Updated 5/4/2021.
A once-a-week Mysore class? That’s a bit non-traditional! With growing interest I thought it would be helpful to outline my intentions for it so that folks who are new can get a good idea of what the process is like.
What is a Mysore class?
Most drop in yoga classes involve the “led” format; that is, the teacher tells you what to do as you’re doing it, and the class moves together as a group. In a Mysore class, folks may arrive at different times, start and finish their practice at different times, and practice for different lengths of time. Walk in to a Mysore room and every student in the room is on a different pose. Each student memorizes a sequence, starting with Sun Salutations, standing poses, and on to the Primary Series, with support and instruction from the teacher.
I taught a daily Mysore program for five years. Sunday through Friday, This is the traditional way of doing a Mysore program. But with two young kids at home, I realized that waking up at 3:30am every day was not sustainable for me, so I ended the program and began a period of figuring out what was best for me and for my students. What I found was this: a small group of committed practitioners who were rocking home practice (or a bit of here-and-there) but wanted to maintain a connection with an experienced teacher. A Mysore class once a week was both sustainable for me and supportive for them.
Can I drop in?
If you have an existing Ashtanga practice (you know part of the primary series (or more) by heart and are accustomed to practicing it without being led through the poses), you are welcome to drop in if there is space. (But remember: pre-registering is CRUCIAL because the front door is locked.) All students who are new to Ashtanga (or new to the Mysore-style format where you memorize the practice) must commit to one month.
What about COVID?
We follow the protocol and requirements of the space we practice in. When you register (or if you ask) I’ll send you the specifics, and you can determine whether you feel comfortable. We have been in-person since November 2020 and have had no cases among our ranks.
Who the class is for:
Regular practitioners who need weekly support in order to keep their practice dynamic-- how to know when to move forward in the series, how to modify when an injury arises, and who want energetic support from — and to energetically support— a community of folks who understand the difficulty (and joy) of a daily practice.
New students who are ready to learn, willing to make the commitment of coming to practice every week and the discipline to self-practice at least twice a week OUTSIDE of Mysore class. There is no barrier to entry other than this. We start where you are and build from there.
Visitors from out of town: I love sharing space with practitioners from all over the world. When you visit, tell me what you’re hoping to enjoy here, whether it’s simply a nice warm place to practice with some Minnesotan yogis, or you want to pick my brain about Marichyasana D. I respect the work of my colleagues in the Mysore-teaching world and as such, I won’t assume that you want me to overhaul anything unless you specifically ask, but I’m happy to offer guidance when appropriate. Note: the Mysore program is currently on a wait list for new students, but drop in slots may be available, please do ask.
What a new student will experience:
I’ll teach you the series from the beginning-- starting with the sun salutations and closing poses (beginning and end = a complete practice on your first day). After that we’ll fill in, pose-by-pose, at a pace that works for you. Your first practice will be 30-ish minutes. This will get longer-- 60 to 90 minutes is not uncommon maybe six months into practice, but the growth is individual and varies greatly. You’ll get a lot of attention at first-- verbal instruction, demonstration, etc-- and in time you’ll need less of that and I can instead observe what you do and offer suggestions when needed. After your first day, you’ll have a sequence that you can (and should!) practice at home a few more times before our next class.
Why do I need to commit to coming every week?
Working with students who are really jazzed to jump in and do the work is my JAM. When I see you every week, we have a relationship-- you feel comfortable asking me questions, I can see the work you’re doing at home on your own, and practice develops in a safe and beneficial way. If you’re new to the practice and you come once and then I don’t see you for a month, all the work you did in the first class is out the window, and I don’t have accountability for what I’ve taught you because I have no idea if you’re doing it or not. Led classes are ok to drop in-- the format is more conducive to trying once (as long as you have a sense of humor about it all) and you aren’t expected to remember everything you did.
Plus, COVID restrictions mean that if I have a spot for you, I expect you to use it, otherwise no one can. OF COURSE if you are sick, please stay home. Do also let me know if you will be traveling, so I can plan for a drop-in spot to be available.
If you have questions about any of this, feel free to ask.