16 Jul Telluride Yoga Festival: Karl Straub Returns
The Telluride Yoga Festival, July 21 – July 24. Full schedule here. Tickets here. Please scroll down to the end of the story to enjoy Karl Straub’s video interview.
“I am honored to have been a presenter at Telluride Yoga Festival all 9 years, since its inception.”
“You give the students so much trust in themselves and relaxation they lose their fear and are totally open,” student, Germany
You’re the most prepared yoga instructor I’ve ever worked with!,” student, USA
Karl Straub, beloved presenter at the Telluride Yoga Festival since its inception 9 years ago.
The Fountain of Youth?
Not quite.
But getting warmer.
This information is particularly relevant if you are over 40. A millennial and Gen-Xer? Think of it as an addendum to an insurance policy on your future. From time to time haven’t your car keys or glasses teleported themselves to a place you know you did not leave them?
Emerging science suggests that combining physical activity – such as a dedicated (read regular) yoga asana practice – with meditation could intensify the benefits of both pursuits and dim that looming five o’clock shadow of mortality, including age-related mental decline. Both practices, along with controlled breathing or pranayama, and mantra could also help mitigate depression, anxiety, diabetes, chronic pain, epilepsy, and more.
How?
The answer might lie with vagal nerve, the largest cranial nerve in the body, which starts at the base of the skull and wanders throughout the body, influencing your physiology including respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous system functions.
For more, continue reading here.
To get started down the path to a longer and (physically and mentally) healthier life, consider attending Karl Straub’s classes at the upcoming Telluride Yoga Festival, which all include varying combinations of asana, pranayama, mantra, and meditation (also philosophy and hiking).
Specifically Karl leads two classes on Friday, July 22, starting with Meditation, 7- 7:30 a.m.; From Himalayas to the Rockies, 3 – 5 p.m., is a journey out in nature spiced with pranayama, mantra (a statement or slogan that is consistently repeated) and a dash of philosophy.
Karl’s first class (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) on Saturday is a Jivamukti Masterclass, an invigorating vinyasa which includes pranayama and meditation, plus chanting and deep relaxation. (Intermediate and above.)
His second class on Saturday, 3 – 5 p.m., Yoga is a Gentle Art and his restorative class on Sunday, July 24, 3 – 4:30 p.m., go straight to the heart of Karl’s core belief: yoga is not a competitive sport; a yoga practice can be strong without being aggressive.
“I can still hear my late teacher Swami Bua saying, “Do not struggle! Yoga is a gentle art.” He encouraged everyone to eschew aggression in yoga practice and in life. This workshop (on Saturday) will include colorful stories from Swami Bua and a well-rounded vinyasa class (without aggression of course), meditation, deep relaxation, and a demonstration of overtone chant.”
That lesson about strong but gentle is underlined by a recounting of one of the signature myths of the thousands-of-years-old yoga tradition, the myth of Ananta, King of the Nagas (giant snakes).
According to that legend, Ananta’s job is to carry the world on his hooded head and the embodiment of the Creator on his lap. The image symbolizes the goal of all yoga practices, including or perhaps especially the practices Karl Straub leads. It is the ability to take full responsibility for being a healthy human being in the context of our personal, social, and physical environment, at the same time being relaxed and at peace in our body, mind and heart. In other words, our asana practice should mimic the work of Ananta: meeting our challenges with full attention, while providing a comfortable resting place in our hearts for whatever we call the Divine.That idea is summed up in the qualities of sthira (to be conscious, alert, present, firm, and stable) and sukha, (to be relaxed, comfortable, at ease, without pain, agitation or aggression), a core duality in the yoga tradition.
Sthira-sukha.
Strength from softness.
A new way to live in the world.
To learn more about Karl Straub, watch his video interview.
Karl Straub, the backstory:
At age 12, Karl Straub was was introduced to meditation; in his teens he became entranced with Eastern philosophy; and throughout his life has been an avid athlete and competitive swimmer. Karl was introduced to yoga asana in his 30s – and quickly noticed an improvement in his overall health.
Karl Straub is a certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher, graduate of Duke University, former competitive swimmer, IT consultant, and dolphin communication researcher. He currently serves as European Regional Executive Director for the Yoga Studies Institute and studies with masters from Tibet, India, Japan, Europe, and the USA.
In 2004, Karl left his apartment and IT job in New York City and began an odyssey of eight years during which he studied, traveled only with what he could carry, and had no address.
En route, Karl met up with wonderful yoga and meditation teachers, and eventually began teaching too.
Karl has taught in 40+ cities in 12 countries. Since 2013, he has been based in Zürich, Switzerland, where he leads seven weekly classes in two studios, plus workshops and retreats in Sweden, Germany, and the USA.
Karl has appeared on U.S. national television, including NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, and in Yoga Journal online.
His students include athletes, yoga teachers, cancer patients, celebrities, and yogis of all levels.
Karl Straub is known for his experience, voice, down-to-earth clarity, humor, and hands-on assists. He
For more about Karl and his events at karlstraub.com.
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