Adam Keen:
Ashtanga Yoga – a holistic approach

23–25 May 2026

We are delighted to be hosting Adam Keen at Yoga Sangha in Cheadle, Manchester for a two or three day intensive.

Adam Keen: Ashtanga Yoga – a holistic approach​

23–25 May 2026

ABOUT THE TEACHER

Adam Keen has been a yoga practitioner since 1999 and has taught Ashtanga yoga internationally for over twenty years.

Adam’s style is open, non-dogmatic and eclectic while remaining rooted in an appreciation of the tradition. He received level 2 authorisation in 2012 and completed the Advanced A sequence of Ashtanga yoga in 2013 with Sharathji. His teaching style is technique based and he has a unique way of making everyone welcome and meeting students where they are with humour and kindness.

Adam is a co-founder of Keen on Yoga online yoga platform and the host of the Keen on Yoga Podcast and YouTube channel. Having interviewed and learned from the world’s most renowned Ashtanga teachers, philosophy academics and others has led to his unique view of the modern yoga world and teaching approach.

Still a philosophy student at heart, Adam shares his thoughts and experience daily on social media, where you can find him discussing many of the questions that come to our minds, but we’re often afraid or unsure how to ask. Find him on Instagram @keen_on_yoga

When not practising yoga, Adam likes to cook. In his earlier years, he supported himself as a chef in Buddhist and yoga centres to further his study of yoga. This took him to Purple Valley Goa, where he was employed as the chef by his future wife, Theresa who was Director of the centre at the time.

Still a philosophy student at heart, Adam shares the questions that come to our minds, but we're often afraid or unsure how to ask.

The experience

Making Sense of Modern Ashtanga

This workshop will function to show how modern Ashtanga yoga can be understood and made to work for any individual and your strengths and limitations in a most practical sense.

 The aim is that you will leave feeling reinspired for your practice knowing how to make it work for your own body. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the context of how the practice developed which also makes a difference as to how we understand it. 

SCHEDULE

Weekend Schedule

8:00–10:00am

Ashtanga Led and Self Practice Combined

Adam will lead the class through the first part of primary and standing asana, after which you will move on to self-practice following the Ashtanga sequence at whatever level you are at. All physical levels are welcome, and you are free to follow from printed sheets. It’s a fun way into self-led practice.

10:30am–12:00pm

Breathing Basics

The diaphragm, when connected to most effectively through a certain application of bandha, is what makes the breath in yoga unique. The result is not only a liberating effect on the deep muscles of the back, but, most importantly, the ability to put oneself into the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system at will. This is not the technique of ujjayi which tends to encourage a mistaken breathing in the throat.

12:00–12:30pm

Break

12:30–2:30pm

Finding Bandha in the Standing Postures

Using the standing postures, we will examine how we can use the legs to take the force of gravity up through the spine rather than down allowing for a most energizing experience and beneficial effect. We will also consider the relationship of the ‘sacred’ sacrum to the rest of the body; how and why this bone came to be known as such, and why it is essential to discover it here in these early positions.

8:00–10:00am

Mysore Self-Practice

This practice is based on individual exploration, kindness, and fun. Adam gives yoga assistance in a safe and non-intrusive way. He does not believe in forcing people into postures, rather, he uses verbal and light physical touch to open new directions for you to follow if you wish. All are welcome to the Mysore class. Adam is happy if you need practice sheets, but you should have memorised at least the sun salutations A and B and some of the standing sequence.

10:30–12:00pm

Jump Back and Jump Through for everybody

Everyone can all do a version of this movement. And it doesn’t mean we need to ‘fly’ – although we may (or may not). There are unique benefits of this movement for both the scapula as well as the digestion. It’s simply a question of breaking the component movements down then into ‘bite sized’ chunks, so that everyone can effectively worked with it. You might feel your arms are too short or your tummy too big, but you’d be surprised how a few tips for this can change the whole experience for you, taking you from frustration and confusion to grasping what you need to do to keep developing these somewhat elusive movements.

12:00–12:30pm

Break

12:30–2:00pm

Modern Yoga Development in the 20th Century

Whether we like it or not, modern yoga practice is, indeed, modern. On the other hand, it does have deep roots. They’re just not literally traceable from what we do now back 2000 years. But this doesn’t mean they aren’t still the foundational principles of what we’re doing now. Find out how key yoga teachers of the early 20th century; Krishnamacharya, Yogendra, Yogananada, Vivekananda to name a few, interpreted the ancient practice of yoga to fit into the modern context.

7:00–9:00am

Mysore Self-Practice

This practice is based on individual exploration, kindness, and fun. Adam gives yoga assistance in a safe and non-intrusive way. He does not believe in forcing people into postures, rather, he uses verbal and light physical touch to open new directions for you to follow if you wish. All are welcome to the Mysore class. Adam is happy if you need practice sheets, but you should have memorised at least the sun salutations A and B and some of the standing sequence.

9:30am–11:00am

Session 1: Safe and effective physical assistance

Whether you’re a teacher or a student, learning how to assist others helps you understand what you’re doing in your own practice. This doesn’t mean ‘adjustments’; pushing bodies further than they can naturally go, rather, a way of helping and individual, safely and non-intrusively, to connect more deeply and effectively to their own unique body as it is. Come and find out how we can use ‘physical assistance’ rather than adjustments to affect a more potent change than the outmoded ‘adjustment’.

11:15am–12:30pm

Session 2: Safe and effective physical assistance

12:45–2:00pm

How to Create and Teach Short Practices for All Levels

Not all of us have the time, energy, or, even, motivation, to do our whole practice every day. But we still want to do a practice. However, it’s hard to how to structure a shorter practice that’s effective. So, here, we shall consider the fundamental principles of how to do so. Simple idea that, once grasped, will give you the sense of confidence to experiment with using the short practice format as and when you need or want to.

Before you visit

Practical information

Everything you need to know to plan your visit to Yoga Sangha.

If you have any questions before your visit please get in touch.

The studio

Yoga Sangha is a calm and welcoming studio space in Cheadle.

The studio is fully equipped with mats and props, though you’re welcome to bring your own if preferred.

Parking

There is limited parking available on site, along with several nearby public car parks within a short walking distance.

For detailed directions and parking information, please visit our Contact page.

Travelling by train

The nearest main station is Stockport, with direct links to Manchester, London and many other major cities.

The studio is around a 15-minute taxi ride away.

For local connections, Gatley and East Didsbury stations are also nearby.

Accommodation

If you are travelling from further afield, the following hotels are all nearby:

  • Waterside Hotel, Didsbury
  • Village Hotel, Cheadle 
  • Premier Inn, Handforth
  • Travelodge, Didsbury

There are also plenty of nearby Airbnbs. Our postcode is SK8 2BD.

Food and drink

There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops within walking distance of the studio.

For coffee or brunch, we love Steam and Brezo, both just a short walk away in Cheadle village.

Other information

Please arrive a few minutes before the start of each session.

Tea, water and a selection of fruit will be available throughout the weekend.

If you have any questions before your visit, please get in touch – we’re happy to help.

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