Traditional Ashtanga Yoga in the Mysore Style
Dear Yoga Friends, I’m excited to share details about our upcoming 40-Hour Ashtanga Teacher Training Course, scheduled over two weekends: June 27–28 and July 26–27, 2025. Although I’ve titled this event Ashtanga Teacher Training, the true intention is to help you deepen the foundations of your personal yoga practice—whether you plan to teach or simply want to level up your yoga.…
Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake! The snake is a powerful symbol in yoga philosophy, appearing not just in one of my favorite poses—bhujangasana (cobra pose)—but more significantly as a representation of kundalini energy. This vital force is said to rest, coiled like a serpent, at the base of the spine, lying dormant until…
This is the time of year when many of us are craving sunshine. It’s normal to feel lower energy during the winter months, but even now, we can draw from the energy and life-giving force of our nearby star. Today, I want to share a powerful meditation to bring some light into your day—because even…
Dear Friends, It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of R. Sharath Jois at the age of 53. This morning, just as I was leaving the Mysore class, I received a call from an Ashtanga friend sharing that Sharathji had suffered a cardiac arrest while walking yesterday in…
One of the realizations many of us have regarding daily practice is how different we feel from day to day. Environmental factors such as weather, time of year, and the phase of the moon affect how we feel, as do lifestyle factors like sleep, hydration, alcohol, and stress. The ancient yogis and Vedic Seers recognized…
Yoga teachers have several tools to convey their meaning to students. The teacher might demonstrate a posture, explain anatomical details, or encourage you to contemplate the philosophical meaning of your practice. Another instructional method is through Hands-On Assists (or “Adjustments” as we call them in Mysore). Hands-On teaching can serve many useful purposes, including providing…
Because it is essential to have options, I offer to you the Ashtanga Foundation Series. In this abbreviated sequence, we cover the basic shapes of the Primary (and a few Second) Series without getting stuck in some of the improbable poses. The Ashtanga Foundation Series takes about 45-60 minutes depending on your speed. I personally…
A mantra is a sacred sound, word, phrase, or syllable that is repeated or chanted either aloud or silently during meditation, prayer, or spiritual practice. Mantras are typically derived from ancient Sanskrit texts and are believed to have spiritual or transformative powers. They are used to focus the mind, deepen concentration, and invoke specific qualities…