Ashtanga Yoga

Why practice?

A typical Mysore-style class consists of students of varying levels of practice and from all walks of life. The Ashtanga system, especially when practiced Mysore-style, allows students to own their practice, learn an internal focus, and develop a meditative state of mind that connects breath with movement. At Castle Hill, we strive to teach Ashtanga Yoga in a therapeutic manner that is beneficial to the student. Ashtanga Yoga is a tool to create balance and we seek to empower students to recognize the internal workings of the mind, spirit, subtle body, and the external workings of the physical body and our relation to the world around us. The goal of Ashtanga is not to perfect the physical poses, but to enjoy the journey of a daily practice that cultivates love, compassion, and acceptance for self and others.

What is a Mysore class?

Mysore classes are self-paced and students are given individual instructions within a group setting. Students with established practices will begin and end at their own time and will be taught new poses as appropriate. Beginners will be systematically taught the Primary Series according to the level of comfort and safety of each student. No prior experience is necessary and all levels are welcome. We recommend that beginners commit to practicing with consistency, about three days a week, so that the teacher can monitor progress and continue to add poses when appropriate. The key to enjoying the practice is to learn gradually and steadily so that we can learn to quiet the mind by connecting with the breath.

What is a led class?

In an Ashtanga led class, the teacher provides verbal guidance and sets a rhythm for the practice. The led full Primary Series class covers all the complete Primary Series and is intended to support an existing Mysore practice. The class is not suitable for beginners or students with injuries who have not yet learned to safely modify their practice. The led 1/2 Primary Series class will cover about half of the Primary Series. This class focuses more heavily on instructions and is suitable for students who have some yoga experience. The Intro to Ashtanga class is a led class for students who are interested in learning the fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga in a group setting and it is suitable for beginners and students who are new to yoga.

My First Ashtanga Practice

If you are new to Ashtanga Yoga, please introduce yourself to the teacher and be sure to discuss pertinent information that may affect your practice, such as your present level of fitness, yoga experience, current and past injuries, structural issues that need to be accommodated, and any relevant medical conditions. Following this conversation, you will be individually taught the basics of movement and breath by learning Suryanamaskara (Sun Salutations) A and B. All instructions will be given according to your individual needs and level of comfort. Breathing comfortably and feeling good about what you are doing are two key components of a successful and rewarding Ashtanga practice.

Please remember that at Castle Hill, the teacher-student relationship is compassionate, supportive, and collaborative. Always inform the teacher of any changes going on in your life that are relevant to your yoga practice.

Moon Days

No practice on full moon and new moon days according to the Ashtanga tradition. The no practice dates for Fall 2011 are: Sep 12, Sep 27, Oct 11, Oct 26, Nov 10, Nov 25.