 I have been practicing Yoga since 1991 originally discovering Satyananda Yoga (Bihar) under the guidance of Swami Pragyamurti (www.syclondon.com). Since 1999 I have been a consistent practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga and student of Hamish Hendry (www.astangayogalondon.com); one of two London teachers certified to teach this system of yoga. I have been teaching Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga since 2000. I am a qualified teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga and have completed numerous post graduate studies in yoga & meditation. I am fully insured and experienced in teaching groups and on a one to one basis.
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The Ashtanga Vinyasa series is said to have its origin in an ancient text called the Yoga Korunta, compiled by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari at Mount Kailash in the early 20th century.
Krishnamacharya has had considerable influence on many of the modern forms of yoga taught today. Among his students were many notable present-day teachers such as K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar. Krishnamacharya was well known for tailoring his teachings to address specific concerns of the person or group he was teaching, and a vinyasa series for adolescents is a result of this. When working under the convalescing Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnamacharya set up a shala, or yoga school in the palace grounds and adapted the practice outlined in the Yoga Korunta for the young boys who lived there. Vinyasa has since been thought of as a physically demanding practice, which can be successful at channeling the hyperactivity of young minds. This system can also be used as a vessel for helping calm ongoing chatter of the mind, reducing stress and teaching extroverted personalities to redirect their attention to their internal experience.
This style of yoga is characterized by a focus on vinyasa, or a dynamic connecting posture, that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. Vinyasa translates as linking and the system also implies the linking of the movement to the breath. Essentially the breath dictates the movement and the length of time held in the postures. Unlike some Hatha yoga styles, attention is also placed on the journey between the postures not just the postures themselves. The vinyasa flow is a variant of Surya namaskara, the Sun Salutation. The whole practice is defined by six specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathing patterns (Free breathing with the ujjayi sound).
A standard vinyasa consists (for example) of the flow from caturanga, or plank, to caturanga dandasana, or low plank, to urdhva mukha svanasana or upward-facing dog, to Adho Mukha Svanasana, or downward-facing dog. The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. Ashtanga Vinyasa brings in the principles of Agni and inversion to purify the entire body. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury.
There are six series altogether. Each sequence typically begins with 10 Sun Salutations and the standing poses. This is referred to as the "opening sequence". The student then moves to either the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, B, C, or D, depending on his or her skill level, a back-bending sequence, finally closing with a set of inverted postures, referred to as the "finishing sequence". Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally taught in Mysore style (supervised self practice), where each student moves through the practice at his or her own pace and level. In the West, it is more common to find classes devoted to a specific series, often at a standardized pace, and guided by an instructor.
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Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in America and Europe. It is the branch of yoga which concentrates on physical health and mental well-being. Hatha yoga uses bodily postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana) with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind. There are nearly 200 hatha yoga postures, with hundreds of variations, which work to make the spine supple and to promote circulation in all the organs, glands, and tissues. Hatha yoga postures also stretch and align the body, promoting balance and flexibility.
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Breathing:
The simple act of learning to control the breath has a number of beneficial effects on your wellbeing, ranging from increasing your energy, to improved relaxation into sleep. It purifies the body by flushing away the gaseous by products of metabolism and will also help you to remain calm in the face of the challenges that we encounter in our everyday lives.
Control of the breath is an essential element in the art of yoga. When bringing the air in to the abdomen, do not to puff the stomach out, but pull the air into it while extending the inside wall. By harnessing the power of the breath the mind can be stilled and can be prepared for your Yoga practise.
Relaxation:
True relaxation is experienced by the body and mind when little or no energy is consumed. It is Nature's way of recharging. Since every action, conscious or unconscious, uses stored energy, relaxation is necessary good health and peace of mind. Without proper relaxation the body and mind become overworked and inefficient.
Meditation:
Daily meditation practice brings peace of mind, inner joy and inner peace. By increasingly gaining control over your mind, every session brings you closer and closer to your own Self, the center of your being filled with joy, wisdom and bliss.
Meditation helps you understand how your mind works, and when you understand how your mind works you can begin to make purposeful changes to your life to improve it. Additionally, meditation improves your ability to objectively analyze your emotions, mental states, thought patterns, and responses to events that occur around you.
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Yoga Nidra brings an incredible calmness, quietness and clarity. Yoga Nidra is one of the deepest of all meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental process to a state of supreme stillness and insight. The descriptions in the article below can be difficult to understand. With patient and thorough reading, the understanding is well worth the effort, allowing you to see the profound depth of Yoga Nidra, which is far beyond just relaxation. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes it takes thousands of words to get the inner "aha" of the meaning. Most important of all, it is the persistent practice that brings the real joy of the practice of Yoga Nidra, as with all useful practices in life and Yoga.
Yoga Nidra means Yogic Sleep. It is a state of conscious Deep Sleep. In Meditation, you remain in the Waking state of consciousness, and gently focus the mind, while allowing thought patterns, emotions, sensations, and images to arise and go on. However, in Yoga Nidra, you leave the Waking state, go past the Dreaming state, and go to Deep Sleep, yet remain awake. While Yoga Nidra is a state that is very relaxing, it is also used by Yogis to purify the Samskaras, the deep impressions that are the driving force behind Karma.
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Can I do yoga if I can't touch my toes?
I'm no good at yoga, I can't even touch my toes!
One will sometimes hear this from new students who can't touch their toes. Yoga is not really about being bendy or being able to wrap your feet behind your head (although you might think this is a neat party trick). Yoga will help develop your flexibility and strength, and with time and practice you may be surprised that you can touch your toes. But more importantly yoga will help you to develop awareness, balance and mental flexibility that can be applied to your daily life. And "being good at yoga" is irrelevant. Yoga is non-competitive and is about developing yourself, not being compared to others.
Can I do yoga if I'm a man?
Most definitely! In fact, when yoga was first developed hundreds of years ago, it was only men who were allowed to practise it. Hatha Yoga offers a balance of postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation while Ashtanga Yoga is more posture based and physical in nature - ideal for those who desire a true physical challenge!
If you need any further convincing, some famous men who have practised yoga include Yehudi Menuhin (violinist), Ralph Fiennes (actor), Sting (rockstar) & Jerry Seinfeld (comedian).
Can I do yoga if I have a medical condition?
Many medical conditions can be eased by practising yoga, for example insomnia, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome and backache. The most important thing is to develop awareness of your body and to listen to what it is trying to tell you; yoga will help you achieve both these.
PLEASE REMEMBER that it is very important that you let your yoga teacher know BEFORE the class begins if you have any medical condition or are on medication. You should also consult with your GP or other qualified healthcare professional if you are currently receiving or have recently had treatment.
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