"Teach what is within you. Not as it applies to you, but as it applies to the one in front of you." Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
Why the change of class?
For me, Yoga is a philosophy and way of life or practice which has been around for thousands of years. From my experience and learning, it is relevent and useful in today's society, with real life, common sense approaches and valuable tools to navigate life, with added benefits of improving health and well-being if practised regularly.
It's been nine years since I first qualified and started teaching Yoga in Dorset. I love the Ashtanga Primary Series because it allows a student or practitioner to memorise the sequence and maintain a form of regular practice. However, I felt it wasn't a practice that was appropriate for every body or everybody and based on further studies and trainings, started to adapt the sequence and use a Viniyoga approach to best suit those attending class. The more I explored, delved deeper and studied yogic texts, meant I felt compelled to go back to basics and offer authentic, traditional, classical yoga which "applies to the one in front of me."
I am very fortunate to study with Dr Kausthub Desikachar, my Mentor and Teacher who is from a lineage of Ācharya who have been passing on traditional Yoga without losing it's essence, value and veracity. I have experienced the benefits of personal regular practice and want to share those benefits; to empower others to take control, support themselves and apply it accordingly. The structure of having a prescribed sequence that stays the same over a period of time in order to memorise and practice regularly is key to incorporating Yoga as a daily habit. It is a great way to start the day. It promotes autonomy, encourages presence and develops awareness of body, breath and mind.
So, Classical Yoga is Holistic Viniyoga in the tradition of T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar, utilising a range of Yoga’s tools.
A deliberate, conscious and regulated practice combining, Āsana (postures), Prānāyāma (breath regulation), Mantra (chanting), Nyāsa (symbolic gestures) and Bhāvanā (visualisations/intentions). An authentic enquiry into yoga, underpinned by the philosophy of Patañjali’s Yogasūtra and other classical yoga texts such as Bhagavad-Gītā and Haṭhayogapradīpikā* which are essential as reference for maintaining authenticity and integrity in Yoga. Sanskrit is used where possible because with most disciplines there is usually an origin language that underpins its integrity i.e Ballet-French, Music-Italian, Karate-Japanese and therefore Yoga-Sanskrit.
Each month a new sequence is taught with prescribed breath and a combination of other tools where appropriate. The practice is posted in the gallery and can be used as a personal regular practice throughout the month with support and guidance of appropriate modifications and application.
*which was the first classical text on Yoga, that Yogācārya T Krishnamacharya taught TKV Desikachar when the latter began his studies with his father in the 1960s. The main reason being that this classical text is not only considered the most important of all the Haṭhayoga texts but also has very detailed and descriptive instructions on the most important practices of Haṭhayoga, especially Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Mudrā. Hence it was Yogācārya T Krishnamacharya's view that a detailed study of this text was quite important, especially for Yoga Teachers!