Our Yoga Style Guide series explores diverse practices and the teachers who bring them to life. Whether you're deepening your current practice or discovering something new, these guides are here to inform and inspire. In this edition, teacher Clotilde Pisapia introduces the foundations, evolution, and energetic practice of Rocket Yoga.
Rocket® Yoga is a dynamic and invigorating style of yoga that combines traditional Ashtanga principles with a playful, accessible approach. Created by Larry Schultz (1950 - 2011) in the 1980s, Rocket Yoga earned its name from Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, who nicknamed it “Rocket” for its fast-paced and uplifting nature. The practice is rooted in the foundational sequences of Ashtanga yoga but offers more flexibility by allowing modifications and creativity in movement. This makes it ideal for practitioners of all levels, as it emphasizes freedom and adaptability while maintaining a focus on strength, flexibility, and breath.
Historically, Rocket Yoga was developed to make Ashtanga yoga more inclusive and enjoyable for Schultz’s students while still challenging them physically and mentally. The Rocket sequence is structured into three categories: Rocket I, Rocket II, and Rocket III. Each has its own focus, ranging from building core strength to exploring advanced inversions. What sets Rocket Yoga apart is its emphasis on breaking boundaries, both physically and mentally, encouraging practitioners to step out of their comfort zones. Over the years, Rocket Yoga has gained popularity worldwide for its ability to make traditional yoga more approachable without losing its profound, transformative essence.
"Rocket invigorates both physically and mentally, strengthens and stretches us at the same time, calms the mind through breathing but at the same time is stimulating. Day after day, practice after practice, we realize how many more things we are able to do."
— Clotilde Pisapia, yoga teacher in Rome, Italy
Clotilde shares her story and a number of resources and tips with the community here. Take a Rocket class with Clotilde in person at RYOGA or connect on Instagram.
Clotilde is a certified Rocket® Yoga teacher and follows training with David C. Kyle, friend and highest trained student of Larry Schultz, and Christiane Nathalie Terrone. Discover more about Rocket Yoga at rocketyoga.com and rocketvinyasa.com
Interested in exploring other movement practices? Check out our full Yoga Style Guide series for more insights into diverse modalities and the teachers bringing them to life.
