ASHTANGA LINEAGE

An integral part of all classical schools of yoga is their lineage, their roots from teacher to teacher. “The importance of a lineage in any tradition is the purest form which can be passed down from teacher to student and awaken the senses. The presence of lineage guarantees a transmission of the most essential and subtle experience of yoga which otherwise can be missed in the shadow of the ego.” — Richard Freeman.

“Practice and all is coming.” — Shri K. Pattabhi Jois
Ashtanga is the flowing vinyasa style of yoga done in the sequence of the same postures with breath, drishti (gaze) and asanas. Adding one pose at a time in the traditional style of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Krisnamachara taught his student, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, in Mysore India. Guruji, as Pattabhi Jois is known, brought this tradition to the west and led classes daily in his shala in Mysore, India. The basis of the practice philosophy which Kelly folows is here at his site: http://www.kpjayi.org/method.html

ASHTANGA CHANTS

http://www.kpjayi.org/opening-prayer.html

DOGA

Brenda developed a people and dog yoga practice a few years ago at the request of The Seattle Humane Society. In Doga, we use the heart opening relationship with our dogs to connect to a deep place of connection to all things. More information can be found here: Barking Buddha Doga

Doga is a partnership class you do with your dog. All sizes of dogs (and people) are welcome. The class incorporates our canine companions into every pose.

Benefits of Doga:
Doga strengthens the bond with our dogs by giving them our complete attention during class time by spending quality time engaging in a partnership activity. As we lift, stretch and massage our dogis during class we’re teaching them to trust in the relationship they share with us. They also receive physical benefits from the massage and stretching like relaxation, stress release, improved circulation and range of motion.

People also receive the benefits of stretching and strengthening through the exercise part of doga class. But there are other benefits that go beyond the physical.

The word yoga means union and dogs are pack animals, so they are all about union. Union means discovering a deep connection to all things. In doga we move toward union by first connecting to our dogs, then to the best part of ourselves, then hopefully opening up to a connection to all things. It’s a very heart opening practice and it’s a lot more fun to walk our dogs with us on the path to enlightenment.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga is characterized by a focus on viṅyāsa, or a dynamic connecting posture, that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. Vinyasa translates as linking and the system also implies the linking of the movement to the breath. Essentially the breath dictates the movement and the length of time held in the postures. Unlike some Hatha yoga styles, attention is also placed on the journey between the postures not just the postures themselves. Vinyasa yoga is a direct lineage of the traditional Ashtanga vinyasa style.The viṅyāsa ‘flow’ is a variant of Sūrya namaskāra, the Sun Salutation. The whole practice is combined with specific breathing patterns (free breathing with the ujjāyī sound) and with drishti (focus gazing point for each vinyasa and posture).

A standard viṅyāsa consists of the flow from caturaṅga, or plank, to caturaṅga daṇḍāsana, or low plank, to ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana or upward-facing dog, to Adho Mukha Svanasana, or downward-facing dog. The purpose of viṅyāsa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. Vinyasa brings in the principles of Agni and inversion to purify the entire body. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced āsanas with reduced risk of injury.