The practice of Ashtanga yoga contains a great deal of myth and secrecy – to such an extent that I recall an early teacher of mine mentioning that, in sixth series, one is expected to be able to “stop their heart”. Is this true? Well, Sri T. Krishnamacharya was renowned … (read more)

In medicine, the successful healer always strives to look beyond the symptoms of a disease. While symptoms are profoundly useful in determining the nature of the problem, providing treatment at this level will not provide long-term relief from suffering. The goal is to search for the root cause, providing treatment … (read more)

Just over 18 months ago I was in the unenviable position of suffering my first yoga injury.

The problem had come on slowly, almost surreptitiously. I was in Sri Lanka at the time, teaching a two week retreat. The lead up to the trip had been a very busy time … (read more)

Leaving Mysore was a confusing affair – I wasn’t sure how I felt about the practice, or my experience in the main shala. My body was sore and my practice stalled entirely – deep, comfortable backbends had become a faint memory.

In the weeks following I had slowly started practicing … (read more)

A great deal of discussion in Ashtanga circles is centered around:

Should I go to Mysore?

Students spend large amounts of energy debating the merits of making the costly and time consuming trip to the “source” of Ashtanga Yoga – Mysore, India.

Some feel that coming to Mysore is a … (read more)

When I was young I would often go and visit my mom’s grave in an effort to feel more connected with her. Sadly, this never worked for me, and in the cemetery I always felt the furthest away from her.

Coming to Mysore has been like visiting my mom’s gravestone … (read more)

I arrived in Mysore just over two months ago when all was quiet and the busy season had not yet started. I had just completed my Ayurveda internship with Dr Joshi at his Panchakarma clinic in Nagpur and I had unscheduled travelling ahead of me.

When I told friends of … (read more)

Jnana Yoga is often translated as the yoga of acquiring knowledge while Dravya Prapti Yoga as the yoga of acquiring wealth. A close friend of mine suggested that:

Ashtanga Yoga is the yoga of acquiring.

Some people may feel what she is proposing is akin to Ashtanga heresy. To imply … (read more)

It seems fitting, having recently arrived in Mysore – the home of Ashtanga Yoga – that I turn some attention to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

As I have come to appreciate over the past few years of study, Sanskrit is a relatively concise language and translations are often open to fairly … (read more)

I’ve pondered how likely the Fight Club quotes would relate to the practice of Ashtanga yoga. And, unsurprisingly they are not that different.

Consider the rules:

1. The first rule of mysore class is – you do not talk about Mysore class.
2. The second rule of mysore class is – you

… (read more)