Mysore Style: Ashtanga
Pattabhi Jois
The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. There are some differences from the usual way in which yoga is taught:
- the class is silent
- students practice their own sequence at their own pace
- the teacher assists by giving physical adjustments
Vinyasa
The Mysore style has students learn postures in a fixed order using a special movement-breathing technique called vinyasa. The vinyasa links the postures together in the dance of the breath.
Your Level
Each student is given their practice according to their ability. Since each posture is designed to prepare for the rest of the series, beginners tend to have a much shorter practice than more experienced students.
Sadhana
As you gain strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration, you are given additional postures. The sense of the word "given" in this context comes from how the practice is taught in India, where a yoga practice is something that a teacher gives to you as a spiritual practice.
Personalized
In the West, people are accustomed to learning a lot of postures at once, such as in most led yoga classes. One advantage of the Mysore-style format is that it is for you because it teaches yoga according to your individual capacity.