What is "self-practice" Ashtanga Yoga?
A "self-practice" or "mysore-style" class is the traditional form of Ashtanga yoga as taught by the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, South India. "Self-practice" is suitable for all levels, including absolute beginners. In a way, it is like private class in a group environment. Ashtanga yoga taken in this "self- practice" form allows each student to work at their own pace, following the rhythm of their own breath while receiving personal attention and instruction from the teacher, as well as physical assistence. Students can start their practice at any time during the session – the length of practice and time needed will vary for each student. Postures are given one at a time to the student by the teacher and the student works to memorise the postures in the set order, receiving individual guidance from the teacher as needed.
Last updated Oct. 26, 2016, 3:25 p.m. UTC
I have a PhD in dance and expertise in human movement analysis. My Master's degree came from Laban Centre in London and my BA from University of California Irvine.
My yoga training began in 1994 when I was introduced to Classical Ashtanga Yoga by the silent monk Baba Hari Dass. I spent four years living in his yoga community the Mount Madonna Center in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California. Babaji (as his students call him) granted me permission to teach Ashtanga yoga asana, pranayama, hand mudras and meditation in 1996.
Since this time I have been teaching yoga for nearly 20 years.
In 2003 I began studying the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga form as developed by Pattabhi Jois under the guidance of John Scott and Lucy Crawford and I continue to study regularly with Lucy. I have a deep love for the Ashtanga practice and for these truly inspiring teachers. In 2012 I started offering Ashtanga self-practice classes.
Also in 2003 I met Norman Blair who had started running the first Yin yoga classes in London. Since this time I have studied Yin yoga regularly with him and I started teaching Yin yoga in 2005. I have recently completed Norman's Advanced Training for Yin yoga teachers.
Baba Hari Dass, John Scott, Lucy Crawford and Norman Blair are my most influential teachers and their teachings are embedded in mine.
In 2007 I felt it would be valuable to hold a UK recognised teacher training and was selected as one of the first intake of students on Triyoga London's Teacher Training that they piloted in the year 2007. I graduated from this training in 2008.
My most recent undertaking has been to uniquely design a parent-child yoga class called Big Dog Little Dog. The class has been running since 2012 and it has become so popular that I am now looking to train more teachers. The next training will run 25&26 March 2017 in Brighton. For more info see www.bdld.co.uk
