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 ...

If you're looking for an Ashtanga yoga workshop this weekend 23/24 March 2013, this looks like a good one to try. I've heard great things about Greg Nardi and am hoping to get along to some (if not all) of these workshops myself. StillPoint Yoga London is a beautiful space in the heart of London. to book go to www.stillpointyogalondon.com                                                     Saturday 23rd March 2013 10:00 -12:00 Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series Led Practice – £20 14:00 – 16:30 Mindful Ashtanga Workshop – £30 Pattabhi Jois often talked about the importance of mental training in Yoga and how the asanas will lead to a strong mind as well as a strong body. This workshop will look at the practice of ashtanga yoga as a mindfulness technique. We will explore how the right attitude and focus are key to fulfilling the deeper ...