Ashtanga Mysore
Ashtanga Mysore is the traditional way to practice Ashtanga Yoga as taught by K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore (city in India). Mysore is a self-guided practice in a group setting where students receive one-on-one personal instructions from the teacher and where everybody works on his/her own pace and ability. Mysore is also suitable for beginners and it’s the best and most safe way to start your yoga practice.
If you ever heard that Mysore is only for advanced ashtanga practitioners, and that you already need to know the sequence by heart before you start, know this is not true. It is in fact where you will learn the sequence and will start to build your practice in a safe way. Teacher will be there with you every step of the way and gradually add postures to your sequence, one at the time and will be available for any questions or doubts during your practice.
Sneak peek in Tula’s Mysore class | Time laps
The big unknown of Mysore style Ashtanga Yoga
Mysore is not only for experienced yogis, but especially helpful for beginners.
Every student receives personal guidance, which helps to start and progress in a safe and pleasant way.
The three main benefits of Ashtanga Mysore:
1. Personal guidance wherever you are in your practice
2. The fixed structure of the Ashtanga practice
3. Practice in your own pace and ability
Ashtanga Mysore method
Ashtanga Mysore is a great method to practice Ashtanga Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga is taught in a led class (group class) or Mysore style.
ASHTANGA LED CLASS
A yoga class that is led by a teacher is called a led class. In a led class, the teacher will guide everyone at the same time and in the same pace. When joining this type of class students are expected to practice active listening and try to do the practice within the count, following the cues given by the teacher. Because Ashtanga is a set sequence given to us by the lineage holders long time ago, and we are always repeating the same sequence, for so many of us there is a tendency to fall into an automatic pilot mode. Led classes are a way to step out of that mode and really be present on the mat while following teachers’ cueing.
MYSORE
During an Ashtanga Mysore session you practice the sequence by yourself but under the guidance of a teacher in silence. At the very first mysore session the teacher will check-in with you to hear about any injuries, practice history, pregnancy or anything else that might be relevant for guiding you in a safe way. During the mysore session a teacher is walking around the room and helping everyone individually with verbal cues, but also hands on adjustments. It’s very typical to receive hands on adjustments during the mysore practice to help the students understand the asana, or sometimes to help the student reach the conditions of the pose. However, if on some days a student does not wish to be adjusted (for whatever reason) it’s really OK to let the teacher know that. This is absolutely normal and student should always feel free to say this to the teacher. There are lots of verbal cues available as guidance tool as well.
You do not need to know the entire sequence before starting this practice. There are 6 series in Ashtanga yoga, and everyone that is starting to learn Ashtanga yoga, regardless of their yoga history, is starting their practice with the first one, called Primary Series. When you start to learn Ashtanga, you will start with the first couple of poses and build up slowly from there. The teacher will be the one to decide when the next pose is given and will guide you slowly every step of the way. Every student is different with a different body, capabilities, needs, history and intensions. So every student will receive personal instructions by the teacher. Soon you will notice that changes are happening all the time. You will have to be patient, present, alert and remind yourself that there is no hurry.
MYSORE AT TULA
- Mysore program at Tula is 6 days per week, with Saturday being the rest day.
- Mysore self-practice is from Sunday to Thursday, and on Friday is a traditional led class counted in Sanskrit. This traditional led class is guided with very few cues and is meant for students that are already practicing Ashtanga in Mysore style.
- On Sunday there is a half an hour pranayama session, directly after the Mysore session.
- Once per month – special class – Asana clinic – 1 hour session where students get to ask and talk about anything asana related.
- Once per month – special class – Philosophy talks – 45min sessions where we cover many different topics talking about yogic lifestyle, philosophy, any practice struggles that are not asana related.
MOON DAYS
In Ashtanga tradition, asana practice is done 6 days per week with 1 day of rest, and with respecting of the moon phases. Which means we also take rest on both Full and New moon days.
We always add these days to the Tula schedule as MOON DAY – NO MYSORE
You can’t miss it 😉
SCHEDULE ASHTANGA (MYSORE) PROGRAM
MONDAY
07.00 – 09.00 Mysore (Tula Bos en Lommer)
18.15 – 19.30 Ashtanga led class (Tula Bos en Lommer)
TUESDAY
07.00 – 09.00 Mysore (Tula Bos en Lommer)
18.15 – 19.30 Ashtanga led class (Tula Westerpark)
WEDNESDAY
07.00 – 09.00 Mysore (Tula Bos en Lommer)
18.30 – 19.45 Ashtanga led class (Tula Bos en Lommer)
THURSDAY
07.00 – 09.00 Mysore (Tula Bos en Lommer)
07.30 – 08.30 Ashtanga led class (Tula Westerpark)
FRIDAY
07.00 – 08.30 Ashtanga led class (Tula Bos en Lommer)
SATURDAY
11.15 – 12.45 Ashtanga led class (Tula Bos en Lommer)
SUNDAY
08.00 – 09.30 Mysore (Tula Bos en Lommer)
09.30 – 10.00 Pranayama or Philosophy (Tula Bos en Lommer)
11.30 – 13.00 Ashtanga led class (Tula Westerpark)
Book your class at Tula Westerpark here
Book your class at Tula Bos en Lommer here
ASHTANGA (MYSORE) COURSES
Build your Ashtanga practice program
Beginners’ course – fundamentals of Ashtanga yoga practice
Program lengt September 11 – 24
This program focuses on the fundamentals of the Ashtanga Yoga practice.
In this 2-week long program you will learn about the foundations where the Ashtanga yoga method is build upon. Everything you don’t get to hear during a group class and you’re often wondering about to be able to build a strong and safe practice, will be covered in these 2 weeks.
This program is suitable for absolute beginners, but also for any practitioner that is wondering how to progress in the series in a safe way, would like to learn how to avoid injuries or just want to learn a bit more about the background of this practice.
- 2 weeks of Mysore practice
- 2 workshops
- Sunday 11 & 18 September from 16.00 – 18.00hrs at Tula Bos en Lommer
Deepen your Ashtanga practice program
For Ashtanga practitioners seeking for more depth
Program length 30 October – 26 November
For all ashtanga practitioners that want more depth and understanding of the Ashtanga yoga primary series, the essentials of asana; breaking down the postures through alignment & anatomy.
In this 1 month long program we will explore all the postures of the Ashtanga yoga half primary series.
During this time Tina will offer you an in-depth look at the conditions for each posture and its’ Vinyasa, offer alignment tips, describe common mistakes and much more. We will also learn about general alignment rules looking at the body and movement from anatomy perspective that you can apply in your yoga practice.
- 4 weeks of Mysore practice
- 4 workshops
- Sunday 30 October, 6, 13, 20 November from 16.00 – 18.00hrs hrs at Tula Bos en Lommer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You might have some questions about Mysore if you never practiced it before, so here you can find the most frequently asked questions. You can also check out the short movie on the top of this page which gives you an idea about what a Mysore session looks like.
The class is as long as you need it to be. You will work with the teacher one-on-one to slowly build your own personal practice. Some people are there for 60 minutes and others are there for 90 or more minutes, it all depends on what you need and what can fit into your schedule on that day. Please let your teacher know if you have limited time on a given day and your teacher will guide you on how to fit your practice into your schedule.
Since Mysore Style is a self-paced class, students have the opportunity to move through their practice at their own pace. Students are not limited to the pace and rhythm of a class or an instructor. This provides a unique opportunity for students to streamline the benefits of the yoga practice. Led classes are a necessary part of the Ashtanga Yoga method, because there is a specific pace and rhythm to the practice, and as students we need to be reminded of that occasionally. It’s advised to attend at least 1 led Ashtanga class per week.
Yes! The Mysore class is where students are meant to learn the series! Your teacher will guide you from the beginning, teaching Surya Namaskara A first and leading each student individually based on their personal needs.
No, you do not have to practice 6 days a week. However, it is highly recommended you attend at least 3 Mysore sessions per week. Traditionally in Ashtanga yoga they practice 6 days a week, resting only on Saturdays, Moon Days and lady’s holiday (first three days of menstruation). However, at the beginning this may not be possible. As the body adjusts to the practice, you may slowly start to build up to a practice of more days a week, but we leave this up to you.
YES!! This is why you should do yoga!! Yoga is for all people, and one of the many benefits of a yoga practice is increased flexibility which can lead to less pain, more mobility and increased health throughout the body.
Yes, because yoga is often advised to those dealing with pain or healing from injuries. Please be sure to receive your doctor’s permission to begin any new physical activity when on the path to recovery. And, always tell your yoga teacher if you are experiencing ANY pain or recovering from any injuries, this will help your teacher guide you through a safe yoga practice.
Yes you can, but please inform the yoga teacher as some poses are better to be avoided. You can do an adjusted practice and the teacher will guide you personally through each asana.
No. Try not to eat for 2-3 hours before you practice and for at least 45 minutes after practicing. Try to avoid drinking 1 hour prior to and 30 minutes after practice.
The short video above will give you an idea 🙂
All yogis practice for themselves with the teacher walking around to assist everybody individually.
As can be seen, not everybody starts at the same time, which makes it a dynamic environment to practice in
Please read our practical guidelines before coming to practice.
ABOUT TINA RUMENOVIC - LEAD TEACHER OF THE ASHTANGA MYSORE PROGRAM
I discoverd my love for yoga in my home country Croatia, back in 2007. As a young girl I was always very energetic, never standing still and always looking for new physical challenges and adventures. In my adult life before I discovered yoga I was passionate about cycling, snowboarding and capoeira.
My sister was practicing yoga, and eventually dragged me along, and after my first yoga class I was amazed by the feeling of a calm mind. My mind has never been still, it’s always busy until that very moment. That was the moment I realized – this is the real thing! I started to deepen my practice and my thirst for more knowledge grows constantly.
After trying out a few different dynamic styles I fell in love with Ashtanga yoga which became my passion and my daily practice for little over 6 years now. I tried it for the first time in 2008, but as a committed daily practice it’s been my companion since 2014, and I have been teaching it for almost 5 years now. The guidance and personal bond with the teacher is something I always found very important, especially in learning of the method such as Ashtanga. I heard from many colleagues, even my first yoga teacher that they disliked Ashtanga because they find it hard, strict and that it requires a lot of discipline. I can to a point relate to what they say, it IS a hard practice. But maybe that’s exactly why I never turned away from the practice itself, instead I kept going. For me Ashtanga practice was just the thing I could best relate to and probably thing that put away some people was exactly what drew me in. The mental and physical challenge and self discovery through the thick and thin of the daily practice, repeating that sequence again and again.
Teachers that I’ve practiced with that influenced my own practice a lot and the way I teach it and for whom I hold lots of respect are:
Mauricio Victorica, Xico Rodrigues, Rolf and Marci Naujokat. All very inspiring, dedicated and committed ashtangis. But since a year ago I have been practicing and learning from amazing humans and never ending source of knowledge David Robson and Jelena Vesić. Since meeting the two of them my practice has transformed so much and the way I teach ashtanga has shaped significantly inspired by those 2 incredible teachers.
I strongly support the idea that a yoga teacher is always a yoga practitioner and a students first, and should always keep a curious mind. I believe I can learn from every single student that joins my class, as well as my colleagues and the senior teachers that share their life knowledge with us, but most of all, my own practice. This is how I approach my daily time on the mat and I hope to be able to transfer some of that curiously to my students as well.
