Learn Ashtanga Yoga

The best way of learning Ashtanga Yoga is with an experienced teacher trained in the traditional method as taught by Sri Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath in Mysore at the KPJAYI.

Ashtanga Yoga is taught as a self-practice and practiced early in the morning excluding moon days. The student learns the postures from the teacher who assists the student by giving them adjustments helping them to experience the postures more deeply.

Ashtanga Primary Series

Ashtanga Yoga is highly structured and each posture builds on the next in a sequence. Students start off with sun salutations and the standing sequence and then move onto seated postures in what is called the primary series or Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga Therapy). A teacher is on hand to safely guide students gradually through the postures. It can take years to build up the flexibility and strength necessary to complete the primary series.

Ashtanga Intermediate Series

The primary series is followed by the intermediate or second series or Nadi Shodana (Nerve cleansing). This series focuses on developing and strengthening the spine while purifying the central nervous system.

Ashtanga Advanced Series

The advanced series of asana follow the second series and includes seemingly amazing combinations of flexibility and strength.

If you are a complete beginner

And not sure how much you would like to commit then I suggest going to the Brighton Natural Health Centre on Monday night to the beginners class at 6:00pm and introducing yourself to the teacher, Sarah Miles. She is the director of Ashtanga at the centre.

If you have been to a few classes

And want to begin to explore the practice further, then I suggest doing a beginners course with Josetta at BNHC This will give you a good foundation and teach you the sequence of postures. I believe there is also a course introducing beginners to the Msyore style self practice.

If you have been to a few classes and are serious about taking up the practice

then I recommend that you go to BNHC at 6:30am on any week day (except on full or new moon days - we don't practice on these days.) introduce yourself to Sarah Miles. She is the director of Ashtanga at the centre.