Ashtanga Yoga Shala

Ashtanga Yoga Shala is Brisbane’s Home of Ashtanga Yoga, with a history of over 30 years of continuous, weekly classes. Yet it is a personally focussed yoga school, offering step by step instruction in the development of authentic personalised yoga practice.

Weekly Classes. Newcomers to the Ashtanga Yoga Shala, and raw beginners to commence with a 5 x class commitment which establishes the essential principles of this method. You will encounter friendliness, a safe introduction to yoga, clear instructions, and an opportunity to engage in a lifelong, authentic yoga practice.

Ashtanga Yoga or Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the foundation from which all vinyasa yoga practice has arisen. Consistency, structure, carefully crafted linkage of breath and movement, focussed attentiveness and energetic muscular activations, are the hallmark of this method. Ashtanga Yoga Shala also provides a pathway into the living philosophy of yoga.

Your Yoga Instructor: Richard Clark, Senior Yoga Teacher member of Yoga Australia, Principal of the Australasian Institute of Ayurvedic Studies, has additional qualifications in Chinese Medicine, Thai Massage, Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda, has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga for over 2 decades.

Testimonials:

‘Thank you for the gift you've given me of understanding yoga better. I have enjoyed all aspects you've been teaching us - breath, correct postures and the history background.
I stepped out of my comfort zone to attend ... first time in years, and it’s been wonderful. I have felt some benefit especially with breath work. You being so understanding was very encouraging for me to keep trying’. – Leanne

‘Richards words of encouragement to bring yoga back into my daily life has seriously help me mentally and physically. I let go of 6kgs of unwanted weight just in the 5 week ‘Step One’ classes. While I might have a way to go, I'm on the path with a teacher that cares and promotes my daily growth. Thanks Ashtanga Yoga Shala’. – Ben

‘Best and most authentic yoga teaching I've ever experienced in my almost 20 years of lots and lots of yoga’. – Mirella

‘When I’m practising regularly, the light in the sky is so much brighter and the ground beneath my feet, stable and supportive’. – Gillian

‘Ashtanga Yoga Shala is in my experience a school where genuine and authentic Yoga is taught. If you are looking for real Yoga, look no further. You are in wise and caring hands with Richard’. – Chris

More: 

Yoga practices remain one of humanity’s enduring quests to find meaning and uncover the mystery behind appearances. The practice of yoga is a process of self-discovery and transformation. Sincere application of Yoga provides the opportunity for personal transformation by gradually dissolving the physical, mental and emotional 'impediments' that restrict our life potential.

In a city of Southern India, there was a remarkable Yogi involved in the practice and teaching of a unique, intricate and assiduously applied method of Hatha Yoga for well over 60 years. His name was Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. What he taught became known the world over as Aṣhṭāṅga Vinyāsa Yoga. This Aṣhṭāṅga Vinyāsa method of sequencing yoga-āsana with the Vinyāsa connecting movements was once advised and outlined by an Indian sage - Vamana Rishi.

Aṣhṭāṅga Vinyāsa Yoga is renowned for its very detailed, breath focussed and directed sequencing of yoga-āsana. Through this method, each āsana unfolds into another, linked by ‘vinyāsa’ (the synchronised movement-breathing system) in a continuous cycle, involving the application of specific muscular activations (bandha-s), gaze points (dṛiṣhṭi-s) and the soothing, ujjayi breath. These posture sequences are energetic and challenging, cleansing the body, quieting the mind and releasing your inner potential.

योगमाला The Aṣhṭāṅga Yoga practice design has been likened to a ‘mālā’ or garland of beautiful flowers. Herein, the yoga postures are described similarly to those flowers, each posture being linked, like an ornate flower, on the thread of the breath. This practice is known as the ‘Yoga Mālā’ योगमाला.

Getting started: it’s easy!

Keeping in mind that ‘The correct preparation for any journey is all important’:

Step 1 Ashtanga Yoga classes are provided for –

• beginners to yoga,
• newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga,
• Ashtanga Yoga practitioners returning to the practice after a long break
• and students from other Ashtanga Yoga Schools in Australia or overseas, commencing classes at Ashtanga Yoga Shala, Brisbane.

This is a guided class designed to introduce newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga as well as introduce those experienced in other styles of Yoga, to the basic principles of Ashtanga Yoga. The class also serves to help the teacher observe and assess the manner in which more experienced students can follow instructions and demonstrate alignment and correct vinyasa technique. Class is attendance is by prior booking only.