Rocket Yoga, lovingly referred to as 'The Rocket', is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980s. Rocket Yoga is rooted in the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice of yoga. It is combined with and restructured from the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as well as key postures from the 3rd and 4th advanced series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Schultz's yoga was first called "Rocket Yoga" by Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, because Weir said, "It gets you there faster." Larry's system was informed by over nine years of dedicated Ashtanga practice with his teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
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Description
Rocket Yoga is dynamic and fast-paced flow of yoga. Dani Burlison of the Noyomises to get students to fitness nirvana faster." Classes are guided with Sanskrit names of the asanas, following through 142 poses in 75 minutes in a typical class(there are alternate 60 minute and 90 minute class versions as well.) The structure maintains that of Ashtanga Vinyasa, consisting of a warm up with rounds of surya namaskar, after which 66 poses continue with standing poses, seated poses and ending with the traditional closing series including mudras and śavāsana. Some of the more challenging poses incorporated in these series would include Astavakrasana, Parsva Bakasana, dwi Pada Sirasana and Pincha Mayurasana. Another key quality of the Rocket Yoga System is what they call the "Art of Modification". Students are encouraged to make their own interpretation of the traditional asana and can remove or modify binding postures that tend to cause students to get stuck in the traditional series. This allows the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga method to be accessible by the general populace and even those who may have structural disabilities who would otherwise not be able to practice traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga methods.
Divisions
The Rocket is also divided into a series of three: Rocket I, Rocket II and Rocket III. Each series focuses on targeted body strength and flexibility. Typically, the Ashtanga Vinyasa Primary Series would be practiced on Sunday and optionally on Thursday, Rocket I on Monday and Thursday(instead of the Primary Series), Rocket II on Tuesday and Wednesday and Rocket III on Friday. As in the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga, Saturday is the day to rest from physical forms of yoga The Rocket I series is based on the Modified Primary Series. The Rocket II is based on the Intermediate series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Rocket III (aka "Happy Hour") is a combination of the seated Rocket I and Rocket II.
Popularity
Larry Schultz named it The Rocket as this practice "gets you there faster". Rocket Yoga, popularized by the yoga community in San Francisco, has taken a large following nationally and internationally with over 100 teacher trainings in this style of yoga since its inception. Many students started their yoga journey or crossed paths with Larry Schultz in San Francisco and abroad. Larry initiated many who later became well known teachers themselves, including Duncan Wong, Russell Yamaguchi, John Berlinsky, Amber Espelage, Tarik Thami, Marie Russel, Clayton Horton, David Lurey, David Kyle, Rusty Wells, MC Yogi and Amanda Giacomini. Rocket Yoga has attracted a wide following including: Willem Dafoe, Madonna, Sting, The Grateful Dead, and Christy Turlington.