How to safely explore backbends, inversions, + arm balances
With Leila Rossato
Leila is back in Guatemala after a year of practicing and training with teachers around the world, and she’s excited to share what she’s learned with our community. From January 15 to early February, she’ll be offering Mysore, Rocket, and two in-depth workshops. Looking forward to seeing you on the mat✨
Saturday, January 24th | Exploring Safe Backbends with Ease & Awareness – 2:00–4:00 PM
- During this 2-hour workshop, we will explore backbending in a progressive, conscious, and safe way, combining theory, practice, and partner work. We will discuss what is activated during backbends, the essential role of the back muscles, and the importance of opening the chest.
- The workshop will move from a comprehensive warm-up into an active flow focused on strengthening the back, followed by partner exercises to explore assisted postures. We will conclude by breaking down, exploring, and playing with variations of postures such as Bhujangasana, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, Natarajasana, Dhanurasana, and Urdhva Dhanurasana.
- This workshop is open to beginners who want to learn safe foundations for backbending, as well as to more experienced practitioners who wish to explore and refine their asana practice.
Saturday, January 31st | Exploring Safe Inversions & Arm Balances with Strength and Control- 2:00-4:00 PM
- During this 2-hour workshop, we will explore how to build strength, stability, and confidence upside down in a progressive, accessible, and safe way. We will focus on key elements such as strong and active shoulders, a stable and engaged core, conscious breathing, proper hand and wrist placement and a few safe falling techniques.
- The workshop will begin with a thorough warm-up, followed by a dynamic flow designed to build strength and control, including partner exercises to explore going upside down with confidence. We will then play with drills, variations, and transitions to work toward postures such as Bakasana, Tripod Headstand, Koundinyasana, Astavakrasana, Pincha Mayurasana, Handstand, and Sirsasana.
- This workshop is open to beginners who want to start building an inversion and arm balance practice with a sense of safety, as well as to more advanced practitioners who wish to explore new drills and refine their technique.
Cost: 300 Q members · 350 Q non-members
About Antigua
Antigua is a small city surrounded by volcanoes in southern Guatemala. The city’s cobbled 9×9 block streets are slow paced, easy-to-navigate with cafes, farm-to-table restaurants, artisan markets, and historical sites located throughout. It’s renowned for its colorful Spanish colonial buildings, this beautiful and magical city has almost five hundred years of history, with a privileged all-year-long climate. If you visit Guatemala during February and March for our training, you can expect warm, dry days, with little to no rainfall. Temperatures average in the high 70s during this time.
About Shakti-Shala
Shakti Shala was born out of a desire to create a home for yoga in Antigua, Guatemala, where people from near and far could explore and expand in their yoga practice. Our studio is rooted in the Ashtanga lineage, which is reflected in our Mysore program, Ashtanga, Rocket & vinyasa classes, but we also offer gentle classes such as mellow and candlelit vinyasa. Join our community, come discover this beautiful town, and practice with us.