Maysore workshop

Between Bandha and Alignment

Avi Magidoff

avi

November 27th

7:00-10:00


We will start with describing a principle for practice (at least for our day).  We will call it the inquiry into Bandha and alignment.  Ashtanga is famous for its emphasis on Bandhas, while Iyengar introduced us to the concept of alignment.  Are they related?  Might they even be the same thing?  We will look at Mula Bandha and investigate its roots, extending below the perineum and hopefully discover the Pada Bandha (or Hasta Bandha if you are handstanding), and Voila, the Bandhas became alignment…


Our practice may seem a bit odd, as we shall all start together with Sun Salutes and Standing sequence so as to establish our common Alignment, then breaking into our own series (or variations) in Mysore style, coming together as a group to do back bends and finsihing together, and an extended Shavasan with a led total relaxation.
After the practice we shall continue our inquiry through a quick review of the Yoga Sutras as a way to look at the question “what is Practice”.

Avi has been an acupuncturist for the past 23 years and started his Yoga training while a professional dancer.  Some 20 years later, in 2001, Avi discovered Ashtanga yoga, and studied with most of the “big names” in the ashtanga world of whom he was most  influenced by Nancy Gilgoff and Dena Kingsberg as well as Iyengar teacher Patricia Walden.  However, his main influence has been his daily teacher for 7 years, Devorah Sachs whom he also assisted.  From Devorah and Nancy Avi developed the view of the Yoga mat as the therapy room which we enter every day, and the teacher as holding our suffering, our doubts, our inabilities, until we are able to handle them, sometimes challenging, sometimes coddling, but always available.

The workshop is 3 hours long and costs 150 NIS