Rocket Your Yoga
Rocket Yoga ‘gets you there faster’!
I’ve always been inspired by traditional mysore style Ashtanga with its rigid sequence of poses passed down from ancient practice. It’s generally a 90 minute session, done in silence (except for the deep ujayi breathing) and often at the crack of dawn. Back in my serious Yoga days (pre children and other family commitments) I was down on the mat at 6am pushing my body into crazy contortions.
These days, entering my 4th decade with 2 small children in tow and juggling part time work, it’s a challenge getting into bed early enough to get up that early. Tried it and ended up getting sick. So I yoga whenever I can whereever I can.
Tonight it was Rocket Yoga. It’s a derivation of the Ashtanga primary series, condensed, intense, fun and seriously body changing. Many of the traditional Ashtanga poses are fast tracked but the basics are there: sun salutations with up and down dogs, warriors, seated stretches and twists, arm balances and inversions. And they move FAST. No time to languish and get a deep stretch in a pose, you’re flowing through your vinyasa and getting really hot really fast. I really enjoyed/was seriously challenged by the balancing transition from Hand to Big Toe Pose to Warrior 3 then Half Moon Pose (for those of you who are down with the Sanskrit — Utthita Hasta Padangustasana, Virabhadrasana III, Ardha Chandrasana). All on one leg. (Tip — keeping eyes on one unmoving spot and maintaining the breath really helps!)
If anything, the advanced nature of Rocket means experienced students jump straight into their Handstands or Splits, whereas novices or returners-to-yoga like myself have a short time to flounder rather than practice and improve on the more tricky arm balances. My wrists will be aching tomorrow that’s for sure.
Still I really enjoyed the funky beats and more accessible nature of Rocket — nails all the key Ashtanga moves in 60 mins and means I can get on with the million things I have to do everyday.
Try Rocket if you like
- Ashtanga, Vinyasa, any flowing and fast paced Yoga or fitness class.
- Maybe pass if you need a calming, gentle practice today.
You can find Rocket at:
- Brixton https://www.facebook.com/moreyogaldn/
- Clapham SW3 http://www.yogahaven.co.uk/london-yoga/clapham/yoga-classes/rocket-yoga
Resources:
http://www.rocketvinyasayoga.com/#
https://www.theyogaspace.co.uk/blog/PostId/190/what-is-rocket-yoga
