Student Experiences

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 ...read more

Claudia Maria Schmid

I had been practicing ashtanga yoga for a little while and was definitely feeling the benefits but had reached a point where I wanted to find out more about this ancient practice and its purpose. I also wanted to establish a healthier lifestyle and develop a more regular practice and thought that the Heart of Yoga Course could help motivate me to do so!
From the minute I started the course I absolutely loved it. Spending a weekend every month with a wonderful group of people and being taught by such sincere and dedicated teachers was so rewarding. It was a big time commitment on top of my already busy schedule but I soon gave priority to the coursework. In particular I loved the philosophy debates and discussions, the breathwork, meditation and relaxation techniques. With a course like Heart of Yoga it is definitely a case of what you put ...read more

Anthea Grimason

As I mentioned in my Heart of Yoga application I had noticed that practicing Ashtanga had had a positive effect on my frame of mind from the start. I was feeling a lot calmer and more patient in general after practice and the more I practiced the better I felt. This was aside from the obvious physical benefits.

I made the observation of the effect it had on my mind before I realised that that is a known effect of the practice,

and the main reason a lot of people around the world practice yoga in the first place. I had started practicing purely looking for the physical benefits.

When I saw the outline for the Heart of Yoga course it sounded like it would explain a bit further what potential the yoga practice could have in my life.

After having completed the course, some of it still remains a ...

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Tone Strass

I loved the heart of yoga course. The sessions were really inspiring and just to be able to spend 2 days each month in the Shala with other yogis in itself was a treat for me as I am the only one in my household that practices.

The course introduced me to Desikachar's beautiful book, The Heart of Yoga, for which I am eternally grateful and also it opened up the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita for me. I also liked the philosophy sessions; it was fun throwing ideas around and we did laugh a lot, but maybe the most important result of the course is that I now get on my mat most days.

Thank you so much David and Paula for sharing your time and knowledge and gifts of wisdom with us.

Jane Dowling

The course significantly deeepened my understanding of the philosophy of yoga. Gave me a great chance to bounce some of my ideas and questions about yoga off someone!

Gave me a structure throughout the year to my practice and the motivation to practice more. Really got me hooked on the meditation side of things and deepened every aspect of yoga that I'm familiar with - asana, philosophy, meditation, pranayama, yoga nidra, chanting etc.

I really miss not having the weekend coming up in so many ways! I think it would be great if the heart of yoga was an ongoing thing!

It is strange in a way because it is a yoga intensive for one year - and then the intensive stops - and it’s just up to you. I still do everything I was doing last year – I read as much, I try to sit, I practice (but never enough ...

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Frank Brooks