ASHTANGA YOGA CRETE
YOGA CLASSES
Close to the city center, the sandy beach of Koum Kapi and the Old Venetian Harbor we offer led and Mysore classes for practitioners that wish to continue as well as deepen their practice while on holiday.
Visitors from abroad are welcome to join our classes, also for those that would like to have a daily practice we can set it as a personal class while their staying in Chania.
A few words about our aproach on teaching.
Our practice methods are based on the steps of Asthanga Yoga.
Each method is adjusted to the practitioner in order for you to benefit as best as possible and not the other way round. Thus our practice of Yoga is feasible for all body types, level, period of life, age and anything else that someone could think that perhaps it might not make him/her suitable-for this program.
We give emphasis on the method and quality of our breathing as this is the base of all Asanas, enhancing the energy flow within our body and mind. We wish to distinguish your individual needs and experience in order to inspire, advice and guide you as needed and help you come closer to your ideal personal practice, feel and listen to the lessons that your nature silently sends you, thus help you come closer to your self.
Those who already have a little experience or are even advanced Yoga practitioners, you will have the opportunity to experience your practice in a friendly environment, to receive and to share with others, while those who do not have any experience, you will be fortunate enough to make a beginning in a very unique environment under very special conditions.
If there are any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
MYSORE CLASS
The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Asthanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore. There are some differences in this method from the usual modern way in which yoga is taught. The class is not "led" as a whole but rather all instruction is one-on-one within the group class setting. Students practice their own portion of the Ashtanga sequence of asanas at their own pace. The teacher assists each student individually by giving physical adjustments & verbal instruction.
In Mysore style students learn the asanas combining movement with free breathing with sound. Through vinyasa, there is continuity via the breath from asana to asana. In the Ashtanga sequence, each asana builds from the previous – and prepares for successive – asanas.
Each student is given their yoga routine according to their ability. Newer and beginner students tend to have a much shorter practice than do those with more experience. As one gains more strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration, additional asanas are added to the student practice.
BACKBENDING CLASS
A deep therapeutically approach in practice.
In this class we will not use any special order or flow as it is the usual practice. Instead, we will emphasize the flexibility more.
Any simple or difficult Asana is practiced in a repetitive way in order to be suitable and helpful to everyone.
Although there will be a group tutoring in the beginning, afterwards, everyone will work individually, focusing on his/her own needs.
The advanced and focused on details approach on the steps where we touch each Asana and the slow breathing bring us with every repetition to a deep meditation where the body and the spirit become one.
Many of people have seen the advantages of that method, so we continue with enthusiasm and interest to change and transform our existence in something more beautiful.
PRANAYAMA CLASS
This class is developing according the needs of each student individually. Simple to more complex breathing exercises will offer a better health physically as mentally too.
Definition of Prāṇāyāma (article by Bns Iyengar).
Prana is life force and cosmic energy and yama is regulation and restraint.
Prāṇāyāma is the art of breathing; it leads to a control of the mind in a result of emotional stability, concentration, and meditative stage. Prāṇāyāma bridges the mind, body, and soul and serves as a vehicle to a journey of self realization: a state of joy and happiness.
The grossest manifestation of prana in the human body is the motion of the lungs.
This motion acts like a flywheel that sets other forces of the body in motion.
The practice of prāṇāyāma is to control the motion of the lungs, by which the prana is controlled. When the subtle prana is controlled, all gross manifestation of prana in the physical body will slowly come under con- trol.
When we concentrate and consciously regulate the breathing, we are able to generate and store a greater amount of prana and energy.
The person who has abundant pranic energy radi- ates vitality and strength. This can be felt by all who come into contact with him or her.