Ashtanga yoga is a powerful system of practice designed to purify the body, nervous system and mind. One of the main distinguishing features of Ashtanga yoga is that it links a set series of postures together in a flowing sequence that is synchronized with the breath. This is called vinyasa.
The purpose of vinyasa is to build heat in the body helping to increase circulation and remove impurities from the internal organs. These impurities are then eliminated in a profuse purifying sweat.
A special system of deep breathing called ujjayi pranayama, or “victorious breath” is specific to this practice. Internal muscular locks called bandhas are integral to this style of resonant breathing. The bandhas help to stabilize the spine, and bring lightness to the body. Finally, Ashtanga yoga steadies the mind by focusing on specific drishti or “gazing points”.
This is a powerful form of practice that helps to cultivate internal awareness and external sense withdrawal. Since we repeat the same series of postures each day, eventually the practice becomes a mirror for our ever-fluctuating body, mind, and emotions, allowing us to better know ourselves, and ultimately awaken to our true nature.
A Mysore style class differs from most yoga classes in that the students all appear to be doing their own thing and the only sound in the room is deep breathing. In fact, everybody is following the particular asana series that they are working on of the primary series, in the same precise order of asanas but to their own individual rhythm. Basically it is a self practice done in a group setting. The teacher, or teachers, are walking around the room helping everyone on a one-to-one basis, adjusting or assisting the asanas and generally helping the students to do, and understand the practice in a way that is most beneficial to each student's body and circumstances.
Well, beginners are welcome and even strongly encouraged to come to Mysore style classes. Sometimes students who are new to this method feel intimidated. Since everyone appears to be doing this practice individually, new students sometimes feel like they can't just jump in without knowing more. But there is only one way to know more - just jump in!
On your first day, you'll be shown the Ashtanga breathing technique (Ujjiyi breath ) a deep, slow, slightly audible breath. After getting the basics of this breath, which will take a few minutes, we'll show you the very beginning of the series, the Surya Namaskar A (Sun Salutation A), then possibly Surya Namaskar B (Sun Salutation B). These sun salutes consist of various flowing movements linked to the inhale and exhale of the breathing technique you learned earlier. After getting familiar with the sun salutes your practice will end with what we call the "Finishing Sequence" and then some time lying down taking rest (Savasana). So day one is pretty short, maybe only 30 minutes. The next day, you'll come in already familiar with the sun salutes. You'll go through these on your own (with one of us helping you if you forget) and then we'll add the first two standing postures of the series and once again you will finish your practice with the finishing sequence and rest. With every day of practice we slowly start to add one or two postures of the primary series. The process is slow for a few reasons. One, the idea is to memorize the postures and the sequence, so taking just a couple of new postures a day makes this easier. Secondly, it allows your body to adapt slowly and healthily to this new experience, developing strength, stamina, flexibility and understanding with each day. Thirdly, there is no hurry! Yoga is a slow and steady journey, meant to be enjoyed and taken in with ever-growing self acceptance and wisdom.
You can easily see that with this method of yoga it is encouraged that new students sign up for a minimum of one month to give the experience a fair trial. Guruji has been saying the simple line (in various wordings), "practice, practice, slowly, slowly....and all is coming", for a very long time and for a very good reason! The beauty of this method is that once you learn the series, it is yours forever. You can take this practice with you wherever you go. Being in a group setting with a teacher has its benefits - the support and experience of the teacher, the community of fellow practitioners, etc. But, in Ashtnaga the real teacher is the practice itself and once you learn it, it is a life time gift and a self practice that will continually offer you a rare expereince to witness your Self.