David & Jelena Workshop
6-8 October 2023
Ashtanga Workshop with David Robson & Jelena Vesić October 6-8, 2023
We are honored to welcome the incredible duo David Robson and Jelena Vesić to Athens for a 3 days Ashtanga Intensive workshop.
Avra Yoga in cooperation with Chakra Yoga Shala are organizing and hosting this event, excited to bring you all together to practice with two of the most internationally respected Ashtanga yoga teachers.
DATES & LOCATION
Friday 6 October - Sunday 8 October
Mysore venue: Chakra Yoga Shala, Dekeleon 46, Athens Led practice & Workshops Venue: Plyfa space, Koritsas 39, Athens
FULL PROGRAM
In this intensive 3-days Ashtanga workshop with David & Jelena you will have the opportunity to practice two Mysore classes with them, practice one Led Primary series class under their guidance, and expand your knowledge on yoga and your practice in 4 different workshops. Please see the full schedule below.
Friday, 6 October
7:00 - Mysore Practice
Mysore class starts at 7:00, however there will be three time slots, at 7:00, 8:15 and 9:30. You can choose the slot you want to participate in (subject to availability).
14:00 - 16:00 Moving Breathing System Workshop
The vinyasa system provides the defining structure for the Ashtanga practice. David and Jelena will provide an overview of the goal of Ashtanga and the vinyasa meditation, and also show you 5 transformational techniques to help you work on deepening the vinyasa in your practice.
Saturday, 7 October
7:00 - Mysore Practice
Three time slots, at 7:00, 8:15 and 9:30. You will have the same time slot as on Friday.
14:00 - 14:45 Pranayama & Meditation
David will begin the session by leading you through some gentle pranayama, seated breathing exercises. Jelena will then guide you through a seated Mindfulness Meditation practice.
15:00 - 17:00 Pain Free Backbends Workshop
Backbends don’t have to hurt. This workshop will explore the alignment of Ashtanga’s Primary & Intermediate Series backbends. We will learn about 4 techniques that can take the pain out of backbends and help you to find your way deeper into these transformative postures.
Sunday, 8 October
8:00 - 9:30 Led Primary Series
Using the traditional Sanskrit count and focusing on the rhythm of the breath, David and Jelena will lead us through the entire Primary Series, with lots of helpful cues along the way.
9:30 - 10:15 Pranayama & Meditation
David will begin the session by leading you through some gentle pranayama, seated breathing exercises. Jelena will then guide you through a seated Mindfulness Meditation practice.
11:00 - 12:30 Surya Namaskar Workshop
Sun Salutations contain Ashtanga’s prototypical vinyasa sequence and foundational postures. Working correctly in each of the postures is essential to the healthy longevity of your practice. David and Jelena will provide an in-depth look at healthy alignment and tradition coordinates for these key pose.
13:00 - 14:30 Jump Backs & Jump Throughs Workshop
Jump Backs and Jump Throughs are the transitional movements that link Ashtanga's sitting poses together. These vinyasas provide a bridge to carry our focus between asanas, and also build a purifying heat in the body that is said to “boil the blood.” This workshop will go over the actions and movements of the jump-back and jump-through in close detail, and provide invaluable instructions useful for all levels of practitioners.
14:30 - 15:00 Q&A
A chance to ask Jelena and David questions about topics covered over the weekend, or anything else you want to know about Ashtanga.
BIOS
David Robson
David Robson is a practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, in the tradition of Sharath Yoga Centre (SYC). David is the director of the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto, where he leads one of the world’s largest Mysore programs outside of India. David began a daily practice in 1998 while at university studying Comparative Religion. After graduating, David made his first trip to Mysore, India in 2002, where he initiated studies with his teacher Sharath Jois. Since then he has returned to Mysore annually to deepen and enrich his practice and teaching. In 2007, David was Authorized to teach Ashtanga and now holds a level 2 authorization. David has become well-known on social media for his educational and entertaining yes/no tutorials. Through these videos he's become one of the most recognized and respected Ashtanga Yoga teachers worldwide. David teaches the morning mysore program at Ashtanga Toronto, and leads workshops and retreats around the world with his wife Jelena.
Jelena Vesić
After four years of doing her PhD (Political Science, York University, Toronto), Jelena decided to walk away and dedicate herself to teaching Ashtanga Yoga full time. She’s been teaching since 2014, and is now leading the evening Mysore program at AYCT. Alongside her husband, David Robson, Jelena teaches workshops and retreats in Toronto and around the world. Jelena first came to yoga through dance. As a former ballet dancer of 16 years, the structure and rigour of the Ashtanga Yoga practice felt like home. Drawn to the discipline, mindfulness of the movement and emphasis on the breath, Jelena made the Ashtanga practice her sole focus in 2009. Jelena has maintained a daily Ashtanga practice for over a decade. She’s made two trips to Mysore, India to study with her teacher, Sharath Jois. In addition, Jelena also considers herself to be a student of Jack Kornfield, a Buddhist teacher and clinical psychologist. She’s completed his and Tara Brach’s “The Power of Awareness” course, and is now enrolled in their two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Lastly, Jelena’s true passion lies in promoting rescue and adoption of (street) dogs. You can often find her sharing her love for #adoptdontshop on her IG, and sharing the joys of living with her two fur-babies, Boksoon and Khani, both celebrities in their own right.
PRICES
Full Workshop Price
2 Mysore practices • 1 Led Primary Series class • 4 workshops • 2 Pranayma & Meditation classes
380€
Weekend Only
Saturday & Sunday practices and workshops
320€
Practice Package
Mysore, Led
Pranayama & Meditation
160€
Drop In
Per class or any workshop
55€
T&Cs:
Your spot will be reserved upon payment.
Payments can be done by credit or debit card through the link above, cash, or bank transfer.
If you pay online please send us proof of payment and which package or course you are enrolling to at info@avrayoga.gr (if you pay for one or more Drop Ins please indicate in your email which specific classes or workshops you want to participate to).
If you would like to pay by cash or bank transfer please fill in the form below or drop us an email at info@avrayoga.gr indicating which package or classes you interested in and further details will be communicated to you.
If you wish to cancel your participation the following cancelation policy applies:
For cancellations up until 30/6, full refund of the amount to the original payment method.
For cancellations from 1/7 to 31/8, 50% refund to the original payment method.
For cancellations after 1/9, no refund is offered.
You may ask us to provide you useful information for your accomodation, however we don't offer accomodation services.
The organizer and hosts reserve the right to cancel the event for serious reason (including - but not limited - pandemic, epidemic, illness). In that case full refund of the cost of the workshop will be applied to the original payment method.
The organizer and hosts have no involvement or responsibility on expenses made for transportation/traveling to Athens or expenses on accomodation, thus refund on those will not be applied under any of the mentioned circumsstances.
