Mysore-Style Ashtanga Yoga Class Schedule
No drop-ins allowed. Students must register for one month and attend a minimum of 3 classes a week. Pre-registration required. Phone Laura at 502-585-9642.

Moon Days - No Morning Mysore Classes

Ashtanga Yoga is the oldest known system of yoga. The master of this system was Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, who passed away in Mysore, India on May 18, 2009 at age 93.  Mr. Jois (1915-2009) taught yoga for over 70 years at his yoga school the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI).  His system of teaching yoga is called "Mysore-style" and this is the ancient, traditional method of learning yoga.  A complete biography of Mr. Jois and an explanation of the Ashtanga Yoga system and photographs of the complete sequence of Primary series postures can be found on the KPJAYI website.

The Elements of Ashtanga Yoga are

- Asana - the postures. There are over 300 postures in the complete system, which is divided into 4 series: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, Advanced B.  Most students practice Primary series.
- Ujjayi  - a method of breathing that makes the asanas steady and comfortable.
- Bandhas - engagements of muscles of the pelvic floor and abdomen that create lightness and power.
- Drishti - gazing points to develop steadiness and one-pointed concentration.
- Vinyasa - a precise system of breath and movement.

Ashtanga Yoga has many benefits. Our students say that Ashtanga Yoga...

- Builds strength and flexibility;
- Creates radiant health and well-being;
- Improves chronic conditions;
- Heals old injuries;
- Frees one from old habits and patterns of depression, worry and anxiety;
- Builds confidence, courage, enthusiasm and joy;
- Enables one to be at one's best in any situation, no matter how difficult;
- Makes one steadfast, compassionate, and light-hearted. 

Mysore-style is the traditional teaching method used in India, and is recommended for all students who want to learn yoga the traditional way with a daily practice. Students who attend classes irregularly take the instructor's focus away from the students who have established a regular practice. This is why we do not allow single-class drop-in students to Mysore-style classes. Most students need 2-6 weeks or longer to establish a practice rhythm with Ashtanga Yoga. If you do not attend regularly, it takes longer for you to learn the form, longer for you to see progress, and this gives you an inaccurate perception of the Ashtanga Yoga system.  If you are ready to practice yoga on a daily basis, then you are ready for Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga.

Laura Spaulding is the only teacher in Kentucky who was authorized by K. Pattabhi Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga.  She began studying with Mr. Jois in India in 1999 and studied with him until he died on May 17, 2009.  Mr. Jois first authorized her in 2004, and she received Level 2 authorization from R. Sharath in 2009.   

Registration Requirements:

- Drop-ins are not permitted to the Mysore class.
- Students must know Sun Salutation A and B and the order of the standing poses.
- You must register for one month and attend at least 3 classes per week.
- You must attend a minimum of 10 classes in your first month to re-register for your next month.

How to Register:

Phone Laura Spaulding the day before you plan to attend for your first class to get your practice time.  Phone 502-585-9642 during office hours: 1:00-4:00 pm, Mon-Thurs. 

Mysore class timings for experienced students (including out-of-town students with an established Mysore practice):

Monday-Thursday: studio opens at 5:45 am and closes at 8:00 am. No adjustments are given after 7:40 am.  Please arrive early enough that you finish your practice by 7:50 am. Studio closes at  8:00 am.

Friday Led Class: studio opens at 5:45 am and class begins at 6:00 am. 

Sunday Led Class: studio opens at 7:15 am, opening mantra at 7:30 am and class begins promptly.

Moon Days
New and Full Moon days are traditional rest days in the Ashtanga system. Students who practice Ashtanga Yoga 6 days a week notice the beneficial effects of these twice-monthly rest days on their practice. Moon days and eclipses are always shown on our Calendar.

Study in India at KPJ AYI

All students are urged to study at KPJAYI in India.    

Registration for Classes at KPJAYI: See the website for requirements. You need to submit an application at least two months in advance of your visit. Take a copy of your passport and a passport-sized photo for registration.  See the KPJAYI website for current tuition. 

Travel Requirements to Mysore are changing. Please consult the KPJAYI website for current requirements.

Innoculations: See Centers for Disease Control website for useful and up-to-date information about health concerns: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm.  Most inoculations can only be obtained locally at The U of L International Travel Clinic, 252 E. Liberty Street, Suite 604. Make an appointment at least one month prior to your departure or you may not be able to get an appointment. Phone 852-3691. 

How to Get There: Mysore is located in Karnataka state in South India. The closest airport is located in Bengaluru (Bangalore), the state capitol of Karnataka.  Several airlines fly to Bengaluru (BLR), which is an international center of technological development and a major outsourcing center for many U.S. businesses. You can travel to Mysore via train, auto or bus.  From the airport, you can obtain a prepaid taxi inside the airport to Mysore or to the train station or bus station.  Taxi fares to Mysore run about Rs 2100. Train and bus tickets are much less expensive, in the range of Rs 300. 

Changing $$ to Rs: In the Bengaluru airport you can change a small amount of dollars to Indian Rupees to pay for transportation to Mysore, bottled water or snacks for the trip. ATM machines are available at several locations in Mysore.  VISA seems to be accepted more commonly than MC.

Lodging
Our hosts in Mysore are Nagarathna, Raghu and Vinay Rao. This wonderful family can also provide information and support for travel, touring, meals and shopping. For more information see www.yogicsupplies.com and www.mrvinay.com.

Study Music and Sanskrit in Mysore
You can also study Bansuri, Indian Classical Flute, with Ravi Shankar Misra and Sanskrit with Lakshmish Bhatt.  Ask us for more information.

Mysore Fund
Authorized Ashtanga teachers are required to travel to Mysore, India every 18 months to spend a minimum of one month studying with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Grants give Yoga East Ashtanga teachers financial assistance for international travel and classes at KPJAYI and also helps us pay for substitute teachers while our regular Ashtanga teachers are studying in India.

2010 Moon Days
In the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, there is no yoga practice 
on New and Full Moon Days.
Ashtanga students are urged to rest on moon days.

Tips for Your Practice

Maintain a Regular Practice
Maintaining a regular practice is the most important aspect of Ashtanga Yoga. On days when you're tired or don't feel well, you should still do a practice, and it's fine to do a shorter, slower or less intense practice than usual.  

Ashtanga yogis should get enough sleep, eat a healthful diet and avoid stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs and excessive caffeine.  Ashtanga Yogis are encouraged to complement their asana practice with japa (mantra repetition), chanting, study of yoga texts, and contemplation.  In the Ashtanga tradition, practice is traditionally done in the early morning hours when one is fresh.  Most students have found they are more likely to maintain a practice if it's done first thing in the morning. We offer a chanting class on Sundays at 9:30 am after the Sunday led class at Kentucky Street.

www.kpjayi.org
Official website of KPJAYI, K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute.

www.rsharath.com
Website of Sharath Rangaswami

www.saraswathiashtanga.com
Website of Saraswati, Guruji's daughter.

Teacher authorization and certification

List of authorized and certified teachers

Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Charitable Trust is a charitable organization founded on the occasion of Pattabhi Jois's 90th birthday to help support Mr. Jois's charitable projects.  The trust provides fiscal support of charities in India including assistance to orphaned children, mentally and physically handicapped individuals, and endangered wildlife in the Mysore area. Yoga East is the U.S. fiscal sponsor for the Trust and is authorized to accept U.S. donations for the Trust. For more information about the Trust and its current projects, please go to the website. Donations should be sent to:
Yoga East, Inc.
1232 E. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40204
Please include your name, address and phone number with your donation so an acknowledgement can be sent to you.
You can also donate by Paypal. Click the button for secure online donations. You will receive a written acknowledgement of your donation for U.S. tax purposes.

Yoga East Appalachia - Classes in Blacksburg, VA

Location:
Y Thrift Store Conference Room
North Main Street
Blacksburg
For more information:
Phone Karen at 540-558-9554

To Register:
Register in person at 
Lancaster House, 402 Washington Street SW, 
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
or phone 540-961-9622

These classes guide you through the primary series of ashtanga or “yoga chikitsa,” yoga therapy, in the tradition of K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. 
Karen is a direct student of Mr. Jois.

Please dress comfortably, bring a mat and a small towel (if you would like to use it as a “prop").    

Karen Cairns with Mr. Jois at his 2007 92nd birthday bash. Karen is a direct student of Mr. Jois and frequently studied with him in India.