About Mysore Style
This is Yoga in its traditional form, where the practice is shared directly from teacher to student. Each student is addressed individually and shown each pose gradually, one at a time.
All levels of student practice in the same environment, from beginners to advanced students, all together in a supportive group environment. The teacher works directly with each to determine the best sequence of poses, to develop a flowing, consistent and established yoga practice.
It is surprisingly fast to learn when you come consistently.
What is Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga?
Named after the city in South India where this ancient practice originated, Mysore style is yoga as it was meant to be taught – with individual attention within a supportive environment.
Unlike gym-style “led” classes that have dominated commercial yoga in recent years, Mysore style allows you to be taught the moves gradually, receiving one-on-one guidance from an expert who tailors the practice to your body and abilities.
Dawn Practice
We open our doors at 5:30am and everyone arrives by 6:00am. The liminal space between sleep and waking is when your consciousness is most fluid and receptive to transformation. In these still hours, before the noise of the world takes hold, astounding progress becomes possible.
People consistently report that morning practice helps them feel more satisfied with their practice and with their lives. Yoga is all about harnessing this state where limitations dissolve and new possibilities emerge.
Be a Beginner
When is the last time you really felt like a newbie? Ironically, Mysore style can be the most confronting for people who have done lots of gym style “led” yoga classes. There’s a common misconception that you need to know the poses first, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
You don’t need to know anything except how to breathe.
Embrace being a beginner. It’s fun to start something new! Mysore style classes are an opportunity to be taught authentic techniques from the ground up, free from the performance pressure and group conformity of led classes. The beauty is that a complete beginner and an advanced yogi can be in the same room, both receiving exactly what they need.
Less is More
When you observe the room, you notice everyone seems to be on a path, following the same general movements, each with individual flair and modifications. You’ll notice the teacher move from person to person, giving words and adjustments as appropriate.
Compared to other yoga classes the silence is striking. Occasionally the teacher will whisper or joke to someone, but the dominant sound is the collective breath creating a meditative atmosphere. Rather than instructions shouted to a room, we have wisdom transmitted carefully and kindly.
At Your Own Pace
If you feel tired, that’s okay. If you feel full of energy, that’s great too. If you need to ask questions – fantastic! Sometimes in this world people try to doing everything at full power. It can happen in yoga too, but not in our classes.
We think yoga should be enjoyable. With Mysore style you move at a pace that feels right for you on the day, allowing the physical and mental benefits to accrue naturally over time. This kind of yoga gradually erodes the beliefs and restrictions that keep you from flourishing.
Classical Approach
After 25+ years of traditional practice in Newcastle, we’ve seen countless transformations that go far beyond physical flexibility. The Mysore method works because it honors the individual within the collective, provides the spiritual depth that commercial yoga pushes aside, and harnesses the transformational power of consistent early morning practice.
This is a complete system of human flourishing.
Ready to experience the difference? Your first visit is always free.