Our philosophy: yoga helps you do anything better.
There are many styles of yoga. There isn't one "right" way to practice yoga, and different styles appeal to different people. Through many years of teaching and practicing, we have chosen certain styles we believe will have the most benefits for as many of our students as possible. We love to mix and match, and firmly believe that the strongest yoga practice comes not from constant repetition, but from providing our bodies and minds with variety.
Our yoga classes will accomodate all levels of yogis. While total beginners are welcome, we do recommend some prior yoga experience (even if it's just a few classes before you come) and/or that you participate in some type of physical activity. If you would like to schedule a private yoga session to brush up on the basics prior to the retreat (available at an additional cost) please inquire for details.
On a Big Sky Yoga Retreat you will practice blends of:
ASHTANGA YOGA
Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga taught by an Indian brahmin named Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from Mysore, India. The Primary Series is a rewarding series of postures that brings together breath, gaze, movement and focus. Ashtanga yoga is different from other types of yoga for several reasons: Ashtanga consists of a set series of poses in a specific order, linked together like a flowing dance. Successive poses within the series are complementary, developing strength and flexibility at the same time. Each pose prepares the body for the pose to follow. Sun Salutations A and B, standing postures and forward bends are covered, as well as backbends and inversions. This practice offers a challenging workout for building strength, flexibility, endurance and body awareness.
RESTORATIVE YOGA
Restorative Yoga gently rejuvenates and restores strength and stamina to the body. Through the use of props, poses are held for a longer duration without strain. This practice allows both action and relaxation to occur simultaneously throughout the series of postures. We typically do a restorative practice after our daily outdoor activity, and/or before-bed.
VINYASA FLOW
The Yoga Works style is a blend of precision and flow that is derived from its two parent systems of Ashtanga Vinyasa and Iyengar yoga. In the Yoga Works method of sequencing, narrative structure, flow, themes, and attention to warming up component parts of the body are all considered.
YW's Julie Kleinman, a guest teacher on selected lucky retreats, had this to say about mixing and matching your yoga practice in the March 2007 Yoga Journal:
from "ask the expert"
I practice yoga daily. My studio offers different types of classes (hatha, hot, power, yin). Is it better to focus on one type or take a variety?
- Joseph Lim, Hong Kong
There are certainly benefits to sticking with one style of yoga - digging a single deep hole rather than several shallower ones. The practice even within a single system is not necessarily uniform. In Ashtanga, the set sequence of postures can function like the "control" in a scientific experiment, highlighting changes in the practitioner...There is also validity, however, in being a yogic gourmand who delights in many tastes, styles, and approaches.
If one day you want to sweat and stengthen your way through a power class and the next day you feel more like being guided by your Yin teacher into a long, deep pigeon pose, you can choose appropriately. Varying your practice can be a way to get in touch with your inner guidance, foster balance in your body, and bring a quality of richness and spaciousness to your yoga.
A school that has a range of offerings can provide several doorways through which practitioners can enter into a yoga practice, as well as various places to make transitions along their path. You may find that, after several years of experimentation, one method really captures you. You may decide to give yourself to it completely. Or, you may dedicate yourself to a particular system, but as your circumstances (such as age, health, or energy level) change, you may find that you are drawn to other styles.
No one has the authority to decide the right way for anyone else. Yoga is fundamentally a deeply personal practice; no one system or approach is better or worse than any other. If you are growing through your yoga and love doing it, then it's working.