December 10, 2016 • advanced yoga training • health and fitness • Larry Schultz • power yoga • Rocket Vinyasa Yoga • Rocket Yoga • Rocket Yoga Tribe • Rocketyogatraining • The Rocket • The system •Vancouveryoga • Yoga ah • Yogaretreats
The Rocket is the original “power yoga.” It was created in San Francisco by the late Larry Schultz, who was a disciple of Sri Pattabi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga. Larry’s vision was to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to the western practitioner. Unlike much of the “vinyasa flow” and “power yoga” offered at the local YMCA or gym, the Rocket routines were designed in a more intelligent way, with an emphasis on opening the body naturally and working through the joints systematically.
The Rocket offers a whole system of yoga routines that train the whole body in a wholistic and dynamic way.
The Rocket builds strength and stamina through its series of postures. It eliminates the hierarchy of classical Ashtanga practice by incorporating advanced postures like arm balances and inversions into the same practice as the primary series. A consistent practice molds a lean, toned physique, lengthening and stretching the overdeveloped muscles and strengthening those muscles that may have been neglected, fostering a more balanced body. The structured sequence cultivates strength, flexibility, and focus, while maintaining the evenness of breath, making the practice moving meditation.
The Rocket incorporates the same core principles of the ancient Ashtanga practice: observing of the breath, incorporating of energy locks, and focusing the the gaze...classically stated as breath, bandhas, and drishti. It also uses the same postures as classical Ashtanga, the difference is the arrangement of the postures and the pace of the practice.
“The Rocket has a very fast tempo, so it works on the cardiovascular system and gives you a sense of stamina and endurance...its non stop movement from the beginning to the end.”
-Larry Schultz
Every Rocket routine follows an organized template of postures, working from standing into seated, and then followed by the finishing series. There is also an intense focus on the core of the body. Core strength provides a firm foundation for any body in motion. Moving with awareness from your center helps to prevent injury, and allows for a more light, fluid movement.
These days “hot yoga” has become very popular. But in Ashtanga and Rocket alike, we create our heat organically...”lighting the fire within.” The Rocket practice uses yogic breathing techniques to create heat and generate sweat from the inside out. We synchronize breath with movement, establishing that mind-body connection that is so critical to the practice of yoga. Anyone can sweat in a hot room.
Practitioners of this series will enjoy strength AND flexibility, focus AND detachment, concentration AND relaxation. Neither need exist in exclusion of the other in yoga. This is exactly what you have been looking for...mind and body medicine.
written by Kerry Zebick 300 hour Rocket instructor 2010