2-4 March: Jakarta, Indonesia, at Rumah Yoga Studio - http://www.rumahyoga.com/

7-27 March: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mysore mornings at the Westin Hotel. Sunday 7.30 to 9.30am, Monday to Friday 6 – 9.30am. No class on Saturday or moon days. Contact: ashtangakl@gmail.com for more details.

8 April to 4 May: Chiang Mai, Thailand – see below

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch should you want any more information – lizayoga@gmail.com.

Classes: The classes will be Mysore-style. Our practice week will run, as it does in Mysore, from Sunday to Friday, with led primary on Fridays.

Some afternoon classes, focusing on techniques for strength and flexibility, specific asana groups – eg inversions – and also pranayama and relaxation, will be arranged if there is an interest.

Start time is 8am, and there is no class on Saturday.  We will most likely take a day or two’s break for the Songkran festival around 14th April.

Venue: Classes will take place at Cat House, Sirimangkalajarn Soi 3 - http://cathouse-cm.com/

Fee: There is a sliding scale of fees depending on how long you wish to participate in the workshop. Please get in touch for more details. The fee includes all yoga classes. You are responsible for your own travel and living expenses. NB – If you are unable to meet the class fee, please get in touch and we can come to an arrangement appropriate to your circumstances.

Living in Chiang Mai: It is always possible to find a guesthouse or hotel room in Chiang Mai, particularly during low season. Do get in touch if you would like some ideas about accommodation / travel / etc. We are always happy to help.

Good vegetarian food is easily available in Chiang Mai, and it is also possible to buy pretty much anything you might find in the West in one of the larger supermarkets. There are numerous fresh markets, an organic farmers’ market twice a week and at least one great health food store…

Ashtanga Yoga in the Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

By Annie Grover Pace

Yoga is a philosophy of life, which also has the potential to create a vibrantly healthy body and mind.

Ashtanga Yoga, practiced in its correct sequential order, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscovering his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness—physical, psychological, and spiritual. Through this practice of correct breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama), postures (asanas), and gazing point (driste), we gain control of the senses and a deep awareness of our selves. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, one acquires steadiness of body and mind.

“Ashtanga” literally means eight limbs. They are described by Patanjali as: Yama (abstinences), Niyama (observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (contemplation). These branches support each other. Asana practice must be established for proper practice of pranayama and is a key to the development of the yamas and niyamas. Once these four externally oriented limbs are firmly rooted, the last four internally oriented limbs will spontaneously evolve over time.

“Vinyasa” means breath-synchronized movement. The breath is the heart of this discipline and links asana to asana in a precise order. By synchronizing movement with breathing and practicing Mula and Uddiyana Bandhas (locks), an intense internal heat is produced. This heat purifies muscles and organs, expelling unwanted toxins as well as releasing beneficial hormones and minerals, which can nourish the body when the sweat is massaged back into the skin. The breath regulates the vinyasa and ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result is a light, strong body.

There are three groups of sequences in the Ashtanga system. The Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa) detoxifies and aligns the body. The Intermediate Series (Nadi Shodhana) purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels. The Advanced Series A, B, C, and D (Sthira Bhaga) integrate the strength and grace of the practice, requiring higher levels of flexibility and humility.

Each level is to be fully developed before proceeding to the next, and the sequential order of asanas is to be meticulously followed. Each posture is a preparation for the next, developing the strength and balance required to move further.

BREATH: The continuity of deep, even breathing cannot be overemphasized in the Ashtanga Yoga system. When breath feeds action, and action feeds posture, each movement becomes gentle, precise, and perfectly steady.

According to the teachings of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, “Breath is Life.” Breathing is our most fundamental and vital act and holds a divine essence: exhalation a movement towards God, and inhalation an inspiration from God. Our last action in life is to exhale, which, in essence, is the final and total surrender to God.

PRACTICE: It is said that where there is no effort there is no benefit. Strength, stamina and sweat are unique aspects of this traditional Yoga, seemingly contrary to Western perceptions of Yoga. This demanding practice requires considerable effort and taps into and circulates a vital energy throughout the body, strengthening and purifying the nervous system. The mind then becomes lucid, clear and precise; and according to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, “Wherever you look you will see God.” Only through practice will we realize the truth of what our guru often says:

“Everything is God.”

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Please note the importance of learning the Ashtanga method only from a traditionally trained teacher. Only a qualified teacher can provide the necessary guidance to assure safe, steady progress without injury to body or mind!

© This information has been generously provided with the approval of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Please honor its authenticity and distribute only in unaltered form.

In July 2000 I met Guruji, Saraswati and Sharath for the first time in Lille, France. Six months later I was on my way to India for the first of what would be many long trips. Since then I have spent more than half of the year in India.

Living in India has given me the time and space to study to devote long periods of time to study at the shala in Mysore, as well as studying yoga philosophy with Acarya Sankaranarayana Jois in Mysore, and also to maintain a vipassana meditation practice. All of these have influenced my own practice and teaching.

In 2002 I was very lucky to spend some time assisting Hamish Hendry at Ashtanga Yoga London, and I am grateful to Hamish for this opportunity. In April 2004 I received Sri K Pattabhi Jois’s blessing and authorization to teach.

In June 2010 I attended the Level 2  Training in Mysore with Sharath. I have now been authorized by KPJAYI to teach both primary and intermediate series.

Over the past seven years I have taught classes, workshops and private lessons in England, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. Recently (Oct/Nov 2011) I had the honour and privilege of assisting Sharath in the Mysore shala.

In teaching I aim to honour the essence of what has been taught to me, while considering the individual needs of each student. As an instructor of yoga asana I feel it is important to remember that “it is the practice itself, done consistently and accurately, [that] is the real teacher” (Tim Miller’s words, not mine.) I feel very blessed to be able to share what I know with other yoga students.

I will always be grateful to the above-mentioned teachers, and offer my thanks to them, particularly to Guruji, Saraswati and Sharath whose dedication to maintaining and teaching this tradition of yoga is truly humbling. Other teachers to whom I offer my heartfelt thanks are Lino Miele, Gwendoline Hunt, Paddy McGrath, Mariella de Martini, Rolf Naujokat and John Scott. And, of course, all my students…

… endless gratitude also to my family, and my most humble and loving pranams at the lotus feet of  Sathya Sai Baba.