Ashley Yoga

Website

2010-12-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

All yoga info is now at www.ashleywestroberts.com

Love,

Ashley

Sub schedule

2010-10-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

If you are trying to catch an extra class or two in the coming weeks please take a look at my sub schedule.

10/11 7 pm vinyasa at Square One Yoga Collective, Emeryville
10/17 10:45 am vinyasa Namaste, Rockridge
10/30 8 am vinyasa Namaste, Rockridge
10/31 10:45 am vinyasa Namaste, Rockridge
11/2 7:30 pm Namaste, Rockridge

Hope to see you soon!

Really?

2010-09-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Really?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100922/od_yblog_upshot/city-hoping-yoga-imagery-will-curb-parking-ticket-anger

Yin/Yang

2010-08-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

The Yin/Yang workshop is back! This workshop always sells out, so please email me with questions and pre register at your earliest convenience. Click on the link below and select "workshops" for details. Love to you all XO!

http://squareoneyoga.com

Advanced Flow Practice!!!

2010-07-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am going to be holding a class for "advanced" practitioners at my home studio on July 31 from 9:30-11:15am. Let's have some fun and play around with inversions, arm balances and creative sequences! I am not going to tell you what poses you HAVE to be able to do to come- I am not into that. However, you should be confident with your regular practice and be willing to try new things. You should also be relatively injury free and more than willing to EXPLORE a juicy, flowing, crazy sequence.

For more info sign up with me directly at ashnwest@gmail.com or post a comment to this blog entry.

Some of you have been asking about when I am doing the Yin/Yang workshop again and unfortunately the answer is September. It just is not possible, given my current schedule, to host a workshop before the fall.

See you soon!

Are You?

2010-04-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Candlelight Yoga

2010-04-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

The first candlelight yoga class is this Thursday, April 15th, 2010!
This is a gentle, mellow flow class with yin postures. You can sign up by going to www.suretomeet.com. You will need to click on the "find events" tab at the top to get to the search page. Once you are on the search page type Ashley into the "key word or phrase" space as well as fill in your zip code.

This will be an ongoing public class. Six students max.

NAMASTE!
Ashley

My home yoga studio

2010-03-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

So very happy to announce the opening of my home studio! Here you can find rates and information about the studio.

Private Sessions
1 Person/$50
2-3 people/$70

Small Group Classes
contact me directly for rates
415.624.7980

Open class rates
1 hour class/$10
1 hour fifteen class/$12
1 hour forty-five/$18

open classes and sign up schedule coming soon to the blog

All classes are held at 426 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA
Cross street is Lagunitas.

* private sessions are for those students who have specific needs and wants. a private session is specifically designed for you. you can use the time to work on clear alignment, working with injury, learning how to sequence for your home practice, or to learn specific poses and yogic ideas not often taught in the class setting. privates can be scheduled as often or as little as you like.

small group classes are for groups of friends, neighbors or co- workers who want to take a class together. this is a class based on what the group wants to achieve. max participation is 6 so that i can provide a lot of adjustments. small group classes can be scheduled as one time or ongoing.

i welcome you to compare my rates to other teachers and studios in the area. it is my goal to offer quality yoga instruction that is affordable and accessible. if you are still being priced out of doing yoga please contact me.

Yin Y'all

2010-01-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Yin yoga is where it's at. Oh you didn't know? Just try a short practice before bed. Practicing before I go to bed has given me improved sleep, increased energy in the morning and has also regulated my digestion.

Try this short practice anytime after dinner or before you go to bed. Hold each pose for 5 mins or more. Finish with savasana.

Two of my favorite things....

2010-01-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

Woody Harrelson and yoga! I think Woody Harrelson is a genius actor- see natural born killers- and a pretty inspirational person. If you do not know anything about his background then google stalk him immediately to your hearts desire! I always notice when I see little tid bits about him in the media. So for your enjoyment.......Woody on yoga.

HARRELSON: Yoga is the best thing for your sex life! It keeps you limber in all kinds of ways. It teaches you to love your body and your partner’s body. But more than anything, it keeps your mind liquid, and nothing’s sexier than that. Mind and body open to possibilities. I read this quote from Bruce Lee, one of the greatest quotes ever. He said, “Be water.” We can become so rigid in our beliefs, in our thinking, and I think yoga is a great way to force you outside of your mental and physical rigidity. My mind was rigid growing up, as I’ve explained, but so was my body. Super tight. Yoga started curing the chronic pain I had, but it also released my mind along with it. In many ways I feel I’m battling to stay liquid, to be like water. I don’t want to be a superficial guy, you know? I want to get out from under all the superficiality of our culture and live free of the strictures our society places on us. I want to be a sensory person but not be controlled by the senses. I want to live a spiritual life but not be controlled by religion. I want to live free but also devote myself to family and the love of the great woman I share my life with. What’s great is that for the first time I’m finding that balance. I still have a long way to go in some areas, but that’s part of what keeps things interesting—figuring it all out. But in general, man, I wake up every morning asking, “What the fuck did I do in my last life to deserve the amazing fucking life I got in this one?"

Full interview here
http://www.flixster.com/actor/woody-harrelson/woody-harrelson---playboy-interview

SQUARE ONE

2009-11-06T19:53:00.001-08:00

SUBBING TOMORROW MORNING AT THE ROCKIN SQUARE ONE!!!!!!!!
Come take an awesome vinyasa class with me at S1 Yoga Collective tomorrow morning at 9am!

www.squareoneyoga.com

Out sick today!

2009-10-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone. I am out sick today. All my classes will be subbed and all privates canceled. Thank you for your understanding.

Vara Healing Arts students:
I will also have a sub for Thursday. Leyla will be teaching a gentle yoga class for you all to enjoy!
Take care and I will see you on Sunday.

LOKA YOGA

2009-09-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone. Today is a beautiful day in Oakland. The sun is shining and the temperature is perfect. I want to let you guys know I am subbing for Scott Snow at LOKA YOGA tomorrow Saturday at 9:30am. If you have the time come take this class and experience the blissful heaven that is LOKA. This is one of the best yoga studios you will ever step foot in. I cannot quite describe the vibe of the place but it is so vibrantly beautiful and welcoming and I am sure you will love the space and the people. In case you need directions, here is a link to the site. You can also call me with any questions. I believe they have an intro price (not listed on the site) that is 15 dollars for 3 classes as long as you are a new student. This means you can take my class on Saturday and then a class with Alice (genius) and a class with Amber( restorative goddess) whenever you like. See you in class!

http://www.loka-oakland.blogspot.com/

SUBS

2009-09-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. My class this Sunday, 9/6 at Vara is canceled because I will be in Chicago and most of you are going out of town for the Holiday. Kimiko Armon will be subbing Sunday night 9/6 at Gold's. She is a very sweet and gentle Iyengar teacher. There is no class on Monday at Gold's again, because of the Holiday.

Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend. See you soon.

NAMASTE!
Ashley

WANDERLUST finally!

2009-08-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!!!!! Here are some pictures from the first Wanderlust music and yoga festival that went down at Lake Tahoe this summer. Overall we were pleased with the festival. On the music side, everything was fantastic. Artists were great, sound was good and there was a nice variety. Highlights for me were Jenny Lewis, Common, Mates of State and Girltalk. If you have never heard of these artists please check them out and support their music. Ok, let's talk about the yoga side of things. The lineup of teachers was great and the students were cooperative and enthusiastic. However, I found the overall vibe to be rather corporate. There were film cameras in many classes, including meditation classes and there were ads for products EVERYWHERE. Stickers and posters and salespeople and everywhere you looked someone was selling you something. That I did not enjoy. Another thing was that the festival was very much lacking in diversity. Many of the students were white middle to upper class fit and trim women. In no way am I hating on that group of people- Hello, I belong to that group of people. But, yoga is beautiful because it brings all people together to get more enjoyment out of life. Next year, I think Wanderlust festival should wise up to that and market accordingly. They could start by lowering the ticket prices so a larger spectrum of incomes could afford to enjoy the lovely classes and beautiful music. The classes were enjoyable though crowded. I especially enjoyed Jason and Jenny's acro yoga class and found them both to be very grounded and engaging.

Overall, I would attend this festival again with hopes of the prices and people coming down to earth a little.

Hope everyone is well. I will be posting my Labor day subs shortly!

This makes me look much cooler than I actually do when I hoolihoop. Those things are serious!!!

A small crowd at the music stage early on the first day.

There was a company selling these really fun yoga toys. They are like playground equipment for adults. I had to post these even though they are a little blurry.

My husband, Adam, being super cute ( and super scared) on this crazy contraption!

I'm Back!

2009-08-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone for all the emails, cards and comments of support I received during this difficult time. I will begin teaching today, Tuesday August 11th, with my normal schedule of classes.

I have not forgotten about posting some comments and pictures from Wanderlust yoga festival so look for that soon.

Much love to everyone....see you in class!

Time for reflection

2009-07-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

My mom, Lois Shaver West, was taken off her life support and passed away today at 5:15. Please keep my family in your thoughts. This was very unexpected and a very tragic event. What else can I say, this does not feel real.

No idea when I will be back to teach a class.

Ashley

Recommendations

2009-07-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some recommendations for things you guys have asked about in class- enjoy!

Mats

Investing in a good sticky mat can improve your practice and it is also more hygienic than using public mats. I use and highly recommend the Jade Harmony mats. These are an investment but have a long life and are also very sticky. They do not use a lot of the toxins that are in your generic yoga mat so there is a bit of a smell to them at first. However, the smell goes away in time and you are left with a sticky, quality mat. Do not use these mats outdoors. It will ruin your mat. If you are looking for something more affordable I have found that REI has a good range of mats.

www.JadeYoga.com

Books

One of the most practical books I have ever read about Yoga is "Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic" by Darren Main. This explains anything and everything you would want to know as someone who is new to yoga. If you are wondering why I do crazy things like make you hold your breath or stick your tongue out or what the heck bhandas are you can find it here. The book explains things clearly and is not intimidating. Check it out. I am linking you to Darren's site where you can see his other books as well as his schedule. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

www.DarrenMain.com

A great book for someone wanting a catalogue of all the poses with explanation of the benefits is "Light on Yoga" by BKS Iyengar. While some of the images are rather...hmmmm...frightening, the book is very valuable. This book is great for people who want to personalize their home practice because it gives you an opportunity to learn which poses 'do' what.

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a must have book for those of you who want to understand the system of yoga as a whole. For those of you interested in learning about the eight limbs of yoga, this is your book.

There are many, many books on Anatomy. Some of the most useful and beautiful I have found are Anatomy Coloring Book, Albinus on Anotomy and The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga.

Props

You can find yoga props to assist you in your home practice at www.yogaaccesories.com. However, I encourage you to buy them locally if they are available.

Please buy all of these things locally, if they are available to you where you practice or in your neighborhood. If not, you can find the books at amazon.

Happy Monday!

Namaste!

Sub next week!!!!

2009-07-15T10:47:00.001-07:00

This post is just to let you know that I will be having a sub at Vara Healing Arts next week. The dates are Thursday the 23rd and Sunday the 26th. I will be at Wanderlust music and yoga festival doing some acro yoga with my husband Adam. Scary!!!!

Have a great day, see you soon!

An Introduction Feels Necessary

2009-07-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting my blog. The primary purpose of this blog is to inform you of my yoga schedule, alert you when I have a substitute and to promote events I am part of like workshops and retreats. I will also use this blog as a place to answer frequently asked questions and to give love to other yoga related issues I think you might care about.

If you have reached this by accident or were reffered by a friend then it is a sign you should come to my yoga class!!!! If you like to breathe deeply, sweat a lot, discover new things about yourself, and feel empowered to heal yourself you will love the practice of yoga. I hope to see you soon!