Why Ashtanga keeps me coming back to the mat

I love Ashtanga yoga. There, I said it.

It’s challenging, it’s structured, it keeps me focused and, just when I think I’ve got the hang of something, there’s usually another posture waiting to remind me that I definitely haven’t!

And that’s probably a big part of why I love it.

I like a challenge

Ashtanga is a strong, dynamic style of yoga that follows a set sequence of postures, linking movement with the breath.

I really enjoy the physical side of the practice. There’s always something to work on, whether it’s strength, flexibility, balance or that one posture that seems determined not to cooperate.

But it’s not about being able to twist yourself into impossible shapes.

Progress can be something really small. Maybe you feel a little stronger, your balance improves or a posture that once felt completely impossible suddenly feels... slightly less impossible.

I’ll take that as a win.

There’s something nice about knowing what’s coming

One of the things I really enjoy about Ashtanga is the structure.

Because you work through a familiar sequence, you start to know what’s coming next. That means you can stop worrying about what you’re supposed to be doing and focus more on your breathing, your movement and how you’re actually feeling.

For something that can be pretty energetic, I find it surprisingly calming.

When I’m on the mat, I’m concentrating on what I’m doing right there and then. Everything else gets to wait for a while.

Why I teach it

One of my favourite things about teaching Ashtanga is watching people realise they can do far more than they thought they could.

It can look a little intimidating from the outside. You might see someone doing an advanced posture and immediately think, “Absolutely not.”

But you don’t need to walk into an Ashtanga class already strong, flexible or experienced. That would rather defeat the point of coming to learn!

We can adapt postures, try different variations and find what works for you.

I want people to feel comfortable giving things a go, having a laugh when things don’t quite go to plan and gradually building confidence in their own practice.

The sequence stays the same. You don’t.

That’s what keeps Ashtanga interesting for me.

Some days everything seems to work. Other days a posture you’ve done hundreds of times suddenly decides it’s having the day off.

That’s yoga.

For me, it’s about turning up, enjoying the practice and seeing where it takes you.

So, if you’ve looked at Ashtanga and thought, “I’m nowhere near flexible enough for that”, come and give it a go.

You might surprise yourself.

ChrisYoga@Studio 9