Mindful Approach to Ashtanga Yoga with Scott Johnson

Workshop summary

Why do we practise? This question governs the more important question: how do we practise. In this workshop we will dive into the breathing and mindfulness techniques to see how Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga actually presents us with the ability to wake up to our lives, developing the awareness to continually underpin yoga practice as our default viewpoint. This then enhances and liberates the way we truly see our world.

• In the first part of this workshop, Scott Johnson, a highly experienced practitioner and a senior teacher of yoga and mindfulness, will lead us through the counted Primary series of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. We will practise with an inquiring mind, unveiling the patterns of our own practice. We will use mindfulness techniques to connect ourselves to our practice and prepare to re-engage with the beauty of our lives outside of the yoga class.
• In the second part of this workshop, Scott will share his comprehension of the mindful yoga practice. Practice, which allows the practitioner to be truly present and relaxed into that “what is”, both on the yoga mat and in our daily lives. Scott sees yoga practice as a metaphor for life, and life as a practice – what we call Sadhana in Sanskrit, the language of yoga. Slowing down and seeing relationships play out equally, awakens us to our lives and choices. A clearer quality of awareness can then open up for us.
• We will hold an interactive discussion on our own meanings of what yoga is. How the body follows the pathway of the breath, the link between prana, upward flow and apana, downward flow. How this is the framework to the practice. This is the way to truly practise our awareness. Stirha and Sukha become the experience in the postural practice.

Workshop layout

• 09:00 – 11:00 – counted led Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga session.
• 11:30 – 13:00 – discourse on Ashtanga yoga and mindful yoga practice and daily life.

Attendees profile

This workshop is designed for practitioners of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, who practise at least up to Navasana (boat) posture.

Workshop teacher

Scott Johnson has been practising Ashtanga yoga since 2002 and teaching since 2003. He is the co-founder and main teacher at a well known Ashtanga yoga studio Stillpoint Yoga London (founded in 2009 with the late Ozge Karabiyik).

Scott’s teaching is greatly inspired and influenced by John Scott, Lucy Crawford and Manju Pattabhi Jois. Scott met John in 2002 and instantly felt the deep connection to the Ashtanga yoga lineage through John’s teaching and his relationship with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Scott connected with John and Lucy in workshops and assisted self-practice weeks through the years, and in 2008/2009 he undertook a 2-month intensive teacher training at their Stillpoint yoga retreat in New Zealand. It was here that Scott met the late Ozge Karabiyik, and between them they created Stillpoint Yoga London.

In 2014 Scott became one of the few teachers to receive the 500hr certification from John Scott Yoga to teach the Primary and Intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga and is one of the world top Ashtanga teachers listed on Ashtanga.com.  In 2016 Manju authorised Scott to teach the Primary and Intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga. Scott is registered as a senior yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance UK and he has also undergone extensive training with Clear Mind Institute, gaining their level 1, 2  & 3 certificate in Mindfulness and Compassion.

Scott teaches with encouragement, insight and integrity to the Ashtanga yoga lineage he has had access to. He adheres to the authentic tradition left by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, assisting practitioners in discovering how the practice can unfold, not only personally on the mat, but also in the wider context of daily life.

Scott is a personal old friend of Irina and Patrick, founders of Iriness Yoga & Wellbeing. And we are so happy to invite him to Iriness as our first visiting teacher. Join us for this insightful workshop.

Workshop price

The workshop price is £50, which includes 2h Ashtanga counted led session and 1h30 of the yoga and mindfulness discourse.