WHAT ON EARTH IS A MOON DAY? April 2022 was unusual for having three “moon days”. if you’re new to Astanga Yoga this might be an unfamiliar phrase to you. ‘Moon day’ refers to the dates of full and new moons. The moon orbits the earth...
Here are some questions I get asked a lot How long should my practice take me? How long does it take to perfect a posture? How long does it take to learn a series ? How long will it take me to become a yogi? If I was feeling mischievous...
A friend and I were once joking about how easy it can be to get addicted to ‘prep – poses’. In case you are wondering what on earth a ‘prep – pose’ might be, it’s a nickname for any number of warm ups which a...
You may remember from a previous article that in Astanga Yoga the first things we learn are often the most important. If I told you that Virabadrasana was one of the first postures you ever learned you might think I was mistaken. But that’s because...
If you have been joining online classes lately you’re probably getting very familiar with counted or “led” primary series. This is an important aspect of the Mysore practice and if you have never been to one before, now is a good time to try it....
Practicing during a cold snap There is no doubt about it: sticking to a regular practice through the winter is not easy. The dark mornings make it all the more tempting to hit the ‘snooze’ button. The festive season throws us off our routine. But if...
Asana Focus part one: Janu Sirsasana Please note: this article contains references to the literary output of K Pattabhi Jois. If the inclusion of these references raises any questions please Contact Me. Following on from last month’s article about the finishing sequence, I wanted to write about...
One positive aspect of teaching online has been an opportunity to observe people’s finishing postures more closely. This is not easy in a busy Mysore room, especially if the layout means that students do their finishing postures in the back row or - in some cases...
The Elusive Closing Chant The Astanga Yoga Closing Prayer is a bit of an enigma. Because of the nature of Mysore rooms, it’s possible to attend one for many months or years before becoming aware of its existence. This is a pity because the chant is...
Lotus feet and serpent heads… A look at the opening chant “Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start” I suppose I could have taken this advice several weeks ago when I began writing about Mantras. Not that beginning at ‘the beginning’ works...