From Samastitihi, the standing posture, I was trying to lean back to drop into backbend, or bridge posture. My yoga teacher was holding me at my hips in order for me not to fall. I… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Ushma Issar
Two years ago, I attended a program on leadership. One of the highlights was about how we can block ourselves from continuing to improve due to our upsizing ego as we progress. Throughout the session,… Read More »Return to Zero
Collected from my daily practice…~ Shawn Tan 1. Getting used to the practice It’s been a while since I started practising and while it felt good getting ahead with the asanas in the beginning, I… Read More »3 Gold Nuggets
How a Return to the Beginning Deepened my Practice. ~ Noel Koh I distinctly remembered the crowning moment of my practice when Shirly walked over to my mat one evening and said: “Ok, let’s try Setu… Read More »Starting Over, Starting Again
What I learnt when I picked myself up. ~ Dwi Sisiwanti Well, I do have many injuries ranging from mild to bad. A little bit of history: I started my practice because of a hormone… Read More »Give up or Get up
Unlike most students who have their usual day and practice time, Sharon would turn up for practice at random times and days of the week. She always seems to be rushing in and out of… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Sharon Low
With reference from the yoga sutra Chapter 1 verse 22, śiṣya, students are being differentiated into 3 main categories. मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात्ततोऽपि विशेषः ॥२२॥ mṛdu-madhya-adhimātratvāt-tataḥ api viśeṣaḥ Mrdu: mild, slow The student who doesn’t get started. They… Read More »The 3 types of yoga students
We do have seasonal students at The Mysore Haus returning to the mat every year during their stay in Singapore. We are always happy to work with them on the practice despite a short window… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Ailin Mao
There are 6 series in the Ashtanga Mysore practice with the additional 7th unofficial series, known as family duties. While most students started their practice systematically from the Primary series, some students jump started into… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Serene Lee
1% theory focuses on the questions that our students asked to understand their practice better and to gain more insights on their own journey. We do our best to keep the answers simple because we… Read More »1% Theory Simplified
We hear this often, ‘Asana is a 90 minute practice, yoga is 24 hours’. As easy as it sounds a yoga-infused life is indeed a life-time process with consistency and consciousness. Yoga will not happen… Read More »Is your ‘practice’ affecting your Yoga
Many events in life happen when the timing is right; just like how a naggy backache made Fangqi start looking for a solution. Plugging into her company event made her decide to explore a yoga… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Fangqi
I run anxious. Maybe it’s my work, maybe it’s my nature or maybe it’s my surroundings. Regardless, I run anxious. When things pile up and the deadline looms, my shoulders will hike up and my… Read More »The calmness within
“Efficient” is the one quality Siyu would gladly use to describe herself as a person. With an unanticipated health challenge, she quickly picks herself up and regains her life again. Leaving her job as a financial… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Fang Siyu
For many of us, Adeline’s penchant for asking thought provoking questions after class is an everyday routine that I have come to enjoy and watch. It is in this context, me sitting on the bench,… Read More »A Realisation : When enough is enough
This month we caught up with one of our earlier Urban Ashtangis – Issac, who recently contracted COVID and learnt about his new experiences on and off the mat… 1. What’s been new for you?… Read More »Getting out of your comfort zone
Purity of mind, speech and body Niyamas [Sanskrit word] is the 2nd limb in the eight limbs of yoga as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, which are rules, observances and guidelines. To simplify, Niyamas are… Read More »Saucha : Purity + Cleanliness
The man with the “ I-woke-up-like-this” situation as he shows up to class. You can almost immediately feel his presence with his polite mannerism and how quickly he makes himself comfortable in class. Currently a… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Sherman Situ
An introspection by Charlene Chan Two mornings a week, I get myself out of bed and to the shala at the break of dawn. The sun won’t rise until halfway through my practice, but that… Read More »Why am I still practising?
Somewhere, somewhat and somehow, we were influenced by someone who led us into a yoga class. In Rupanjit’s (Rupan) case, it was her husband, Hamandra (Ham) who helped kickstart her journey. With the intention wanting… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Rupanjit Dullat
There are times in life when that shot we made, to step out of our comfort zone, can indeed bring ourselves into a whole new experience. Or otherwise we would still be the same person… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Gorka Arana
“Two little mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and… Read More »The story of two little mice
Re-rooting herself from Indonesia and making Singapore her new home since 2004 and being an active person back home brought Dwi to create her own fitness routine in her new environment. Hitting the gym, swimming,… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Dwi Siswianti
Youthful and an energetic girl like Kelly does bring in an uplifting vibe with her. Behind this sweet looking face is an aspiring psychologist – who graduated with a bachelor’s degree and is now working… Read More »Urban Ashtangi: Kelly Kuan
Striving in the finance industry by profession, Meggie is a hard-core exercise enthusiast – be it hitting the gym, outdoor cycling or diving. We can often see pretty pastries shared on social media while she… Read More »Urban Ashtangi: Meggie Chon Lane
Recently I have been practicing with an injured elbow. Shirly asked if I would write about this experience. I thought about what to write. How to practice through injury? A narrative of the practice session? … Read More »Teachers come in many forms
The situation is familiar except we are almost 15 months since the first circuit breaker. A couple of heightened alerts have taken place since then. The rules have been changed, revised and adapted according to… Read More »Staying grounded during times of uncertainties
“Every journey begins with a single step.” This single step happened in Milan for an Italian architect and interior designer, who soon led herself further to discover Ashtanga in Singapore. Just like her, the dynamics… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Savina Nicolini
Have you ever wondered why practicing together in a class is still essential when the intention of Mysore practice is to be able to have our own practice as an individual? This story might shed… Read More »Why is attending class still essential?
The best gift from a heartbreak is probably an opportunity for self- discovery. A government affair analyst by day, Audre decided to keep her evenings busy with yoga or tennis. She landed herself in a… Read More »Urban Ashtangi : Audre Ang
Fleas can potentially jump 150 times their own height and the power of the jump can be compared to a space rocket. In an experiment, where fleas are put in an open jar, they can… Read More »The Fleas in the Jar
What is drishti?Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) word for gazing point. Why is it important?Keeps our focus and attention during the practice. Over time we will cultivate better concentration and mindfulness both on and off the mat. How… Read More »How do we stay focus?