Frequently asked questions

No come when you like and how you are. Students are welcome to arrive at their convenience within the designated practice hours 5:45-9am. What this means is that students may arrive for practice as early as 5:45am when the doors open -- the teacher is in the classroom from 6 until students start finishing ~8:30 am -- Students should start finishing postures by 8:30am. So if someone has a practice of one hour, they must begin their practice no later than 8 am to make sure they are finished by 9am.

Absolutely anyone can do this practice. Come as you are!

Budget 30 minutes to 1 hour per day for your first month. It might be less than that, but it is good to have the extra time just in case.

Mysore is Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in a self-practice setting with an experienced practitioner/instructor there to help. Perhaps You can think of it as a room where everyone is quietly learning their part for the Nutcracker suite and the conductor goes around and provides help and where students come and go as their schedule allows... i.e. practice could be anywhere from 10 min-2 hrs.  It is named after....well Mysore, India where the practice originated as I learned it from my teacher (Sharath Jois). In this class students to receive individual instruction while learning the Ashtanga yoga sequence. All levels are welcome from new beginners to advanced practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of the practice. Not unlike my garden veggies, In the beginning, new students receive more nurturing. As they become familiar with the practice, they are allowed more independence, getting adjustments and assistance only when needed or asked for. 

Sanskrit Counted Primary Series

Sanskrit Counted led class covers the entire primary series of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. Practitioners aim to move with each counted breath (ekam inhale, dve exhale....) through the Ashtanga Yoga sequence according to the traditional Sanskrit count which has remained the same for at least 60 years. The aim of the class is to move and breathe together as a group with “the count.” As time is not available for the instructor to give explanations of the poses or the vinyasas that connect the postures, this class is most suitable for those who are experienced with Ashtanga yoga or Mysore-style practice. Students may have to modify or omit certain postures all together. Also, as the vinyasa count is a bit of a train leaving the station I won't stop you as do I not have time to do. One should use your own discretion and take a break, modify, or omit sections as needed to prevent injury particularly when agency over one's breath is compromised or "forcing" is taking place. 

Since Mysore class is self-paced, students are not limited to the pace and rhythm of a led class or an instructor. led classes are a great way to learn about the breath, vinyasa, and community,  Mysore style is where you follow your own breath to deepen the meditative aspects by framing your practice on your own mat. In a led class, you may just skim over a new or difficult pose, but the Mysore style provides a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with the teacher to progress and experience the benefits of yoga practice. The Ashtanga system is however best considered by incorporating both styles of learning (mysore and counted primary). Most seasoned 'ashtangis' prefer mysore which might be all the more reason to do led. I have been trying to learn (albeit slowly) the piano and it is a little like practicing with a metronome (led lclass)..I don't love it but know it's good for me. in short, Most beginners kinda feel at home in led and need mysore style and most "seasoned" ashtangi folk favor the Mysore style practice and need led  (similar to Vipassana and shamatha meditation). Point is - practice and be willing to get surprised daily. 

 Absolutely not! Mysore class is where students are meant to learn the series. The teacher will guide you through the series pose-by-pose; teaching Surya Namaskara first and leading each student through the practice based on their personal needs.  

In your first class, you will learn the basic techniques for breathing and movement (often referred to as vinyasa) – and be guided through the opening and closing sequences of the Ashtanga Yoga practice. Your first practice may only be 20 to 30 minutes long and will gradually build over time . As long as you leave enough time to finish your full practice, you can come to Mysore class at any point.  Adding postures one at a time, is the safest and most effective way to learn allowing you to gain proficiency in that posture before advancing to the next. As you gain strength, stamina, and flexibility, poses are added onto the sequence. Undertaking a new posture before you are ready may lead to injury or imbalance in the body. For that reason, students are taught little-by-little and at a rate appropriate for each person individually. In subsequent classes, new postures will be added to what was learned. Thus, over time, the length of your practice will gradually increase according to your ability.  

Whatever learning experience you're after it might be worth looking into someone that has dedicated alot of time (intensity, magnitude, duration) into that field. If that person has studied with those that have delved deeper than anyone you have heard of all the better. being a student requires sacrifice. ideally your instructor has a teacher and as such continues to sacrifice/or willing to "not know"! choose wisely. be patient and look again. kindness is also very important.  An impartial and knowledgeable teacher is helpful to guide you through the practice and help your determine when you are ready for the next posture. The teacher provides assistance on how to approach the postures in a safe manner by offering experience from their own daily practice.  In addition, the teacher can help to hold you accountable and encourage you to work at your full potential.  Why do you offer classes so early in the morning?  In the early morning, sattva guna is most prevalent lending to an ideal time for a meditative practice.  At this hour, the mind is alert, focused, and peaceful.  The stillness and calmness of your inner being is mirrored by the outside world.  Waking early in the morning also helps to maintain good health.  

I, my teachers, and the texts all the way from 2000 years back recommend that if you want to see change one should practice regularly over a long period of time with effort (YS 1.14). I could be snarky and say "Reckon my teachers are not as advanced as you so they need to practice regularly" but that just makes me sound like a jerk so I'll let you figure out what's working for you.  wish I could say there were a weekend workshop, a quick fix or laws knows a pill. Perhaps it might be helpful to think of it as cultivating a habit of brushing your teeth, showering, or in 'tougher cases' wearing orthodontic braces or "training a tree" . This is important to also note that there are not sudden changes but slow micro movements that do not cause so much trauma.  Typically, Ashtanga is practiced six days a week, with 1-2 of the classes being led.  

 Ideally, practicing five to six days per week is recommended, even at the beginning, taking only a few days off per week to allow the body to rest (traditionally, women rest for 3 days during menstruation). If possible, your practice should be at the same time every day. You will appreciate the routine and respond better to the practice. Although you may find that you are a little sore in the beginning, the regularity of a daily practice removes the soreness in the muscles and invigorates the body each day. If a daily commitment to the practice is not possible, many benefits can still be found practicing a few times a week. Please come to practice as you are able. All are welcome!  

• Observe a Mysore class before beginning practice for the first time.  You'll be able to see what the teacher/class/space/other students/method are like before making any kind of commitment.
• Commit to at least one month of practice.  It is easy to show up once when you feel "good".  It is even possible to show up for a week.  But in the span of a month it is much more likely that you won't always feel like going to practice.  You'll be really busy one day with a lot on your mind, or you'll be sore, or tired, or want to sleep in, or go to brunch, run a little late, etc.  It is important to realize that it isn't about every day feeling like rainbows and sunshine.  It is about showing up no matter what.  After a month of facing all these different flavors, you'll have a sense of whether or not you want to continue to do this practice.  
• You do not have to know the primary series or anything about yoga to join a Mysore class.  Although you will be practicing to your own breath, your Mysore practice will be  supervised by the instructor. You will be taught individually one posture at a time.  Your first classes will be short and may grow in length of time based on your schedule and ability allows. Slowly as these postures integrate, more postures will be added by your teacher and you'll continue to refine previous postures and techniques.
• All ages, shapes, body types, genders, ethnicities, etc. are welcome to attend. You don't have to be strong or flexible or a dancer or a gymnast. 
• The Mysore-style of learning and practicing is different than most other types of yoga practice because:
  -it is made of a set series of postures which you practice daily
  -you develop and maintain a practice over time
  -the student-teacher relationship is very important
  -students practice with one teacher
  -it is less about catering to what we are accustomed to and more about challenging ourselves to experience everything with grace
  -Students can take their time, work at their own pace, and are encouraged to marinate in certain postures if there is a therapeutic indication
• There are six series of postures in the Ashtanga yoga system.  Primary series is called yoga chikitsa which means yoga therapy. This practice tones, increases flexibility, and detoxes the body and mind. Everyone starts their Mysore practice by gradually learning and practicing the primary series.  It takes as long as it takes.  Anyone can practice.  
• You can arrive to practice any time that is convenient for you within the designated practice times as long as you are finished before the end. For example, if your practice is 35 minutes long, you should begin before 8:15am if class ends at 9am. So, no, your practice isn't 3 hours long and you do not have to arrive at the beginning of the Mysore class.
• Bring a clean towel, a yoga mat, wear clean clothes, take a shower, be barefoot, and arrive on an empty stomach. 
• Ashtanga yoga is a daily practice. Really, if we are talking the full spectrum of practice, it is 24/7. In terms of being on a mat, students practice 6 days per week. Saturdays or Sundays are a day of rest as are the first three days of the menstrual cycle (called ladies' holiday). Moon days (full or new moon) are also a day of rest. If this isn't possible for you at first, do what you can.