Article: What Repetition Teaches Us: Lessons From an Ashtanga Retreat With Laruga Glaser
What Repetition Teaches Us: Lessons From an Ashtanga Retreat With Laruga Glaser
Ashtanga is often described as rigid, repetitive, and even boring.
The same sequence.
The same postures.
The same order, every day.
And yet, it is precisely this repetition that makes Ashtanga one of the most grounding and transformative practices.
I understood this more clearly during a retreat in Salento, Italy, with Laruga Glaser — an Ashtanga teacher known not for embellishment, but for depth, clarity, and discipline.
The Misunderstanding of Repetition
In a culture that values novelty, repetition is often seen as a limitation.
We assume progress comes from variety.
From adding more.
From changing things constantly.
Ashtanga offers the opposite approach.
The sequence does not change to entertain the mind. It stays consistent so that the mind can settle.
As Laruga explained, the practice may feel routine or even boring — and that is exactly the point.
When the Body Knows What to Expect
When you repeat the same practice day after day, the nervous system begins to relax.
The body already knows:
• What is coming next
• How much effort is required
• Where to soften and where to stay alert
There is less anticipation and less resistance.
This familiarity creates safety, and safety is what allows deeper work to happen.
Discipline as a Form of Freedom
Ashtanga requires discipline.
You show up.
You move through the same sequence.
You meet the same moments of effort and discomfort.
There is no choice fatigue. No constant decision-making.
Paradoxically, this structure creates freedom.
Because the sequence is fixed, mental space opens. Attention turns inward. Emotional patterns surface. Resistance becomes visible.
You are not distracted by what comes next; you are present with what is already there.
Growth Happens in the Repetition
Repeating the same practice does not mean repeating the same experience.
The body changes.
The breath changes.
Your emotional state changes.
Some days feel light. Others feel heavy. The practice reflects this without judgment.
Over time, repetition becomes a mirror. It shows you:
• how you respond to discomfort
• how you handle discipline
• how you meet yourself when nothing is new
This is where mental growth happens, not through stimulation, but through consistency.
Why This Matters Beyond the Mat
This principle extends beyond Ashtanga.
Repetition teaches patience.
Discipline teaches trust.
Structure creates space.
When the body is grounded through consistent practice, it becomes easier to navigate uncertainty elsewhere. You build resilience not by doing more, but by returning — again and again — to what you already know.
Practice as an Anchor
Ashtanga is not designed to entertain. It is designed to anchor.
The repetition grounds the nervous system.
The ritual supports mental clarity.
The discipline creates stability.
This is not rigidity. It is containment, and containment allows growth.
How This Philosophy Shapes Studio SM
At Studio SM, we are not interested in constant novelty for its own sake.
We believe in:
• pieces you return to
• shapes that feel familiar on the body
• structure that supports rather than distracts
Just like a repeated practice, clothing can become grounding when it is designed with intention and consistency.
Repetition is not a limitation.
It is depth.
Written by Essem Dauletqazi
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