ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA FOR BEGINNERS

In this class we aim to gently introduce the practitioner to the Primary Series without lots of torturous postures, solely Sanskrit names and funny yoga chanting!

The class is always shaped to the individuals in it with the pace at which the postures are progressed being relevant to where the practitioners are in their practice.

Beginners Ashtanga Explained

Before beginning the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, the practitioner will be made fully aware of the Ujjayi breath, which is vital to this practice.

The Ujjayi, or Victorious breath is produced when one breathes through his nose yet the breath is not nasal, rather it is drawn over the back of the throat with the mouth closed to create a sound rather like that of the ocean. This sound keeps one’s mind focused in a meditative manner as he moves through his practice. When practising this form of breathing one is encouraged to imagine that he is drinking in the breath.

The breath is a key to unlocking your body and deepening your practice. You will be encouraged to allow yourself to feel the pose through your breath, letting it slide over muscles, through sinew, breezing over joints. The three energy locks (known as Bandhas) that are located in the body will also be explained as these too will assist the practitioner in his practice. True understanding, of the breath and bandhas, however, will come with practice. Beginning with the Sun Salutations to warm up the body, the student will be taken through a modified version of the Primary Series.

This will entail building a steady heat whilst being carefully guided through a series of standing postures which challenge the practitioner to build strength in the legs and balance of the entire body.