Introduction to Mysore-style
Sunday 15 september 09:30 - 11:30
This 2-hour program in Walferdange is taught in English.
Breathing and postural alignment are extremely important in all yoga styles. Conscious breathing enhances a state of clear, calm presence. Proper alignment ensures that appropriate muscles engage to avoid overload on isolated body regions and to ensure a beneficial distribution of energy throughout the body. These considerations are especially important in dynamic yoga styles, like Ashtanga, where the “led” class format introduces bias towards the “flow” aspect of the practice. However, overemphasis on the flow may result in lack of breathing quality and postural awareness and lack of sensitivity to subtle elements of the practice.
Mysore-style class in Ashtanga offers a format in which this gap can be bridged through one-on-one personalised guidance adapted to each student’s ability and knowledge. In this class, each student practices at his/her own breathing rhythm while the teacher focuses on providing verbal cues and light hands-on adjustments to each student individually. The adjustments are not meant to set the student into the perfect posture but to provide a sensory input for exploring asana as beneficial at a given moment. In this way, a student is invited to gradually develop a highly conscious experience of presence in one’s body, breath, and mind and to open up to the subtle layer of practice. This detailed exploration greatly increases students' confidence in the practice and allows them to develop their self-practice at home.
This introductory program is intended especially for students used to led classes, hesitant or curious about this class format. In this program, we will revisit the crucial aspects of ujjayi, breath-movement synchronisation, and alignment. These aspects will be elaborated on a subset of sun salutations and important standing postures with ample time for questions, clarifications, and further explorations. Students will have time for a short self-practice to experience the setting and guidance provided by the teacher in Mysore format. While it is helpful to know the sequence of postures to some extent, this is not a requisite as the practice sheets and/or teacher can simply inform students what comes next.
Price
The normal price is 30 Euros. Early-bird is 26 Euros with registration before Sep 8th. If you register on a term basis in the Autumn term Mysore course within 24 hours of the intro, we will discount the term registration by €10.
Cancellation policy
Style: Ashtanga Mysore-style
This course is for you if you have some basic knowledge of Ashtanga primary or secondary series, and if you wish to explore technique and postures in more depth, without the constraint of conforming to the group rhythm. Unlike a "led" class where the teacher sets the rhythm for the whole group, the Mysore-style format allows you to find your own pace of practice and depth of exploration. In this format, the teacher focuses on one-on-one guidance regarding any aspect of the technique, posture or adjustments. This detailed exploration greatly increases your confidence in the practice and allows you to develop your self-practice at home. As the course lasts 2 hours, there is enough time for asana and group pranayama, meditation and relaxation. For the asana section, you can download and bring the illustrated primary and intermediate sequences of Ashtanga yoga to class. Go to the Ashtanga Mysore-style page.
Teacher: Marija Bjekovic
Marija practiced Ashtanga vinyasa yoga since 2008 under the guidance of Denise Pesch. Over time, she complemented Ashtanga with Iyengar Yoga (with Constantinos Giannetakis) and with Vinyasa Krama. This brought an understanding of how to wisely adapt the physical practice in order to emphasize strength, mobility, mental focus or healing as needed. With gradual extension to other limbs of yoga, her practice became a means to balance energy, reconnect to a state of deep inner peace, and relate to the world more meaningfully. Her teaching path started after 200 hours of Ashtanga yoga teacher training with John Scott and Lucy Crawford Scott in 2015. Over the years, she continued her studies and teaching within the lineage of Sri T. Krishnamcharya (the father of modern yoga and a pioneer in yoga therapy) through Srivatsa Ramaswami and A.G. Mohan. She is currently following an 800-hour Svastha Yoga Therapy Foundations program with A.G. Mohan and his family.
Go to Marija's page.
Location: Walferdange
Our Walferdange center on rue Josy Welter offers hatha yoga ("Sivananda Yoga"), yoga for lower back issues, hormone yoga for women, a Wednesday morning course for those 50+, and an Ashtanga Mysore course. Its warm, cozy setting provides an intimate and wonderful atmosphere and is the home center where La Source began. Go to the Walferdange page.