Ashtanga Yoga Workshop with Chiara Castellan

The asanas of the Second Series of the Ashtanga Yoga system combine deep back-bending, twisting, hip-opening and balancing postures and are designed to strengthen our entire body and nervous system.

We will explore some of these poses in detail and look at the principles of opening the heart while keeping a strong foundation in back bending. Different techniques to open the hips and to get our leg behind our head will be introduced while still protecting the knees.

We will also learn how to balance on our forearms.

We will approach these postures with intelligence, playfulness and awareness of the physical and energetic alignment principals.

The inspired beginner will discover easy, fun and approachable techniques to some of Ashtanga yoga’s most challenging postures – while senior practitioners will find new techniques to bring more strength, grace and posture-awareness to their practice.

Chiara Castellan was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland and studied architecture at the ETH there. She has been practicing and studying Yoga since 1995 and teaching since 2006.

She is an authorized Level 2 Ashtanga Yoga Teacher. She travels to India each year to practice with her teacher R. Sharath Jois at the Krishna Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore. She also had the unique opportunity to assist him in his daily classes. At the Sanskrit University, she regularly furthers her studies in Yoga Philosophy, Chanting and Sanskrit. 

On her path, Chiara met eminent Yogis from the entire world who have inspired her and taught her much. In 2006 she completed the 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training in Zurich and in the following year the Advanced Teacher Training in Iyengar Yoga. This wisdom flows into her Ashtanga Yoga teaching.

Follow Chiara on Instagram: ccastellan