AYR closed through March, 2020 & how to keep sane

Dear Yoga Community,

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of our door effective immediately, and through the end of March, 2020. We will watch current events closely and modify this date as circumstances dictate.

We have stayed open longer than other studios knowing how much solace yoga and routine provides under stressful circumstances. We are fortunate to have a large studio which allows for ample space between practitioners. However, even with ample space and so many other precautionary measures, we still feel it would be irresponsible to remain open and potentially contribute to the spreading of the coronavirus.

1. Choose a special place in your home to practice, one that feels conducive to practice to you, one that is clean. If you have ever considered creating a home alter this may be a good time. Email Melanie if you would like any tips on creating a home alter: melanie@ashtangayogaroom.com.
2. Lay your mat out in a straight line. You may also want to consider the orientation of your mat in relation to north, south, east, or west.
3. Try to practice at the same time each day.
4. Set an intention for your practice before you begin. This could be as basic as to feel balanced throughout your day, or, offering your practice up as a a prayer that the coronvirus passes quickly, or, to a loved one who is having a hard time.
5. Align your beginning stance – Samasthiti or Equal Standing Pose, with your own inner temple and core.
6. Establish your Ashtanga principles: alignment, gaze, breath with bandhas, then go into by movement by adding vinyasa.

1. Hone your dristi in EVERY pose! Many poses call for the tip of the nose as the dristi. If you do not work with this gaze then now is a good time to start. Initially you may feel cross eyed but it should be a soft gaze, not a hard looking, to where you do not even see your nose, aren’t even thinking of your nose. The dristi aligns you to your core, to your inner temple, to your central axis.
2. Move more quickly. Typically in Mysore practice, we often end up taking many extra breaths then what the strictest vinyasa allows for. This is because we do not have the lung capacity to maintain the strict vinyasa or because we are working more closely with our alignment, injuries, concerns, and want to really be in and feel the pose. All of this is correct and fine. But moving more quickly to stay with the strict breath to movement ratio can take us more deeply out of our thinking mind where we can more fully connect to our breath and being in the present moment.

1. Same as #1 above;
2. Create a comfortable seat for yourself. If you are sitting cross legged on the floor, make sure your knees rest below your hips, support them with blankets if necessary to be as comfortable as possible before you begin. If sitting on the floor is not an option then you can sit in a chair.
3. Sit with a straight back for the most direct flow of your breath;
4. Set a feasible amount of time to sit. If you have only ever meditated for 3 minutes than do not begin with 20 minutes. Begin with only 3 – 5 minutes, and gradually work up from there.
5. Sit with your eyes softly open and fixed on one point or with your eyes closed.
6. As a focal point for your meditation use your breath or an internal mantra such as “Om” or an image such as your favorite flower. You could use a candle and fix your eyes on the flame, you can count your breaths or whatever works for you.
7. Use a timer on your phone and DO NOT get up from your seat and your meditation before your timer goes off, no matter how “bad” you think you are doing — there is no such thing as a bad meditation.
8. I (Melanie) like to meditate before I practice but whether it is before, after, or completely separate from your practice, you need to make it work for you.
9. You will know you are in meditation when time slips away.