Description: Emma Hudelson on Ashtanga Yoga
It’s been over four years since I’ve posted anything to this blog, but I’m still practicing. Other than the chair yoga I make my creative writing students do in the first five minutes of class, I’m not teaching any yoga, and that’s probably for the best. My calling lies elsewhere. Standing in the front of a shala and making the call for samasthiti isn’t meant for me.
In the years between my last post and this one, practice has remained a near-constant. In the fall of 2016, I took three months off from Ashtanga to explore other styles of yoga and pursue different fitness activities. HIIT classes, pole, and slow flow were fun, but Ashtanga eventually called me home, and I rebuilt my practice from Surya A onward.
Today, Ashtanga is still part of my life. My husband even practices with me. But it isn’t the focal point, and it probably never will be again. While I used to think real Ashtangis had to practice six days a week, now I’m thrilled if I get to my mat three or four times a week. Instead of forcing myself through my entire sequence every time I practice, I’m okay with (gasp) skipping poses on days I need to shorten my practice. That used to sound like sacrilege, but really, it’s a reasonable method that lets m