Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga combines breath with movement (vinyasa) to create a moving meditation which brings strength, flexibility and most importantly, mental clarity. Practised regularly, Ashtanga brings about real transformation.
The Ashtanga method involves set sequences of postures (Asanas). The ideal way to learn and practise is“Mysore-style”, where you work within the series at your own pace, to your own level, with the one-to-one guidance of the teacher, who moves around the room helping and adjusting each student individually. The room is largely silent except for the calming sound of breath, while the group energy helps carry you through your practice. The teacher helps you work with the system according to your own particular needs, modifying poses for you where appropriate and helping you deepen into poses with adjustment.Read more about Mysore-style Ashtanga classes here.
If you decide that Ashtanga is for you, it’s ideal to practise as often as you can. As well as our Mysore-style classes, we have Led Ashtanga classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday and Saturday. Students often like to start with a few Led classes before trying Mysore-style, but you are very welcome to come straight to a Mysore-style class with no previous experience, if you feel that you’d like to try this style. Our Ashtanga Class Pass is designed to enable frequent attendance.
Ashtanga Mysore-style Practice Guidelines
- You can arrive anytime after class start time up to 45 minutes before class end time. The teacher will be there for the full period of time – it’s up to you to decide how long you would like to practise within that period.
- It is best not to eat for at least 2 hours before your practice
- Drink water before or after, but not during, your practice.
- A shower before practice helps to increase flexibility and mental focus. It is also makes the experience for your teachers and others practising around you more pleasant!
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
In a Vinyasa Flow class, the teacher leads the students in a flow from one pose to the next. The sequence of the class changes according to the teacher and how they decide to choreograph the class to meet the needs of the students. Vinyasa flow is really an umbrella term for many other styles. Some studios call it flow yoga, flow-style yoga, dynamic yoga or vinyasa flow. It is influenced by ashtanga yoga.
Yin Yoga
This is a slow, deep and mindful style of yoga in which floor-based postures are held for 3-5 minutes, allowing the body to slowly stretch and unwind. Knots in muscle fibres may release and energy can flow freely throughout the body. You will feel deeply relaxed and “light” after a Yin Yoga class. Giving time to the postures allows stillness to arrive in the physical body. This stillness creates a space where we can witness the sensations in the body and fluctuations of mind, emotions and breath.
Yin Yoga can affect us positively, benefits usually include:
- Increases mobility and flexibility, especially in hips, sacrum and spine
- Strengthening and lubrication of joints
- Lowered stress levels
- Balanced energy levels
- Increased health of connective tissue and joints
- Deeper relaxation and improved mediation
- Stimulates meridian pathways and chi flow
- Feeling calm and balanced
- A positive balance to a Yang (active and busy)lifestyle
- A great complement to an active Yang (Ashtanga or Vinyasa Flow) practice