If you’ve never experienced a Mysore-style class before, it understandably may seem somewhat mysterious, or even a little intimidating. It is often thought that you need to be an advanced practitioner to join. Or to already know the sequence by heart. This, however, is not the case. You don’t need to know anything about ashtanga, or even yoga, to be welcome in the Mysore. In fact, it may be the perfect class for a beginner. You’ll receive all the personal attention you need, work at your own pace, and learn in a safe, progressive way.
Good to know beforehand
All you need for the practice is comfortable clothing, a mat and a hand towel. You can bring your own mat or use a studio mat. When you come for the first time, please make sure to arrive after 7:00, so we can give you a warm welcome. In case we’re busy, you can already find yourself a spot, roll out your mat and make yourself comfortable. Make sure to always inform us beforehand about physical limitations, injuries or health conditions.
In case you want to know more about how it all works in the Mysore, we invite you to read the etiquette.
What your first class will look like as a beginner
Your first practice won’t be long – typically around 20–30 minutes. You will meet and get to know us and get some basic explanation about the practice. Then we will guide you through the sun salutations – the foundation of the practice. You’ll finish with a short rest before you move on to the rest of your day. Please feel free to stay as long as you like, to observe the class and get a feel for how it all works.
Building from the base
From here, we’ll start to build your practice over the next sessions. After the sun salutations, we will teach you the first standing poses. As you start to memorize the sequence and get a basic understanding of the postures, you will gradually get more information and new poses.
It is good to realize, that as a beginner, there is an investment to be made: it takes some time, effort and consistency to learn the practice. The more you start to memorize and integrate the sequence though, the more flowy and meditative your practice will become. After a while, you’ll be equipped with a practice that you can do whenever you want and take with you wherever you go. An investment well worth it.