There is a KPJAYI authorised level II teacher, Olivier David in Beirut holding Mysore style classes at the new centre Yoga Souk, at the beginning of Borj Hammoud in Karantina.
Oliver teaches at 6:30-10:30am daily except moon days) with 9:30am being the last arrival and led classes on Saturdays at 9:30am.
Here is a link to his class schedule.
Dear everyone,
Unfortunately, we are traveling for a while and have to close classes and morning practice in Beirut. Hopefully, we will be back soon and the meantime we wish to everyone a great self-practice!
From Friday the 2nd of May 2014, we are changing our practice location to Sivananda Yoga Center. There will no more be morning practice at Nok Yoga Shala. The last day of practice at Nok is Wednesday 30th of April. The schedule remains the same: Wednesdays and Friday at 7.30am (latest arrival 8am).
However, there will continue to be evening Ashtanga Yoga classes with Julia at Nok Yoga Shala.
From Here: http://usyoga.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/heart-opening-workshop-sunday-jan-5/
SUNDAY JAN 5 / HEART OPENING WORKSHOP / GEMMA DAOU / 10:00 AM > 12:30 PM
This yoga session with Gemma emphasizes a preparation for heart opening postures. Lifting up your energy gradually, while deeply grounding the body through upper back and chest alignment with the lower back is an opportunity to get in touch with your emotions through the breath. This practice is an introduction to what is called Nadi Sodhana in Yoga practice.
It mainly consists of cleansing and balancing the nervous system and brings numerous benefits such as deeper breathing and creating openness towards the inner experience of remembering our natural state of joy.
Gemma is a lebanese Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practicionner and teacher based in Brussels (confirmed yoga teacher by ABEPY (Association Belge des Enseignants et Pratiquants du Yoga) in Belgium). Her style in Yoga was deeply inspired by the Vinyasa and Jivamukti Yoga School NYC when she had first followed Danielle Abisaab‘s teaching in Beirut.
She now concentrates her studies and PHD research on Yoga and Meditation through philosophy. She continues her yogic path following her teacher Sri Sheshadri in Europe and Mysore, and attending workshops with senior teachers Jean-Claude Garnier and Kristina Karitinou Ireland in Brussels.
To Register please email union2yoga@hotmail.com
NOK Yoga Shala, Saifi Village, Beirut
In association with Ashtanga Yoga Beirut
Total Cost: $175
Drop in: $50
Friday 6 Dec 2013, 6.30 – 8.30pm – Detailing the Primary Series
This class is suitable for all levels. Students will be led methodically through some or all of the primary series, with focus on alignment, and correct breath, vinyasa (synchronized movement) and dristi (gaze point). Implementing breath with vinyasa and dristi enables the practitioner to move into a state of ‘tristana’ – meditation in movement. Beginners will experience the flow and precision of the ashtanga sequence, whilst more seasoned practitioners will enrich their sense of alignment and directionality.
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 Dec 2013, 10am – 1pm – Mysore Style Self-Practice
This class is suitable for beginners to advanced level. In Mysore Style Self-Practice, students of all levels practice together in the same room, practicing to their level and in their own time, whilst the teacher is available to assist students one-to-one as required. The format of the class, whereby students can arrive and leave at anytime, supports the differing levels and durations of different students’ practices. For e.g; a beginner should expect to practice for 30-40 minutes; whilst the more accustomed practitioners’ practice usually lasts between 1.30 – 2 hours.
Saturday 7 Dec 2013, 1 – 2pm – Q&A with Sarai
Bring your burning questions on any aspects of yoga, ashtanga, and practice.
Monday 9 Dec 2013, 8 – 10am – Mysore Style Self-Practice
Last chance to work through any challenges, hurdles or hoops in your practice, before I head back to London!
Sarai’s Bio
Sarai first discovered yoga as a teenager in Auckland, New Zealand, when her father taught her some Sivananda sun salutes, when she was about 12. Ashtanga hadn’t made it to NZ back then, so she attended Iyengar classes during her teens, and at home practiced along to a hatha yoga LP of her mother’s! After moving to London in 1997, she discovered Ashtanga and the magic of a daily Mysore practice. What followed, whilst studying for a BA in Humanities, was an immersion in yoga: she practiced daily with Hamish Hendry for 9 years, attending teacher trainings and workshops with many senior teachers, the whole time being compelled to study at the source. In 2003, she traveled to Myosre, India, to study with the late Shri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) and R. Sharath Jois- a journey she has since made nine times. She is one of 18 people in the UK with Authorization Level 2 qualification from KPJAYI of Mysore, India. Having taught in London and abroad since 2002, Sarai is a senior teacher with Yoga Alliance, and teaches in London at Triyoga and Indaba. Her ongoing desire to deepen her practice and teaching has led her in recent years to study Iyengar yoga, which continues to enrich her understanding of biomechanics, alignment, and the subtle qualities of the body, breath and mind. She seamlessly weaves these principles into her practice and teaching.
“My main focus when teaching, is what is this student’s potential, and what do they want from the practice? For some, it will be to ameliorate anxiety or stress, and to learn to relax the body and mind. Others might need to improve their energy levels and sleep patterns, while others might need to mitigate physical complaints in the body. Some might simply want to push their bodies to peak performance, and for them that is the most exciting thing to do. I love it that each person is so different and that the practice can serve everybody’s needs, and from the springboard of these ‘needs’, through the practice, an unfolding of a deeper and more joyous connection with oneself and others, naturally arises”.
Starting from Wednesday the 9th of October morning classes will take place at Nok Yoga Shala. Classes will be held every Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30am in as taught in Mysore, India.
Here is a great video from the Ashtanga Yoga shala in Madrid that shows the warm and magical atmosphere of morning practice:
Ashtanga Yoga is the yoga of Patanjali as “Ashtanga” means “eight limbs” or “stages” found described in his Sutras.
One of Patanjali’s sutras orders a total devotion to God as part of the practice that helps to reach Samadhi (the last limb): “Isvara Pranidhana“. It is the final Niyama. Niyama is the 2nd stage of Yoga and means “rules” or “restrictions”. Isvara is the name of God in Sanskrit and Pranidhana means “attention to, love for, surrender to, faith in,” or “reunion with” “Attentiveness” and “Surrender”.
Here is a great article reflecting on the notion of Isvara Pranidhana, its relation with our daily yoga practice and its effectiveness in creating concentration on what is essential for us, written by David Garrigues.
Please note that we are traveling during the month of August. The schedule on this website will be changed when we start again offering sessions for the month of September 2013. Please keep updating towards the end of the month of August to find the new schedule.
As it is the last week, next week (from 28 July to 1st August), there will be classes at the Sivananda Yoga Center every day (that is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) at 7.30am, latest arrival 8am.Also note that there will be no class on Thursday (1 August) at Nok Yoga Shala.
Much love to all and see you soon!
Here you will find all the information you need on all the classes throughout Beirut yoga studios and centers that teach Ashtanga Yoga according to the tradition of Krishnamasharya and Pattabhi Jois.
Click on the following for information about classes, where to find us, interesting links, and the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga Beirut 