Yoga Rituals, Ashtanga, Vinyasa with Michael Hamilton

Laya Yoga - The Ritual of Dissolution

The Ashtanga vinyasa yoga system uses the idea of ritual as a core element within itself. The postures represent the bodily enactment of this by bringing together inter-related oppositions as a representation of this principle. It does so through its use of vinyasa, which can be translated as "special ritual". 

Through their synchronization (in-breath followed by out-breath, backbend by forward bend) all movements seek to incorporate their opposites as they dissolve into unities when brought together. The in-breath has its own forms that belong to it, as does the out -breath, and we seek to unite them so that the mind sees unity rather than separation. 

In order to help us find these principles we will look at inner alignment in standing postures, seated postures and inversions taken from the different series of Ashtanga Yoga.

Each day's session will be a morning asana practice, followed by pranayama, a guided meditation and a break, after which we will have a 45-50 minute long class on yogic philosophy with Q & A.

We can't wait for this weekend! Below you'll find the times to get organized! Sign up today as space at the Atelier is limited! 

(--> This is part of our Teacher Training / Mentorship; if you are a trainee, we have additional teaching sessions with our group on Friday-Sunday. If you are only taking Michael's sessions, you are encouarged to mindfully retreat Friday and Saturday afternoons.)

Time Schedule:

Friday, March 12

9:00-12:30 

Asana practice with a focus on postures from the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga

Saturday, March 13 

9:00-12:30 

Asana practice with a focus on postures from the intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga

Sunday, March 14

9:00-12:30 Practice / Lecture

Asana practice drawing on inspiration from a variety of Modern Yoga postures

Michael's teachings on yoga and meditation stem from his own practice of integrating compassion and wisdom into daily life as a path to liberation, emphasizing that practice methods in and of themselves are limited, and that individual responsibility to do the deeper work of transcending all teaching methods is necessary to awaken introspective awareness. 

Find out more below... 

Michael Hamilton

Michael Hamilton was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and started his studies in Zen Buddhism and yoga in the 1990’s.

After completing his studies in Art, English literature and Cultural studies, he started meditation practice in the zen traditions of Joshu Sasaki Roshi and Daido Loori Roshi. After initial contact with yoga through the Krishnamacharya lineage of B.K.S Iyengar and the Bihar lineage of Swami Shivananda, he turned towards the Ashtanga method as taught by Pattabhi Jois, from which he obtained permission to teach. His interest in meditation brought him to study vipassana and satipatthana in Nepal with Sayadaw Vivekananda. Currently he is focusing on studying the integration of psychology and Buddhism with body practice sensitive to the needs of the individual, the latter inspired by his work with Richard Freeman and Doug Keller. He is engaged in a long-term program of integrating body practice with mind training through the integration of the practices of mindfulness and psychology.