In my humble opinion, Marichyasana D (as demonstrated by Sharath Jois in this video) is one of the hardest poses in the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series.

Whilst reading Gurji Portrait of Sri K. Patthabi Jois I came across an item written by Ashtanga teacher John Scott in which he was asked: Do you think ashtanga yoga attracts a particular kind of person? "I think it definitely attracts people who have an obsessive nature or an addictive nature. I think the practice itself can be addictive, which is so clever. So anyone who has had a drug habit, for example, is perfect because you can swap one addiction for the yoga practice addiction. Now when you start working with the addiction of yoga, the not doing the yoga is a yoga in itself". John goes on to say that for 5 years he practised every day and didn't want to miss a day. He says he was addicted and scared to "not do it for fear of letting it go". He also goes onto say how he feels Patthabi Jois understood this and put in full and dark moon days/rest days to give us an opportunity not to practise, "so people with obsessive natures are also ...

A video of ashtanga yoga students practising around the world, will be released on the full moon day of 31 July 2015. It will show the global influence that Pattabhi Jois has had on so many people; many of whom (including myself) have never even met him. This video will show students simply showing up on their mats and practising yoga. This is a wonderful, moving tribute to Guruji who dedicated his life to Ashtanga yoga. A fitting celebration/dedication to a wonderful man in what would have been his 100th birthday year.

Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal. But don’t approach yoga with a business mind looking for worldly gain. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

4-WEEK ASHTANGA YOGA FOR BEGINNERS COURSE STARTS SATURDAY 25 APRIL, 8:45AM We are pleased to announce that Yoga Mama will be offering a new 4-week ashtanga yoga for beginners course which starts on Saturday 25 April, 8.45am. The class will be led by Degy and is designed for beginners. Please note that this course is unsuitable for pregnant women who have not studied ashtanga yoga before. ABOUT THE COURSE The beginner course will teach you the grounding elements of Ashtanga Yoga. You will learn the main principles of this method, which are linking breath and movement. You will be taught the Surya namaska sequence and introduced to the standing postures. This particular method of yoga is ultimately practiced in what is called "Mysore style", where you move through the sequence at your own pace, in what becomes like a moving meditation. It is both dynamic and relaxing at the same time. ABOUT THE TEACHER Degy was introduced to the ashtanga yoga method here a...

8, 9 AND 10 SEPTEMBER 2015 We are delighted to announce that internationally renowned ashtanga yoga teacher, Nancy Gilgoff, will be returning to Yoga Mama and The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy in September for three days of Mysore-style ashtanga yoga workshops. This is a unique opportunity to practice with Nancy, in her only teaching dates in London this year. Book early if you would like to attend, as places will go quickly. ABOUT NANCY GILGOFF Nancy is widely respected as one of the greatest pioneers of ashtanga yoga to the West. She was one of the first westerners to study ashtanga yoga over 30 years ago with K.Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. She is the director of Maui's House of Yoga and Zen. Her studies have led her to the dharma teachings of the Dalai Lama and the expression of love and compassion for all beings. We are honoured to host Nancy's only workshops in London this year. PROGRAMME OF EVENTS Tuesday 8th September (8:30am - 11:30am): Mysore ...

Ashtanga yoga is a flowing dynamic form of yoga, where each pose is linked and synchronised using a breath and movement system . Developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga is a set series of postures that are linked to the breath in a flow of movement, increasing strength and flexibility. The discipline of this system allows us to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of ourselves. It is both empowering, and liberating and allows us to move through life with a calmness and steadiness of mind and body. Ashtanga Yoga courses at Yoga Mama In addition to our Friday morning (9 -10:30am) Ashtanga Led Yoga course, we have added a new Tuesday morning (9:30 - 11am) course too. Both of these courses last for 8 weeks and cost £120. Come along and join our yoga classes to gain muscle strength, flexibility and improve your posture to help prevent re-injury and to achieve a mind-body connection. More information and bookings For more information or to book your place on...

I recently did a 2nd series Ashtanga yoga adjustment clinic with Nancy Gilgoff in Berlin. Here Nancy shows how to crawl up from lotus position when learning this pose-She also recommend practicing lotus legs whilst in headstand, to gain strength and find the lotus without using your hands- Nancy is nearer to 70 then she is to 60-what an inspiring woman she is. 

Thank you to Dmitry Baryshnikov for sharing.

I love these short clips on anatomy- and how to work with injuries from David Keil. Lotus is a pose many people struggle with especially if they have knee pain or tight hips...David says the glutes muscles are playing a big part too, which is why these stretches should help. Thank you for sharing David Keil ·

" Practice implies a certain methodology, involving effort. It has to be followed uninterruptedly for a long time, with firm resolve, application, attention and devotion, to create a stable foundation for training the mind, intelligence, ego and consciousness." Light on the yoga sutras of Pattanjali.  BKS Iyengar No quick fix here and this section really is about the inside not the outside (Asana) 

I have been here in Mysore at KPJAYI for 9 days now. This is my 3rd trip to Mysore and thus far my most introspective. The shala is VERY busy but the energy is quite calm. There are lots of students waiting in the lobby area to be called to practise in the morning, again a very calm and civil bunch of yoga students (or perhaps I am more calm and civil :-)). Time is a funny thing here. No-one seems to stick to it. The cleaner said "I will come at 11am on Friday" she came at 1pm on Saturday. The man who fixed the internet problem said "Madam, I will come at 7.15pm on Friday"; he showed up at 10.15 on Saturday (at least the quarter past the hour was consistent in his case). Time goes really fast or incredibly slow; it can sometimes feel like a twilight zone. Sharath is on excellent form; smiley and happy and moving around the shala in his usual nimble way. His mother Saraswarti no longer assists him in the main shala (although she still teaches in her own shala). ...

A beautifully filmed piece with a remarkable woman...... Big thank you to both  Alessandro Sigismondi  for filming and Tanya Gordon Golad for sharing her story.   

Interesting to see Sharath count into the pose, but not in the pose its self-same as Manju Jois did in a resent led class I attended. This is exactly how I was taught this sequence by my teacher Nancy Gilgoff-I notice some teachers ( and students) go into a really deep Utkatasana. Lovely to see the shala in Mysore, sweated it out in that spot a few times myself :-)

I feel really lucky to have practised yoga with the two people I would call the most influential teachers in my yoga practice, Nancy Gilgoff and Sharath Jois, here in London this summer (see previous blog items). Nancy has of course known the Jois family for many, many years and recommended practising ashtanga yoga with Manju, if I got the opportunity. StillPoint yoga London hosted him here in London and I managed to get along to one led ashtanga yoga class. It was a wonderful experience and I can only describe it as a "soft and joyful" practice. It is always interesting to see how the same yoga asanas (more or less), are taught differently by different teachers. Manju counted us into the pose but not once we were in it. I glanced at him in in what seemed to be a very long Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and saw that he was counting to himself throughout. This really made me smile. The long pranayama and chanting were the best and was indeed the pranayama practice Nancy ...

Interesting title from Richard Freeman (mind you, he is always interesting). Before you jump to conclusions watch the video Yoga ruins your life...  as you once knew it.

What an honour it has been to be part of the ashtanga yoga community sharing a week of yoga with the wonderful Sharath Jois here in London. Meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, and even practising next to my daughter on one occasion. Sharath was truly happy and shiny (which was very contagious)  and even taught a short pranayama at the end of the led primary class on two occasions (which I personally have never experienced with him before). He said that you could use this pranayama if you were stressed or angry... perhaps he thinks us Londoners need it! :-) He laughed a lot. My daughter Cally had her hands apart in virabhadrasana 1 and I could hear him saying "close your hands" and knew he was talking to her. I reached over and pushed them together. He whispered to me "is she yours?" and laughed (he later said he thought we looked very similar). We were two in a very large group. I'm sure everyone in the room has taken a bit of "Sharath sunsh...

This is indeed a rare piece of footage of Sharath in his Mysore office giving an informal interview on only teaching led classes when he tours.

This made me smile.....