Teaching yoga in Nicaragua…a new commentary for Ashtanga???

As many of you know, before Nicaragua, I taught Anatomy and Alignment for 2 years on the Ashtanga Yoga TTC in Goa. I immersed myself into teaching the Skeletal Muscular System and was able to bring a very technical approach to how the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga was taught, encouraging students to be mindful about the integrity of each and every posture. I loved teaching this part of the curriculum. The recognition of a new muscle in my practice drove me learn more and more in this area. I could (and still do) talk for hours about origins and insertions, stretching and strengthening, antagonist pairs, prime movers and more. I couldn’t get enough of it.

When an opportunity arose for me to teach Yoga Philosophy, I jumped at the chance. I was aware that my knowledge of the Ashtanga Yoga was biased towards the physical nature of the practice. I felt connected to my spirit but certainly wasn’t debating spirituality in my teachings. This is a huge part of Yoga Philosophy. And so, I immersed myself in the realms of the subject. I studied from an array of commentaries on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. I delved into the background of why they were written. I spent hours deliberating over translations and how translations were evolving over time. Most importantly, I debated with students how best to apply these to daily life. From the concept of the soul to the endlessly debated topic of karma, I lived and breathed Yoga Philosophy. This added a whole new depth to my teaching of Ashtanga Yoga. The physical aspect started to play less of a role as I focused more on how to calm the mind, minimise the mind’s activity and access your true spirit. That is the main objective of yoga, right?

And now, as I continue to teach here in Nicaragua, I have added a new dimension to my teaching. My focus on myofascia unites both the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga. If we talk about fascia, we talk about mapping the body’s continuity, bringing about wholeness and unity. If we treat the body in totality rather than a series of muscles and bones, we encourage better communication within the body through the nervous system. We feel through our fascia. We find stillness when the fascia is healthy. If we can find stillness in the body, in turn, we can find stillness in the mind.

I am truly passionate about teaching Ashanga Yoga through Myofascia Release as it has allowed me to develop a whole new commentary. I believe that I have brought together 4 years of vigorous studies and developed a practice that showcases my interpretation of Myofascia Release. Whether you practice Ashtanga Yoga or not, it improves your wellbeing both physically and spiritually. I am reaping the results in my practice and am working with students, here in Nicaragua, who are very new to yoga. Already, they are showing improved wellbeing.

My studies continue. A journey is very much in progress.

Next scheduled Myofascia Release Courses are:
29^th April @ Los Clavos Surf Camp, Nicaragua
25^th June @ Finca S’Almudaina, Majorca, Spain

I am currently the resident yoga teacher at Los Clavos Surf Camp, Nicaragua.
Join me soon!!