The bandhas or muscle seals are an integral part of the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice. They form part of what Pattabhi Jois called the ‘breathing-movement system’. They complement the ‘chest breathing’ we use in Ashtanga. What are bandhas & how to apply them Bandhas...
Written by Karyn Grenfell, Ashtanga Yoga Castlemaine, formerly Melbourne A traditional Ashtanga led class is counted in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. This is the basis of the whole Ashtanga system and connects the student to the lineage of Ashtanga yoga....
As a young teenager I learned to do Yoga from a book. It suggested that one would stay ‘young and smart’ by pursuing this practice. This sounded appealing to me, so I followed it. Without my parents knowing, I tried the postures on a small rug in front of my bed at...
There is a wide-spread misconception that Yoga consists of easy stretching and relaxing. This eliminates the fact that to feel truly relaxed it is very helpful to exert yourself first, and that Yoga is definitely also strengthening; as well as also coming at us with...
When a colourful butterfly glides by, you can’t help but stop to notice. As you do, you sink into the present moment, becoming aware of the life within you and around you. In this way, nature is a powerful teacher in helping to achieve mindfulness, both in your yoga...
Ashtanga Yoga consists of six series of postures, which greatly increase in difficulty. In my experience of teaching over the past 30 years, the majority of students won’t complete the first or Primary Series in this life-time. The first series already involves very...
