about

Traditional Yoga ~ Therapeutic Approach

Ashtanga Therapy is a unique, gentle yet challenging yoga practice that can be enjoyed over a whole lifetime
Elements of Yoga therapy are infused into the traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga sequence(s)
to create more balance and harmony during the learning process than a traditional practice may allow
 
The intention is not to change the tradition, but to ease gently towards it in a more gradual and sustainable manner
A gentle Yoga Therapy hip sequence designed to gently open and balance the hips, unlock the spine while activating the core
to create a deep internal strength and build upper body strength more gradually
to support you in the graceful yet disciplined and dynamic system of traditional Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Therapy will nourish you as an individual at whatever level you may be at
If you have a traditional Ashtanga practice, you can be assured that you can continue with the traditional method 
you will be supported with that if it is working well for you
However, when this is no longer possible, due to sickness or injury or limitations on time or energy, there is another way

The result ~ a safer seamless practice with almost endless progression
To nourish, serve and challenge you, individually, at every level and stage in development
Whether you are beginner, advanced, or a teacher, on a physical, healing, or spiritual journey
You are fully welcome

  • The 8 Limbs

    Physical postures (Asana) are only the tip of the iceburg because Asana is actually only one of the 8 limbs of yoga 

    Here’s a list of them in Sanskrit ~ with a brief and simplified meaning in English:

    1. Yama ~ Mastering your behaviour in the world and the outcomes of doing so
    2. Niyama ~ Mastering your internal behaviour / intentions within and the outcomes of doing so
    3. Asana ~ Physical posture and quality
    4. Pranayama ~ Breath restraint/ extension
    5. Pratyahara ~ Withdrawal of the senses
    6. Dharana ~ Concentration
    7. Dhyana ~ Meditation
    8. Samadhi ~ Nirvana

    Note : The first 4 limbs work hand in hand to support the last 4 limbs.
    The 5th limb of Pratyahara, acts as a bridge towards the final limbs Dharana Dhyana and Samadhi which are more meditative leading to a profound experience and a shift in awareness and consciousness that the practices of Yoga were originally designed for. If you do not have a meditation practice, you can still harness a meditative quality to your practice by focussing on the 3 points of meditation during your asana practice

    Which are : Breath, Bandha, Drishti

    Together these produce ‘Tristana’ a moving meditation and a wonderfully smooth and light and internal quality to the practice that can prepare and support you towards having a meditation practice in the future by laying firm foundations

    The logo you see above represents the 8 limbs of Ashtanga
    (Ashtanga means 8 limbs in Sanskrit) The figure 8 is surrounded with the love heart
    which represents yoga therapy bringing in a nurturing loving element to the 8 limbs of Ashtanga 

Rachel Grey

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Rachel has embraced a life of yoga for 25 years and began teaching yoga internationally 20 years ago. Many of those years have been spent living and teaching in Asia. As the founder of Ashtanga Therapy Yoga, she shares a unique and gentle yet strong style of traditional Ashtanga with a therapeutic approach.

Inspirations in creating this form have been from Ashtanga Yoga by Sri.K.Pattabhi Jois and Structural Yoga Therapy by Mukunda Stiles. She studied briefly but intensively with both of these teachers while they were still living. These two lineages have been the back-bone of her practice, self inquiry and inspiration in teaching others.

Much of her initial studies and deepest transformation has been with Rachel’s primary teacher Dr Paul Dallaghan, founder of well respected yoga retreat and training centre Samahita Retreat. Paul is one of the only teachers to be both certified to teach Ashtanga yoga by Sri K.Pattabhi Jois and certified to teach Pranayama practices with O.P.Tiwariji, a living master of Pranayama from the Kaivalyadhama Institute in Indiia.

  • Rachel completed her teacher training with Paul and his team in 2005 after 6 months of daily practice at Samahita (then called Yoga Thailand), and has completed many continued and advanced trainings there since with Paul, O.P.Tiwariji, Richard Freeman and many other world class teachers who have spent time teaching at Samahita to deepen her practice and study in pranayama, asana, anatomy, philosophy and indeed teaching.

    A background in Thai Massage has shaped her understanding of unique human structures and recognising energy blockages within them which she incorporates into her hands-on adjustments. Rachel is naturally blessed with the sensitivity required for teaching beginners and the depth of a personal practice required for more advanced students. She is registered as a Senior Yoga Teacher qualified to train teachers with the higher than normal standards of the Yoga Alliance in the UK

reviews

I was lucky enough to study Ashtanga yoga Mysore style with Rachel. Her approach is patient and therapeutic, and her methods helped my body to heal in amazing ways in a surprisingly short time. Her energy is so grounded and high-quality that it is a treat just to sit and talk with her about her extensive knowledge of yoga. The way she is able to break down and explain the alignment and subtle nuances of asana made me feel as though I was learning yoga for the first time. I had so many “aha!” moments where things I had been hearing for years suddenly made sense. She is a generous and serious teacher, and you would be blessed to learn from her. Whether you are new to the Ashtanga practice or a long-time practitioner, her expertise can help you to deepen into and advance in your Ashtanga journey.
Avianna, US

There are not enough words to thank you for everything you taught me these three weeks. Undoubtedly one of the best blessings I found in my journey is you. You definitely are an inspiration for me. I wish you all the best, a lot of love, light, peace. Keep sharing your knowledge, because you are a kind of angel in yoga. I hope our paths cross over again. Lots of love and gratitude.
Paulina, Doha

Dear Rachel, How I enjoyed your energy! Like an aum, permeating through our whole group. I feel you have access to a wealth of knowledge, and are blessed with good intuition. Thank you for sharing and caring, being strict and soft at the same time. I wish the path that you are on will bring you unprecedented joy. 
Monique, Netherlands

Thank you so much, it was a pleasure and a gift to have your presence. Your help with my practice was amazing ~ you seem to know the body so well. Your smile and energy are contagious. I really enjoyed and hope to see you again soon. Thank you again
Brittany, US

  • Description tRachel is an amazingly calm and patient teacher, her knowledge of the human anatomy and how this relates to yoga practice has really helped me to develop and grow my practice. Her classes and courses are informative yet fun, I can thoroughly recommend Rachel as a yoga teacher, and I'm very grateful to her for the help she has given me with my practice!
    Alistair, UK

    I came to Rachel’s Ashtanga Therapy as a beginner. My body had many ailments, and I had very little hope. Rachel was very personal and took great care of me. First she helped me in her compassionate way to become aware of the locks in the joints of my body that over time had such an adverse effect on my health. Then she encouraged me to begin the practice in the most gentle and suitable way. Rather then looking for a quick solution for my long standing ailments, i realised after a short time practicing with her that to love and believe again in myself was the first step to healing. 6 weeks later now my hips are beginning to open, my all over vitality is noticeably increased, and i have reasonable hope that thru her therapy my body may come back into alignment. Thank you Rachel, for showing me that no one part of the body can really heal unless all parts work again harmoniously together. 
    Stephan, Germany

    When I arrived on this teacher training I had no idea really of the impact that my life and job were having on me both physically and mentally. By Friday week one, I wasn't even sure I'd even make it to the end based on these issues. I can't thank you enough for your kind and gentle approach to not only my practice but to impact of all that was consuming me. You've been amazing, thank you for showing me that less is more and it's ok, for helping me to soften and accept that my practice will grow over time and for pointing out that to be strong from my feet upwards would make all the difference. I still have a long way to go but I know that if every time I step on my mat and listen to your advice one day my hips and back will recover. You have been a real inspiration and I hope one day I will practice with you again. Ashtanga is my love in yoga, you've inspired so much more
    Lisa, UK

    Ashtanga Therapy helped me with my back ache; L4, L5 Arthosis and stiffness which I had been suffering with for 2 years and been intensely treated by doctors in CH with little result. That was a huge surprise. Many thanks to Rachel!!! She is the best!
    Yvette, Switzerland  

    Yoga with Rachel was not only physically rewarding, her emotional knowledge of why we do certain physical stances with our body was very wise I came away feeling 100% happier and healthier
    Maxine, Australia

    One of the most fantastic things about Samahita Retreat is just how much support there is. There is no judgement if you're going through a tough time, just alot of love and understanding and not just from the course leaders, but also from the staff especially the women in the wellness centre. I would definately return.I loved the yoga, Rachel is a brilliant teacher. 
    Dearbail, UK  

    A fantastic experience in every aspect to meet people from all over the world, which highlights how we can get so caught up in the small box we can let ourselves slip into. Opened my eyes to how exciting life can be by just stepping out of the comfort zone to try something that you've never done before. I have grown so much as a person in one week. Thank you. Love to you all xx
    Meryl, Australia  

    There is alot going on in my body, mind, heart and soul at the moment... And I can feel it, yes I'm starting to feel myself again. That's only possible I guess because of the Yoga, Qui Gong and the thoughts and knowledge of Rachel and Dorien. Thank you both so much! I am sure now that I will find the right place and mission in my life to feel just happy and really good.
    Birgit, Germany

    I wanted to find, decide, honour, love, live - and I did. It was a true transformational week; I came in stiff, tense and shy. I found my flexibility and beauty again. My body and mind learned a lot from Rachel, amazing experience! 2 beautiful women and 10 beautiful circle members; a holiday for body, mind and spirit in a marvelous respectful environment.
    Wendy, Netherlands  

    When I began studying with Rachel, I had been doing Ashtanga self-practice on and off for a couple of years, but had little to show for it. Furthermore, I had restricted movement in my knees, which I had had for years and years, and this was limiting not only my practice but also other activities in my life. I had become used to skirting around the knee issue, trying not to go near it, and was convinced I had countless hours of work on hip opening and lower back flexibility ahead of me before I could hope for any improvement. I had studied on occasion with a couple of other reputed teachers, but they too had encouraged me not to put my knees to the test, thereby reinforcing my pattern of trepidation and fear regarding how I related to these joints.
    Rachel was very different – rather than avoiding ‘going there’, she encouraged me to reconnect with my knees, and to learn to trust my body more. She too was of course careful to make sure I didn’t get hurt, but from day one suggested various yoga therapy exercises I could do to regain full use of my joints. In the space of just a few weeks, I have experienced a considerable opening, and improvement beyond anything I remotely expected. Also, aside from the benefits of the physical side of the therapy, it has been great to see the mental blockage I had around my knees also dissolving.
    More generally speaking, Rachel encourages her students to slow down, to pay attention to each stage of getting into and out of the postures, and to not be in a hurry to move through the series. In this way she is constantly teaching one of the main principles of yoga, which is to practice without undue concern for results. But of course results do come – going more slowly may make progress seem imperceptible, but then there are breakthroughs. For me some of these came because Rachel had even taken me “backwards” a little, in order to review some basics and approach certain asana with more physical and mental integrity, and the benefits of this were not long in coming.
    After Rachel’s “Foundations of self-practice” course, I said that I had really gained a lot from her teaching, and she replied that it’s a pity some people seem not to have such a great interest in foundations, even though they are fundamental. I thought for a moment, then remarked that perhaps if we go deeply enough into foundations, they in fact contain all the essential aspects of the practice. I think Rachel was glad of this comment, because she doesn’t just teach asana, or Mysore classes, therapy or modifications to suit each individual – she teaches the whole of yoga. And just as William Blake saw the world in a grain of sand, Rachel’s way of teaching points to the possibility of seeing that the essence of yoga can be experienced in a single posture, a single breath.
    Jim, UK

    I studied with Rachel for one month, taking her daily Mysore classes as well as Foundations 1 and 2. I found my time with Rachel to be invaluable. She has changed my practice; I am stronger and more flexible than when I first started studying with her. I also have a better understanding of my body and safer ways to practice without getting injured.
    Rachel ticks all the boxes I would expect for an experienced yoga teacher:
    - Deep understanding of the asanas, human anatomy, and yoga philosophy
    - Gentle, confident, and accurate adjustments
    - A knack for knowing exactly when I should be pushing forward in my practice
    - Clear instructions for getting into asanas
    Here’s what distinguished Rachel from other yoga teachers I’ve studied with:
    1. Rachel provided deeply personalized instruction in the group Mysore setting. She carefully watched me in areas I had questions and gave me detailed feedback that really helped my practice. 
    2. Her therapeutic approach to Ashtanga. Rachel has a deep understanding of the Ashtanga tradition. But instead of rigidly adhering to those traditions at all times, she also taught modifications that helped me strengthen or stretch particular areas of my body; these modifications made it possible for me to ultimately do the asana “normally.”
    3. Her therapeutic sequence. As someone with a pelvic imbalance, I found her sequence helped me practice with greater awareness of and balance in my body. I have incorporated her therapeutic sequence into my daily practice.
    Eileane, USext goes here