Join us for an enriching weekend of Ashtanga Yoga practice and philosophy with the renowned Andrew Eppler. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this workshop offers a deep dive into the core elements of Ashtanga Yoga, exploring its practice, philosophy, and bodywork techniques. Experience a transformative journey that balances physical wellbeing, personal awareness, and internal harmony.
Program:
- Friday evening (18:00-21:00): Ashtanga Origins & Elements
- Saturday morning (9:30-12:00): Introduction to Primary Series
- Saturday noon (12:15-13:15): Sitting Practice and Inner Stillness
- Saturday afternoon (14:00-16:15): Thai Bodywork-Informed Assists for Aṣṭāṅga
- Sunday morning (9:30-12:00): Introduction to 2nd Series Ashtanga Yoga (Nāḍi Śodhana)
- Sunday afternoon (12:30-15:00): Aṣṭāṅga Darshan
Important Information:
- Date: October 10th – 12th, 2025.
- Location: Little Bali (3rd floor), Ve Smečkách 22, Prague.
- Price: 4600 CZK
- Discounts available for students and mothers
- Option to sign up for individual sessions, but priority will be given to those who register for the entire workshop.
- Registration and more information: Please contact us at ohni.ohen@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you at the workshop for a weekend of growth, learning, and deepening your yoga practice!
Complete workshop schedule:
Friday Evening (18:00-21:00): Ashtanga Origins & Elements
A grounded, practice-first look at where Aṣṭāṅga comes from and how its core elements work in real bodies and lives. We’ll connect lineage and ideas to what you actually feel on the mat and translate that into simple daily rhythms you can sustain.
What we’ll cover
- Fundamentals: breath, bandha, drishti, and the role of vinyāsa count
- Sun salutations (A/B), key standing postures, shoulder- and knee-friendly vinyāsa mechanics
- Concise story of Aṣṭāṅga’s roots and its unfolding in Western culture
- Attention as perception: how practice rewires habits (with a touch of stage magic/illusion)
- Practical dinacaryā: morning/evening rhythms that support practice
Practice plan
- Intro to Andrew’s approach, followed by a clear sequence preparing for Saturday & Sunday
- Breath and timing you can actually keep
- Bandha as sensation, not shape
- Vinyāsa essentials: history and direct application
- Therapeutic fundamentals: building heat without wrist/shoulder strain
Safety & longevity
- Adapting around injuries without losing momentum
- Clear communication in adjustments
- Avoiding common injuries by refining transitions and recovery
- Building a sustainable, joyful practice
Who it’s for
Newcomers seeking clarity, experienced practitioners refining technique, and teachers valuing a non-dogmatic, text-rooted approach.
Saturday Morning (9:30-12:00): Exploring Primary Series (Yoga Cikitsā)
An inspiring tour of Primary with options, not ultimatums. We’ll pause at tricky spots, explore safe modifications, and maintain calm, steady breath throughout.
What we’ll cover:
- Warm-up skills: self-massage, joint prep, breath pacing
- Balancing asymmetry and dominant patterns
- Safe modifications that preserve breath–bandha–drishti
- Building heat without overloading wrists/shoulders
- Strategic pauses to unpack challenging transitions
Adjustment methods:
- Resistance-based assists
- Reciprocal inhibition for safe range
- Soft-tissue easing to release gripping
Safety & longevity
- Injury-smart variations for caturaṅga and jump-throughs
- Communication guidelines for safe assists
You’ll leave with:
- Practical language for collaborative assists
- A personal Primary “menu” of safe options
- Two focal cues to stabilize breath and bandha
- A calmer, repeatable Primary practice
Saturday Noon(12:15–13:15): Sitting Practice & Inner Stillness
Step-by-step preparation for meditation through bandha, breathwork, and pranayama, leading into a practical understanding of the mind from the Yoga Sūtras and Gītā.
What we’ll cover
- Bandha-mudrā as breath infrastructure (mūla, uḍḍīyāna, jālandhara)
- Progressive pranayama (BNS Iyengar system): nāḍī-śodhana, bhastrikā, śītalī, śakti-cālana
- Mantra and simple practices to steady attention
- Practical view of the mind: habits that pull outward vs. those that cultivate stillness
Practice into principle
- How to fit yoga into daily life (timing, place, steady practice)
- Clear, workable guidelines instead of rigid rules
What you’ll take home:
- Written resources from Andrew’s courses on Sāṅkhya Kārikā and Yoga Sūtras
- Guidance for sustainable sitting practice
- Info on continuing pranayama study (optional course)
Saturday Afternoon(14:00–16:15): Thai Bodywork-Informed Assists for Aṣṭāṅga
A tactile workshop linking Thai bodywork principles to classroom assists. Everyone both gives and receives, practicing with varied partners for adaptability and safety.
Why Thai bodywork here
Thai techniques—steady pressure, traction, rocking—translate directly into intelligent, safe assists. Learn to use bodyweight, read tissue tone, and sync touch with breath.
What we’ll cover
- Consent and feedback language
- Thai foundations: palming vs. thumb work, traction, rocking, safe leverage
- Rotating-circle flows for hips, hamstrings, back, and shoulders
- Translating Thai actions into clear classroom assists
- Decision-making: when not to adjust, red flags, and alternatives
Applied to key postures
- Forward bends & hip openers
- Chaturāṅga and vinyāsa transitions
- Backbend support (ūrdhva dhanurāsana prep, gentle extensions)
Safety & longevity
- Contraindications for knees, low back, and neck
- Protecting your own body while assisting
- Communication that maintains relaxation
Who it’s for
Teachers, assistants, and practitioners who want safe, effective hands-on tools. No prior Thai experience required.
You’ll leave with
- Guidelines for when to adjust, cue, or step back
- Clear links between Thai principles and āsana assists
- A short pre-class warm-up for assisting
Notes
This session is skills-focused and non-dogmatic. It complements the broader work we do in practice classes, giving you a tactile understanding you can apply immediately in Mysore and led settings.
Sunday morning (9:30-12:00): Introduction to 2nd Series Ashtanga Yoga (Nāḍi Śodhana)
A gentle, approachable tour of Aṣṭāṅga’s Second Series. We’ll explore readiness, safe entry points, and how Intermediate complements Primary.
What we’ll cover
- Why Second Series balances Primary: opening front body, strengthening back line, refining twists
- Readiness checklist: stable triṣṭhāna, pain-free vinyāsa, responsive backbends
- Gateway families: gentle backbends, twists, hip/shoulder prep with counters
- How to integrate 1–2 Intermediate elements weekly without strain
Safety & accessibility
- Variations for knees, shoulders, and low back
- Clear cues to avoid forcing range
- Respectful assists and self-checks
You’ll leave with
A two-week integration plan to balance Primary & Intermediate
A readiness checklist for Intermediate
Tone and approach
Practice-first, non-dogmatic, and sustainable. We’ll keep the work precise yet compassionate so you build confidence with Intermediate while safeguarding a lifelong, joyful practice.
Sunday afternoon: Sunday Afternoon (12:30–15:00): Aṣṭāṅga Darśan
Exploring
A closing talk on yoga philosophy, weaving the Bhagavad Gītā and Yoga Sūtras into modern, practice-rooted life—without dogma, with space for reflection.
What we’ll cover
- What “darśana” means and why it matters
- Purpose of practice: clarity, steadiness, freedom—not performance
- Navigating pitfalls: perfectionism, comparison, overreaching
- Karma-yoga: work as practice
- Buddhi-yoga: wise decision-making
- Bhakti-yoga: gratitude and devotion
- Rāja-yoga: integrating the eight limbs into life
Format
Concise talk + open Q&A and reflection, grounded in lived practice.
You’ll leave with:
- Resources to continue study (Mysore Yoga Traditions & online programs)
- A clear lens for “traditional practice” today
- Practical tools to evaluate and adjust your sādhana
Biography
Andrew Eppler has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for over three decades. He is the director of Ashtanga Yoga Studio, producer of the Mysore Yoga Traditions film, and organizer of the Mysore Yoga Conference. Andrew teaches internationally and runs an ongoing online yoga training program with the support of the Sanskrit community in Mysore, India.
Andrew’s lifelong journey in yoga has given him a unique perspective on its evolution into world culture. He has spent years studying the philosophy of the Nathamuni Sampradaya tradition, to which Sri Krishnamacharya belonged. With insights from senior Sanskrit professors in Mysore, Andrew has developed a teaching approach that fits the modern paradigm while staying grounded in traditional philosophy and Ashtanga Vinyasa sequences. He believes in the inevitable evolution of yoga practice and uses a „global fusion“ of techniques, constantly refining his methods to create the best possible approach. Andrew aims to help each student fall in love with yoga, creating an evolving, healing practice that is both personal and shared graciously with others.
