What is Ashtanga Yoga?
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga is a set sequence of postures that focuses on linking breath with movement popularized by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. There are 6 total series in Ashtanga yoga and the Primary series is just the first.
The Primary series is designed to detoxify and purify the body, mind, and spirit. It is a challenging and dynamic practice that focuses on building strength, flexibility, and stamina over time which is part of why repeating the same postures is important.
The word Ashtanga is composed of two Sanskrit words. “Ashta” refers to the number eight, while “Anga” means limb. Therefore, Ashtanga is the union of the eight limbs of yoga, into one complete, holistic system. The eight-limbs of yoga represent the various branches of the philosophy of the yoga sutras that form the foundation of Ashtanga.
What is the difference between a led class & mysore practice?
A led class is what most people in America are familiar with. There is a teacher at the front of the room guiding every student to do the same thing at the same time. You start and finish class together.
Mysore practice is an open practice space where the teacher will be present to assist both seasoned as well as beginner Ashtanga students.
The teacher will add poses onto your practice one at a time. You will repeat the movements in order to get better at them and memorize them. Over time you are gaining strength and flexibility and adding on to the sequence. You will be taught to memorize the sequence, giving you the ability to take your practice anywhere. You will be guided on an individual basis in a group setting, completely tailored to your speed and need.
With dedication and practice you may eventually learn the entire Primary series which usually takes around 90 min. to complete once learned and memorized. After that you start to learn the intermediate series. There is typically a long period of time the studio is "open" for however, you want to come into the space with enough time to allow to finish your personal mysore practice.
Another great thing about this practice... you can go to ANY Ashtanga Mysore program in the world, and they are all practicing this same exact way! What a community!
What if I have injuries or am older?
This is why I love the practice. We do not make the student do the yoga. We fit the yoga to the student. There are always modifications for postures and modifications for a set sequence, especially as we age.
As far as age goes, we really want less asana practice and more meditative or therapeutic postures and this also is why Ashtanga yoga is great. We have 8 limbs to practice, only 1 of them is physical.
First Mysore Class
To prepare for your first class please know that this is NOT a led class. You will get all the attention of the teacher for a one-on-one guidance in a group setting. You will learn how to do Sun Salutation A and the last 3 seated postures.
Your entire session will only be about 20-30 min. You will repeat it until you have it memorized and/or your physical and mental body has reached its limit as determined by the teacher.
It is traditional to learn one pose at a time. This is a lifelong practice that you memorize the sequence of and do not add more postures until the teacher feels it is right for you.
This makes it easier and also more difficult for people. It is easier for learning as the body slowly adds strength and flexibility. It is a difficult practice because it requires consistency at showing up to class and on the mat and because you have to memorize it. It means you are making yourself accountable. Do you want to be a leader or a follower? This practice requires you to be a leader of your own divine inner light. That is difficult for most. :)
About Jenifer Krause
Yoga integrates with holistic medicine as it has been found treat the whole person. Yoga therapy increases flexibility and stamina, improves pain and anxiety and enhances the immune system. Yoga therapy focuses not only on physical health, but wellness of the mind and emotions.
Jenifer's Yoga Certifications & Trainings:
~200 hr. Teacher Training Lotus Life, New York
~Primary Series Teacher Training David Swenson
~Second Series Training Manju Jois
~Yoga Therapy Manju Jois
~Mentorship & Teacher Training Taylor Hunt,
Columbus Ohio (1 year)
~Ashtanga for Addiction Certification, Trini Foundation
~Mentorship Meghan Kirk, Philadelphia (2.5 years)
For over the past decade Jenifer has studied and practiced with some of the Master teachers of Ashtanga yoga all over the country. She has taught and assisted classes at Ashtanga Yoga Columbus & Mysore Philadelphia and Missoula, MT. Between moves she opened her own yoga studio in Syracuse, NY.
Jenifer has a passion for teaching and practicing yoga because it has helped her cultivate self disciple and completely changed her life for the better. It has improved her overall health and wellness to such extremes that she tries to spread the yogic word to all that will listen and want to learn more about themselves.
Massage therapy was a natural progression for her as she continued to learn the relationship between the physical and subtle energies of the body.
Once she started her career in massage therapy she noticed that people were so disconnected with their bodies and noticed what their thoughts did to their physical well being. This lead her to seek out a way she would be able to help even more people in a unique, yet effective way. This is how she started her pursuit into hypnotherapy. Her schooling and personal experience with healing her own trauma through all of these modalities and more continued her pursuit into the world of the metaphysical. She continued her education through Southwest Institute of Healing Arts for a certificate as an "Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner". She chose Hypnotherapy as a major and just as she was finished she decided to continue learning to majoring in Holistic Nutrition. After following the energy in that she came to another end and continued on to the third major by graduating with Spiritual Studies and Intuitive Coaching.
Jenifer continued her studies by completing a Bachelor's degree in Metaphysics in 2020. She then went on and became a Certified Personal Trainer in 2023.
After spending so much time, money and energy in the healing world, she started to learn about manifestation. Once you are on the other side of healing, the real magic of living in the present happens. Living in the present allows space to create a whole new future and manifest your dreams into reality. Her work is now more focused on manifesting and helping others to do the same.
Jenifer currently works online and in person in Montana.
For appointments email her at
energychannelinghealing@gmail.com
or visit
JeniferKrause.com
Energy is universal and so is the desire to connect to it.
*Jenifer is not a trained medical doctor and does not treat or diagnose physical or mental conditions.