In the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Ashtanga is an ancient and powerful form of Yoga with a synchronisation of breath and movement. When breath and movement flow effortlessly in perfect harmony the practice of Ashtanga Yoga transcends consciousness and evolves into the lightness of a moving meditation. It creates an intense inner heat which cleanses muscles, internal organs and pollutants. This will lead to a strong and light body with a solid immune system.

Ashtanga Yoga, greatly improves shape and tone as well as focus and calm the mind, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscover his or her fullest potential, and let them be the best they can .

At present it is the most popular form of Yoga in the west. Ashtanga is benefiting thousands of practitioners including such celebrities as Madonna, Sting and Gwyneth Paltrow.

                          

Beijing yoga at Pinnacle plaza Shunyi, 2002

Fine YOGA is offering qualified instruction, precise adjustments, encouragement and you will enjoy the benefits of collective energy. People from all over the world do yoga with us – beginners aswell as advanced practitioners. Our solid foundation is in the traditional Ashtanga Yoga as taught by our guru Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. Founder Sherri Rao spent several months each year for 6 consequtive years in Pattabhi Jois’s yoga shala in Mysore in order to improve her practice as well as her teaching skills. On an ongoing basis Sherri attends workshops, retreats and classes by world renowned Yoga teachers.

We usually offer 4 levels of Ashtanga classes .

Beginner Ashtanga: For beginners. Intro to breathing, bandha’s, beginning postures, the key postures and the finishing sequence.

Basic Ashtanga : Light Ashtanga practice. The easier approach to traditional Ashtanga. For people who wants to practice Ashtanga with effortless effort and a preparation for the standard practice. The classical form of Ashtanga Yoga as taught in its traditional sequence. Combines power and flexibility with movement, bandhas and breath to produce an energetic and detoxifying practice.

Led Ashtanga : Standard Ashtanga practice. Traditional Ashtanga. An international standard Ashtanga class taught in its traditional sequence. Combines power and flexibility with movement, bandhas and breath to produce a very efficient, energetic and detoxifying practice.
Ashtanga Led class is more than half of the Ashtanga  Primary Series called Yoga Chikitsa (meaning Yoga therapy). Students must have previous Ashtanga- or Power Yoga experience.

Mysore Ashtanga: Independent practice. Practice at ones own pace and own level. The teacher will give one-on-one assistances and corrections in the traditional method by which Ashtanga Yoga is taught in Mysore, South India. Students are individually and gradually taught the Primary Series of Ashtanga, until they are able to practice the sequence from memory. When Primary Series is complete, Intermediate Series then follows. Class is open to anyone interested in learning this traditional method. Students may arrive anytime within the first hour of the class. This is actually the original forum in which to learn traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Mysore

Come to a Mysore class and get one-on-one instruction in the art and science of the Ashtanga Yoga system. You will learn to lead yourself through the Ashtanga practice and discover how empowering this is for your mind and body.

Ashtanga in particular is taught this way because:

  • It is a breathing/movement system which to impart its intended benefit must be practiced at the pace of each individual’s breathing;
  • In this way, instruction can be one-on-one, your progress is monitored, and you can both practice and progress at your own rate, not that of a group or a lowest common denominator, nor at a pace or intensity that injures or exhausts you;
  • It teaches you to practice independently, allows for complete focus on your practice and teaches you to overcome external distractions (for example, the person on the mat next to you).

Everybodys practice takes a different amount of time. As you are starting out, your practice is short, so you will finish earlier than others.  Take a rest after your closing sequence and then you may leave or watch others practice.

Please note that you are required to attend at least  5 Ashtanga Led classes or have permission from the instructor before attending Mysore classes.

Ashtanga Led Class (advanced) by Pattabhi Jois features among others Chuck Miller (with beard) and Maty Ezraty (only woman). – Video coming soon.