Today I finished my night yoga class at TriYoga and said hello to a chap in the changing room on my way out. I didn't recognize who he is just had some deep feeling and said myself "What a friendly looking person.." I asked on reception what's going on tonight as it's pretty busy. It's a workshop with David Swenson. I knew this legend from an old video tape "David Swenson - Ashtanga Yoga - The First Series - The Practice" also heard about him a lot. I had to see him. I asked if he already came and was told he is in the changing room. Oh, now I knew who I have just met. I went back to the changing room and saw again the person I said hello. Now I could recognize his face shape. I just said "Are you David Swenson?" He said "yes". I mentioned that I know him from the video tape and I cannot make his workshop. He asked me for my name and said maybe we see each other next time. Big hug, also said him "enjoy the class" and went home.

It was very nice and unexpected encounter with David. Maybe, I will meet him again..

David began practicing yoga at a very early age in 1969 at the age of 13. His older brother Doug was his first teacher. They practiced hatha yoga from whatever books they could find.

David Swenson is recognized today as one of the worlds foremost practitioners and instructors of Ashtanga Yoga.

I am taking part again in Yoga Aid 2009 and  raising money for The Special Yoga Centre which supports all children through the practice of yoga, with an emphasis on special needs. Yoga develops emotional and physical well being enabling children and adults to reach full potential. They are dedicated to making yoga accessible to all regardless of age, disability, economic status, ethnic background or religion..

I was working hard this year and changed my previous year Yoga routine from 4-6 hours per week to 1 -2 classes per day so should be prepared well J

On the 31st October my challenge will be to complete 108 Surya Namaskaras (Sun Salutations) and to raise a minimum of £108 but this time I am part of the team “Yoga Junkies” - Chi, Stephane, Vaclav

If  you would like to support me you can do it through this link http://www.justgiving.com/YogaJunkies/ if you cannot make it please take one class of Yoga for your benefit

This is video from the last year where you can see me as well J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahCcNOowRZY

Other Links
http://www.specialyoga.org.uk/
http://www.theyogashow.co.uk/

Thank you :-)

Vašo.

This is a trial for Yoga under the water :-)

Happy Little Yogi

The facts:

• the key is the teacher
• you can sweat
• it's ok if you are shaking
• you don't have to be flexible
• Yoga is for everyone
• practise Yoga more than once a week
• why Yoga anyway? In another post..

More than one year ago I knew word Yoga but I didn't have any clue what Yoga is and was just kidding friend of mine that it's for crazy flexible people..the suspicion came when she told me that it's hard and you can even sweat..

Now it has been one year since I started my Yoga journey (in my 30th) from ZERO and all I can say after one year I would recommend it to every single person. I have been practising regularly Ashtanga and Hatha, tried Acro Yoga and Sivananda Yoga and now give a go Bikram Yoga.

I never forget my first 2 classes. I'm very active and fit but I had big problems doing basic postures. This was just a shocking proof that even you are fit and tough you can struggle with Yoga. It was hard time for me, hard than lifting weights in gym, that was a trigger and that's why I found a passion and I'm very addicted.

What does Yoga give me or can give you?

I will try to say it in the easiest way as possible. Doesn't matter if you are tough or weak, fat or slim, old or kid or even disable! Everyone can find something which would affect and/or impress you. There are lots of kinds of Yoga from meditation ones with focus on breathing to dynamic ones where you have to use also your muscles and your body does get a nice toned shape!!! I have to mention it that the key is the teacher.

Every posture has got "more levels (newbie - advance)" or modifications. Everyone is different and it's so interesting that some people can do naturally some advance postures some people have to practise months or even years to get there and the same people who can do naturally the advance postures are not able to do other postures easily. Yes, everyone is different but Yoga is not a competition. Yoga is breathing. If you don't breathe properly through your advance postures you don't practise Yoga!!

If there is a 70 year old person next to you and practise his/her beginners postures and focuses on inhale or exhale while you do your advance postures with the shallow breathing, guess who is doing Yoga? :-)

As I mentioned before the key is the teacher like in the school. The teacher can make classes very funny or boring and also can impress you so much that you are looking forward to come back.

I went beyond and tried teaching 3 kids (5-7years) what was really fun for them. Also, I tried teaching 3 of my best friends and I impressed them all so much that they are looking for a way how and when they could practise Yoga.

Why you should do Yoga?

Why not other sports? There are lots of benefits. I personally enjoy the physical part as you became stronger and after one year I can admit that I am even more flexible than I was before. But why to be flexible or stronger anyway?

I will try to explain and "convince" in other post as this is actually very important and there is no place for this in this post.

Classes I attend

I started with 3 classes:
Saturday: 2 classes (45min, 60min) Hatha
Monday: 1 class (75min) Ashtanga

Later added 2 classes:
Wednesday: 1 class (75min) Hatha
Friday: 1 class (60min) Hatha

New Year 2009 challenge is Yoga everyday :-)
Above +
Tuesday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga
Thursday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga
Sunday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga

Thank you Derek, IPS Group, Tomas, Marcela & Lubos, Lizi?, Andy, Hiten, Jayne, Frank, Wade, Martina & Michael, Jayashree, Karen and Dawn very much for your donations!! :-)

Thank you Jaqui, the yoga teacher for supporting me! :-) 

The 108 Sun Salutations wasn't very hard for me but I could feel my hamstrings and shoulders were tight even 3 days after :-).

It took 2 hours and 50 minutes!! :-)

Why 108

It’s a special number in Mathematics, Religion, Martial Arts, Astronomy (The distance between the earth and sun is 108 times the diameter of the sun), ..
More info on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_108

The Proof

Pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vaclavelias/TheYogaShow2008
 
Low Resolution Time-Lapse Video:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ahCcNOowRZY
 
High Definition Time-Lapse Video:
http://www.vimeo.com/2154995