Class Descriptions

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is a traditional yoga practice based on ancient yoga teachings and was popularized by the teachings of the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This challenging and rigorous style of yoga follows specific sequences of postures aimed at methodically opening, strengthening, balancing, and purifying the body and mind. Postures are linked together through breath-synchronized movement (vinyasa) while keeping the mind engaged and focused. The main focus of the Ashtanga practice is Tristhana, which means the three places of attention or action: the breathing system (pranayama), posture (asana), and the looking place(dristhi). These three places are essential for an effective yoga practice, and they cover the three levels of purification: the body, nervous system, and the mind.

Ashtanga yoga includes six series of practice, with each series being more challenging than the previous one. Beginners start with the Primary Series. This series allows beginners to learn the correct movements, breath, and internal focus required for the practice before moving on to more challenging sequences or postures.

The Ashtanga Yoga Primary series is regarded as Yoga Chikitsa or Yoga Therapy, serving as the foundation for the practitioner to prepare their body for future and more advanced series. The primary series comprises of postures designed to purify the internal and external organs. The Primary series also addresses structural imbalances and weaknesses in the body. It improves flexibility, range of motion, and teaches fundamental posture alignment. The series combines standing postures, seated postures, as well as deep twists/hip openers and forward folds, which help to prepare the body for back-bending postures and inversions.

Through dedicated practice, under the guidance of a qualified and knowledgeable teacher, the student eventually progresses beyond primary series and moves into the intermediate and advanced series.

Mysore

The Mysore practice is a unique style of learning that Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally taught and practiced in. It represents the only true all-levels yoga class with the aim to help students build an individualized yoga practice and daily routine. The practice is taught using sequences of postures that are learned slowly, step by step. As a beginner, you will be taught the Sun Salutations and a short sequence of standing postures that help form the foundation of the practice. Your first few classes will focus on the teacher helping you memorize and refine these fundamental postures, and you can expect your first few classes to last approximately 30 minutes. Through regular attendance, you will grow in strength, flexibility, and focus, and new postures will be gradually added to your practice, allowing it to continue to deepen and grow over time.

In the Mysore room, students can come at any point during the allotted hours, and they are not expected to arrive at the beginning of class nor practice the entire class duration. This is an individualized approach to practicing yoga, which meets people where they are in the evolution of their practice, honoring each person's unique journey.

Led Primary Series

The Primary series is the foundational practice of Ashtanga Yoga, representing the core of the practice. Led classes, taught in traditional Sanskrit count, are considered intermediate level classes, used as a tool for students to learn and reinforce posture order, correct pacing and vinyasa count. To attend this class, students must have some knowledge of the Primary Series. If you are still finishing the Primary Series, you will stop at the last posture given by your teacher in the Mysore class. At that point, you can choose to either finish your practice with the last three closing postures or wait for the class to progress to closing and finish with the group. For your safety, please do not attempt new postures during the led class. It is recommended that you learn new postures in the Mysore class.