Ashtanga Yoga Palace

What is Mysore Style?
Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is taught in what is known as the Mysore style, which is named after the city of Mysore in Southern India. A Mysore-style class consists of one-to-one teaching within the group. Students approach their yoga practice independently, i.e. each student learns the primary series of yoga postures (asanas) off by heart and practises these postures at his or her own speed and with the degree of intensity appropriate to the student.
Given that each person is unique in terms of age, and physical and mental health, yoga should be taught individually. The teacher moves around the group and corrects each student, physically or verbally, on an individual basis, one-to-one.

The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore India

Why should one practise Mysore Style yoga?
As soon as the student is able to practise a series of postures off by heart, he or she no longer needs to think about which posture comes next. This fluent sequence of yoga postures leads to ‘meditation in motion’. An independent yoga practice allows the student to integrate yoga into his or her everyday life and thus to experience yoga’s deeper dimensions.

Advancing in one’s yoga practice
The Ashtanga system is intelligently structured so that each posture builds on the previous one and prepares the body for the next asana. For this reason it is important to practice asanas in the correct order and not to leave out any positions or to practise an asana before one is ready. Traditionally the teacher gives the student new asanas as and when the student’s knowledge and physical abilities permit. Beginners therefore practise for a shorter period of time than advanced students. As stamina, flexibility and concentration increase, the student is ‘given’ further asanas. Patience is therefore required of the student until the teacher gives him or her new positions or corrects existing positions. The Mysore-style method is suitable for beginners and for those who are used to led classes.

Enjoy your practice.