Larry Schultz
Encyclopedia
Larry Schultz was an American
Yoga
teacher and icon. Schultz is primarily recognized as the creator of Rocket Yoga
.
from his home in Potrero Hill. Schultz believed that all students should get access to all poses, which was in conflict with Jois' Mysore style
, in which only teachers were authorized to give a student a new pose to practice after the teacher felt the student had attained mastery of the previous one. Schultz instead taught a modified version of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
in which each of his classes incorporated poses from all 3 of the traditional Ashtanga Series with all students welcome to try all poses. As a result, Jois called Schultz "The Bad Man of Ashtanga Yoga," due to Schultz's interest in practicing and teaching 2nd and 3rd Series poses not yet authorized by Jois. Schultz's new style of yoga was a modified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
regime that is today the foundation for Power yoga. Yoga Journal
magazine credits Schultz as the creator of Power Yoga.
as the band's personal yoga teacher until Jerry Garcia
died. While on tour with the Grateful Dead one of the band members asked Schultz what was the name of his yoga. Schultz said it didnt have a name, at which point in time Bob Weir
said, "it should be called Rocket Yoga
, because it gets you there faster." It was Weir who encouraged Schultz to write his first book on yoga, Ashtanga Yoga As Taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Phil Lesh
from the Grateful Dead
on Schultz's impact on the music:
players and Christie Turlington. Schultz's It's Yoga came to be credited as one of the pioneers of yoga in the region. In 2002 It's Yoga moved downstairs to a larger space in the same building at 848 Folsom street. Schultz's notoriety in the South of Market, San Francisco area led him gain a second nickname, "The Mayor of Folsom Street."
series of yoga sequences that are today considered to be the foundation Power yoga.Rocket Yoga
sequences include the Rocket I, Rocket II, Rocket III, and Modified Primary Series. Schultz claimed his strength came from teaching 9000 yoga classes & performing 63,000 sun salutes. Schultz said of his teaching philosophy:
to open a retreat center he called Nauliland. In these final years Schultz and his wife Marie focused on their global Rocket Yoga
teacher training program, which graduated more than 5000 students in 142 teacher trainings. Larry initiated many who later became well known teachers themselves, including Duncan Wong, Russell Yamaguchi, John Berlinsky, Tarik Thami, and Clayton Horton.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
teacher and icon. Schultz is primarily recognized as the creator of Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga, also known as ‘’The Rocket’’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980’s. 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...
.
Early life
Schultz was living in living in Texas in the late 70's and early 80s working as an insurance salesman before he started yoga. From 1977 until 1980 he was the District Sales Manager for Union Bankers Life Insurance Co. In 1980 at the age of 30 he quit Union Bankers Insurance Co. to open South Texas Insurance Services with his friend Jerry Chavers where they ran the company until 1982.K. Pattabhi Jois years
Schultz met K. Pattabhi Jois in 1982 during a yoga workshop hosted by Stan Hafner. Schultz continued to study under K. Pattabhi Jois for the next 7 years in India and the USA.The Bad Man of Ashtanga Yoga
In 1989 Schultz returned to San Francisco and started to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa YogaAshtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, and which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga...
from his home in Potrero Hill. Schultz believed that all students should get access to all poses, which was in conflict with Jois' Mysore style
Mysore style
The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore...
, in which only teachers were authorized to give a student a new pose to practice after the teacher felt the student had attained mastery of the previous one. Schultz instead taught a modified version of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, and which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga...
in which each of his classes incorporated poses from all 3 of the traditional Ashtanga Series with all students welcome to try all poses. As a result, Jois called Schultz "The Bad Man of Ashtanga Yoga," due to Schultz's interest in practicing and teaching 2nd and 3rd Series poses not yet authorized by Jois. Schultz's new style of yoga was a modified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, and which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga...
regime that is today the foundation for Power yoga. Yoga Journal
Yoga Journal
Yoga Journal is an American based media company that publishes a magazine, a website, DVDs, and puts on conferences all devoted to yoga, food and nutrition, fitness, wellness, and fashion and beauty.-Beginnings and Growth:...
magazine credits Schultz as the creator of Power Yoga.
The Grateful Dead years
In the mid 90s Schultz traveled on tour with the Grateful DeadGrateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
as the band's personal yoga teacher until Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
died. While on tour with the Grateful Dead one of the band members asked Schultz what was the name of his yoga. Schultz said it didnt have a name, at which point in time Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
said, "it should be called Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga, also known as ‘’The Rocket’’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980’s. 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...
, because it gets you there faster." It was Weir who encouraged Schultz to write his first book on yoga, Ashtanga Yoga As Taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh
Phillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
from the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
on Schultz's impact on the music:
The Mayor of Folsom Street
In 1991 Schultz founded It's Yoga at 848 Folsom Street in San Francisco, the 3rd yoga studio in San Francisco. At It's Yoga Larry created a promotional package that was called "90 days for 90 dollars." At the time yoga was mostly done by small groups in homes, and Schultz's yoga studio as a health club concept was an industry first. It's Yoga on Folsom street attracted many, including notable celebrities such as San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
players and Christie Turlington. Schultz's It's Yoga came to be credited as one of the pioneers of yoga in the region. In 2002 It's Yoga moved downstairs to a larger space in the same building at 848 Folsom street. Schultz's notoriety in the South of Market, San Francisco area led him gain a second nickname, "The Mayor of Folsom Street."
The Rocketman
Schultz gained notoriety during his life for creating the Rocket YogaRocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga, also known as ‘’The Rocket’’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980’s. 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...
series of yoga sequences that are today considered to be the foundation Power yoga.Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga, also known as ‘’The Rocket’’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980’s. 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...
sequences include the Rocket I, Rocket II, Rocket III, and Modified Primary Series. Schultz claimed his strength came from teaching 9000 yoga classes & performing 63,000 sun salutes. Schultz said of his teaching philosophy:
Later years
In 2009 It's Yoga San Francisco closed as Schultz moved to Sonoma, CaliforniaSonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
to open a retreat center he called Nauliland. In these final years Schultz and his wife Marie focused on their global Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga
Rocket Yoga, also known as ‘’The Rocket’’, is a style of yoga developed by Larry Schultz in San Francisco during the 1980’s. 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...
teacher training program, which graduated more than 5000 students in 142 teacher trainings. Larry initiated many who later became well known teachers themselves, including Duncan Wong, Russell Yamaguchi, John Berlinsky, Tarik Thami, and Clayton Horton.
Quotes
- "Paper makes paper"
- "Get on your mat"
- "If you don't ask, you don't know"
- "Good things come your way when you do the yoga. They just show up."
- "You're doing great"
- "MULA BANDHA!"
- "Write it down"
Books and Videos
- Ashtanga Out of the Box book and DVD series by Larry Schultz 1998
- Rocket Vinyasa Yoga video in collaboration with David Kyle 1993
External links
- YouTube: In loving memory of Larry Schultz-Rocket Man- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHPJ_lyRWcQ
- Yogapeeps: Larry Schultz Interview 2006- http://yogapeeps.com/main/2006/episode-18-larry-shultz-its-yoga-3/116
- Larry Interview in Sonoma http://vimeo.com/15452297