Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yogashala, popularly known as The Shala, was started on April 19th, 2004. The present premises, aesthetically constructed to suit Yoga practice, opened its doors to students in the year 2012. The Shala draws students of all age groups and varied walks of life; each student with a different purpose. Following the tradition of Shri T. Krishnamacharya, teaching at the Shala is personalized and tailor-made for each practitioner. Rather than group or led classes, the practice is structured according to the need and capacity of each student. Focusing on the breath and coordinating movements with the breath (as taught by Shri T. Krishnamacharya), students not only benefit from a better understanding of the practice, but an increased awareness of their own bodies and in time, learn to recognize their own needs on a daily basis and adapt their practice accordingly. In addition to the physical practice of Asanas, the Shala also offers a 6-month weekend course in the latter half of the year on Yoga Studies to lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of Yoga. Short-term workshops and weekend programs are frequently conducted to address the needs of the students. Yoga classes for children and Vedic chanting and some of the other regular activities at the Shala. Post-graduate diploma holder in Yoga Studies from Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Srimathy's association with yoga began in the year 1997. In 2003, after a long stint as a teacher in KYM, Srimathy began learning and practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga under Shri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. She now continues to learn with Shri Sharath Jois and Mrs. Saraswathy. Srimathy has learned vedic chanting from Shri T. D. Krishnamachari, and continues to learn from Smt. Akhila Ramasubramaniam, a vedantic scholar. Ravi’s journey with yoga began since 2000. He has been deeply interested and involved with Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, having trained under Shri. K. Pattabi Jois and now continuing to study with Shri. Sharath Jois and Mrs. Saraswathy. Blessed with a keen eye for detail, Ravi ensures that the students who learn this form understand and appreciate every little nuance that they practice. With the use of Bio-mechanics and the right understanding of adjustments, Ravi helps his students to achieve a particular posture. Srimathy and Ravi have studied the yoga philosophies 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali' and 'Hatha Yoga Pradhipika' under Srivatsa Ramaswamy who was a student of Shri T. Krishnamacharya for more than 3 decades. They also continue to study Yoga philosophy and theory, and the practice of Pranayama under Shri B.N.S. Iyengar, Mysore.