Ashtanga Yogais a dynamic and powerful practice that equally emphasizes mind and body. It evolved from an ancient Sanskrit text which described the vinyasa method, literally the "intelligent sequencing" of postures. The postures of Ashtanga Yoga are arranged so as to strengthen, open, and balance the body systematically. Deep conscious breathing is the foundation of Ashtanga Yoga, carrying you from posture to posture in a continuous flow. Ashtanga also incorporates techniques that help focus the mind, deepen the breath, and strengthen core muscles. These techniques help to establish the mind in the present moment and assist the body in becoming strong, flexible, balanced, and free of toxins.
Tradition can be defined as “a time-honored practice or set of practices.” In this case, the Mysore style of teaching is proven effective and complements all aspects of the Ashtanga practice. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois taught Mysore classes for more than seventy years and passed this method to his students. He taught led classes minimally, for the sake of refining proper pacing and learning posture order. And he always emphasized that led classes should be the exception, not the rule, for daily practice.
Yoga in the west evolved mostly through led classes, and thus not all Ashtanga studios offer Mysore classes. Traditional Ashtanga instructors teach the practice traditionally, in Mysore classes, for the adjective to make any sense.
Ashtanga Yoga's fundamental techniques are essential for safe and steady progress and can be equated to learning chords on an instrument. Refining these techniques fosters independence and a deep, intuitive understanding of correct alignment, both of which nurture confidence. As students refine what they practice, more postures are added. The pace of learning depends primarily upon consistency of practice, age, physical condition, and state of health.
Beginners are welcome to attend Mysore classes, although this approach is different from led classes. We encourage frequent attendance for all students, but particularly for beginners because the Mysore format builds content over time, rather than a lot of information in a single class. Please contact us directly for more information.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the illustrated fundamental posture sequence.
Although many forms of yoga now incorporate the vinyasa method, Ashtanga is more physically vigorous than most, emphasizing both upper body and core strength, as well as an elevated heart rate sustained through one's practice. Yoga is meant to challenge us on all levels. Ashtanga Yoga is a practice accessible to everyone, as we all bring unique limitations and strengths to the practice. The objective is not to exploit the strengths while avoiding the weaknesses. On the contrary, the path of least resistance is sought while simultaneously transcending limitations. Our belief is that learning Ashtanga in its traditional form and setting creates the ideal environment for a transformative and therapeutic yoga practice.
Ashtanga is intended to be practiced 5-6 days a week, with the exception of Saturdays, moon days (full & new), and the heaviest days of the female menstrual cycle. One off day a week is important, ideally the same day week to week. This may be difficult to reconcile with your schedule, in which case keeping practice as consistent as possible is best. For example, more than two consecutive days off the mat is not advised — a light practice of surya namaskara and standing poses is a better option than no practice at all. If injured or feeling under the weather (anything but fever), a light practice is still appropriate, rather than skipping practice entirely. There is no set standard or rule as to how many asanas one should do in a given practice. The best approach is to get on your mat with no expectations, begin your practice, and see where it takes you.
The practice of Ashtanga Yoga increases prana, Sanskrit for upward-moving energy. During menstruation, apana, downward-moving energy, predominates, so women are encouraged to abstain from practice during the heaviest three days of the menstrual cycle. Honoring the cycle in this way influences regularity.
As the saying goes, cleanliness is next to godliness. A warm bath or shower helps limber up the body, clear the mind, and makes the practice enviroment more enjoyable for others. It may also get you more adjustments (hint hint, wink wink).
Tapas (internal fire) is an important aspect of the practice. On the physical level tapas is an internal heat generated by the continuity of deep focused breathing. Through increased metabolism, tapas strengthens the digestive system and purifies the blood. Food or water ingested too close to practice weakens the internal heat and diminishes its effects. Therefore one should give the body at least three hours between a meal and practice. During practice, drinking water affects the body the same as eating too recently. If you find yourself constantly thirsty during class, you need to hydrate more thoroughly while not in class. Rehydrating an hour to thirty minutes prior to class is a good idea if you find thirst an issue.