Frequently Asked Questions
15. What is Ashtanga Yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic, fast-moving, flow-style of yoga. It is recommended when beginning this style of yoga you follow the class at your own pace, disregard what other people in the room are doing, listen to your breath, and take rests if you need. Eventually you'll notice that, as your strength and stamina increase, you take less breaks, and your breath becomes flowing and relaxed.
Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system which offers a way for you to experience increased health, well-being and inner peace. Ashta means eight; anga means limbs. Eight limbs when practised together create wholeness or yoga (union).
16. What do Ashtanga Yoga classes at Now Breathe involve?
Classes at Now Breathe emphasise three of the branches of Ashtanga Yoga - Asanas (postures) for developing a strong & healthy body, Pranayama (breathing practices) for calming and focusing the breath, and Meditation (concentration) for quieting and stilling the mind.
Talk-through classes are available, and also Mysore-style for practitioners who have a reasonable knowledge of the sequence.
17. What are the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga?
Practising asana (yoga exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation has a subtle flow-on effect: body, mind, and breath begin to act co-operatively, complementing each other, rather than operating 'at odds' with each other (as observed in today's typical stressed urban-warriors!). Ashtanga Vinyasa (a Sanskrit word that means flow-style yoga - each posture is linked to the next with a flowing connecting movement) Yoga is a fast-track to this heightened sense of well-being, calmness and peace of mind.
The benefits of Ashtanga Yoga are far-reaching and rapid. Detoxifying, healing, flexibility and fitness are achieved quickly through the Ashtanga Yoga system.