When is the right time to start a Mysore practice?

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Flow’s Mysore room on Sundays. All levels are welcome from the absolute beginner to advanced.

As much as I love summer, I have also love the energy of fall. Personally, I’ve never quite been able to get myself off the academic calendar, and September always feels to me like the right time to start something new.

This seems to ring true on the yoga scene, too. We all seem to return to a more normal routine come September — summer vacation is over, kids are back in school, travel dies down, temperatures start to cool and the pace of living gets back into its usual rhythm. All of this makes it the perfect time to double down on your yoga practice.

That’s why I think September is the perfect time to consider starting a Mysore style practice. I know how intimidating starting something new can be, and starting Mysore can be especially scary. I so vividly remember the first time I went to a Mysore class. I was in grad school and already familiar with Primary Series, though I hadn’t committed it to memory, and I dragged my sleepy butt to the Metro at five in the morning and studied my Primary Series cheat sheet in an empty train car under florescent lighting. I arrived at the address and couldn’t even find the front door. Finally I was let into the building when someone came out, and went to the wrong yoga studio before realizing the Mysore studio was in a dingy basement. I walk in, a little bashful about my incompetence, and it smells funny, looks serious, and is totally intimidating. Somehow I made it through practice, and never stopped going back. 

But I realize now that this wasn’t the most welcoming experience for a beginner. Ever since I started teaching Mysore, I’ve made it a goal of mine to make sure students’ first experiences with Mysore aren’t intimidating like mine was.

The point of this story is that there’s no perfect way to start practicing Mysore, and there’s no perfect time to start practicing Mysore. But I believe that the secret to anything is just to begin. I went that one time, and here I am all these years later. Open yourself to the possibility of something unfamiliar and new and wonderful happening in your life.

When should you consider Mysore style yoga practice?

When you are a beginner. No prior experience required. We like a clean slate to work with. New students have fewer bad patterns, so your teacher can begin teaching you the Ashtanga method without it being influenced by previous experiences with other styles of yoga. New students are taught Ashtanga one pose at a time, piece by piece, and together we build a sustainable practice.

When you are experienced. Think you’re the most advanced person in a class? That will never happen in Mysore. After ten years, you’re still considered a beginner. There’s a depth to this practice, and we are uncovering it one layer at a time. I may be biased, but I truly believe the best way to advance your practice is with Mysore style. Here’s my biggest problem with group class: the teacher teaches to the middle of the group, so to speak. There’s really no other way to safely teach a group class, but that means the students on either end of the experience spectrum — beginners and advanced yogis — are less likely to get the instruction they need to take their practice to the next level. In Mysore, the postures are taught to you as an individual. Mysore style practice is designed to keep you on the edge of your seat — just when you start to get comfortable, your teacher will throw you a curve ball and there you are working your edge again. The repetition and individualization built into the practice ensures your progress. There is no better way to take yourself to the next level than by surrounding yourself with people who are already doing it.

When you are injured. Mysore style teachers are highly trained with a minimum of ten years of practice under their belts. The Mysore method asks you to practice 5-6 days a week. That means that, at some point, we’ve all practiced through injuries. Or maybe a better way to say this is that we’ve practiced around injuries. And because the practice is taught to the individual, we welcome students who are injured. You go at your own pace in Mysore practice, making it easier to work within the limitations of an injury. Your Mysore teacher’s goal is to make the postures fit the person — not the other way around. So come as you are, and let the practice help you love yourself just the way you are.

When you are looking for a more personalized experience Do you love working with a teacher who knows your name? And knows your practice? Mysore style is firmly rooted in consistency — consistency with style of practice, consistency with a time of day, consistency with a teacher. Heck, some students have been practicing in the same exact spot for years. But you know what’s waiting for you on the other side of a consistent practice? Anything you want to go for. There’s simply no better way to advance forward than committing to practice and being consistent with it.

You need a nudge to commit. Look, we get it. Life is busy and there will ALWAYS be things pulling you away from yoga. Let community pull you in. Your teachers and your co-practitioners will keep you accountable. They have that effect on people. My favorite catchphrase is see you tomorrow. We’re all more likely to show up when we know someone is expecting us in the Mysore room the next morning.

You adore practicing in a community There’s something powerful about practicing with a community — even if the community is just one other person. Community holds us accountable. Community helps us believe that change is possible. In a community, you are practicing with people who are already doing it. People who have already gone through it. People who are silently supporting you, without anyone saying a word, there is a collective voice encouraging you: You can do it. Belief is essential, and it grows in a communal experience.

You like safe spaces. Mysore rooms are places that support our practices. The teachers are skilled and offer you help. The community is all going through it too. Mysore rooms are places where you can fall, laugh, cry, yell, and keep going. Mysore style practice allows for you to have your own experience. You aren’t going to be told what to do pose by pose, minute by minute. This allows for you to have your own experience. No one is going to tell you what to feel in a pose. No one is going to read you poetry and try to manipulate your feelings. Good or bad, your experience is yours to have. We will provide the safe space, but the experience of yoga will unfold to each person individually.

You like results. There’s no doubt about it: a daily Mysore practice will yield noticeable change in your yoga practice in a small amount of time. Repetition is built into the practice. You practice postures until you become proficient at them, and then you practice them some more. It might seem boring at first, but anyone who has practiced Ashtanga will tell you, it’s never the same thing twice. You can practice the same postures several days in a row, and each day it will be a completely different practice. The repetition that is built into the practice allows for things to change quickly. It won’t take long for your body to change, your mind to steady, your quality of breath to improve. Because we practice the same postures on a daily basis, it doesn’t take long for things that once seemed impossible to become possible.

The best time to begin was yesterday and the next best time to begin is tomorrow. Wherever you are, begin. 

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Studio Happenings: Summer at Flow

"And suddenly you know:

it's time to start something new and

trust the magic of beginnings."

-Meister Eckhart

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Welcome to the dog days of summer & happy #nationaldogday

Introduction to Yoga: Three Week Series

with Mike Stefani

You don't have to touch your toes to begin a yoga practice - promise!

If you're new to yoga or looking to strengthen your practice we can't think of a better place to begin. This class will be taught by one of the best teachers in town, Mike Stefanie and limited to 10 students to make sure you get lots of personalized attention.

If you (or a friend) are ready to begin, this is the class to join!

Mondays: 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. September 16th, 23rd, and 30th

JOIN INTRO TO YOGA

Don't Miss These Upcoming Yoga Events

Special Labor Day Mon 9/2, 1:00 p.m.

Fall 200-Hour Teacher Training FREE Info Session (Early Bird Pricing Ends August 31st!!) Wed 9/4, 6:30 p.m.

Backbends Baby: Radical Actions of the Spine Sat 9/7, 12:30 p.m.

Counting Primary: A Vinyasa Count Workshop Sun 9/8, 1:30 p.m.

Fall 200-Hour Teacher Training FREE Info Session Wed 9/11, 6:30 p.m.

Yoga Fundraiser for Migrant Families Fri 9/13, 6:00 p.m.

Afro Flow Yoga Sun 9/29, 2:00 p.m.

Holy Roller - Divine Self Care Sun 10/20, 1:30 p.m.

This Weeks Yoga News and Tips

• This week, we're trying to substitute breath for our afternoon sugar fix :). If you're looking for ways to stop reaching for more sugar or jitter inducing caffeine - try this invigorating breathwork and let us know how it goes!

• How can you help save the rainforest, known as "the planet's lungs", producing about 20% of the world's oxygen? The answer may be simple. Eat less meat. Here are a few recipes to inspire this step. We're loving the BBQ mushrooms.

• What does yoga have to do with financial wellness? Read on for favorite mantras from yoga teachers that can put your money woes into perspective and guide you on the right path to financial health.

We’re on a mission to uplift people’s lives through inspired classes and caring human connection - to help brighten and heal our world from the inside out. Everyone is welcome.

A Better Than Caffeine Afternoon Pick Me Up.

Elevate Your Mood With This Simple Breathing Practice

Need an afternoon pick me up?

If you get a little sluggish in the late afternoon like I do - this breath practice is a great pick me up to elevate your energy and mood. You can do it either seated or standing. Try it out and let me know how it goes!

The Inhale
Place your arms by your side. Take a deep breath into your belly. Stretch your arms out and all the way up, moving with your breath. When your lungs are full your arms should be fully stretched up over your head. Linger for a moment enjoying the fullness of your inhale.

The Exhale
Slowly exhale, synchronizing the movement with your breath, lower your arms back down by your side. Pause at the bottom of your exhale, enjoying the space you’ve just created.

Pro-tips
If you want to get fancy you can fold your 4 fingers into your palm, thumb out (like your hitch-hiking!) as you lift and lower your arms. And, once you get into a good rhythm with your arm movements and breath synchronizing, start to engage & tighten all of the muscles in your arms and hands and stretch them out as wide as you can. Take up as much space as you can — see if you can sit up even taller for a more invigorating effect and stretch your arms out even wider feeling your fingers engaged and long.

You can do as many rounds as feels right to you. We like to do this breath in cycles of 9.

Enjoy & let us know how it goes!

Guest Spotlight: Djeinam Toure

Meet Djeinam! She can often be found in a midday class and never fails to bring some sunshine into the studio. Learn more about her below :)

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

It can take a while to find your 'yoga home' when moving to a new city -- it did for me when I came to DC. I went to a lot of different studio, but really fell in love with Flow through Alicia Moyers class and the way she encourages us to deepen our practice of curiosity and gratitude through her flow. As I've gotten to spend more time at Flow and to know many of the teachers, I find studio as a whole offers a culture of play and introspection that goes beyond (the really great) physical practice. It really lightens my life!

Tell us about your current practice including some of your favorite classes & teachers?

I love the midday classes during the week! They are a great pick-me-up and help me stay productive during my workday. Alicia Moyer's class is super creative and full of juicy stretches - I try not to miss it. I love how she slows down and unpacks our movements and creates awareness of how our bodies move through and hold poses. Its challenging in the best of ways. I really enjoy Chris' Monday noon class, as well. Its faster pace and energizing -- just what I need at the start of the week. Sam's Saturday morning class is another favorite. Its heated, which I really appreciate, and offer lots of room to explore new and challenging poses. Also, the co-teacher (whose name I haven't had a chance to learn) offers the *best* assists. I wish I could make it to Clare's classes on a regular basis -- they are really excellent and she is lovely.

Why is your yoga practice important to you?

My yoga practice really helps me be my best self. I can carve out time from the busy week and many demands on my attention to just focus on just exactly what is happening in that moment, while moving and breathing. I'm always much calmer, more appreciative, and simply happier after a yoga class. It's great perspective. My colleagues notice when I miss my lunchtime yoga...

What are some things you love about DC living?

I live east of the Capitol and I love the distinct character of my neighborhood and the tall trees. Gingko gardens and Salt and Sundry are some of my favorite places to shop and I like to eat on H Street.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I call both Dakar, Senegal and Bamako, Mali home and I have a very scrappy cat.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Shout-out to the awesome welcome/sign-in folks at the desk who are always super friendly and take the time to learn and remember my name.

Teacher Spotlight: Jess Lazar

Meet Jess! A Prana Vinyasa practitioner, Jess is a longtime teacher in the D.C. area. Read on to learn more about her :)

What inspires you to practice at Flow?

There is no other studio in DC that even comes close, and I’ve been around: the community focus, the proactive inclusion of all bodies, the wide variety of offerings. Flow is my once and future yoga home, bar none.

Tell us about your current practice including some of your favorite classes & teachers?

My practice is largely a solitary one. When I go to class, which is rare, it’s because I want to hang with a friend or be in a group and breathe. Or to meditate. But for the yoga, I’m pretty private thirty years in.

Why is your yoga practice important to you?

It is my daily reset. Keeps me honest. Tunes me in to the specific circumstances arising in my body each and every day. Connects me to the natural movements of being human. Helps me to self-govern, manage my energy, and dispense with unhelpful patterns in myself.

What are some things you love about DC living?

Ah! Walking in Rock Creek everyday. Driving my northern tributaries of the Parkway. My garden. Union Market. The lovely spring. The snow hysteria (I’m from Chicago). Most of all, the people I love best live here.

What is something the Flow community may not know about you?

I love horses. I love to sing. I write and study poetry. I knit. I swim a lot. I don’t enjoy cooking but I make superb reservations.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

“She had some horses she loved.

She had some horses she hated.

These were the same horses.” ~ Joy Harjo

Come practice with me and discover your deep inner horsepower.