October 2025 Newsletter
Fall greetings from The Yoga Shala Seattle! Have you filled out our Winter/Spring 2025/26 programming survey yet?? We want to know what you want to see more of in the upcoming year! Let us know here!
Donation-Based Ashtanga 1/2 and 1/2
Looking for some Friday night plans?? Join Brendan on Friday, October 3, at 5:30 p.m. for a powerful class that combines the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga. While the Primary Series focuses on deep forward folds and hip openings, the Intermediate Series trains the nervous system through gradual deepening backbends and the strengthening of arm balances and inversions. Prior Ashtanga Experience through the mid-section (Navasana) of Primary is strongly encouraged.
This offering is part of our ongoing effort to support the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network's Fair Fight Bond Fund, which collects funds to bond individuals out of detention while their immigration proceedings are processed, avoiding prolonged and inhumane incarceration. We are so proud of our community for showing up for this important cause and are excited to continue our efforts with this latest offering! Sign up today!
Saturday Morning Community Classes
Starting September 13th, you can find our newest cohort of teacher trainees offering Ashtanga Fundamentals classes on Saturdays at 10:30 AM. These classes are beginner-friendly, moving through Sun Salutations, standing postures of Astanga, and a modified seated sequence. It's the perfect opportunity to bring friends and family along!
Start Your Practice: Fall Edition
Summer is ending, which means the fall edition of our Start Your Practice Series is right around the corner!
Join Yoga Shala co-founder Brendan Smullen on October 5th at 10 AM for a 3-hour workshop exploring the fundamental postures of the Ashtanga Primary series—a challenging but accessible approach to classical yoga. Students will be guided through the foundational and standing postures of the Primary series and learn the principles of the Ashtanga tradition to enter into a daily practice routine.
Enrollment in the workshop includes a one-month membership to the Shala, giving students unlimited access to guided and Mysore-style classes where they will receive personalized care and attention to body-specific details to make the yoga work for everyone. This is the perfect opportunity for new students to learn the basics or for seasoned practitioners looking to recommit to their practice!
Intro to Handstands Round Three!
We have been having so much fun sharing handstands with the community, and to accommodate demand, we opened a THIRD edition of our Intro series! Join us on October 12th for our next all-levels handstand workshop focusing on entry-level movements and drills requisite for a handstand practice.
This workshop will involve partner drills and principles of safely bailing from inverted shapes, building comfort upside-down for spatial orientation, and the appropriate use of handstands in an asana-based context.
This is the final introductory workshop that serves as a prerequisite for theNovember 16th Intermediate Handstands Workshop, so make sure to sign up soon!
Community Recap: Practice with Sathu Jois and Welcoming Baby Amaya
In September, we were honored to host Sathu Jois for a weekend of practice and conversation. As the granddaughter of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga, Sathu grew up in Encinitas, California, and learned the practice from her father, Manju Jois. From a young age, Sathu traveled with her father as he taught, assisting and learning from him.
Over her weekend at the Shala, Sathu facilitated daily Mysore sessions, followed by chanting and pranayama, led a workshop on therapeutic adjustments, and answered many questions about lineage, philosophy, and making the practice accessible to all. This is the start of a lasting relationship with Sathu, and we can’t wait to welcome her back again soon!
We are also delighted to welcome the newest member of our community: Amaya Smullen-Coste, born September 5th. Amaya has been home resting and getting used to the world, but we are looking forward to seeing her (and her mom!) around the Shala soon.
Other Resources
Did you know Moon Days are listed on our website? Super convenient.
Newsletters are now archived on our website.
We can't wait to practice with you!
