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| Schedule | Calendar | Classes & Fees | Instructors | Ashtanga |
| Contact Us | Teacher Training | Workshops | Corporate Classes | Forum |
| History of Ashtanga | How to Register | About "Mysore-Style" |
| Tips for Practice | Study in India | Links |
| How to Register for Mysore-Style Classes | ||
While Laura is in India, May 13, 2009-July 13, 2009:
After July 15, 2009,
normal registration resumes: Register with Laura Spaulding, the instructor. All new Mysore students must phone her at 502-585-9642 before coming to class, even if you already have a Yoga East class card. Fee options to get you started:
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| History of Ashtanga Yoga | ||
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Shri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) Shri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India was the head of the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. Mr. Jois first learned Ashtanga Yoga from his teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacarya (1888-1989), in 1927, and he taught yoga from 1938 until his death on May 18, 2009. Students from Europe discovered Ashtanga Yoga and Mr. Jois in the 1960's, and Americans have been going to Mysore to study yoga since 1973. Mr. Jois has made teaching tours of the United States in 1973, 1984, 1994, 2000-2008. He was a master who devoted more than 70 years of his life solely to teaching Ashtanga Yoga. KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore, India Mr. Jois's daughter Saraswathi Rangaswamy (1941-), and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy (1970-) are the instructors at the KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute. The Institute holds classes throughout the year, Sundays through Fridays with days off for new and full moons (traditional rest days) and religious holidays. Classes begin at 4:30 a.m. in the mornings and continue until all students have finished practice. Smaller afternoon classes are held for family members and residents of Mysore. Classes in Sanskrit, chanting and the Yoga Sutras are also given. At busy times of the year, as many as 250 students from all over the world are enrolled at the Institute. About the Ashtanga Yoga Style Ashtanga is a vinyasa system - a precise sequence of asanas (postures), movement and breathing. Vinyasa means "counting system" and refers to the precisely counted series of movements and breathing for each asana in each series. Both KPJAYI and Yoga East give led classes on Friday and Sunday mornings to teach the counting system for Primary series. Lino Miele, one of the certified teachers from Italy, once said that his mastery of the series began when he learned the count. Lino's book Astanga Yoga contains a guide to the counting system. There are six series of postures in the Ashtanga system (about 300 postures in all). Most students practice Primary series which includes 48 of the most important postures (standing, seated, forward bends, twists, arm balances, backbends and inversions) which students learn progressively. The postures are combined with Ujjayi breathing, bandhas (internal muscular activations which channel energy), and drishti (gazing points for concentration). An explanation of the vinyasa system and photographs of the complete sequence of Primary series are on the KPJAYI website. Ashtanga Yoga builds strength, flexibility, and radiant health and well-being. Many Ashtanga Yoga students have experienced improvement or total healing of old injuries and chronic conditions. Many students have shared that Ashtanga Yoga has changed their lives, freeing them from old patterns of depression, worry and anxiety. Ashtanga Yoga builds confidence, courage, enthusiasm and joy. Your body becomes strong, flexible and light. More importantly, your mind becomes strong, flexible and light, too. Yoga brings the ability to be at your best in any situation, no matter how difficult. Yoga makes you steadfast, courageous, compassionate, and light-hearted. Ashtanga Yoga Teaching Requirements The KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute is the only authority which approves teachers of Ashtanga Yoga. Information about Ashtanga authorization and certification can be found on the KPJAYI website. Links to the website are at the bottom of this page. Laura Spaulding is authorized to teach Ashtanga Yoga by KPJAYI. Authorized teachers are required to teach daily Mysore-style classes, preferably in the mornings, with new and full moon days and Saturdays to be honored as rest days, and Yoga East follows this system. |
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| What to Expect in a Mysore-Style Class | |
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New students are welcome, even if
you have never practiced yoga before. New students are not expected to
know anything or be able to do anything. Yoga postures are called asanas
(pronounced AH-suh-nuh). New students are gradually taught Primary
series, asana-by-asana. As you learn the asanas and can do them
proficiently, you will be given further asanas in the series. If you come
to an asana you cannot do, the instructor will work with you on it until you can
do it; then you will be moved to the next asana. Students are never given
asanas for which they are not ready. This method of practice is the safest
way to learn yoga. On Sunday and Friday morning, the class is led. This is called Sanskrit-counted vinyasa. New students should not attend led classes. The instructor will tell you when you are ready for a led class. A CD of Sharath Rangaswamy leading a Sanskrit-counted primary series vinyasa class is available for purchase at our studios ($14). All Mysore students are expected to regularly attend class at least three days a week. If you attend less frequently than this, you will not be able to remember the sequence and you will not make satisfactory progress in the series. Please do not drop-in to Mysore classes. All students will be expected to have a monthly unlimited type of enrollment or a 10 class card. New moons, full moons, eclipses, and some religious holidays are not suitable for yoga practice, and Pattabhi Jois advises students to rest on those days. 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. |
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Tips for Your Practice |
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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 meditation, 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. Women and AshtangaAshtanga Yoga is excellent for women. Women students are advised to rest on the first three days of the menstrual flow (ladies holiday). Women should not practice yoga or do other strenuous activities during these three days. There may be a connection between practice of yoga asanas and development of fibroid tumors on the uterus. Fibroids are benign growths whose exact cause is unknown, but it is known that fibroid growth is accelerated by hormone levels and high blood circulation. Practicing yoga asanas during your menstrual period might put more blood into the uterus and accelerate fibroid growth. In any case, practicing yoga asanas during your menstrual period can cause heavier blood flow into the uterus, dilation of uterine blood vessels, and heavier bleeding. Do not practice yoga asanas during the first three days of your period or at any time in which you are experiencing a heavy blood flow. Pregnant women in normal health who have regularly practiced Ashtanga may continue to practice up through the sixth month of pregnancy. The twisting postures should be avoided. It is not advisable to begin yoga practice or any new activity in the first trimester. Pregnant women should have a physician's permission to attend class. |
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Information about Yoga East Appalachia - Classes in Blacksburg, VA |
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Ashtanga Yoga with Karen Cairns Blacksburg Y Open University Location: To Register: |
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. Please dress comfortably, bring a mat and a small towel (if you would like to use it as a “prop").
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Information about travel to Mysore, India |
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Study at KPJ AYI All students are urged to take advantage of the rare opportunity to study at KPJAYI. Pattabhi Jois's daughter, Saraswathi Rangaswamy is currently teaching the classes. Her son, Sharath has temporarily stopped teaching regular classes. He continues to teach workshops and will be on a worldwide teaching tour later in 2009. 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. Mysore Experiences: read about student's experiences in Mysore. |
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Travel Information in Mysore
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. |
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Traveling to Mysore You will need: a passport and a tourist Visa for travel to India. If you plan to travel frequently to Mysore, you should consider obtaining a 10 year visa. Most YE students use a service to obtain visas. Passport & Visa Experts, www.passportexperts.com 1-800-483-1475. 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. |
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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. |
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Ashtanga Yoga Links www.kpjayi.org www.rsharath.com www.saraswathiashtanga.com Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Charitable Trust |
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