Mysore is the traditional self-practice approach of learning and practicing the Ashtanga Vinyasa sequences. It derives its name from the city in India, where it developed, around 100 years ago, and where it is still traditionally taught. In a Mysore class, each student moves independently, according to the rhythm of their own breath through the sequence of postures as they have learned them from their teacher. The teacher moves through the room, giving assistance, instruction, and guidance as needed on a one-to-one basis. In Mysore classes all levels of practitioners practice together. Do I need to know the sequence before coming to a Mysore style class? Absolutely not; You do not need to know anything about Ashtanga, you don’t even need to know anything about yoga. If you are a new student, the teacher will provide you with a lot of attention and instruction, teaching you the practice, little by little. The instructor will meet you where you are and will teach you the practice at the pace that best suits you. Every practitioner is different and this method honors that.

The primary series is a healing practice, consistent practice of Primary Series brings the body back to a state of balance so we can then work on a deeper level in meditation, pranayama, and more advanced series. Internally, the series targets the digestive system and abdominal organs including liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and so on. This class focuses on the fundamentals of the practice: breathing techniques, bandhas (muscle locks), sun salutations and standing postures with introduction to the seated postures, backbends and finishing postures, it follows each week a different section of the Primary Series. The instructor will offer modifications for every level of student.

The Primary Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga following the traditional counting in Sanskrit. This moderate challenging class reinforces the proper vinyasa system – the correct way of inhalation and exhalation as we enter in and out of each posture, it is an important complement to a regular Mysore practice as it is effective in flushing away unnecessary self-practice habits such as a wandering mind or fidgeting between postures, it provides an opportunity to refine your practice of the Primary Series sequence.

The Intermediate Series, known as Nadi Shodhana, balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, regular practice of second series brings lightness to the body, and clarity to the mind. The postures of this sequence involve mainly deep backbends and twists, leg-behind-head postures, arm balances and headstands which together aim in opening energy channels along the spine to enable prana to flow more freely. This class is meant to bring accessibility to the challenging postures of the second series, it serves as an exploration to this beautiful sequence.