By Liz Falk (dare we say it, our local Rocketeer?)
If you're a fan of Vinyasa Flow yoga or you're an Ashtangi but sometimes crave a little spice, Rocket Yoga will suit your fancy - more accurately it will blow your mind! :) After my first Rocket class, I experienced a Savasana euphoria. Perhaps you've had this experience… where your body, mind and being feel so complete that if you weren't a yogi, you'd think it was an out of body experience. Yet because you're a yogi, you realize it's actually the most humble and refreshing in-body realization you've ever had. You're present. You're alive. And you realize it more than ever. In my experience this euphoria is a known, yet somewhat rare phenomenon, at the end of yoga classes, and The Rocket sequence seems to be ingeniously designed to facilitate this feeling every class.
To me, The Rocket is the best of Vinyasa and Ashtanga combined into one awesome class. Originally designed by Larry Shultz, a student of K. Pattabhi Jois and traditional Ashtanga Yoga, Larry created the Rocket as a more accessible alternative to traditional Ashtanga by encouraging students to try full or modified poses from 1st-3rd series (in traditional Ashtanga teachers were authorized to give a student a new pose to practice after the teacher felt the student had mastered the previous one.) Schultz was a yoga teacher for the Grateful Dead, and Bob Weir named the sequence The Rocket because "it gets you there faster".
The combination of the two styles creates "a feel good" routine that is challenging, fun, energizing and yet still, utterly restorative. The sequence includes arm balance and inversion options within the standing and seated portions of the sequence, back bends and counter forward folds, twists and more. Most intermediate yogis will recognize most of the asanas of the Rocket, and the style of sequencing calls for numerous poses done in a row on the right side before repeating them all on the left side. This style of sequencing will be new for Ashtanga students, yet still feel familiar and meditative. And Vinyasa Flow students will find the numerous seated poses with a Vinyasa in between (i.e. the lift-up, jump back, chaturanga, up dog, down dog, jump through to a seat) to be new and challenging.
Warning - Rocket Yoga is likely to have the following side effects: unexplained happiness, sense of freedom, physical tiredness, restlessness of the mind, cleaning of organs (detox), a new love for yoga, a desire to do handstands all the time, ability to focus and relax.
Want a taste of The Rocket? I'm teaching it at Mighty Yoga during our Anniversary Week, Sunday, Aug 25 @ 1:30pm. Join us for an awesome flow at the bargain price of only $4!
And I'm psyched that my teacher and Rocket master, David Kyle, is visiting Ithaca and Syracuse yoga studios next month as part of a Rocket Science Yoga Weekend organized by the Finger Lakes Yoga Alliance. Mighty Yoga is hosting a $10 community class w/ David, Friday night, Sept. 6 @ 6:30pm. We're calling it Rocket III Happy Hour. This class sold out last year, so you don’t want to miss this!
For more info about the weekend and to sign up online visit FLYA’s website like now!
Rocket Science Yoga Weekend
w/ David Kyle
September 5 - 8, 2013
Ithaca & Syracuse Yoga Studios
Visit www.fingerlakesyogaalliance.com and Register here!
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