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...
Lock to unlock…The mysterious Bandhas One of the more enjoyable aspects of this new space we inhabit has been taking the time to answer questions about practice. Time to mull over these questions often eludes us in the relatively fast paced Mysore Room, where the clock...
Ahimsa in the age of Covid-19 In our first online chat we discussed ways we might use the first limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to help endure our current situation. The more present we are, the more durable we feel. Wishing away the time is not...
The Prayer of St Francis This week’s mantra may surprise you. The Prayer of St Francis is not in Sanskrit and it is not about forests or demons or Gods in disguise. It’s not ancient. It’s actually quite modern. No one is exactly sure when...