HOW TO START
Complete beginners are always welcome at Ashtanga Spirit Munich.
A Mysore self-practice class is the perfect environment in which to start astanga yoga. Students are taught individually within a group environment and, in our experience, this is the best and safest way to first learn the practice as it ensures that you work at your own pace and receive the personal attention you need when you need it.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Mysore self-practice classes always have students of mixed abilities and experiences working side by side and beginners are always welcome.
Your first few classes
At your first class you will be shown the sun salutations and how to breathe correctly. You will also be taught about the bandhas. The first lesson will last approximately 45 minutes. Although this may not sound much, there will be a lot of repetition and students usually find this is more than enough.
The next time you attend you will be shown the next posture and so on until you have built up a sequence of poses that you can do without too much prompting or assistance.
Beginners often assume that they will need to know the astanga yoga sequence before they start. This is not the case as we will teach you the poses one by one in a methodical way so that you can commit them to memory as you go along.
If you are interested in starting astanga yoga, simply visit us.
Hands-on adjustments
We teach in a traditional style which means that usually we give physical, hands-on adjustments.
Whilst we try to ensure that these are beneficial and safe we recognise that some people will still prefer not to be adjusted. We want to assure anyone who comes to our shala that you are free to say no to adjustments at any time and we will respect your wishes and will not ask you to explain your reasons.
TIPS FOR MYSORE CLASS
Please inform the teacher of any injuries, operations, pregnancy or other conditions which may require special care.
Please check-in to every time you attend either using the eversport app or in person with the teacher in the room
Please shower/bathe before coming to class and wear clean yoga clothes.
Once you’ve established a regular Ashtanga yoga practice, please aquire a personal mat.
If you practice regularly 3 times or more in a week, you can keep your mat in the studio.
Please wash both your cotton yoga mat and your sticky rubber yoga mat on a regular basis.
Please keep jewelry/accessories to a minimum.
Please turn your phone off or to silent and leave it in the changing room. If you might need to
be reached for an emergency during class, please have your phone on vibrate and step out of the room to take the call.No water bottles in the practice space. For drinking, allow minimum 10-15 minutes before and after each class, but not during practice.
It is recommended to do the practice with an empty stomach, avoid eating for at least 2-3 hours before attending class.
Please practice as instructed by the teacher. Modification of or deviation from the sequence is to be avoided for any other than medical causes.
Visiting and other experienced practitioners who practice beyond Primary Series are requested to begin with Primary Series.
No asana practice on new and full moon days.
No asana practice for ladies during the first three days of their period.
Upon arrival, please place your yoga mat as far to the front of the room as possible.
The students who know the complete sequence of finishing asana: When you’re ready to begin the finishing sequence, please move your mat to the back row of the practice space so that the
students arriving later can move to the front of the room.Please make sure there are no puddles of water from the spray bottle or sweat left on the floor after you’ve completed your practice.
It’s advisable to bring a small towel with you to the practice.
Please keep chat quiet in changing rooms and maintain a quiet atmosphere during the practice.
Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions that may arise concerning your practice.
Class times are Monday through Friday 6:00-9:00am. You may arrive any time during this time, provided that you have enough time to finish your practice and leave the room at 9:00 am.
If you have no experience with yoga, your first several practices will probably be quite short, and you may arrive as late as 8:15. As you become more experienced, your practice will get longer, and you can adjust your starting time accordingly. You can also arrive early if your work schedule so requires.
Recommended books among many other accomplished ones to support your practice:
Yoga Mala by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Ashtānga Yoga Anushthāna by R Sharath Jois
Ashtanga Yoga: The Yoga Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois: The Definitive Primary Series Practice Manual by Petri Räisänen,
Ashtanga Yoga Book by John Scott
TIPS FOR PRIMARY LED CLASS
This class progresses continuously through the primary series at a pace that is meant to be challenging, but not overwhelming. The emphasis is on smooth flow and breathing, and there is not much detailed explanation during the class.
This class is open to all levels, but is not an introductory class. If you are new to Ashtanga Yoga and don’t mind a challenge, you are welcome to come and try to follow the flow of the class. However, the offered beginner’s classes and introduction workshops, Mysore-style class and led 1/2-primary series classes are a a better environment for developing foundations for the practice.
As taught in Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India, the student gradually increases the number of poses they practice. The extent of their practice being the same in a Mysore-style class as in a led class. This means that new students may practice for only 20 minutes or less in their first few classes. This is quite different from many other styles of yoga.
Even more experienced students may be asked to stop before completing the full primary sequence. If this happens, please don’t take this as a negative judgement of yourself or your practice. We ask that you kindly respect the teacher’s judgement and follow the instructions given. Our goal is to let you practice to your full the potential without risking your well being.
Students who not complete the full sequence are welcome to watch the remainder of the class at the back of the room. If you are close to completing the series you may wait on your mat and rejoin the sequence for back bending and finishing poses.
It is best to practice on an empty stomach, we recommend to avoid eating for at least 4 hours before class. It is OK to drink water up to 30 minutes before the practice.
It’s useful to bring a small towel with you. We generally don’t use blocks, straps or other props. If you sweat a lot, it’s good to have a cotton rug to put on top of your mat.
Please arrive a few minutes early so that everyone can be ready to start on time.
If you are coming for the first time, please introduce yourself to the teacher and mention your current yoga practice, and any injuries or health issues.
BEGINNERS HALF PRIMARY LED CLASS
This is a guided class through 1/2 primary series of Ashtanga Yoga with a somewhat slower pace and more explanation than the full primary series class. The class will lead the student up to navasana and conclude practice with backbends and finishing sequence.
The teacher counts the traditional vinyasa in Sanskrit as taught in the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India. The purpose of the class is to learn and maintain the correct order of the asanas and correct vinyasa – how to synchronise breathing and movement. Furthermore, surrendering to the teacher’s count and pacing is an opportunity to increase one’s internal and external strength, stamina and concentration. Over time and with consistent practice, the student will be able to do the entire practice in an uninterrupted, rhythmic, and meditative flow.
This class is suitable for students practicing primary series up to navasana as well as beginners. For more practical details, please see the instructions for full primary series class as well as Mysore-style class.