Mysore Style

Mysore-Style is the name given to the manner in which Sri K. Pattabhi Jois teaches Ashtanga at his shala (school) in Mysore, India. This is a type of group class which consists of one-on-one instruction and individual practice carefully monitored and assisted by the instructor or teacher. Ashtanga in particular is taught this way because:

It is a breathing/movement system which to impart its intended benefit must be practiced at the pace of each individual's breathing;
In this way, instruction can be one-on-one, your progress is monitored, and you can both practice and progress at your own rate, not that of a group or a lowest common denominator, nor at a pace or intensity that injures or exhausts you;
It teaches you to practice independently, allows for complete focus on your practice and teaches you to overcome external distractions (for example, the person on the mat next to you).

In an Ashtanga class, you will be working towards learning or mastering the practice, pose by pose. In the first class you attend, you will be taught one or two Ashtanga sun salutations (surya namaskara A and B). Your practice begins here. You may also learn in the first class a few of the opening postures of the series followed by closing postures. You will be expected to have practiced and know by heart what you learned next time you come to class.

In subsequent classes you will be taught one or more combinations of vinyasas and asanas which you will also learn by heart and add to your daily practice. As you become,steady, comfortable and proficient in your practice, more of the series will be added until you are practicing to the edge of your ability: perhaps the full Primary Series, or further. The earlier parts of the Series also become more nuanced as you become more proficient. Your practice deepens as it lengthens.

You may not not necessarily be taught a new pose every class. As you become strong, focused, and smooth, and your breathing is steady and accurate, new movements will be added to your practice. But while some asanas and movements are more quickly mastered and you may find that you are taught several in quick succession, others take some time to master, weeks and months sometimes, during which time you are working on mastering what you know and deepening your practice. You may find that in the beginning, poses will be added more frequently, and as you progress, you may take more time to practice between receiving poses. Or you may find that you start slowly and work with just a few basic opening postures for many weeks, and then take off. It's variable from person to person.

So when you attend a class, after the opening chant, practice 5 of sun salutation A, then 5 sun salutation B, and then begin your practice through the Primary Series. After you finish the portion of the series that you know, continue directly into the closing postures that you practice. If it is time to add postures or movements, the teacher will be there to add them before your closing sequence or will alert you in advance to wait when you get to the end of what you know.

Everybody's practice takes a different amount of time. As you are starting out, your practice is short, so you will finish earlier than others. Take rest after your closing sequence and then you may leave or watch others practice.