IMPORTANT NEWS: casaAbhyasa - ashtanga yoga barcelona

Dear students and friends of casaAbhyasa – ashtanga yoga barcelona,

I just want to let you know that I am stepping away from the Shala, both from teaching there as well as running it. 

 

I have been contemplating and reflecting this possibility for the past year, observing it and sitting with it, trying not to make any hasty or abrupt decisions, as I feel very responsible for the Shala and for all of you, as practitioners, students, and friends to be able to continue to practice Ashtanga Yoga and receive teachings. 

 

The time has come in which the circumstances feel right and it will hopefully be a smooth and gentle transition, causing the least disruption possible. 

 

Many of you already know Aleix Griño Rios, who has taught at the Shala from March 2010 – March 2012, and also was my assistant for 6 months in 2008 when I was just teaching a simple morning Mysore-style program. He will run the Shala and teach from the 1^st of June. Veronica Fernandez, who has been part of the process of the Shala since it opened, first as an assistant, and now as a teacher, will also continue to teach at the Shala, which will create even more stability during this transition. I have the utmost confidence and faith that the Shala will continue with a similar vision, attention, care, and dedication, as I have tried to give it over the years. 

 

My vision with the Shala was to create a community and space in which people could come and and learn and practice Ashtanga Yoga, as a transformative process of healing in one's self-development and self-inquiry. It is a practice that has profoundly changed my life. Since my discovery of it, it has always been a compass, guiding me, throughout my years practicing in New York and India and then teaching internationally and finally coming to Barcelona. I began the Shala here in September 2009, shortly after Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) had passed away, very much inspired and influenced by Sharath's (Guruji's grandson, who continues the teaching at the Shala in Mysore, India) insistence and encouragement to share the practice and teachings in the most pure and traditional way possible, as it was taught and as I had learned by their guidance over the past 14 years. And this has always been my priority: to create a Shala where the teachings were as similar to the Mysore tradition as possible and to create a refuge, a sacred space, in the chaos of the city, in which one can come and connect strongly with oneself through the breath and the Ashtanga Yoga practice in order to create a sense of well-being, inner peace and harmony. 

 

Creating a Shala seemed a natural evolution after many years of teaching yoga, but I became soon aware that teaching yoga and running a Shala, especially in a country, culture, and language that are not my own, are quite distinct things. It has become clear to me that my passion lies in teaching and sharing this practice and not in running a Shala and all that that entails. So I have decided to step away from the Shala. And I entrust it in the capable hands of Aleix and Vero. 

 

I would like to express my immense gratitude to all of you for being a part of this experience. The Shala would not exist without your constant dedication to the practice and teachings. It has been a very enriching and rewarding experience to share the Ashtanga Yoga with you and to see each one's personal-development and evolution. Thank you for letting me accompany me on your journey. I wish you all the best in your own evolution and transformation. Remember that the practice is a tool in order to cultivate and connect with your inner peace, harmony, joy and well-being. Try not to get too lost in the external form or trapped in the asanas, which is just one part of this eight-fold path. Remember that yoga is an inward journey to open the heart and to connect with pure consciousness. 

 

I am sorry for having to express this in an e-mail, rather than more individually or personally, but the whole changeover process, once decided, has happened rather quickly, leaving little time and space for that to occur. If you would like to stay in touch with me: hojung108@gmail.com or +34 620 580 992.

At the moment, I have no plans. So I will definitely be in Barcelona for June, and most likely also July. After that, I will probably travel and I very much look forward to just being a practitioner again and exploring and growing in my own spiritual path and life journey. 

 

I wish each and every one of you all the best in your lives... may you be filled with joy, love, contentment, peace, and well-being. I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with each one of you and working with you on your practices. It has been a beautiful and very rewarding experience and all I can say is: thank you! With much love and gratitude... namaste, hojung

schedule change: public holiday - monday, 20 may 2013

I just want to let you know that this MONDAY, 20 MAY, is a public holiday and and the normal schedule of classes will be canceled. 

There will ONLY be a LED CLASS at 10am. Please arrive 10 minutes early, so that we can start on time. Thank you!
 

Take care and I hope to see you soon in class! Much love and peace, namaste, hojung

full moon yin yoga workshop: saturday, 25 may 2013

 

I am happy to announce that we will be offering a Full Moon Yin Yoga Workshop on SATURDAY, 25 MAY, from 10:30am – 1:30pm, taught by Kathy Paez. 

 

Cost: 25 euros (20 euros for students of casaAbhyasa or for those who have done a workshop with us previously). 

 

Limited space! Reserve your space at: 617 672 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com.

 

In this workshop:

* We will be exploring a Yin practice which will focus on opening the hips and stretching the lumbar area.

* We will end the session by exploring chandra namaskar (moon salutations) and some variations.
* Practitioners of all levels welcome... we hope to see you there! 

 

much love and peace... namaste, hojung

may news 2013

 Here is the shala news for May:  

1. WEDNESDAY, 1 MAY, is a public holiday and the normal schedule of classes will be canceled. There will ONLY be a LED CLASS at 10am. Please arrive 10 minutes early, so that we can start on time.  

2. Please note that this month only the new moon affects the class schedule this month: there will be NO class on FRIDAY, 10 MAY.  

3. MONDAY, 20 MAY, is a public holiday and the normal schedule of classes will be canceled. There will ONLY be a LED CLASS at 10am. Please arrive 10 minutes early, so that we can start on time.

 

4. On SATURDAY, 11 MAY, I will be teaching the FOURTH SESSION of the Ashtanga Yoga Workshop: Deepening your Understanding of the Practice, Deepening your Awareness of the Self” from 10am – 1pm.

Please register with me in class or by writing me at hojung108@gmail.com. Thank you!

5. On SATURDAY, 25 MAY from 10:30am – 1:30pm there will be a “Full Moon” Yin Yoga Workshop with Kathy Paez. You will be receiving an e-mail with more information about this workshop soon. Please reserve your space with Kathy Paez: 617 672 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com.

6. Please remember that we offer REGULAR YIN YOGA CLASSES at MIDDAY on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS, from 2:15pm – 3:30pm, taught by Kathy Paez, in our shala.
If you would like to attend these classes, please save your space: 617. 672. 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com or just come!  

Please note that lately I have been having some problems with my e-mail address info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org and I am not able to access my e-mails from there. So, please communicate with me at hojung108@gmail.com. Thanks very much! 

Take care and see you soon! Much love and peace, namaste, hojung

schedule change: wednesday, 1 may 2013

I just want to let you know that this WEDNESDAY, 1 MAY, is a public holiday and and the normal schedule of classes will be canceled. There will ONLY be a LED CLASS at 10am. Please arrive 10 minutes early, so that we can start on time. Thank you!

Take care and I hope to see you soon in class! Much love and peace, namaste, hojung

weekend introduction to ashtanga yoga workshop: saturday & sunday, 27 & 28 april 2013

I am happy to announce that we will be offering a Weekend Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga Workshop on SATURDAY, the 27th and SUNDAY, the 28th of APRIL taught by Verónica Fernandez.

* The workshop will be for 2 hours each day from 12pm to 2pm. 

* Cost: 50 euros.  

* This workshop includes:

· origin and methodology of ashtanga yoga, basic vocabulary, and the mantras,

· key principles of the physical practice: the ujjayi breath, bandhas, drishtis, and vinyasas

· the sun salutations and basic standing postures. 

* This is an ideal workshop for beginners of yoga or for people, who perhaps have practiced other styles of yoga in the past and are interested in trying ashtanga yoga.

* Come and enjoy this opportunity to learn and feel the benefits of ashtanga yoga... we hope to see you there!

Limited space! Pre-registration required: 650 845 692 or veroanfer@yahoo.com.ar

Take care… much love and peace, namaste, hojung.

april news 2013

Here is the shala news for the month of April:
1. Please note that the moon days this month are WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL, and, THURSDAY 25 APRIL. There will be NO class on these days.

2. On SATURDAY, 13 APRIL, I will be teaching the THIRD SESSION of the Ashtanga Yoga Workshop: Deepening your Understanding of the Practice, Deepening your Awareness of the Self” from 10am – 1pm.

* If this session fills up, I will add ANOTHER one of this same workshop on SUNDAY, 21 APRIL, from 12pm – 3pm, for those of you who do not have a space in the one on 13 April.

Please register with me in class or by writing me at info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org. Thank you!

3. On the WEEKEND of 27 & 28 APRIL there will be an Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga Workshop from 12pm – 2pm with Veronica Fernandez. Pre-registration required: 650 845 692 or veroanfer@yahoo.com.ar.

Please spread the word and encourage interested friends or family to sign up in order to get to know and learn this practice!

4. Please remember that we offer REGULAR YIN YOGA CLASSES at MIDDAY on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS, from 2:15pm – 3:30pm, taught by Kathy Paez, in our shala.
If you would like to attend these classes, please save your space: 617. 672. 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com or just come!

Take care and I hope to see you soon in class! With gratitude... much love and peace... namaste, hojung.

schedule changes for semana santa 2013

Please note that we will be having some SCHEDULE CHANGES for SEMANA SANTA (Easter weekend):
 
* Wednesday, 27 March: FULL MOON – CLOSED
* Friday, 29 March: PUBLIC HOLIDAY – LED CLASS at 10am ONLY (please arrive early so we can start on time.)
* Sunday, 31 March: EASTER – CLOSED 
* Monday, 1 April: PUBLIC HOLIDAY – LED CLASS at 10am ONLY (please arrive early so we can start on time.)

Enjoy your semana santa either here in Barcelona or wherever your travels take you! 
Take care and I hope to see you soon in class... much love and peace, namaste, hojung

yoga stops traffick 2013: saturday, 9 march 2013

On SATURDAY, 9 MARCH, we will be holding a “108 SUN-SALUTATIONS” benefit class to help Odanadi, an organization based in Mysore, India that works with getting women and children out of the sex trade and to stop human trafficking.

When: SATURDAY, 9 MARCH at 10am (please arrive earlier so that we can start on time)

Cost: DONATION (all donations will go to Odnadi)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, BUT CANNOT ATTEND THE CLASS, YOU MAY GIVE ME YOUR DONATION BEFORE THURSDAY, 21 MARCH.

Global, united, compassionate, YOGA STOPS TRAFFICK is a large-scale yoga event being held this year on March 9th 2013 in more than 150 locations around the world, to raise awareness about human trafficking and show support to its millions of victims.

UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING By standing alongside Odanadi on March 9^th you will be demonstrating your solidarity and support for them, as well as sending a message of defiance against the serious, rapidly escalating exploitation of women and children in India – and around the world.

• Odanadi Seva Trust is a pioneering anti-trafficking organization based in Mysore, South India, working for the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked women and children.
• Over the past 20 years Odanadi has rescued and rehabilitated more than 2,000 children, carried out 60 brothel raids and brought 137 traffickers to justice.
• Today Odanadi runs two residential rehabilitation centers in Mysore, housing up to 100 women and young people at any one time.
• Odanadi residents are provided with a wide range of therapeutic activities, from psychological counseling to art therapy, drama, karate to yoga and acupuncture.

If you would like to know more about this event and its cause, in the attachments you may visit their web-site: www.yogastopstraffick.org. You may also view this youTube clip of the Odanadi children practicing Yoga and preparing for this year´s event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXkYRQjhLM

I hope that you will take the opportunity to participate in this event! Besides having an individual yoga practice, yoga is also about creating community and helping others. this will be a nice opportunity to bring everyone together and maintain our sense of community as practitioners.
This event is open to all… so, please spread the word and forward this e-mail to anyone who you think might be interested in participating! IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE with me in class or at info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org. Thank you very much!

Take care… much love and peace... namaste, hojung

march news 2013

 I just want to let you know a few things for the month of March:

1. Please note that the moon days this month are MONDAY, 11 MARCH, and WEDNESDAY, 27 MARCH. There will be NO class on these days.

2. on TUESDAY, 5 MARCH, I have a prior personal commitment in the morning that I am unable to change, so NICK FENN will be giving the MORNING CLASS. Please welcome him! Thank you!

3. Please take into account the SCHEDULE CHANGES for SEMANA SANTA (Easter weekend):
* FRIDAY, 29 MARCH: LED CLASS at 10am ONLY (please arrive early so we can start on time.)
* SUNDAY, 31 MARCH: CLOSED
* MONDAY, 1 APRIL: LED CLASS at 10am ONLY (please arrive early so we can start on time.)

4. on SATURDAY, 9 MARCH, from 10am – 12pm, we will be holding a BENEFIT CLASS of 108 SUN SALUTATIONS to help Odanadi, an organization based in Mysore, India that works with getting women and children out of the sex trade and to stop human trafficking. This is the fourth annual world-wide event with many ashtanga shalas participating on the same day to raise money for this cause and to spread awareness of this issue.
I hope that you will be able to participate! Please reserve your space with me in class or by writing me at info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org

5. On SATURDAY, 16 MARCH, I will be teaching the SECOND SESSION of the Ashtanga Yoga Workshop: Deepening your Understanding of the Practice, Deepening your Awareness of the Self” from 10am – 1pm. THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.

* I am adding ANOTHER session of this workshop on SUNDAY, 17 MARCH, from 12pm – 3pm, for those of you who did not have a space in the one on 16 March.

Please register with me in class or by writing me at info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org if you would like to attend on SUNDAY, 17 MARCH. There are only 6 spaces still available. Thank you!

6. Please remember that we offer REGULAR YIN YOGA CLASSES at MIDDAY on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS, from 2:15pm – 3:30pm, taught by Kathy Paez, in our shala.
If you would like to attend these classes, please save your space: 617. 672. 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com or just come!

7. During these cold months, when entering and exiting the shala, please close the door well (without locking it) as to keep the warm air in and cold air out. Likewise, the doors to the practice room should always be kept closed in order to retain the heat.
If you leave AFTER 11am or 7:45pm, you can close the door to the shala completely. Thank you!

Take care and I hope to see you soon in class! With gratitude... much love and peace... namaste, hojung.

“yoga for women – mindful femininity” workshop: saturday, 2 march 2013

I am happy to announce that we will be offering a Workshop: “Yoga for Women – Mindful Femininity” on SATURDAY, 2 MARCH, taught by Kathy Paez and Sandra Varas.

When:

Full Day:
 9am – 1:30pm & 3:30pm – 6pm 
or Single Sessions

Cost:

Complete Workshop: 85€
Early Bird (Before 18 February): 70€
Only Morning: 60€
Only Afternoon: 35€

Limited space! Reserve your space at: kathypaez@gmail.com o 617.672.872 o sandra@sansyoga.com o 666.564.302

* In this workshop we will connect with the female essence in each one of us: understanding our needs, listening to our desires, and awakening our feminine nature – all through traditional knowledge and wisdom. There will be both theory and practice.

* Only when we are able to activate the female consciousness within our ancestral wisdom are we able to connect with our essential nature as women, allowing us to access our creative gifts and feminine energies.

WORKSHOP CONTENT:
* PRACTICE
- Yoga for women
- Rhythmic movement
- Meditation with essential oils
- Yin Yoga for women
- Women's circle and music
- Massage to balance out the hormones

* THEORY
- The role of the uterus
- The hormones
- The menstrual cycle
- The meridians of the female sex

*An infusion for women at the end of the last session

Practitioners of all levels welcome... we hope to see you there!

much love and peace... namaste, hojung

february news 2013

As winter and the cold continue, it is important to remember that the body changes quite a bit during this season, and it is quite normal to find it more stiff and with more aches and pains. We also may find our energy levels lower than during other seasons, and the practice can be a useful tool to transform this “inertia” into a more creative, active energy. Please remember that it is better to do a little practice, than none at all, and to always practice with compassion and awareness.

Here is the shala news for the month of February:

1. Please note that the moon days this month are on SUNDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, and  MONDAY, 25 FEBRUARY. There will be NO class on these days.

2. Please remember that we have adjusted our class prices slightly and they now are:
    2 classes/ week (NINE classes/month) = 60 euros (6.65€ x class)
    3 classes/week (THIRTEEN classes/month) = 75 euros (5.75€ x class)
    unlimited classes = 100 euros (4.15€ x class)

    * please remember that these monthly rates are non-refundable and that it is your responsibility to use the classes within the same month.

3. On SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY, I will be teaching an Ashtanga Yoga Workshop: Deepening your Understanding of the Practice, Deepening your Awareness of the Self”, Part I from 10am -1pm. THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL.

* I am adding  ANOTHER date for this first session of this workshop on SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY, from 12pm – 3pm, for those of you who did not have a space in the session on 9 February. 
Please register with me in class or by writing me at info@ashtangayogabarcelona.org if you would like to attend on SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY. There are only 14 spaces. Thank you!

4. Starting TUESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, the REGULAR YIN YOGA CLASSES at MIDDAY will continue on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS, from 2:15pm – 3:30pm, taught by Kathy Paez, in our shala. If you would like to attend these classes, please save your space: 617. 672. 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com  or  just come!

5. During these cold months, when entering and exiting the shala, please close the door well (without locking it) as to keep the warm air in and cold air out. Likewise, the doors to the practice room should always be kept closed in order to retain the heat. If you leave AFTER 11am or 7:45pm, you can close the door to the shala completely. Thank you!

6. I am looking for someone, who knows how to use “dreamweaver”, to help me make some changes to our web-site. if you are able to help me with this or know of anyone who can, please let me know. Thank you!

7. Ashtanga Yoga Barcelona now has a page on Facebook. If you would like, you can “like” us, to keep yourself informed about any news, upcoming events, or any other items that may be of interest in relation to ashtanga yoga or our shala.

It has been wonderful to see so many of you back in class again, committing to your practice and well-being! It is very inspiring to share this practice with you and to observe your progression and development! I hope that you will continue to enjoy the benefits of this practice in your health and all aspects of your life... may you be healthy and happy!

Take care and I hope to see you soon in class! With gratitude... much love and peace... namaste, hojung.

regular midday yin yoga classes: february 2013

i am happy to announce that starting on TUESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, we will be continuing the REGULAR MIDDAY YIN YOGA CLASSES, taught by Kathy Paez, in our shala.

when: TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS from 2:15pm – 3:30pm.

prices:

Trial class: 5 euros

Single Class: 10 euros

1x Week (Monthly): 35 euros

2x Week (Monthly): 50 euros

Two Months in Advance: 90 euros

reserve your spot! 617. 672. 872 or kathypaez@gmail.com or just come!

please take into account that this yin yoga program is independent of the normal curriculum of our ashtanga yoga classes. 

 

if you're looking to complement your ashtanga yoga practice with a softer and more restorative practice or simply if you want to take the opportunity at midday to be with yourself and breathe and stretch, these classes are for you! 

 

we hope to see you there! much love and peace… namaste, hojung

january news 2013

happy 2013! i wish you all the best for the coming year!  may you connect with your inner peace and fulfillment! 
i hope that you enjoyed your holidays and were able to relax and recharge.
here is the january news:

1. TUESDAY, 1 JANUARY 2013 is a public holiday and there will be NO class.

2. the NORMAL CLASS SCHEDULE will begin on WEDNESDAY, 2 JANUARY 2013:

* Morning MYSORE classes: MONDAY – FRIDAY from 8am – 12pm. (entry from 8am – 10:30am).
* Evening MYSORE classes: MONDAY – THURSDAY from 6pm – 9pm (entry from 6pm – 7:30pm).
* FRIDAY Evening LED class at 6pm.

* SUNDAY Morning LED class will be at 10am.

3. SUNDAY, 6 JANUARY is a public holiday and there will be NO class.

4. please note that the moon days this month are on FRIDAY, 11 JANUARY, and  SUNDAY, 27 JANUARY. there will be NO class on these days.

5. during these cold months, when entering and exiting the shala, please close the door well (WITHOUT LOCKING IT) as to keep the warm air in and cold air out… likewise, the doors to the practice room should always be kept closed in order to retain the heat. thank you!

6. for those of you who leave your yoga mats, cotton mats, and/ or towels at the shala, please remember to take them home once in awhile to wash. this should be done at least once a month for the cotton mats and once a week for the towels, and more, if you happen to sweat alot or happen to find any of these items to be smelly. thank you!

i would like to thank you all for coming to class this past year and bringing your energy to the shala! I know that for many of you, 2012 was quite an intense year, and i hope that through it all, the practice helped you to go with the flow and to connect with your inner peace. often the new year is a time in which we conscientiously want to commit to bringing healthy changes to our lives for our well-being. the yoga practice is a powerful tool in which we can begin this process – cultivating awareness of our physical, emotional, and psychological bodies, expanding this consciousness into the more subtle layers of our being, and connecting all this to a larger, more universal experience. i hope that you will continue your dedication to the practice and your own personal path. for those of you who have taken some time away from the practice, i hope that you will reconnect with it now. i look forward to seeing you all soon! with gratitude… much love and peace… namaste, hojung.