Yoga in Dahab
Yoga teachers in Mysore
Mobiltel.
(+20) 0165079230
email: jana
In 2005 I did my teacher training in the Mysore Mandala Shala. The town of Mysore is situated in the south of India, close to Bangalore, and offers many yoga schools and teachers. On this page I give an overview what a yoga student can expect in Mysore.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
#235 8th Cross, 3rd Stage, Gokulam, Mysore 570002, Karnataka, phone: (+91) 821-2516756,
http://www.ayri.org
Guruji, as Jois is called by his students, is the most well-known Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher in the West. The tradition of Asanas (Yoga exercises) connected with Vinyasas (= breath and movement) was taught by Sri T. Krishnamacharya to him and other later on famous students like BKS Iyengar, Desikachar and Indra Devi. The traditional Mysore style means that you practice independently knowing at least the Primary Series and the teacher corrects the positions or helps. In Jois Shala practice begins at 6am with space for about 70-80 students at a time in the big hall. As the first group finishes the next group fills the spots. It can happen that you wait for about an hour for a place. If you like to watch others practicing you may do so. If you are new to the practice and do not know the sequence or have difficulty in poses, it can be a little frustrating when you are not receiving attention. Practice is every morning except Saturdays, full and new moon days and Hindu festivals.
The monthly fee is 27.000 Rs. (US$350) with an additional $200 registration fee the first month you come, so you pay $550 for the first month and $350 for every month after that. To get the most out of your time there, a three month stay is recommended. Some say you can get a cheaper price when you start your practicing around 8am.
Registration is Monday until Friday of 4:30-5:30pm, bring a photo. Patthabi Jois demands that people studying with him do not to study any yoga related course with any other teacher for the time they are in Mysore. It’s also possible to study with either Saraswati, Jois granddaughter, or his grandson Sharath, which are smaller classes, so you get more attention and as far as I know also have a cheaper price.
Atma Vikasa
Venkatesh
Yoga Vigyana Mandira, Kamaskshi Hospital Road , Kuvempunagar Double road, Mysore 9,
phone: (+91) 0821, 341978,
atmavikasa@eth.net; http://www.atmavikasa.com
Venkatesh has developed his own system of ten asana series, which he calls Atma Vikasa, and does not teach Ashtanga Vinyasa. Class sizes are kept small, so you get a lot of individual attention here. Unlike the other teachers, he rarely adjusts by touching his students, and women are expected to dress modestly - leggings beyond the knee and a long T-shirt.
Asana classes are held in the mornings, Mondays-Saturdays and cost $100 a month. The special backbending classes ($ 250 a month) are held in the evening. Other courses on offer include pranayama, kryas, yoga sutras, Sanskrit chanting and yoga philosophy. The full pranayama course takes two months and costs $380.
For those who want to try everything, a six weeks "unified" course covers most of the content of the asanas, pranayama, kirya, bodybuilding (a flowing system of exercise aimed at building up strength) and massage course in six weeks. A number of teacher training courses (asana, backbending or pranayama) are also available. They take 6 weeks each to complete (with 2 to 3 hours of daily practice plus some theory or teaching practice in the afternoon) and cost $ 750. An 8 weeks intensive universal teacher training programme, including asana, pranayama, and philosophy is also offered.
Mysore Mandala
581 Dewans Road, Off Dble tank road, phone (+91) 821-5256277, http://mandala.ashtanga.org
A former student of BNS Iyengar, Sheshadri, teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa at the Mysore Mandala Yoga Shala. He gives strong but sensitive adjustments, but not very much explanation, which can it make difficult for complete beginners. Practice is every day except Moon days (= full moon and new moon), starting from 5am , another class at 7am and an afternoon class at 5pm . For a one month Asana course Rs 7500 is charged. Sheshadri's classes are the only place in Mysore where you can "drop in" and pay by the class. One class is Rs 400. There are no courses on Saturday and no Asana and Pranayama classes on moon days.
Four times a year a six week teacher training is held, which includes daily self-practicing, daily pranayama and mudra classes, 10 h of Yoga therapies, 10 h Theory (Pantajali sutras), 10 h Ayurvedi massages and daily classes for adjustments and assisting Sheshadri.
The Mysore Mandala also offers classes in pranayama and mudra, Yoga therapy, Ayurvedic therapy and massage, Sanskrit or Sutras. You can learn Bharathnatyam Dancing (classical South Indian dance), Tabla or other instruments, or get an Ayurvedic consultation from one of the Doctors or an Ayurvedic massage.
The house of the shala has a very relaxing atmosphere and a nice little café in the back, which offers a fantastic muesli-fruit-bowl. It’s also a culture centre with expeditions and concerts.
Pranavayoga Trust
Jayakumar SwamishriKuvempu Trust circle, Kalidasa road, Jayalakshmipuram (close to Green Hotel). Phone: (+91) 821-2510405
Mobile: 9448413125,
email: jayakumar64@yahoo.com
Jayakumar Swamishri started as a yoga and physical education teacher in a public school at Ananthapur, Andra Pradesh, and served as a yoga coach at Thriveni Academy, Chennai for three years and joined SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic sciences, Ujire, Karnataka, as a Lecturer in Yogic Sciences, and he was soon promoted to H.O.D of Yogic Sciences. Meanwhile he underwent courses like Vipasanna Meditation, Sudharshana Kriya, Kundalini Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, Cyclic Meditation, and other useful, special and advanced yogic techniques like Yoganidra in Vipasanna way and Shavasana in various methods. During this period he was called for an all India level interview from Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi , and was selected to work with the JNCC, Embassy of India, Moscow, Russia . On his return to India in 2000, he has established Pranava Yoga Dhama, where he teaches. Presently he also teaches yoga in the University of Mysore, and is the head of the department of Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality.
He offers two asana classes per day, one at 6.45 am and one at 5.45 pm, including pranayama and meditation. For people who are interested to learn more there is an extra class of pranayama, meditation and theory at 3pm. Each class costs per month 6.000 Rs and is held five times a week.
It can be difficult to find the practicing hall, because it’s far out of town and there are no particular signs on the house. Easiest to find: let you drive to the Green Hotel, before the hotel take the street right up to Kalisdasa Road, follow it out of town and turn right on the next crossing. There is a sign pointing at the street. About two kilometres ahead on the right side (you are nearly in the fields) is a hall and behind that in the backyard you find the practicing hall. If you loose your way, ask people around. Most of them know where to find the shala. Jayakumar Swamishri will help you to find accommodation close by. It can be more expensive than in town.
Patanjala Yoga Shala
BNS IyengarJagan Mohan Palace circle,
Mysore 570 004,
no phone or email.
BNS Iyengar (don't mix up with BKS Iyengar in Pune) offers the pure lecture of yoga in the basic surrounding of an old palace. An asana class starts at 6.30 am and costs 5.000 Rs a month, everyday except moon days. When you join you have to pay for a month. He also teaches all other aspects of Yoga. These classes (Pranayama, Sutras, ect.) are held in the afternoon and cost the same per month. It is also possible to do a teacher training course in one month for the same amount of money. The Pranayama classes were highly recommended, for he gives a lot of explanations and holds one-to-one classes.
Yoga India
Bharat Shetty#78, 8th cross, Gokulam 1st Stage, Mysore 570002,
Phone: (+91) 988-6090291,
yogaindia9@yahoo.com;
www.yoga-india.org
This hardly known teacher is more and more discovered by students for he is also situated in Gokulam (near P. Jois) and teaches the Iyengar style, which takes more care about physical problems. The classes are very small, 4-5 students, and twice a day. The morning classes are at 7.30am and 10.30am, the afternoon classes start at 4pm and 5.30pm, each for 1½ hours. You train six days a week, Sunday is free and the classes cost 7.500 Rs per month. On request he holds pranayama and kirjas classes. Soon there should start a teacher training program, which would last for 2-3 months.