• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Full Helping

Vegan Recipes | Made to Nourish

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
  • Getting Started
  • Recipes
  • Books
  • Shop
  • Contact

Ashtanga Adventure: Yoga with Laura Olson

June 15, 2013 Uncategorized


about-laura-olsonHappy weekend, friends. Intense rain seems to have given way to a break in the clouds here on the east coast, so I’ve been enjoying every balmy moment today.

I wanted to take a quick break to tell you about a yoga class I took in NYC some time ago. I haven’t been writing about yoga much this year, but it has remained as important as ever to me. I can’t imagine what my post-bacc would have been like without a steady practice to sustain me. You can expect more yoga talk here on the blog in the coming weeks. Let’s start with Laura Olson’s ashtanga class at YogaWorks Soho.

Most of the time, I do hot vinyasa or power yoga. But I’ve learned that it’s important–crucial even–to vary the types of yoga and teaching styles I experience. It’s easy to fall into autopilot, and while I do like the familiar nature of yoga sequences, new challenges keep me conscious and nimble. When Laura, who has been a blog reader for a long time, invited me to her ashtanga class in New York a few months ago, I was delighted. I’d only don’t a handful of ashtanga classes at the time, and I’d had a hard time adjusting to the final sequence, with its athletic jump through poses. I was excited to try again.

Laura’s class (7am on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at YogaWorks on Broadway and Grand) is athletic indeed, but Laura guides the class with a calm tone and lots of gentle adjustments. As a newcomer to ashtanga, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know the sequence well enough, but I had no trouble following along–thanks to Laura’s clear and accessible instruction.

primary

(Image courtesy of Jen of PeanutButterRunner, who is an impressive yogi!)

At first, I missed my usual vinyasa/power experience–the playful music, the rhythm, the continuity, the feeling that I’m engaged in a dance. Astanga feels, at first, a little strict. But as class went on, I started to appreciate the ordered quality of the led astanga class. I could imagine how repeating the sequence over and over–ultimately reaching a level of familiarity that enables a self-led practice–could feel remarkably liberating and playful, too. And as hopeless as I am at jump throughs, they’re fantastic for strength building.

Petri-Raisanen-Jump-Through

Image source

By the end of Laura’s class, I felt much stronger and energized. It was a great way to start my day–almost as great as breakfast at LPQ with Laura after!

Laura, for the record, has a blog of her own, as well as a website where she gives offerings of health coaching, branding, or private yoga lessons, which she offers both in NYC and in Woodstock, or via Skype/FaceTime. As someone who has both taken Laura’s class and gotten to know her personally, I can say that she’s generous, kind, thoughtful, and very balanced. Her approach to “healthy living” encompasses body and spirit both, and is very inspiring. If you find yourself in NYC at any point, I recommend checking out Laura’s ashtanga class, and chatting with her after. She’s lovely.

I’ll see you tomorrow with a crowd-pleasing drink for summer entertaining!

xo

Don't miss a post- subscribe SUBSCRIBE

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: nyc, yoga

More Recipes

  • Scenes from the City, Part IIScenes from the City, Part II
  • Epic Yoga. Literally. Plus, 2012 VegNews Magazine Award Nomination!Epic Yoga. Literally. Plus, 2012 VegNews Magazine Award Nomination!
  • Getting Strong and Calm at Strala YogaGetting Strong and Calm at Strala Yoga
  • Yoga Review: Balance Yoga & Wellness, New OrleansYoga Review: Balance Yoga & Wellness, New Orleans
  • How Yoga Helped Me Recover From my Eating Disorder: Guest Post on Mind Body GreenHow Yoga Helped Me Recover From my Eating Disorder: Guest Post on Mind Body Green
Previous Post: « Hold the Cheese, Please: Arugula and Asparagus Pesto Pizza
Next Post: White Sangria with Peach and Ginger »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenni says

    June 15, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    Getting into yoga has been a goal of mine for an embarrassing long amount of time. I can’t tell you how many times I say to people, “I really want to make an effort to start doing more yoga.” I’ll end up taking a class or two, and then I won’t go again for a really long time. I think I get discouraged because I’m a beginner, and sometimes I feel totally lost. In spin classes and the typical gym environment, I feel like a queen. I can rock it on a spin bike or in a weight room. In yoga, not so much. I guess (just as you’ve experienced with trying different types of yoga), if I keep trying I’ll grow to love it and feel more comfortable. Do you have any advice for a beginning yogi?

    Reply
    • Gena says

      June 18, 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Oh, tons of advice. The first is not to expect it to be like the conventional exercise you’re used to. The difficulty isn’t always apparent as you’re learning, and it’s not till you’re a bit deeper into it that you really start to understand how challenging yoga is.

      I also do recommend taking classes at first, rather than videos. A home practice is great, but it is really hard to push yourself and be coached in proper alignment, at first, without a pro to help you. Be patient–yoga is all about patience! I’m the opposite of you in that I’m not a lover of spinning or fitness classes, but I live for yoga. It wasn’t always that way, though, and I’m so glad I stuck with yoga when it didn’t immediately speak to me.

      Reply
  2. Iris says

    June 15, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    Thanks for sharing your ashtanga experience! The only exposure I’ve had to it was one sample class that I had during my yoga teacher training. I really loved it though! Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an ashtanga studio near where I live now. Your post is inspiring me to seek one out in Philadelphia, where I’ll move in a few months! You are so right in saying that it’s important to switch up the routine. I find that unless I go into my own practice with pre-planning, I just end up doing essentially the same sequence each time. After I get tired of the repetition, it becomes hard to really appreciate the poses. So thank you for the reminder!! 🙂

    Iris @ Anatomy & Intuition

    Reply
    • Gena says

      June 18, 2013 at 4:44 pm

      A lot of studios offer at least one ashtanga class, even if they aren’t an ashtanga studio, per se. Totally worth looking into!

      Reply
  3. Laura says

    June 16, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Gena, thanks so much for this sweet and thoughtful post! I look forward to taking a more “dancy” class with you one day, and following it up with a green juice!
    Laura

    Reply
    • Gena says

      June 18, 2013 at 4:42 pm

      It’s a plan!

      Reply
  4. Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian says

    June 16, 2013 at 7:54 am

    A few years back, I regularly attended a yoga class that was vinyasa style. I didn’t love the teacher, but it really challenged me and I felt like it did great things for my body.

    Reply
  5. Hannah says

    June 16, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    Gena! Your “vinyasa/power experience–the playful music, the rhythm, the continuity, the feeling that I’m engaged in a dance.” That sounds perfect. That sounds so perfect. Music! Oh, once I’m for true settled somewhere…

    Reply
  6. Vegyogini says

    June 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    As a strong-flow Vinyasa practitioner, I’ve never taken a full Ashtanga class, but I have taken many Ashtanga-based classes and I always really love them. There is a flow to Ashtanga that I find lacking in the more arm balance- and inversion-heavy classes I normally take (I don’t actually do arm balances and inversions, which means I rest during those times, and I don’t have to do that as much in Ashtanga-based classes). It’s also nice that Ashtanga teachers generally count the length of each hold. That seems to steel my resolve to continue holding because I know when we’ll move on to the next pose. However, I think the repetition of a full Ashtanga class as my only practice wouldn’t appeal to me. I appreciate a blend of Ashtanga on occasion.

    Reply
    • Gena says

      June 18, 2013 at 4:38 pm

      Agree on the blend idea! An in between between the freewheeling quality of vinyasa and the non-stop quality of ashtanga.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi! I’m Gena, voice of The Full Helping, certified nutritionist, cookbook author, and passionate vegan food educator. This space is where I share nourishing plant-based recipes, stories of self-care and self-discovery, and resources to help you explore an informed and compassionate relationship with food.

My Favorites

Footer

Instagram

  • This lunch bowl = happy place 😊 Sweet potatoes, roasted red peppers, chickpeas, cucumbers, greens, herbed cashew cheese, and balsamic Dijon tahini dressing. Link to the cashew cheese recipe this is based on (I just pulse in chives) in my bio today 👌
〰️
Power Plate deets:
Complex carbs = chickpeas + sweet taters
Protein = chickpeas
Healthful fat = cashew cheese + dressing
Veggies = always! 💚
〰️
Next week will be my last at my current rotation! The internship gets harder as it goes on, but it’s going. And going. Happy Friday, loves!!
.
.
.
.
#onebowlmeal #veganbowls #powerplates #veganfoodshare #veganfoodie #buddhabowls #cashewcheese #veganeats #whatveganseat #vegansofig #plantbased #wholefoodsplantbased #wfpb #plantpower #plantpowered #poweredbyplants #wholefoodsplantbaseddiet #eatarainbow #bestofvegan #wholefoods #healthfood #nourish #nourishyourbody #veganlunch #latergram
  • How about a little chocolate avocado pudding for Valentine’s Day? 🥑🍫😍
〰️
This is the “chocomole” recipe from my blog, and the first raw food dessert I ever tried. Haven’t stopped loving it all these years later. Just avocado, cocoa powder, vanilla, dates, maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt. I love how the dates make it a little caramel-ly. Link to the recipe in today’s bio!
〰️
Sweets for my sweets! That’s all of you!! 🤗😘
.
.
.
.
#valentinesday #galentinesday #avocadopudding #rawfooddessert #rawfood #vegandessert #chocolatelovers #veganeats #whatveganseat #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #veganlife #wholefoods #healthfood #glutenfree #bestofvegan #veganfoodshare #veganfoodlovers #iamwellandgood #plantbased #plantbaseddiet #veganttreats #nom #instayum 📷: @trinerask
  • Oh, this tofu scallion black bean scramble 😍
〰️
My go-to scramble of the fall and winter. It’s a perfect make-ahead savory breakfast, and the whole thing comes together in 15 minutes. Plus, it’s got about 20 grams of #plantprotein per serving, which means that it’ll help to keep you sated all morning. Recipe is on the blog now—link in my bio!!
〰️
And here it is with a squeeze of @sirkensingtons spicy ketchup. Yum. Happy hump day!
.
.
.
.
#veganfoodshare #veganbreakfast #veganbreakfastideas #tofuscramble #veganprotein #plantpower #plantpowered #poweredbyplants #plantbaseddiet #wfpb #wholefoodsplantbased #wholefoodsplantbaseddiet #whatveganseat #vegansofig #bestofvegan #idontwantsalad #healthfood #veganeats #veganfoodie #veganfoodlovers #instayum #nourish #breakfastinspo
  • I didn’t make these #vegan zucchini date muffins over the weekend. They were one of a long list of things I’d planned on and didn’t get around to, cause, well, life 🤷🏻‍♀️
〰️
They’re delicious, though, and if I had made them, I’m sure this Monday would be looking a lot brighter! 🌟 Soon. For now, the recipe link is in my bio. Happy #meatlessmonday, loves!
.
.
.
.
#baking #veganbaking #veganmuffins #snack #sneakyvegetables #veganfoodshare #veganfoodie #veganfoodlovers #vegansofig #whatveganseat #vegansofinstagram #veganbreakfast #plantbased #plantpower #plantpowered #poweredbyplants #vegansnack #vegansnacks #plantbaseddiet #nourish #treatyoself 📷: @trinerask #nom #instayum
  • Its shaping up to be one of those Sundays in which about 10% of what I’d hoped to get done is done. Sigh: so it goes.
〰️
In the meantime, here’s lunch, and it’s a good one: barley, arugula, romaine, cucumber, roasted red pepper, great northern beans, pickled red onion, vegan Caesar dressing. And weekend reading is up, so that’s something!
〰️
Wishing myself the ability to be cool with where I’m at today, and wishing it for all of you, too. We’re OK. Happy Sunday 😘
.
.
.
.
#sundayfunday #veganlunch #veganbowl #whatveganseat #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #veganlife #veganism #bowlmeals #plantbased #plantpower #plantpowered #wfpb #wholefoodsplantbased #wholefoodsplantbaseddiet #nourish #eatwellbewell #veganfoodshare #nourishyourbody #simplefood
  • Saturday’s are for #veganbrunch 😊
〰️
Little of this, little of that. Sautéed purple cabbage over a bed of spinach, air fryer sweet potatoes, and my favorite tofu scallion black bean scramble, which I’ve been making all fall/winter. I’ll be sharing the recipe on the blog this week!
〰️
Happy weekend, my friends. Stay warm!
.
.
.
.
#veganbreakfast #veganeats #veganfoodie #veganfoodshare #whatveganseat #vegansofig #vegansofinstagram #veganlife #tofuscramble #veganprotein #plantprotein #plantbasedprotein #plantpower #plantpowered #poweredbyplants #plantbaseddiet #wholefoods #eatwell #eatarainbow #nourish #nourishyourbody

Unlock the fullness of everything I already share here – and then some.

It’s my goal to help you approach vegan cooking with a sense of ease and confidence. Crafting a thoughtful, practical newsletter is part of that work! Each week, you can expect accessible recipes and links to thought-provoking articles.

When you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll be able to...
  • Explore the best of The Full Helping archives.
  • Discover my digital recipe box and collect your favorites.
  • Explore my one-on-one nutrition counseling services, designed to help you find balance and support.
  • Further your knowledge of vegan cooking through my cookbooks, Food52 Vegan and Choosing Raw.
  • Weekend Reading
  • Eating Disorder / Food and Healing
  • Nutrition Counseling
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright© 2019 · The Full Helping Theme by Shay Bocks