What exactly is Mysore style Ashtanga yoga?
-Mysore style yoga is essentially like private yoga in a group setting. Once you try it, you will see the difference. This is how Ashtanga vinyasa yoga has always been traditionally taught - and it is the most sensible and compassionate way to learn this asana modality.
-It is a teacher-facilitated self practice session that gives Ashtanga students not only the space and open time to practice together in a supportive community, but also the opportunity to work directly with a qualified teacher and experience personalized instruction, e.g. to learn more of the series, to practice complex or challenging asana safely and sensibly with direct teacher involvement and guidance, to learn alternative forms of the postures that can mitigate issues arising from misalignment, injury, surgical recovery, prenatal and postpartum changes, aging, chronic pain, etc.
-Michelle works with students one-on-one in a group setting, at a pace appropriate to them. Michelle’s spacious approach to Ashtanga vinyasa respects the lineage of this modality (which arose in the last Century via the Krishnamacharya and Jois yoga tradition of the Mysore Palace in Mysore, Karnataka, India )and yet employs the use of props, modifications, and as needed, therapeutic asana outside of the Ashtanga modality, along with Ayurvedic theory and practice, to support all levels of yoga practitioner. Her teaching is kind, lighthearted, and direct - encouraging open dialogue and transparency, while fostering a non-codependent, non-hierarchical teacher/student relationship built on mutual respect and care.
Is it a two hour class?
-Mysore style Ashtanga sessions are not two hours long - they are containers or windows of practice time (2 hours Weds 8-10am at Karuna Yoga in Northampton, MA, starting October 6, 2021) where students may arrive and leave at their convenience to do their personal practice in community with other yoga practitioners, under the wise tutelage of a veteran practitioner and teacher of asana and yoga philosophy. Students can arrive and leave at their convenience and practice as little as 20 minutes or up to the full two hours, depending upon the time they have available, what stage of learning they’re at, how they are feeling that day, etc.
Can I just drop in to a Mysore session?
-Students who know their Ashtanga practice, or who have worked with Michelle, or a Mysore style Ashtanga teacher in the past, can drop in any time during the session.
-New students with little or no experience in Ashtanga who wish to attend a Mysore session should join the guided portion from 8-9am on Wednesdays. Email Michelle directly with any questions - and they are strongly encouraged to register for Michelle’s Sunday monthly Ashtanga Basics Workshop at Karuna before they attend a Mysore session, although she will make exceptions if/when appropriate upon prior email request.
Who can do Mysore style Ashtanga yoga?
Michelle’s students are of all shapes, sizes, genders, nationalities, races and creeds, and they have ranged in age from early 20s-mid 70s. Ashtanga is for everyone - except the lazy! All you have to do is be at the studio by 8am on Wednesdays, where you'll be receiving the benefits of a private yoga lesson at a drop-in price.
What happens in a Mysore session?
-Michelle arrives at 7:45am to unlock the doors and warm up the room and allow students to set up and even begin if they wish. She formally starts each session at 8am with a traditional invocation to Patanjali, chanted in Sanskrit. (Copies of the chant are available in the studio and students who are interested in learning and chanting along may ask Michelle to teach them the chant. Chanting is not compulsory.)
-After the invocation, students who know their practice will begin without guidance from Michelle - that is, until and if they request her guidance at any time during the session, at which point, she will work with them directly to address their needs or questions;
-New students are encouraged to arrive about 10 minutes before the start, both to meet with Michelle and to settle in for the Guided/Led portion of the session. Michelle will guide folks from 8-9am through a basic Half Primary series with a short closing.
-Over time, with consistency and regular practice, new students will integrate the series and memorize the posture sequences, requiring less and less direct guidance from Michelle, developing more autonomy and, over time, finding their own growing, deepening self practice they can do any time, any where.
-Students with an existing Ashtanga practice seeking more depth and understanding, or integration of more challenging asanas or sequences of asana, will be guided safely and wisely into these challenges, too over time.
-Remember that at any time during a Mysore session, if students, no matter what their level of experience, get lost, confused or need direct guidance, Michelle is there to support them, help them, and get them back on track! She is also available via fully private sessions via zoom - email her directly for details and pricing.
Does Michelle give hands on assists or teach verbally?
-Either verbally, or silently with hands on, or both - depending upon what students wish to experience! Unlike most Ashtanga teachers, Michelle has traditionally taught students using verbal cues; she continued to hone this skill during this past year of teaching Ashtanga vinyasa via Zoom. But, she also is comfortable teaching traditionally, in silence with gestures or gentle physical cues/assists, too if that is preferred by the student. As student and teacher develop a relationship of trust and mutual understanding, fewer words are needed!
NOTE: Michelle has been fully vaccinated since April 2021, boosted since November 2021, and can teach via sensible and accessible touch - but only for fully vaccinated individuals who are also comfortable with and who are seeking hands-on transmission and guidance. Although vaccinated, she will remain masked indoors until the City of Northampton lifts this requirement on all indoor activities and recommends that all students do so as well.
Still curious? Just email Michelle - or come in and observe a Mysore session for free, where all your questions will be answered and you can witness the unique wisdom and beauty of this teaching methodology.
(Header image taken by Michelle at the Cheluvanarayana Swami Temple in Melkote, India, 2019)
-Mysore style yoga is essentially like private yoga in a group setting. Once you try it, you will see the difference. This is how Ashtanga vinyasa yoga has always been traditionally taught - and it is the most sensible and compassionate way to learn this asana modality.
-It is a teacher-facilitated self practice session that gives Ashtanga students not only the space and open time to practice together in a supportive community, but also the opportunity to work directly with a qualified teacher and experience personalized instruction, e.g. to learn more of the series, to practice complex or challenging asana safely and sensibly with direct teacher involvement and guidance, to learn alternative forms of the postures that can mitigate issues arising from misalignment, injury, surgical recovery, prenatal and postpartum changes, aging, chronic pain, etc.
-Michelle works with students one-on-one in a group setting, at a pace appropriate to them. Michelle’s spacious approach to Ashtanga vinyasa respects the lineage of this modality (which arose in the last Century via the Krishnamacharya and Jois yoga tradition of the Mysore Palace in Mysore, Karnataka, India )and yet employs the use of props, modifications, and as needed, therapeutic asana outside of the Ashtanga modality, along with Ayurvedic theory and practice, to support all levels of yoga practitioner. Her teaching is kind, lighthearted, and direct - encouraging open dialogue and transparency, while fostering a non-codependent, non-hierarchical teacher/student relationship built on mutual respect and care.
Is it a two hour class?
-Mysore style Ashtanga sessions are not two hours long - they are containers or windows of practice time (2 hours Weds 8-10am at Karuna Yoga in Northampton, MA, starting October 6, 2021) where students may arrive and leave at their convenience to do their personal practice in community with other yoga practitioners, under the wise tutelage of a veteran practitioner and teacher of asana and yoga philosophy. Students can arrive and leave at their convenience and practice as little as 20 minutes or up to the full two hours, depending upon the time they have available, what stage of learning they’re at, how they are feeling that day, etc.
Can I just drop in to a Mysore session?
-Students who know their Ashtanga practice, or who have worked with Michelle, or a Mysore style Ashtanga teacher in the past, can drop in any time during the session.
-New students with little or no experience in Ashtanga who wish to attend a Mysore session should join the guided portion from 8-9am on Wednesdays. Email Michelle directly with any questions - and they are strongly encouraged to register for Michelle’s Sunday monthly Ashtanga Basics Workshop at Karuna before they attend a Mysore session, although she will make exceptions if/when appropriate upon prior email request.
Who can do Mysore style Ashtanga yoga?
Michelle’s students are of all shapes, sizes, genders, nationalities, races and creeds, and they have ranged in age from early 20s-mid 70s. Ashtanga is for everyone - except the lazy! All you have to do is be at the studio by 8am on Wednesdays, where you'll be receiving the benefits of a private yoga lesson at a drop-in price.
What happens in a Mysore session?
-Michelle arrives at 7:45am to unlock the doors and warm up the room and allow students to set up and even begin if they wish. She formally starts each session at 8am with a traditional invocation to Patanjali, chanted in Sanskrit. (Copies of the chant are available in the studio and students who are interested in learning and chanting along may ask Michelle to teach them the chant. Chanting is not compulsory.)
-After the invocation, students who know their practice will begin without guidance from Michelle - that is, until and if they request her guidance at any time during the session, at which point, she will work with them directly to address their needs or questions;
-New students are encouraged to arrive about 10 minutes before the start, both to meet with Michelle and to settle in for the Guided/Led portion of the session. Michelle will guide folks from 8-9am through a basic Half Primary series with a short closing.
-Over time, with consistency and regular practice, new students will integrate the series and memorize the posture sequences, requiring less and less direct guidance from Michelle, developing more autonomy and, over time, finding their own growing, deepening self practice they can do any time, any where.
-Students with an existing Ashtanga practice seeking more depth and understanding, or integration of more challenging asanas or sequences of asana, will be guided safely and wisely into these challenges, too over time.
-Remember that at any time during a Mysore session, if students, no matter what their level of experience, get lost, confused or need direct guidance, Michelle is there to support them, help them, and get them back on track! She is also available via fully private sessions via zoom - email her directly for details and pricing.
Does Michelle give hands on assists or teach verbally?
-Either verbally, or silently with hands on, or both - depending upon what students wish to experience! Unlike most Ashtanga teachers, Michelle has traditionally taught students using verbal cues; she continued to hone this skill during this past year of teaching Ashtanga vinyasa via Zoom. But, she also is comfortable teaching traditionally, in silence with gestures or gentle physical cues/assists, too if that is preferred by the student. As student and teacher develop a relationship of trust and mutual understanding, fewer words are needed!
NOTE: Michelle has been fully vaccinated since April 2021, boosted since November 2021, and can teach via sensible and accessible touch - but only for fully vaccinated individuals who are also comfortable with and who are seeking hands-on transmission and guidance. Although vaccinated, she will remain masked indoors until the City of Northampton lifts this requirement on all indoor activities and recommends that all students do so as well.
Still curious? Just email Michelle - or come in and observe a Mysore session for free, where all your questions will be answered and you can witness the unique wisdom and beauty of this teaching methodology.
(Header image taken by Michelle at the Cheluvanarayana Swami Temple in Melkote, India, 2019)