblogs,  Review,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy

    Strength and Grace: 10 Quotes From Female Greats of Ashtanga Yoga

    March 14, 2016 /

    I was very excited to receive a copy of Strength and Grace by Alicia Beale and Derick Yu from Ekam Inhale.  Strength and Grace , a collection of essays from female Ashtanga practitioners,  inspires and provides amazing insights into the world of Ashtanga from a female perspective. Similar to the book, Guruji by Eddie Stern, Strength and Grace contains amazing stories of  transformation and practice with Ashtanga Guru Pattabhi Jois. However, this sets it apart. It includes, The rules of authorization and certification The logic behind ladies holiday How to practice during and after child birth How to balance Ashtanga with children and family life A brief foray into Ayurveda and Ashtanga…

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    Shanna Small

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    Teaching Ashtanga and the Benefit of Doubt

    June 20, 2018

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Life: What is Good and Evil To a Yogi?

    December 5, 2016

    Sharath: Love the Good and the Bad Parts Of Your Practice

    January 27, 2014
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

    February 21, 2016 /

      Tips on Ardha Paddha Padmottanasana                  

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    Shanna Small

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    The Lesson, Not the Event

    July 5, 2018

    Pose of the Week: Utthita Trikonasana

    August 17, 2015

    A.P.P Goes To Mysore: Mysore Backbending aka Catching

    November 8, 2016
  • Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Backsliders & Yoga Failures

    December 10, 2015 /

    Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1:30 : Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground. These are the obstacles in the mind field   Defining the Sutra Slipping from the ground gained concludes the discussion on verse 1:30. For more information on previous sutras, go here. Slipping from the ground gained is losing parts of the practice that you worked to cultivate.   Modern Day Application As humans having a human experience, contrast is necessary. It is through the experience of sadness that we can know joy.  How do you describe blue to someone who was born blind?  How do you describe sweet to…

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    Shanna Small

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    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: Help For Those Who Don’t Just Wake Up Like This

    April 20, 2015

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: Is It True that We are All One?

    December 26, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Paschimottanasana

    July 20, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Teach What You Want, Just Don’t Call It Ashtanga

    December 9, 2015 /

    At a workshop, when asked about teaching a modified version of Ashtanga, David Swenson said, “Teach what you want, just don’t call it Ashtanga” The beauty of Ashtanga is that it was laid out count by count, pose by pose by Pattabhi Jois, via what he learned from his teacher Krishnamacharya so that there would be no confusion about the method and to maximize effectiveness. Theoretically, you should be able to go anywhere in the world and seamlessly join any Ashtanga class without missing a beat. There have been some changes made over the years but they have been relatively small. The wheel of Ashtanga has not been reinvented. David…

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    Shanna Small

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    Pose of the Week: Ardha Matsyendrasana

    March 18, 2015

    Ask the APP: Why Take A Guided/Led Ashtanga Class?

    August 5, 2016

    Pose of the Week: Laghu vajrasana

    November 10, 2014
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga

    Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana

    December 7, 2015 /

    How To Do Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana  

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    Shanna Small

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    Pose of the Week: Garbha Pindasana to Kukkutasana

    January 3, 2016

    Coming Home: A Journey Out of Addiction & Into Ashtanga Yoga

    September 9, 2015

    How To Prevent Ashtanga Crazy Making

    September 28, 2015
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Ashtanga Adaptability,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Sutras for Modern Day Life: A Firm Foundation

    December 5, 2015 /

    Yoga Sutras of Pantajali 1:30-Obstacles on the path of yoga are disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground…   Defining the Sutra: For commentary on the previous obstacles, go here. Failing to reach firm ground occurs when there is not a solid foundation for the yoga practice to build on. Modern Day Application The previous obstacles are all the reasons why people fail to maintain a firm ground Disease- It is hard to focus on yoga when you are sick Dullness-When we live a life that robs us of vitality and brightness, our mind grows dull Doubt- you doubt the practice,your teacher, or the method…

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    Shanna Small

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    Pose of the Week: Utplutihih

    March 28, 2016

    Yoga For When the Pain Speaks

    February 24, 2016

    Insanity Rampant in the Yoga Community

    March 6, 2014
  • Alignment and Injuries,  Pose How To,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Videos

    Pose of the Week: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

    November 23, 2015 /

      Tips on Urdhva Mukha Svanasana                    

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    Shanna Small

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    Pose of the Week: Baddha Padmasana

    October 26, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Natarajasana

    September 27, 2015

    Pose of the Week: Utthita Trikonasana

    August 17, 2015
  • History,  Teaching Ashtanga,  Uncategorized,  Yoga Philosophy,  Yoga Sutras

    Yoga Sutras For Modern Day Life: An Inconvenient Truth

    November 17, 2015 /

    Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1:30: The obstacles, which are distractions of the  mind are disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception,   Defining the Sutra This week is a continuation of commentary on Sutra 1:30, for other commentary, go here.  False perception is having a belief that is not rooted in truth. I recently attended a talk at Davidson College by Ta-Nehisi Coates, an award winning author and writer for the Atlantic. After his talk on race relations in America, a student stood up and asked how to change people’s minds on the issue and effect change. His answer was something along the lines of, “you are assuming that people actually want…

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    Shanna Small

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    Ladies Holiday and the Sacred Feminine

    February 4, 2014

    Interview with Gregor Maehle on Samadhi

    October 8, 2015

    Ashtanga Yoga Vs Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

    March 24, 2014
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