Ashtanga Yoga is often considered one of the toughest styles of yoga, as many of the sequences rely heavily on high-energy vinyāsas. I personally used to stay away from the practice due to a knee injury that acted up during intense flows. However, I secretly cherished a dream of practicing Ashtanga Yoga…
Don’t get confused by the word junior. Juniors, for me, are my two daughters. One is eight, and the other is just two and a half, and their gazes remain fixed on me as I do my home yoga sequence on Sunday mornings.
It was a beautiful day in Rishikesh. I was taking a stroll down the quiet lanes of this ultra neat town. Bells were ringing. Throngs were chanting mantras. There was a magical aroma that filled the air. It was a blissful moment. There was a group of people nearby doing Sun Salutations. It looked as if each one was following a different style, but none of them was bothered.
Sit comfortably. Close your eyes and breathe consciously. Breathe in and out through your nose. Now, slowly deepen each breath, experiencing the way air moves in and out of your body! Connect yourself with each breath, leaving little time for your thoughts. Allow yourself to drift into this cyclic breathing process. Feeling better? Feeling relaxed?
My first class at a new studio, and my heart leapt to my throat when the teacher began by saying, “Let’s begin the class with eight rounds of Sun Salutations, the Sivananda style.” Apparently, there are several kinds of Sun Salutation!