Our Students

I started coming to Ashtanga Yoga Dublin, Blackrock, in 2007 after several years’ of once-a-week Ashtanga yoga classes. I then started the regular 6 am Mysore classes with David and Paula. Mind you, I am not a morning person, but I have come to enjoy attending Mysore classes before work.
Yoga has gently nudged itself into my life and transformed it. I was drawn to Ashtanga yoga from the very beginning. First I was taken by its physical aspect and enjoyed the physical challenge of stretching, complementing my aerobic outdoor training and stretching my body in a lot of different ways. Even after the first few classes I felt happy and very relaxed while lying in Shavasa after my practice.
Yoga has taught me that there is more than the option of biting the bullet with clenched teeth and forcing yourself head first through all sorts of situations. It has taught me to listen to my body, its needs, strengths and weaknesses - and to just accept it. It is perfect as it is. It taught me that even with my neck injury I can achieve a lot on the mat, more than I initially thought. I was amazed to realise how much I have limited myself in my mind by having a pre-conceived idea of what I can and cannot do (on and off the mat). Yoga Asanas have challenged me continuously, and they still do. But they have also given me a lot of confidence in myself. Learning to deal with this challenge has shown me ways to deal with challenges off the mat. It also taught me that it is not important whether I achieve a posture or not, but the fact that I get on my mat most days and practice is important. As Pattabhi Jois said to his students “Practice, practice and all is coming”. It is true, your body and mind react in this way and if you practice long enough you will experience this.
I did the Heart of Yoga course in 2009 and have signed up for it again this year. After the first year, I wanted to go deeper. My practice has taken on another meaning. I began to understand how important it is to follow your breath, to focus on just being and practicing, and mostly how important it is to detach yourself – and to find the beginning of a calm and peaceful feeling within yourself. I enjoy the guidance and encouragement we get to read the Sutras by Patañjali and the philosophy, and I enjoy the discussions during the course weekends. I love every aspect of the course. The Heart of Yoga course and my practice have added value to my life.
David, Paula, Mel and Anne are great and dedicated teachers who give every student who rolls out the mat to practice the attention he/she needs and create a safe and welcoming environment for self-exploration. They always have the confidence in you, that “yes, you can do it”.
I consider myself and every student of the Shala as very fortunate to have such a great place nearby and such great teachers to help us improve our yoga practices.

Claudia Schmid