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I like to practice yoga. In particular, Ashtanga Yoga.
I was first exposed to yoga by my wife Shannon. With my various pains from sports, from work, and from general living, I found yoga refreshing and beneficial. A rich set of exercises and technique aimed at strengthening and making flexible the body.
I've engaged in many asymmetrical sports. Over the years that can make the body lopsided. I also take my share of time using a keyboard. Over the years that can make wrists, arms and shoulders stiff.
At first, I used yoga to help balance these things out. It worked. Then I became interested in yoga in itself. I met an excellent teacher Sean O'Shea in Spring 2005. He had an advanced Ashtanga Yoga practice and had a special way to inspire his students. He made you believe that in time you, too, may have the ability to do cool handstands and other advanced postures that required strength and flexibility. With Sean's help, I now want to get good at yoga, and I practice frequently and consistently.
“Do your practice and all is
coming.” — Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Practice
Over the years, I've practice at several studios in San Diego. I continue to bounce around, enjoying the journey, and learning what various places have to offer. San Diego studios I like to visit:
- Akasha Yoga
- Ashtanga Yoga Center, Carlsbad
- Four Seasons Yoga
- Frog's, Solana Beach
- Infinite Yoga
- Prana Yoga Center, La Jolla
- Yoga Mandiram, Cardiff by the Sea
- Yoga Tropics, Encinitas
While traveling, I've enjoyed visiting these studios:
- It's Yoga—San Francisco (2008)
- Avalon Art and Yoga Center (Palo Alto, 2008)
- California Yoga Center (Palo Alto, 2008)
- Yoga Source (Palo Alto, 2008)
- The Yoga Center (Corvallis, 2006)
- Back Bay Yoga (Boston, 2006)
- Om City Yoga (Boston, 2006)
- At One Yoga (Scottsdale, 2006)
- The Yoga Experience (Flagstaff, 2006)
- Devi Yoga (Sedona, 2006)
- Yoga Shala (Prescott, 2006)
- It's Yoga—Cincinnati (2005)
- Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis (2005)
I've also been to some Bikram studios.
For a few months in 2007, I kept a practice log, that burned up.
Workshops
Yoga workshops offer more in-depth instruction from a particularly knowledgeable instructor.-
Matthew Sweeney,
Carlsbad 2007.
Backbends, dropbacks, Ashtanga. -
Pattabhi
Jois, San Francisco 2006.
Practicing the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga with its creator. (I'm one of the tiny blobs in the back-right corner of the room:
More pictures from this workshop are here, and more Jois workshop photos are here.)
Further Study
Training
Many yoga schools and studios offer “teacher trainings”. Participating in these trainings help to deepen understanding, irrespective of a desire to teach.- CorePower Yoga, 200 hour training, 2008
Sanskrit
Good luck learning Sanskrit.Misc Links
- Anthony “Prem” Carlisi's website
- Arjuna's AshtangaYoga.info
- Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute
- Dominic Corigliano's website
- Jason Stein's blog
- Tina Rothbone's website
Yoga has been a great gift. Sadly, the joy has been mixed with sorrow. December 28th, 2006. On this day, tragedy struck. My teacher (txt) was killed in a freak automobile accident. This great loss was felt by a community.
The Sean O'Shea
Foundation has been created in his honor.