Ashtanga Yoga Essex

For a long time I thought good teaching was about knowing more.

More anatomy. More philosophy. More adjustments. More cues.
Those things matter.

But over the years, I've realised the teachers who changed me the most were the ones who really saw me.

As a student, that's something I've never forgotten and as a teacher, it's something I try to bring into every class.

When someone walks into the shala I ask how they are, not because its a common courtesy but because it makes a difference in how I can help facilitate their practice that day.

♡

The biggest barrier for most beginners isn't flexibility.

It's not strength.

It's not whether they can do the postures.

It's walking into a room full of people and not knowing what to expect.

We see it all the time.

People worry they'll get in the way. They worry everyone else will know what they're doing. They worry they'll stand out.

Then they come.

And almost always discover something very different from what they imagined.

One student recently told us she couldn't believe how meditative it felt.

Another arrived feeling so nervous she was shaking. She left feeling relieved, confident and excited to come back.

Everyone has a first Mysore story.

This was theirs.

What's yours?

We didn’t create this retreat to fill every hour of the day.

We created it for people who need a genuine reset.

Time to focus on practice. Good food. Quiet mornings. Warm company. Space to think again.

6 Weeks to go and a couple of spaces left 🌿

Link in bio or DM ☀️

“Isn’t Ashtanga the really hard one?”

We hear this a lot.

And honestly, I understand why.

If your idea of Ashtanga is being dropped into a full led class, trying to keep up, not really knowing what you’re doing, and wondering why everyone else seems to know what comes next… then yes, that probably would feel intense.

But that’s not actually how Ashtanga is traditionally learnt.

Traditionally, it’s taught Mysore style.

That means learning gradually, with individual guidance, building the practice over time rather than being thrown into the full sequence on day one.

And the adaptation goes far beyond flexibility or injuries.

Tight hamstrings? Sensitive wrists? A vulnerable back?
Stress? Anxiety? Low energy? A rough patch in life?

A good teacher helps the practice meet you where you are.

That’s what makes it sustainable.
That’s what makes it supportive.
And that’s why so many people who thought Ashtanga “wasn’t for them” end up falling in love with it.

We also have beginner fundamentals- learning the basics in a small group that builds your confidence if youre nervous about learning mysore style right away. Both options are totally suitable for newbies ♡

And then one day, a full led ashtanga class will feel good and make a lot more sense!

I run a business.
I have two young children.

So my practice has to actually fit into my life.

For me, that’s been the biggest shift. I used to be able to do my 'full practice' every day pre-children. But with this method it means I...

I don’t have to think about what to do.
I know the sequence.
Some days it’s 10 minutes.
Some days it’s longer.

But it’s always enough.

Enough to move my body.
Enough to slow things down.
Enough to reset when life feels super busy.

Yeah it keeps me strong and healthy but I didnt know quite how much it would support me with motherhood and the demands of running my own business.

I’m more patient.
More present.
Less reactive in the moments that used to overwhelm me.

Something I didn’t expect -
my children see me taking care of myself.

That matters more than anything.

This is why I practise.
Not because it’s perfect or easy -
but because it fits into real life.

And I come back to it, again and again. 22 years and still loving it ♡