Yoga Vastu

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Yoga Vastu

Created by Pixie Lillas, Yoga Vastu provides online video, audio and illustrated materials for Iyengar yoga home practice.

Yoga Vastu is a resource for Iyengar sequences, audio, video and articles. All content is curated or created by Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Pixie Lillas.

01/04/2025

🌺Yoga Retreat
🌿Location: Dolcedo, Italy
⏱️When: June 28 - July 5
🦎Teacher: Pixie Lillas

Pixie Lillas will be teaching a one-week (7 nights) retreat for experienced students in Dolcedo, Liguria in Italy.

Unlike a yoga holiday, a retreat offers the opportunity to absorb oneself in the study of asana and pranayama without the distractions of everyday life. Participants are encouraged to approach the week from the perspective of immersion and reflection.

Students who attend Dolcedo will have the opportunity to explore the effects of pranayama once or twice a day and to have ongoing sequential asana sessions which allow for the development of particular yoga techniques and concepts tailored to the group.

Find out more: https://yogavastu.com/workshop/iyengar-yoga-retreat-with-pixie-lillas-in-dolcedo-italy-2/

04/09/2024

🌿October 4 - 11: Join Pixie for an immersive, weeklong retreat with three daily yoga sessions, including asana, pranayama, and some special focus sessions.

🌿Who is this retreat for?
Teachers, trainees and experienced students who have a regular practice, including inversions and backbends.

🌿To find out more about the full schedule and costs, follow the instructions on our website: https://yogavastu.com/workshop/iyengar-yoga-retreat-with-pixie-lillas-in-kaiteriteri-nz/

11/07/2024

🌱Sequence: Standing and Seated Forward Bends for Beginners
⏱️Time: 60 mins
🌸Level: Beginners

This sequence brings forward bending into focus.� Here you will go through some standing and seated forward bends, learning the important actions required to explore your limits when you extend forward.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/standing-and-seated-forward-bends-for-beginners/

29/06/2024

🌱Sequence: Forward Bends with a Focus on the Inner Groin
⏱️Time: 80 mins
🌸Level: Advanced

This is a well-rounded advanced level forward bend sequence that will feature both standing and seated poses. The main focus will be directed at opening up the groin area. We will start off with some standing poses and move on to the seated portion of the class, which, apart from forward bends, will also include some seated twists and some more static and meditative poses, such as Siddhasana and Padmasana.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/forward-bends-with-a-focus-on-the-inner-groin/

22/06/2024

🌱Sequence: Consciousness in Our Yoga Practice
⏱️Time: 80 mins
🌸Level: General

According to yogic tradition, the consciousness can be divided into four aspects: manas (mind), ahankara (I’ness), buddhi (intellect), and chitta (cosmic intelligence). Mind is expressed through our thoughts, our reflections, our associations. The mind is always busy with details and connections. The mind, like a monkey, jumps from object to object.

Geeta Iyengar says that the mind sees only in terms of pleasure and pain, good and bad, right or wrong. The mind summarises. We can view this aspect of the mind as the surface of the ocean. But there are more layers. Just like in an ocean, the surface is turbulent. The lower we drop below the surface, the calmer the waters become. As you settle down and prepare for practice, the turbulence of the mind becomes especially apparent. Focus on the quality of your thoughts: what jumps to the surface?

Ahankara is about seeing the world through the lens of yourself. This is connected to the concept of manas: an action will provoke a thought, a judgment. We will internally voice our opinion as to how an action made us feel, and these arising thoughts will influence our further actions, maybe even prevent us from immersing ourselves fully in the practice.

When practicing this sequence, try to keep all this in mind. This way, you can begin to explore ways of working with your consciousness to enhance your yoga experience, turning it from a purely physical into a spiritual exercise. Remember: the goal isn’t to eradicate the mind, but to be able to quieten it, to bring it back into the present moment.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/consciousness-in-our-yoga-practice/

04/06/2024

🌱Sequence: Consolidate Your Foundations with Standing Poses
⏱️Time: 60 mins
🌸Level: Beginner

In this sequence for lower-level students, we will be focussing on consolidating our foundations by going through some of the major standing poses.

It is a good idea to have some support at this stage: some blocks, a couple of blankets or towels, and a chair for the inversions at the end.

At this point, it's advisable to work on getting aligned in our poses and on learning to breathe in a way that helps us relax even when doing the more strenuous poses. So, we'll be going step by step through most of the basic poses — Trikonasana, Parsvottanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana — and trying to see what actions go into each pose and how we can work on improving our understanding of them.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/consolidate-your-foundations-with-standing-poses/

27/05/2024

🌱Sequence: Forward bends with emphasis on hips and hamstrings
⏱️Time: 40 mins
🌸Level: General

This is a more dynamic sequence, in which the student is presented with a wide range of standing and sitting forward bends with variations. This will be suitable for anyone who is short on time and wishes to jump straight into the practice, as well as for those who don't need to warm up too much in advance.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/forward-bends-with-emphasis-on-hips-and-hamstrings/

21/12/2023

🌱Sequence: Strengthening and Elongation in Backbends
⏱️Time: 90 mins
🌸Level: 2

The session starts with a series of standard standing poses and inversions, setting the pace and energy for what's to come. Once we've warmed up and aligned the body, we transition into the main part of the session: the backbend asanas. The class centres on these postures, emphasising their significance in enhancing flexibility and core strength.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/strengthening-and-elongation-in-backbends/

08/12/2023

🌱Class: Twisting and Balancing Actions in Standing Poses
⏱️Time: 92 mins
🌸Level: 3

In this session, we'll explore a wide range of standing poses, incorporating challenging elements like twisting and balancing actions. Although relatively brief, this session presents significant challenges due to the variety of poses covered. You can expect advanced twisted standing poses such as Parivritta Trikonasana and Parivritta Ardha Chandrasana, standing balances like Virabhadrasana III, and inversions such as Pincha Mayurasana, Sirsasana, and Sarvangasana.

Twisting and balancing requires a lot of mental presence. This is why, right from the session's outset, you'll be encouraged to ask yourself: 'Am I fully present from the beginning, or does it take time to immerse myself? How long does it take?' Asking yourself these questions before each session is vital as they foster daily self-awareness. Over time, this introspective approach becomes habitual, enhancing accountability in both your practice and daily life. This habit will pave the way for clearer progress along your developmental journey.

Practice here: https://yogavastu.com/v/twisting-and-balancing-in-standing-poses/

05/12/2023

🌱Sequence: Menstruation Practice for Second Half of Cycle
⏱️Time: 40 mins
🌸Level: General

This sequence can be practised during the second part of the menstrual cycle, when our energy levels are a bit higher, or when you are wanting to create some hip and groin opening, using supports as needed to lessen any load when stiff or fatigued.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/menstruation-practice-for-second-half-of-cycle/

29/11/2023

🌱Class: Seated Forward Bends to Balance Your Practice
⏱️Time: 78 mins
🌸Level: 1/2

We will start this class with some standing forward bends to warm up our legs and help extend our backs. Then, we will go through a few preparatory inversions. Then, the seated pose session will begin. Then, we will finish with a few cooling inversions, such as Sarvangasana and Halasana.

Practice here: https://yogavastu.com/v/seated-forward-bends-to-balance-your-practice/

27/11/2023

🌱Sequence: Seated Forward Bends with Short Timings
⏱️Time: 90 mins
🌸Level: Experienced

This session employs shorter durations for poses, allowing for the inclusion of a few less commonly practiced postures within the sequence. There's a focus on Padmasana in some parts, but if you prefer to skip it, simply repeat the pose just before it and hold it for an additional 30-45 seconds.

Using shorter timings (anything under 30 seconds) can add an intriguing dynamic to the session. While we stay within the realm of forward bends for most of the session, the essence lies in the flow between postures rather than in each individual pose. Through the use of fast transitions, the sequence acquires a consistent feel and rhythm. This continuity helps lead us into a state of quiet focus that forward bends often bring.

Print it here: https://yogavastu.com/s/seated-forward-bends-with-short-timings/

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What is Yoga Vastu?

Yoga Vastu is a resource for Iyengar yoga practice created by Pixie Lillas. We offer high-quality video, illustrated sequences, annotated audio and informative articles to help you get the most out of your home practice. All material has been created by certified Iyengar yoga teachers with over 40 years of Iyengar yoga teaching experience.

Many students are able to make it to classes and engage very positively with their teachers, but when it comes to maintaining a regular practice that they do at home, things start to fall apart.

Our objective is to provide the professional instruction that you receive in a class but available to you at any time from the comfort of your home.

All content is created and curated by Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Pixie Lillas with contributions from other world-renowned experienced Iyengar yoga practitioners.