David is the owner and director of the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto. With 100+ students each morning, he leads one of the world's largest Mysore programs. David made his first trip to Mysore, India in 2002, where he initiated studies with his teacher Sharath Jois. Since then he has returned annually to deepen and enrich his practice and teaching. David teaches workshops and retreats around the world, and he recently released a popular series of videos on vinyasa, Learn To Float. He is Level-2 Authorized by the Sharath Yoga Centre.
Jelena first came to yoga through dance. As a former ballet dancer of 16 years, the structure and rigor 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.
My Wife and I are doing Masters in Yoga from India.. we love your video very inspirational. Great sound quality, may you pls share the idea (equipment used, setup)
My teacher says not to do inversions. I think it has something to do with the blood flow, not sure ..other than that, I like thinking of a period as a holiday. Some periods I feel strange energy and adrenaline, but also the urge to sleep. And I absolutely adore those day or two of rest.
Thank you very much for your contribution. That was exactly the question I asked myself in my Asana practice over the last few days. Kind regards from Bad Meinberg Germany
Love these videos, love following you both - so motivational, inspirational and fun. Great tips that have helped me with challenging poses, as well as improving my alignment in poses that I am doing regularly. I am taking your Ashtanga for Beginners course and enjoying it. Going through the content slowly but surely 😃
Hello J&D, In full lotus, is there a reason why we ALWAYS bring the right foot to the hip before the left foot? Is this simply tradition or is there a physiological reason for it? It's always been easier for me to start with the right foot, but I often practice left foot first to change it up and keep things balanced (at least in my mind.) Thanks for all you share.
Hi David and Jelena, Thank you very much for your super helpful and entertaining video's.I’d love to see a video on Pasasana and Mandukasana poses.Thank you :) :);)
I can do the lift in lotus position but only with my hands on yogablocks, because my arms are really too short to reach otherwise. :) Lotus position is quite easy for me when meditating, but I think that maybe I can't "roll up" sufficiently like you do in the video. Thank you!
thank you so, so, so much for your excellent videos!!! I am watching the alignment tutorials on the primary (half) series asanas religiously many times to practice at home in a healthy way. If you could come around to matsyasana and uttana padasana also, I would appreciate it a lot because i am unsure about the placement of the head and the position/feeling in the back. thank you a million for this amazing resource! 🙏💟 you guys are wonderful!!!
Sit bones always come off the floor for me if I fold forward in lotus with forehead to the floor. Should i fold forward less or just work more with directing the sits bones downward?
Mr Kani is sooo cute!! 🥰 looove the tutorials!! So useful information! Can you do one about pasasana? Maybe some tips for the bind? Thank you guys! 🙏🏻💕
Hi David and Jelena, I started with Yoga from zero last year. I did and still practice a lot of road cycling as I realized that I need flexibility and strength too. An can say I learnerd a lot and I enjoy my yoga lessons. I am quite „addicted“ and started to find more about Yoga in the Internet. Your videos are helpful and interesting and keep me motivated. THANKS!❤ Since I still like cycling I try to „compensate“ the unhealthy posture on the bike especially that for the feet. It would be great of you could do a Video on foot Yoga….
Thanks for this tutorial. This is another frustrating pose for me - I've been stuck for over four years being able to bind on the first side, but only just able to touch my big toe on the second and not bind it (or the foot). I'll keep trying, paying particular attention to your guidance.
I really enjoy learning from from the both of you. Just love it. You said in one of your videos that there is a particular way to fold your knee for more leverage and safety. I need help with folding my limbs properly so that I don’t cause injury.
It's important to emphasize that going vegan isn't simply a matter of eliminating animal products from your diet. With a plant-based diet, you should include a B-12 supplement, which is an essential B vitamin that can only be found in animal products. I've been a vegetarian since my first year of college, which was 46 years ago. At one point, I considered becoming vegan when I learned about the animal cruelty involved in the diary industry. However, after trying several plant-based dairy products, I went the opposite direction, and now I consider myself pescatarian. I feel much healthier when I'm eating a limited amount of fish once-a-week, just for the extra boost of protein.
This one video might have kept me going in Ashtanga. I am starting again, 10 years later with renewed hope. So grateful for this video! I'll start practicing with your other videos.
Also my problem is that all my body is long, my legs, my torso and my arms i find it so hard to find balance. I love yoga but i feel sad not to be able to do a bit more than always beginners classes.
Hello I cant do any of this. My shoulders and my chest especially my chest, i have a feeling it will break and i will go to hospital. I wonder why i am so inflexible and if there is a chance to improve it.
Thank you! I got it right at my first time following your technique. I got a neck pain from the night and I did not know it went away after I tried doing the wheel.
I've definitely heard this a lot while practicing backends - to keep the glutes engaged to protect the lower back. So hearing you say the opposite of this instead is really interesting to me. Does this apply to all backbends or only urdhva dhanurasana?
