Last weekend myself and some of my yoga students planned to join together with Ashtanga Manchester for a Mysore style yoga class with Joey Miles from Ashtanga Yoga Leeds. It was to be a meeting of Ashtangi’s of the North of England. We all got up early on Saturday morning eager to get to class, despite the cold and snow. Unfortunately Joey got stuck in the snow and was unable to make it. Hopefully he was able to get home again.
We found out the news just as we were putting our yoga mats into the car, so we had a chat about our plan of action. I felt bad that my students had made the effort to get up early etc and so offered to teach an impromptu yoga class in my home. My yoga students, ever considerate of me insisted that instead we should practice together, it was my day off afterall. So we went to a house with a nice big practice space and did a self practice together.
It was so lovely to practice with my students, I had to pretend they weren’t there to resist the urge to teach, lol. In ashtanga yoga we have a focal point called a driti for each pose. Dristi and the breath helped keep me focused and it was nice to share the groups energy rather than practice alone. I was also pleased for my students who from practicing Mysore style, now have a practice they can do on their own, wherever they are and whatever change of plans may come their way.
After practice we went to Lark Lane for a well earned brunch.
What is a Mysore Style yoga class?
A Mysore style yoga class is a traditional Ashtanga Yoga class as taught in Mysore India. In a Mysore Style class the student self practices at their own pace and learns the sequence gradually. The teacher assist the student in a very individualised way. There is no need to memorise the sequence before coming to your first Mysore Style class, as the teacher will show you.
Were your plans changed because of the snow? Do you practice Mysore Style? What do you like about it?
