Adam Husler: Balancing Flexibility and Strength

Join our Guest Teacher Adam Husler for one workshop or a complete weekend of Alignment-Based Vinyasa. He has taught his unique style of non-dogmatic yoga in over 60 locations across 20 countries, fuelled by a fascination with anatomy and a desire to ask "why"? He offers creative, effective and clearly-sequenced teachings that focus on balancing flexibility and strength – physically and mentally. Adam specialises in a signature style of Alignment-Based Vinyasa— inspired by decades of study of anatomy, mediation, yoga and mobility. You can find Adam chatting on the "Honestly Unbalanced" podcast, teaching workshops and trainings across Europe, mentoring yogis and studio owners across the world and trying his best to be an awesome dad @adamhusler.

Friday, June 12, 18.30-20.30h

Yoga Antidote for Modern Life – For Heavenly Hips & Tight bits

Hunching over desks, cycling commutes, slouching over smartphones, picking up kettlebells/children/puppies are all activities that feature in modern lives, but that can actually create some less than desirable effects in the body. When our activities develop habitual movement patterns, or cultivate tightness and weakness in particular areas of the body, we need some time doing exactly the opposite actions. If yoga is a practice of balance and equanimity, we need to apply that to our bodies as much as any thing else.

Thorough this workshop you will

• Practice a vinyasa based sequence, targeting those common problem areas, including shoulders, chest, hips, legs and plenty more

• Be encouraged to find flexibility in the stiff bits and strength in the weak and loose bits

• Explore the difference between passive and active range of motion via mobility exploration and deep static poses

• Maybe laugh, maybe cry, but certainly take home some useful ideas on how you can find more balance in your body, both in class and at home

• Enjoy a long guided savasana and balancing meditation

This workshop is for anyone with a regular practice and open for all levels.

Saturday, June 13, 9.30-11.30h

CENTRED STATES – A Complete Practice for curious yogis

Yoga can be seen ultimately as practice of balance in ever sense and in this extended practice, we’ll be exploring multiple pathways that might help you land in a more centred state. Physically we’ll be opening the tight areas, stabilising the weak areas through a combination of controlled vinyasa, mobility theory and deep static stretching. Expect Adam’s clear anatomical cues and a good dose of “why” behind everything we’re doing. From a mind perspective you’ll be guided through breathwork, informed by contemporary science and explore a grounded, non-dogmatic meditation, designed to help you exactly where you are. We’ll wind down with a yoga nidra inspired relaxation and a well deserved savasana. There’ll be plenty of chance for self-enquiry in this long practice; physically, mentally and, perhaps, spiritually.

Options will be provided throughout and anyone with some vinyasa experience is welcome. No performance. No pressure. Just practice.

Saturday, June 13, 13.30-16.00h

Refining our Vinyasa Practice & Asking Why

We may have gone to hundreds of vinyasa classes, but in these 75 minute affairs, slotted precariously into high energy weeks, we move from asana to asana without having time to truly explore the pose, understand the pose, take it deeper or acknowledge the sensations of the body.

Through this workshop you will

• Consider key anatomical principles and how they apply to your asana practice

• Ask why you do what you do and question habitual patterns

• Explore the alignment, anatomy and intention of common postures, potentially feeling them in entirely new places. Those ‘easy’ poses can get harder as you explore the nuances!

• Discover progression routes for the things we might not have the chance to explore in a normal class. This may include float backs, handstands, arm balances

• Learn to become more engaged, attentive, integrated and focused in our asanas

• Have an opportunity to ask questions throughout and take away considerations and understandings to bring to your regular practice or your yoga teaching

• Your downward dog might never be the same!

This workshop is suitable for all levels of practice.

Sunday, June 14, 9.30-12.00h

Pigeons and Dancers – Finding Strength and Balance in Backbends

There are plenty of ways to shortcut your way into a pose, or at least something that looks like the pose on quick inspection, but here we’ll be focusing on integrity over aesthetics. King Pigeon and Dancers pose have countless benefits, if done mindfully, but have lots of less-than-desirable outcomes if you are ‘chasing the shape’.

Through this workshop you will

• Increase your understanding of backbends and learn how to apply that to your regular practice

• Develop a set of tools you can use to strengthen your over-loose bits and open your over-tight bits

• Increase knowledge and skill as you work in the direction of full dancers and pigeon poses

• Learn how to keep your spine protected and safe in backbends

• Have a vinyasa based practice based around backhanding, with opportunities to explore more complex poses like wheel, drop backs, bow and plenty more

This workshop is for anyone with a regular practice and although there will be some advanced poses, the focus is the direction of travel, rather than destination. Contortionists and desk workers will both equally find challenge and benefit.