Yoga in Mysore, India

Mysore has gained a lot of fame recently for its yoga traditions and the world famous teachers. It is a city located in southern India's state Karnataka. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the maestro of yoga, who initially introduced the Ashtanga in Mysore in the 1930's, is considered to be the Guruji of yoga. Due to this reason, often times, Mysore is referred to as the Ashtanga city. Guruji, who passed away this year in May, has left a legacy behind, which teaches its students to achieve high levels of meditation based on the breathing techniques that allow maximum utilization of the lungs. These breathing techniques called Vinyasa are linked to a series of postures to accomplish serenity, flexibility and stamina.

Yoga lovers know and consider Mysore as the primary place to gain training that will let them follow in the footsteps of Guruji Jois. A vast majority of yogis travel to India to seek the conventional yogic preaching that Guruji taught at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in the town of Lakshmipuram, Mysore. This Institute is commonly referred as the yoga shala and was opened by Guruji in 1948. The institute offers a variety of classes for all, starting from the beginner's level and moving to the advanced level. Classes at the shala commence early in the morning, as yoga is not just about exercise, it is about improving the way and quality of life.

A normal class consists of 25 - 30 students with an instructor available to help them through various routines. One of the key points of Ashtanga is that it is not instruction intensive. It encourages its students to meditate and accomplish different poses at their own pace. At times, a newcomer feels that an Ashtanga class is full of chaos as all the students are doing their own thing. However, on close scrutiny, it becomes obvious, that the class is actually more like a choreographed dance, where people follow a set pattern and breathing technique.

Guruji Jois has established an organization which is superior in all aspects of teaching. Each student learns the cycle of poses at his or her own personal pace. For new student, or for people facing problem with their routines, special assistance is available at the institute. Yoga lovers pay a monthly fee of $350 and a registration fee of $250. To obtain maximum benefit from the training, a three month stay is advised by the institute. After enrolling at the shala, students are required to discontinue all other forms of yoga training from teachers outside of the Institute during their stay in Mysore.

Mysore is a fantastic and intriguing city full of splendor. Its landscape is peppered with temples and palaces. Guruji Jois himself had the pleasure of working with the Maharaja of Mysore in the 1930's. Mysore has become the yoga tourist capital of the world. Americans and Europeans find this destination to be a place where they can gain a potent mixture of culture and spirituality.

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