Ashtanga Vinyasa style yoga
 Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system of Yoga that was taught by Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta. This text was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900's by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and was later passed down to Pattabhi Jois (right with Siobhan in 2004) during the duration of his studies with Krishnamacharya, beginning in 1927.
The following are aspects that Pattabhi Jois emphasizes as the main components of Ashtanga Yoga.
Vinyasa: Vinyasa means breathing and movement system. For each movement, there is one breath. For example, in Surya Namskar (sun salutations) there are nine vinyasas. The first vinyasa is inhaling while raising your arms over your head, and putting your hands together; the second is exhaling while bending forward, placing your hands next to your feet, etc. In this way all asanas are assigned a certain number of vinyasas.
The purpose of vinyasa is for internal cleansing. Breathing and moving together while performing asanas makes the blood hot, or as Pattabhi Jois says, boils the blood. Thick blood is unhealthy and causes disease in the body. The heat created from yoga cleans the blood and makes it thin, so that it may circulate freely. The combination of the asanas (postures) with movement and breath make the blood circulate freely around all the joints, taking away body pains. When there is a lack of circulation, pain occurs. The heated blood also moves through all the internal organs removing impurities and disease, which are brought out of the body by the sweat that occurs during practice.
Sweat is an important by product of vinyasa, because it is only through sweat that disease leaves the body and purification occurs. In the same way that gold is melted in a pot to remove its impurities, by the virtue of the impurities rising to the surface as the gold boils, and the impurity then being removed, yoga boils the blood and brings all our toxins to the surface, which are removed through sweat. If the method of vinyasa is followed, the body becomes healthy and strong, and pure like gold. We become more alive,youthful and happier. The body feels liberated from the practice and it always leaves you wanting more. The beauty of Ashtanga is that there is indeed always more to take from this practice if you take it on board and embrace, focus and surrender to its natural ability to lift us onto a higher plane.
Tristhana:
This means the three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. These three are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.
Dristhi is the place where you look while in the asana.
Mysore classes
The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore. There are some differences in this method from the usual modern way in which yoga is taught:
- the class is not "led" as a whole but rather all instruction is one-on-one within the group class setting
- students practice their own portion of the Ashtanga sequence of asanas at their own pace
- the teacher assists each student individually by giving physical adjustments & verbal instruction
In Mysore style students learn the fixed order of postures using a specific movement-breathing technique called vinyasa krama. Through vinyasa, there is continuity via the breath from postures to posture. In the Ashtanga sequence, each posture builds from the previous – and prepares for successive – postures.
Each student is given their yoga routine according to their ability. Newer and more beginning students tend to have a much shorter practice than do those with more experience. As one gains more strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration, additional postures are given to the student. The sense of the word "given" in this context comes from how the practice is taught in India, where a yoga practice is something that a teacher gives to a student as a spiritual practice. In the West, people are accustomed to learning a lot of postures all at once – such as in a typical modern "led" yoga class. One advantage of the "Mysore" method is that, because it teaches yoga according to one's individual capacity, it accommodates everyone of all levels even those without any prior yoga experience; and hence the class is neither too difficult nor not advanced enough for anyone.
If a student has trouble with a particular posture, the teacher can offer a modification that is consistent with the intention of the practice. One by one also means that once a student is given a new posture, they practice their sequence up to that posture, then do backbends if applicable (backbending is the climax, not a part of the finishing sequence), and then wind down with the finishing sequence. In general, the next posture in the sequence should be added/taught/learned only after obtaining stability in one's last posture.The Ashtanga vinyasa method – as is any hatha yoga practice – is intended to be a daily practice. Traditionally, practice takes place every day except for Saturdays and full & new moon days which occur about twice monthly.Our classes for Mysore are on Wednesday and Friday mornings 6:30am - 8:30am.... with Mondays starting from mid-June 2009.
Led Classes
The classes which are led on our timetable are instructed from start to finish leading you through the Ashtanga primary sequence up to a certain point (beginners/intermediate classes). Adjustments will be made, although not as often or as indepth as in the Mysore classes. It is a way of getting students familiar with the practice and giving instruction and attention to breath awareness, hand and foot positions, posture and dristhi (focal points for attention in each posture). Some people prefer to have a class which is led and enjoy the physical benefits this brings to them each week. However to take this practice on board and fully embrace and progress, it is recomended to try the very different experience of a Mysore class.
One to One
Siobhan Yoga 1 hour
Siobhan finds on a one to one session the student learns much faster and becomes grounded in the practice far quicker. These sessions are available to those wishing private tuition or are unable to make the early morning Mysore classes. In the ashatanga practice.
These private sessions do not necessarily need to be on the Ashtanga vinyasa method. Siobhans wide range of experience in all aspects of yoga practice caters for all needs and each individuals needs are treated as such. The most common reasons for private tuition range from stress and anxiety conditions to insomnia,persistant back problems, joint problems, detoxification, poor self-image/confidence and re-conditioning for the body to gain strength and more focus in each individuals lifestyle.
From all the wonderful fruits we can bear from this practice, it is then that we can see why so many people take up the practice of yoga ... as they learn to work breathing, postures and relaxation techniques they begin to feel whole again and more connected. These sessions cover all aspects of yoga and are tailored to each individuals needs. Siobhan is also available for meditation sessions and workshops.
Pricing for Private sessions "one to one"
- 1 private session £45
- 5 private sessions £200
- 10 private sessions £360
- 20 private sessions £700
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