Mysore – A Personal Approach to Yoga Practice

Mysore is the traditional way of learning Ashtanga Yoga. In this unique class format, each student develops a personal practice at their own pace with individual guidance from the teacher.

Rather than following a group-led class, students move through the sequence independently while receiving one-on-one instruction, adjustments, and support as needed. It is often described as having a private lesson within a shared practice space.

Postures are introduced gradually, allowing the practice to evolve naturally according to your body's abilities, experience, and readiness. There is no need to be flexible, strong, or familiar with the sequence before you begin. Curiosity, consistency, and a willingness to learn are all that is required.

As you become familiar with the sequence, you develop greater independence and confidence in your practice. Many students find this empowering, as they gain a lifelong practice that can be maintained anywhere, at any time.

You may arrive at any point during class hours, offering flexibility for busy schedules. A beginner's practice typically lasts 30–40 minutes, gradually increasing as new postures are learned, while experienced practitioners often practice for up to 90 minutes.

Mysore classes are suitable for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. In the Mysore class you will receive personal guidance from experienced and authorized Ashtanga teachers in a supportive, focused, and welcoming practice environment.

You can read more about how we teach here and about Mysore and Astanga here.

Guided Astanga – Flow with the breath

Guided Ashtanga takes you step by step through parts of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series in a structured and supportive environment. The class is designed to help you develop a solid understanding of the practice while building a strong foundation for future development.

You will learn the essential principles of Ashtanga Yoga, with a special focus on vinyasa, the connection between breath and movement. The teacher will guide you through when to inhale and exhale, how to transition efficiently between postures, and how to cultivate greater stability, ease, and flow in your practice.

The class also introduces bandha (internal energy locks) and drishti (gazing points), important tools that enhance concentration, balance, and awareness. Throughout the practice, guidance is given on technique, alignment, and movement quality to help you practice safely and effectively.

The primary focus is on Sun Salutations, the Standing Sequence, and selected seated and finishing postures from the Primary Series. Each class concludes with a period of relaxation, leaving you feeling refreshed and grounded.

Guided Ashtanga is suitable for all levels, from complete beginners looking for a clear introduction to experienced practitioners wishing to refine and deepen their practice.

Active Series – The Essence of Ashtanga, Made Accessible to everyone

Active Series is a modern and accessible approach to Ashtanga Yoga, developed by Sharath Jois. It offers the essence of the traditional practice—movement, breath, and focus in flow—in a format designed to be sustainable and realistic in everyday life.

This is not a practice about perfection. It is about showing up, moving the body, and creating meaningful change in both body and mind.

Open to you from day one. There are no requirements for flexibility, experience, or fitness level. You start exactly where you are.

Active Series combines selected elements from the first and second series of Ashtanga Yoga into a simplified and balanced structure. You work with breath, movement, and focus in a steady flow that gradually builds strength, stability, and awareness.

Astanga Yoga Studio is home to Denmark’s only officially authorized Active Series teachers, ensuring instruction that is directly rooted in the original method and tradition.

Read more about Active Series here

Led Class – Tradition, Rhythm and Learning

In a Led Class, the teacher counts through the full Primary Series of Astanga Yoga using the traditional Sanskrit counting method. Rather than providing detailed instruction, the count sets the rhythm of the practice, allowing everyone to move and breathe together. This creates a steady, focused, and flowing practice where breath and movement are connected through the correct vinyasas. As the sequence becomes familiar, your attention can gradually shift from remembering what comes next to being fully present in the practice. The result is a calmer, more fluid, and meditative experience.

Please note, this is not a beginner's class.

This class is intended for:

• Students who regularly attend our Mysore program and have learned the Primary Series beyond the standing sequence.
• Visiting Astanga practitioners who already have an established Astanga practice and understand the traditional method.

If you are new to Astanga Yoga, or have not yet learned the sequence, we recommend joining one of our Guided Astanga classes, our Mysore program, or an Introductory Course before attending a Led Class. These classes provide a more suitable introduction to the practice and its methodology and are suitable for beginners.

Students who have not yet learned the full sequence stop at the last posture they have learned, remain quietly on their mat and observe, and rejoin the class when the finishing sequence begins. Likewise, visiting students who are unfamiliar with the sequence may be asked by the teacher to stop, observe the remainder of the practice, and then join the class again for the finishing sequence.

Thank you for helping us preserve the traditional format of this practice while ensuring a positive and meaningful experience for everyone.

"Led class is for checking your vinyasa and increasing stamina." – Sharath Jois

Yoga is much more than physical postures. Yoga Talk & Technique explores the deeper dimensions of practice, from philosophy, history, and tradition to anatomy, breathwork, lifestyle, and nutrition.

Each session begins with chanting and centers around a weekly theme, combining theory with practical application. We explore alignment, transitions, vinyasa, bandha (energy locks), breathing techniques, and movement principles to help you develop a more intelligent and sustainable yoga practice.

Learn how and why the postures work, how to adapt them to your body, and how to progress safely and effectively. We discuss modifications, challenges, and techniques that can help refine your practice, whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner.

The classes also include insights into mobility, strength training, recovery, functional movement, and daily habits that can support your health, well-being, and personal growth both on and off the mat.

A new topic is explored each week, ensuring fresh inspiration, practical tools, and deeper understanding every time you attend.

And of course, we also enjoy freshly brewed coffee or tea and good conversations.

Yoga Nidra & Gentle Yin – Deep Rest and Recovery

Yoga Nidra is a guided practice of deep relaxation in which the body is allowed to rest completely while the mind remains awake and receptive. You lie comfortably on your mat and are guided through a journey of body awareness, breath awareness, and simple visualizations.

Yoga Nidra means "yogic sleep" a conscious state between wakefulness and sleep, where the body enters profound rest and restoration while the mind settles into a deep state of calm.

The class combines Yoga Nidra with Gentle Yin Yoga, where the body gradually opens through calm, longer-held postures. The Yin practice helps release tension in the connective tissues and nervous system, making it easier to let go and relax deeply.

Together, Yoga Nidra and Gentle Yin create a profound sense of relaxation and inner stillness that supports both body and mind. Regular practice may improve sleep quality, enhance recovery, reduce stress and tension, and cultivate greater awareness of the body and the breath. It also provides valuable support for meditation and other forms of yoga practice.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. No prior knowledge is required—only a willingness to slow down, let go, and rest.

Open Space – a calm refuge in the heart of the city

Didn’t make it to class, or just need a quiet place? Come by, roll out your mat, and practice whenever it suits you. Or simply sit in silence, enjoy a coffee, or just be. We call it OpenSpace.

Our studio is more than a place for scheduled yoga classes.

It’s a calm refuge in the heart of the city – a space where you can take a break, practice on your own, do supplementary training, sit with your laptop, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee in peace.

Have a meditation or mindfulness practice but nowhere quiet to sit? The association offers a serene environment – even our treatment room is available when free, so you can settle in and enjoy inner silence.

Need extra mobility, functional, or strength training? We provide weights, bands, straps, and other equipment for you to use whenever you like.

You need to be a member of the association to use have access to OpenSpace.

Visiting Practitioners. Astanga practitioners visiting Copenhagen are always warmly welcome. Please send a message to post@astangaforeningen.dk with your drop-in dates and, if possible, the name of your teacher or home shala. You can buy one-day dropin or one-week pass here.

For your first visit, we recommend joining a Guided Astanga class. Mysore and Led Classes are designed for students who are already familiar with the Astanga method, while Guided Astanga provides a supportive introduction for newcomers.

You can read more about getting started here and about the learning process here.