“As it is, the lover of inquiry must follow his beloved wherever it may lead him.”
~ Plato
Below are some common questions that have been asked about Ashish Yoga. Please contact Ashish directly if you have a specific question through the contact page.
General Yoga
What makes Ashish Yoga unique?
Yoga is a life-style system to achieve self-realization, that can be obtained through various means, most commonly experimented through the body’s physical ability to breathe, move, and remain steady. As a teacher, one of my goals is to help you realize your body’s potential and create the perfect union with your mind so you can achieve deeper levels of relaxation, concentration, and meditation through a regular yoga practice.
My classes are designed to provide clear instruction on proper alignment, position, posture, and breathing to intensify the yogic experience and allow you to refine your practice outside of the classroom.
What is the difference between Hatha and Vinyasa style of yoga?
The foundation of Ashish Yoga is Sivananda Yoga, a traditional and authentic form of Hatha Yoga that has built its foundations on a set of core asanas with numerous variations, sun salutations, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. There are generally two classifications of modern yoga classes that are offered today – Hatha and Vinyasa.
Hatha Yoga focuses on holding steady poses, while Vinyasa Yoga continuously moves from one posture to another using your breath. It is true in the constitution of yoga philosophy that Hatha exists in Vinyasa, and vice versa, and my belief is that an individual can reap benefits from both forms of yoga. Hatha Yoga is a great way to start learning yoga as the foundational tenets of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are found in the teachings of asanas, pranayama, and meditation which make up an Ashish Yoga class.
Why should I learn yoga?
My mission is not to convince you to learn yoga. To determine whether building a yoga practice is right for you, you will need to research more about what yoga is, what you are looking to achieve through the practice, and make your own decision about whether you want to learn yoga or not – this is a personal decision.
I am a practitioner of Raja Yoga, one of the most scientific approaches to yoga, for which Hatha Yoga is a subset of. I believe yoga is a personal experiment and experience. Once you try a class or two and see how you feel, it is up to you whether you want to continue the yogic journey.
Will I be able to cure my particular health condition by practicing yoga?
There are numerous Yogis, Swamis, and learned men and women in the world who will tell you that by practicing a specific yogic posture or breathing technique that your particular health condition will be cured. The purpose of yoga was never to cure disease, increase flexibility, control weight, or sculpt the body. The aim of yoga was to realize that the Self (Atman) and Absolute (Brahman) are one and the practice of yoga will help you with the journey to realize this.
An Ashish Yoga class is an opportunity to practice yoga as preventative medicine, but there is no guarantee that my or any other style of yoga will cure you of a particular health condition. Please keep in mind that good health, a flexible body, and decreased stress levels are all benefits of practicing yoga but the degree of benefits to be gained will vary from one practitioner to another. If by chance your health condition is cured through some of my techniques and teachings, no one will be more happy than I.
What benefits can be gained from yoga?
The benefits to be realized through yoga will vary from one practitioner to another. It has been experienced through both personal practice and research that yoga helps relieve stress, anxieties, and worries. Yoga is also a means of practicing preventative medicine as it may help control weight, blood pressure, and massage internal organs triggering “feel good” factors. Yoga can also help increase flexibility, work core muscle groups, and improve posture.
I don’t have any flexibilty, can I still learn yoga?
Of course! There is a large misconception that you need a certain level flexibility in order to perform asanas. Classes that are Vinyasa-based are extremely demanding on the body involving multiple jump backs, constant flows, and few opportunities to relax and slow down. These practices are largely built on replacing aerobic exercises with a yoga practice.
Ashish Yoga classes are built on the Hatha Yoga tradition that systematically work different parts of the body, building flexibility, holding postures, and taking breaks for relaxation. I will work with you to recognize any physical limitations you have and we will adjust, adapt, and accommodate postures as necessary.
Remember, the key to building a personal yoga practice is coming into it with an open and “flexible mind.” There is no such thing as not being able to perform a posture, as trying to get into the pose is the doing. You will be surprised as you start to build the practice, how much flexibility you gain, and where your potential truly lies. Remember to go slow, learn the techniques, and gradually build up a practice.
Can anyone participate in an Ashish Yoga class?
Yes. Yoga is for everyone and all the postures can be adjusted to any body type and physical limitation regardless of age. Some classes may move faster than others so please reach out to me to discuss if a particular class will be appropriate for you through my contact page.
The exercise portion of yoga involves physical movements and some postures may involve assimilation, but this improves as one builds a regular yoga practice. One rule of thumb is not to be discouraged if you can’t perform an asana. This is completely normal and as necessary, postures can be adjusted, or you can remain in the “relaxation” pose.
Please note that classes will have students from a variety of experiences in yoga. Some students may move faster and have greater flexibility than others. The key is not to compare yourself to those around you. Be happy with the body you have and I will work with you to meet your yoga goals.
General Class Information
What can I expect in an Ashish Yoga class?
A traditional Ashish Yoga class will contain breathing exercises to cleanse the body, sun salutations to warm up the body, asanas to reap physical benefits from steadily positioning the body, relaxation techniques to release tension from the body, and meditation techniques to bring full-circle the mind-body experience.
Asanas in a class will include a variety of inversions, forward bends, backward bends, sitting postures, and standing postures that will work every part of the body.
How long is an Ashish Yoga class?
Class times vary based on class type. Adaptive Hatha Yoga sessions are 60 minutes long and Integrated Hatha Yoga sessions are 75 minutes long.
How much is an Ashish Yoga class?
Private group class prices vary based on group size and institution. Private lessons are $125/hour for a single class. I offer discounted private individual rates for 3 or more classes. Please contact me if you are interested in group or private classes here.
How can I pay for an Ashish Yoga class?
Class payment can be made by cash or check (made payable to Ashish Dashottar).
Where are Ashish Yoga classes being offered?
My classes and clients are in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.
When are Ashish Yoga classes offered?
I am currently teaching all my classes privately and maintain my schedule with my clients. On occasion, I offer free community classes and you can sign up to join my mailing list if you want to be informed about these classes.
How do I register for an Ashish Yoga class?
Please reach out to me via my contact page to book me for private group or individual classes.
What do I need to bring to an Ashish Yoga class?
A mat is required for all Integrated Hatha and Introduction to Yoga classes. As necessary, students may bring a cushion to sit on to support their back during breathing and meditation exercises. Students should wear comfortable clothes to perform the yogic exercises. No equipment is required for Ad
Do I have to recite or learn the songs (Slokas) and sacred utterances (Mantras) recited in class?
Absolutely not. I use these Slokas and Mantras to help tune my mind and build focus to my teaching. Slokas and Mantras will be part of class as I believe yoga is a spiritual practice and creating a learning environment using these songs and sacred utterances brings purity to the environment, clarity to the mind, and focus to the aspirant. Yoga is an auspicious journey and it is important to recognize this in class through initiation and final prayer which binds the spiritual practice together.