A Broader Context of Ashtanga Yoga
A 3-Day Weekend Workshop with Adam Keen
in Vienna May 16-18 2025

The wider the perspective on anything, the better. If we can see it from varying angles, see ifs influences and why things have evolved as they have, we are in a better position to make informed decisions about how we want to approach our practice. In a short weekend, Adam’s aim is to suggest varied possibilities in terms of how to approach what is often presented now as a single approach. As with anything, more information enables you to have a broader philosophical context around the practice, one which is outside the typical box of how the Ashtanga practice should be done. Adam imparts his knowledge in an understanding and compassionate way so all students can progress and gain interest in their daily practice aside from being a set of rules and restrictions. This is a unique opportunity to experience all that he has to share. FRIDAY 16 TH
6.00-7.30pm: Breathing Basics & Evolution of Mysore Yoga We will start with a bit of introduction to breathing using the diaphragm and how to use what is often now referred to as the muscle of the soul. Yoga clothes not required but dress comfortably. Followed by a presentation on the changes in teaching since the first Westerners arrived in Mysore over 50 years ago. It’s not only interesting, but, also, useful to our own practices, to know how what we are doing has evolved up until this point.

SATURDAY 17 TH
8.00 – 9.30 Group 1, 9.45 – 11.15 Group 2: Ashtanga Assisted Self-Practice
A self-practice class with verbal instruction and light physical assistance. Adam offers directions for you to experience asanas in a comfortable and stable way in your body. He does not believe in forcing people into postures and focuses on safe and non-intrusive assistance. The class follows the traditional Ashtanga yoga sequences and series, however it’s OK if you need practice sheets, props or to modify asanas to suit your own needs. 12.00 – 13.30: Arm Balances
Building up from the basics with some technique essentials, we will then have a go at some of the more advanced arm-balances in a way that everyone can enjoy and experience the exhilaration of taking our weight into our own hands – quite literally! 14.00 – 15.30: Alternative Yoga Sutras
Adam presents an alternative view of The Yoga Sutras based on discussing the text with some of the leading authorities on it. We will consider current usages, and how it might be more effectively related to our modern lives, rather than simply in stopping the mind and getting rid of our ego as
it’s commonly portrayed as suggesting.

SUNDAY 18th
8.00 – 9.30 Group 1, 9.45 – 11.15 Group 2, Ashtanga Assisted Self-Practice As above

12.00 – 13.30: Common Injuries, How to Prevent and Manage Them

We will discuss common injuries of the knees, lower back, and shoulders along with others, to find out why they happen, how to protect ourselves against them, and/or, how to rehab ourselves if they’ve already occurred by working with our practice (rather than stopping altogether).

14.00 – 15.30: Beyond the Yoga Sutras, followed by Q&A

As much as the Yoga Sutras is an excellent text, the hatha yoga practice we are doing falls outside the remit of its Classical Yoga. Rather than simply aiming to still the mind, Hatha yoga suggests a more dynamic approach to reconciling energy in the body so the mind is naturally lucid and calm. We shall discuss this method of embracing the body known as Tantra and how hatha yoga fits into this, and, most particularly, why we might relate to our practice as such, and, not as Classical
yoga, using asana simply as a precursor to meditation.

Adam is one of only a few students to have completed the Advanced A series in Mysore with Sharathji. He received Level 2 Authorization in 2012 and has taught Ashtanga yoga for almost 25 years. Equally at home teaching all levels, he gives all students attention and interest. He is democratic in his approach and kind. Coming from an academic background in philosophy and a professional one as a chef, he is knowledgeable, practical, and relatable in his approach. Many consider him humorous too. His firm belief is that the practice can remain traditional and be suited to the demands and needs of each body without contradiction. Adam and his wife Theresa run the online yoga platform Keen on Yoga. He hosts the Keen on Yoga Podcast & YouTube channel, interviewing many of the world’s most renowned Ashtanga teachers and philosophical academics.