Ashtanga Yoga at Chi Yoga Shack
Traditional Practice. Personal Guidance. Quiet Strength.
At Chi Yoga Shack in Bucktown, our Ashtanga Yoga program offers a deeply rooted, tradition-based practice in an environment that is intimate, welcoming, and grounded. This program invites you to explore the discipline, focus, and freedom that Ashtanga Yoga brings.
Ashtanga Foundations: A 4‑Week Beginner Series
Saturdays, january 17 – february 7, 2026 | 8:30 – 10:30 AM at Chi Yoga Shack
Build a strong, sustainable yoga practice from the ground up. This 4‑week series is perfect for complete beginners or anyone looking to reconnect with the fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga in a supportive, small‑group setting. Each session focuses on key building blocks—breath, posture, transitions, and body awareness—so you can move with greater confidence, clarity, and connection. Expect guided instruction, personal feedback, and space to explore at your own pace.
Weekly Focus: Week 1 – Posture Control & Sun Salutation A – healing through movement + intro to pranayama
Week 2 – Transitions – jumping with safety and efficiency
Week 3 – Sun Salutation B & Standing Poses – foundations and what really matters in a pose or transition
Week 4 – Hips, The Spine & Further Breath Control – finding ease and stability in the body
Led by longtime practitioner and teacher Rich Gonshak, our Ashtanga offerings include individualized self-practice and guided Led classes, both rooted in the lineage of Mysore-style teaching. Rich studied closely with senior teacher David Garrigues, whose work emphasizes Ashtanga as a living tradition that supports physical, psychological, and spiritual growth through committed, self-reflective practice.
weekly schedule
Mon-Thurs | 6am-8am | Ashtanga Group Guided Class
Friday | 6am-7:15am | Ashtanga Yoga Led
Saturday | 8:30am-10:30am | Ashtanga Group Guided Class
❤️ Student Experience: Jillian’s Words
"Though I attended yoga classes for several years before discovering Chi Yoga Shack, now I consider my first day studying under Rich the beginning of my practice. To take a yoga class and to practice yoga are two drastically different exercises. Where a well-taught yoga class can condition the body, to practice yoga—that is, to learn the right way to move in alignment with the breath, to experience how the physical mirrors the energetic, and to repeat a motion until it is perfected—this can heal and evolve not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well.
And evolve it does! Since beginning my Ashtanga practice about four months ago, I’m the strongest and most flexible I’ve ever been. I have improved endurance, posture, and bodily awareness. And as awesome as this all is, these are only the physical manifestations of a much larger mental shift I’m experiencing. I’m less anxious and more present, I’m less depressed and more content. It’s not that everything is suddenly perfect, but that I have new tools, knowledge, and awareness to help me navigate my path.
All this to say, Chi Yoga Shack is a beautiful place to learn the practice of yoga. The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and have the utmost respect for the history of the practice, the classes are varied and accommodate all skill levels, the space is airy and clean, and the community of the shala is nothing if not welcoming."
💸 Pricing & Membership Options
Drop-In Class – $30
Membership Options:
Basic (4 classes/month): $85
Standard (8 classes/month + 1 guest pass): $155
Unlimited (unlimited classes + 2 guest passes): $195
✨ Ready to Begin?
Please reach out to Rich over email or phone call. You don’t need to know the sequence. You don’t need to be flexible.
🧘 Questions? Reach out at info@chiyogashack.com | 312-866-2606
📍 Visit us in Bucktown, Chicago