Ashtanga Yoga Workshop in Madrid

Paramaguru Sharath Jois who is the Director of K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India came to Spain for the first time. I was fortunate to be able to attend the five days Ashtanga Yoga Workshop organized by Mysore House Ashtanga Yoga Madrid held on 4th to 8th September 2018 at Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo gymnasium.

Ashtanga translates as eight limbs or branches developed by Patanjali over 2,000 years ago in the Yoga Sutras. The asana or yoga posture is one of the branches to achieve a state of higher consciousness and well being.

Ashtanga Yoga was developed in the 20th century by the guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois who died in Mysore in year 2009. He is the grandfather of Sharath Jois. It is said that Sharath is the only student ofSri K. Pattabhi Jois who has studied and continues to practice the complete six series of the ashtanga yoga system.

I have learned the traditional Mysore style of Ashtanga Yoga means that the practitioner is required to memorize the sequence without being led by the teacher in a class. The teacher will guide and assist in postures and the practitioner is expected to proficiently learn the asanas (postures) before being permitted and taught the following postures.

Ashtanga Yoga is very powerful, vigorously and physically challenging. The practitioner has to focus and be consciously aware following the breath and movement through a set of sequence. The practice creates heat in the body, builds body’s stamina, strength and flexibility.

Over 600 practitioners travelled and gathered to practice Ashtanga Yoga in Madrid. The classes started at 7:15 and finished at 8:45 in the morning. Sharathji also held one conference to speak about Ashtanga yoga and answered some questions of the students.

I’d say it was a great experience practicing yoga with heaps of Ashtangis. I have practiced this style before when I was starting to learn yoga and to be honest, I found it absolutely demanding and needs years of arduous training to achieve the tough asanas.

Last year, I was looking for something to keep me inspired and motivated with my own practice and I got interested with the traditional Mysore Ashtanga Yoga. I did it for a couple of months, stopped and totally forgot the whole sequence.

This year, I started going back to classes at Mysore House Madrid; Although I wasn’t going to classes regularly, I feel encouraged to learn this style of yoga. It feels a whole new discipline for me because I need to remember the sequence in the Primary Series. Vinyasa Yoga is dynamic and creative flow whilst Ashtanga Yoga follows an incorporated sequence and structure.

Perhaps, I want to understand both worlds so I can be a better practitioner and teacher. I feel challenged and excited at the same time, as I learn some new postures and remember the sequence.

Pictures and Information:

Sharath Jois Official Website

http://sharathjois.com

Mysore House Ashtanga Yoga Madrid

http://eng.mysorehouse.es/ashtanga-2/

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