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Mysore Ashtanga Yoga
Mysore Ashtanga yoga is the ultimate way to develop your practice fast. Everyone practices the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga sequence at their own pace, and ability level, receiving physical assistance and teaching individually from your teachers. In the room you'll hear the occasional quiet voice of the teacher and the sound of Ujjayi breathing as the students move through the series. This practice is for total beginners and advanced alike, individually working towards greater levels of purification, flexibility, strength, and calm. Experience this class with our qualified teachers Peter and Dylan. WARNING: this is addictive!
If there is one thing that can link David Williams, Richard Freeman, David Svenson, Nancy Gilgoff, and Norman Allen together, it is the style of yoga they practice - Mysore Ashtanga Yoga. Some refer it as the ancient and sweaty yoga system. It is true that Asthanga Yoga is physically demanding and a more aerobic type of yoga practice. Despite its rise to fame during the pass 20 years (mostle due to the influence from celebrity like Madonna and Sting), Mysore Ashtanga has most probably remained the same for thousands of years in the form that we still practice today.
The Mysore Ashtanga Yoga is the origin of different schools of Vinyasa Yoga, such as Power Yoga, Dynamic Yoga, and Flow. There are three components of which form the practical and philosophical basis of the practice as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at his Mysore Shala.
1. Vinyasa
The word VINYASA refers to a system of “breath-controlled movement” or “linking of movement with breating”. For instance, there are 9 Vinyasas in Surya Namaskar A and 19 Vinyasas in Surya Namaskar B. The dynamism of Vinyasa generates heat in our body, which then “boils” the blood in order to thin our blood for it to circulate freely. Sweat is an important by-product of Vinyasa. It carries with it toxins and impurities from our systems. Hence, the practice of Vinyasa not only strengthens us physically but also cleanses our systems internally.
2. Trishthana
This means three focuses or actions, referring to Asanas (postures), Pranayama (breathing system), and Drishti (focal point). When these three are perform together, it brings to us purification of the body, nervous system and mind.
Asana is the most visible form of Ashtanga yoga practice. It purifies, strengthens and brings flexibility to our body. Asana is the static pause between flow of Vinyasa.
Ashtanga yoga uses Ujjayi pranayama, whereby it takes approximately 4 to 5 heartbeats to breath in and 4 to 5 heartbeats to breath out. The sound of Ujjayi pranayama is like the wave of ocean. Listening to the inhaling and exhaling of the same rhythm takes the practitioners into a state of moving meditation.
An important component of the correct breathing system is the activation of energetic locks: Mulabandha and Uddiyana bandha. These are seals, or locks, located at the anal and lower abdominal areas. Not only do they retain energy, but also give lightness, strength and build strong internal fire.
There are nine Drishti, focal points or places to look while holding a Asana. They are tips of the nose, between eyebrows, navel, thumb, hand, feet, up, right side, and left side. Drishti purifies and stabilizes the mind.
3. Six Poisons
In Yoga Shastra, it is said that God resides in our heart in form of birght light. However, this light is covered by six poisons in the form of kama (desire), krodha (anger), moha (delusion), lobha (greed), matsarya (envy), and mada (sloth). The fire or heat generated from long term practice of yoga will burn the poisons and allows our inner bright light shines forth.
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