Ashtanga Yoga

This is an Ashtanga style yoga class lasting an hour, where we start with some breath work and warm up, then sun salutations leading into the primary sequence starting in standing poses working our way down to the mat. Each pose is held for 3-5 breaths and moved from one to the other using your breath. We end with a 10 minute meditation either guided or using sound.
This can be physically demanding on the body as we hold poses for a while and move straight into each pose but you do it at your own pace and each pose can be mastered over time with props and modification used to help achieve this at your pace. The same sequence is done for at least 6 weeks to really get use to the poses and challenge your body. It is suitable for beginners and experienced.

Ashtanga is a Sanskrit word meaning 8 limbs

Patanjali’s yoga sutras explains that there is an eight-fold path leading us to liberation. Each of the 8 limbs relates to an aspect of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life and each builds upon the previous one. The first two are Yamas and niyamas which are suggestions of how we should deal with people around us and how we can shape our attitude and behaviour.

The attitude we have towards people and things outside of us is Yamas and how to relate to ourselves inwardly is niyamas.

1) Yamas –

Ahimsa (non violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (Non lust), Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)

2) Niyamas –

Sauca (purity of body and mind), Santosa (modesty, contentment of what we are, acceptance that there is purpose for everything), Tapas (discipline use of our energy, a burning desire to reach self realisation), Svadhyaya (self study and observation, cultivating self awareness), Isvarapranidhana (celebration of the spiritual within us and all things concentration on and surrender to divine flow)

3) Asana – Postures (commonly known as yoga but it is only one of the eight limbs)

4) Pranayama – Life force (breath)

5) Pratyahara – Sense withdrawal (shutting off distractions draw the silence inwards)

6) Dharana – Consentration (concentration on one single object)

7) Dhyana – Meditation

8) Samadhi- Absorption (individual and universal consciousness unite, bringing state of calm and fulfilment)

Implementing Ashtanga yoga into your daily lives making it become a part of you is live changing. As you have read its not just about doing the yoga poses on the mat it is so much more helping you from the inside out. During a 60 minute class you will experience a modified version but it doesn’t stop there you continue your journey outside of the class and everyday from there.

For me Ashtanga yoga is like a movement meditation not only does it fully calm my mind it strengthens and conditions my body keeping me feeling strong and grounded also providing me tools to cope with day to day life.

Current Classes are every Monday 7pm for an hour at Leverington village hall in Wisbech.

Please contact me to secure your place prior to class, details on contact page.