I had a brief FB conversation with Lisa (and Charles) about how to start, build, and grow Mysore-style classes, and then I was ranting and raving at poor Andrew and Jess the other night about Ashtanga Vinyasa taught in the Mysore-style. Like, for-real ranting.
My experience practicing and transmitting has been a continual reaffirmation that to show the Ashtanga Vinyasa sequence, one posture at a time, suited and scaled to each person's physical and mental conditions at that very moment, is the best way to teach a Yoga asana practice.
Look, we can get into the issue of whether the Primary Series is the most ideal sequence for that person, and we can also get into the shadow aspects of the Primary Series, as well as the implicit assumptions and belief structure woven throughout. But still, this shit really works.
1. Get a space.
To find a satisfactory space is very tricky. This might be the second most difficult part of hosting, holding, facilitating or, god help me, teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa in the Mysore style.
A lot of people just rent a storefront or warehouse space. This means signing a lease as well as a series of other issues with which I have no experience, such as parking, insurance, renovation, maintenance, front desk and employee management, retail, etc., etc.
A lot of the older Mysore studios in the States were in shadier or run-down neighborhoods, simply because floor space was cheap. The Ashtanga Yoga Center in downtown Encinitas, It's Yoga in SOMA in SF, Yoga Works on Third Street in Santa Monica, Ashtanga Yoga Los Angeles in Los Feliz then Silverlake, Ashtanga Yoga New York, as well as tons of others. Some of those places stuck around long enough to watch their neighborhoods gentrify.
I practiced with Noah and Kimberley at their first space, on Sunset in LA. It had cement floors onto which I poured copious amounts of sweat. I believe the place had been a hair salon or barber shop, because when I left I had 8 pounds of hair trimmings glued to my mat.
The actual physical requirements for a Mysore space are small. It's just a room. Thank god we practice a style of yoga that doesn't require elaborate props, such as these belt-and-wall contraptions I've seen at some studios, as well as elaborate blocks, bolsters and blankets. Sure the props are helpful, just not a necessity.
The best yoga prop I use is an old fold-up massage mat that Kristin, a long-time yoga practitioner, donated. The only "yoga" prop I would ever buy is a Swedish ladder or Stal bars.
The best yoga prop I use is an old fold-up massage mat that Kristin, a long-time yoga practitioner, donated. The only "yoga" prop I would ever buy is a Swedish ladder or Stal bars.
We have at Yoga Pearl, where Portland Ashtanga Yoga is hosted, stacks of various blocks. I'm not adverse to using them as the situation arises, though I don't see them as essential.
So if you want to rent your own space, you can sign the lease. You might want or need to put down a wood floor, which would then be the main expense.
So if you want to rent your own space, you can sign the lease. You might want or need to put down a wood floor, which would then be the main expense.
There are other ways to find studio space, though, some of which might more organically serve the current needs of your community, which, let's face it, might be five people.
I've practiced at many different places during my global vagabondage. Maybe some of these locations might ring a bell with you.
Yoga studios are the obvious go-to. Once, when I traveled to Michigan, I rang the local studio and paid a drop-in to use their space during an open slot. It's not a far cry to then offer to rent the space each morning to hold Mysore class.
I've practiced at many different places during my global vagabondage. Maybe some of these locations might ring a bell with you.
Yoga studios are the obvious go-to. Once, when I traveled to Michigan, I rang the local studio and paid a drop-in to use their space during an open slot. It's not a far cry to then offer to rent the space each morning to hold Mysore class.
Some other places I've practiced that you might consider leasing: Pilates studios (we had to move the "reformer" machines out of the way each morning), climbing gyms, boxing gyms, martial arts studios, dance studios (the mirrors are always a bummer), the Sandcastle Room and the buffet room at the Encinitas Best Western (cigarette smoke in the carpet in the former, breakfast crumbs in my mat in the latter), living rooms in Tokyo and Mysore, of course, as well as on an enclosed roof-top at Monica's house in Auroville.
Regardless of dirt, mosquitoes, carpet, mirrors, or croissant crumbs, hopefully the space is warm, safe and available daily.
2. Let people know about it.
I have the firm conviction that not everyone will want to practice Ashtanga Vinyasa in the Mysore style. But a lot of people come home to this practice as though it were a long-lost friend.
2. Let people know about it.
I have the firm conviction that not everyone will want to practice Ashtanga Vinyasa in the Mysore style. But a lot of people come home to this practice as though it were a long-lost friend.
Those people need to know about it.
The obvious outlet is the Internet. Do not waste your time or money with print ads. Register a web-site for $10 on Google Sites, or get a free blogspot, and put up the particulars: time, location, cost, maybe a brief description of what you offer and of Ashtanga Vinyasa and the Mysore-style.
Get that shit on Facebook. You could also try Craig's List. It's free, so why not? (I've never done this, so let me know how it goes.)
For meatspace promotion, you could always flier New Age bookstores (if you've got one) as well as coffee shops.
Finally, maybe the most important detail of all, if you've attended teacher trainings or workshops, tell everyone with whom you attended that you're hosting a space.
The obvious outlet is the Internet. Do not waste your time or money with print ads. Register a web-site for $10 on Google Sites, or get a free blogspot, and put up the particulars: time, location, cost, maybe a brief description of what you offer and of Ashtanga Vinyasa and the Mysore-style.
Get that shit on Facebook. You could also try Craig's List. It's free, so why not? (I've never done this, so let me know how it goes.)
For meatspace promotion, you could always flier New Age bookstores (if you've got one) as well as coffee shops.
Finally, maybe the most important detail of all, if you've attended teacher trainings or workshops, tell everyone with whom you attended that you're hosting a space.
In fact, tell everyone you know, period.
Word of mouth is huge.
3. Show up every day.
This may be the most difficult part of hosting a Mysore space. Constancy is the queen of kings. Constancy is also gnarly. But to grow your community, you've got to show up every day, or as you've scheduled. Be present with the people in the room. Be active. Be engaged, whether there're two people or 50.
As a teacher, a Mysore class hums and crackles with more people than fewer. However, I always feel that regardless of how many turn up to practice — and I've taught Mysore class with 2 people and with 65 — these people woke up early, established their intention and their commitment, turned up at the studio, and unrolled their mat(s). I try to meet that intention and commitment with my own.
Just something to be prepared for.
4. No really, show up every day!
This is not a workshop, a retreat, or a hobby. A Mysore class is every day. Be ready for that! It can also be an additional physical demand. In my case, I am moving around constantly for three hours a pop.
Physical burnout is a real issue, and a key symptom of physical over-reaching is mental and emotional fatigue. I can tell when I'm frying out because my desire to get on the mat evaporates.
Word of mouth is huge.
3. Show up every day.
This may be the most difficult part of hosting a Mysore space. Constancy is the queen of kings. Constancy is also gnarly. But to grow your community, you've got to show up every day, or as you've scheduled. Be present with the people in the room. Be active. Be engaged, whether there're two people or 50.
As a teacher, a Mysore class hums and crackles with more people than fewer. However, I always feel that regardless of how many turn up to practice — and I've taught Mysore class with 2 people and with 65 — these people woke up early, established their intention and their commitment, turned up at the studio, and unrolled their mat(s). I try to meet that intention and commitment with my own.
Just something to be prepared for.
4. No really, show up every day!
This is not a workshop, a retreat, or a hobby. A Mysore class is every day. Be ready for that! It can also be an additional physical demand. In my case, I am moving around constantly for three hours a pop.
Physical burnout is a real issue, and a key symptom of physical over-reaching is mental and emotional fatigue. I can tell when I'm frying out because my desire to get on the mat evaporates.
I define "over-reaching" as when my physical output has outstripped my recovery. The one-on-one exchange of energy in a Mysore setting can be intense and, if you're not careful, enervating instead of innervating.
Personally, I also have my own Ashtanga Vinyasa practice that I tend, as well as other physical pursuits and interests. I try to be careful when I dial up the intensity of each, and I try to get enough sleep and food.
Personally, I also have my own Ashtanga Vinyasa practice that I tend, as well as other physical pursuits and interests. I try to be careful when I dial up the intensity of each, and I try to get enough sleep and food.
My personal strategy thus far has been to plan or program chunks of time away from the studio once every month or six weeks. This has been a process, though, and not a fixed schedule. The moon days really help in this instance. I try to plan a trip if the moon days fall on several Saturdays.
I also think there's a lot of value if you can offer a Mysore class Monday thru Friday, or even Sunday through Friday, although I know conditions vary.
5. Stick to your guns.
5. Stick to your guns.
The longer I've done this, the more I've come to realize that it's the rules, boundaries and limitations that we agree on that add depth, value, and ultimately meaning to our practices.
I teach the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga pose-by-pose because I've seen again and again that it's the best, safest, most approachable way to learn it.
If someone is interested in exploring their own sequence or another style of yoga, there are other studios in Portland that are better suited to their needs.
I believe this works best for almost everyone, so I try to explain it to them in this way. If they're interested in practicing, great. If not, then, as I said, there are other studios that can help them.
