Blog

How to Stay Accountable When Your Teacher is Away

By Melissa Singh | June 6, 2019 |
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David Robson teaching in the studio

Do you struggle to stay accountable to your Ashtanga practice when your teacher is away?

This week we’re talking about why it feels so hard to show up on our mat when our teachers aren’t here, and some tips on how to stay consistent.

Don’t Blame the Mirror

By Melissa Singh | May 16, 2019 |
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Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto Blog

There are some people out there who vehemently oppose Ashtanga, it’s method and postures. They do so for a variety of reasons, and this week on the blog I’m making the case that it has nothing to do with Ashtanga.

Check it out, and let us know what you think!

You Don’t Need To Do Fancy Asana to Have a Deep Practice

By Melissa Singh | April 26, 2019 |
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You don’t have to do tick tocks, or kapotasana to feel like you’ve worked your ass off in your practice. This week we’re covering three “basic” Asanas, that when done correctly can challenge your practice and build strength.

Why Ashtangis Should Practice Abhyanga

By Melissa Singh | April 8, 2019 | Comments Off on Why Ashtangis Should Practice Abhyanga
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Abhyanga Massage

I have started doing something that has seriously changed the game for my practice, and my life – daily self-massage or Abhyanga as it is called in Ayurveda.

In this article I’m sharing all about how Abhyanga can support not only your practice, but your health and how to do it.

The Power of Primary Series

By Melissa Singh | February 20, 2019 | Comments Off on The Power of Primary Series
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Betty Cho

You may not know this, but the Primary series of Ashtanga Yoga is called “Yoga Chikitsa” in Sanskrit which means, “Yoga Therapy.” In this post we’re going to discuss why it’s so important to practice primary series correctly, under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

Let Go of Ashtangi Guilt

By Melissa Singh | January 2, 2019 |
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As a new(ish) mom to a very active, (albeit adorable) little girl, finding 90 or so minutes to do my entire practice 6 days a week is tough.

Oftentimes, rather than simply showing up, and doing my best in the time that I have, I am filled with guilt, anxiety and the feeling that I am a “bad Ashtangi” because I can’t do it all, all of the time.

In this post I share my story about overcoming Ashtangi guilt when you don’t have enough time, and how you can too!

Healthy Holiday Tips for Ashtangi’s

By Melissa Singh | December 21, 2018 | Comments Off on Healthy Holiday Tips for Ashtangi’s
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T’is the season for Holiday get-togethers, tons of delicious food, and possibly staying at your in-laws for an extended period of time.

The holidays can be challenging for us Ashtangis. Our daily practice routine may be altered. We might find ourselves indulging in more treats than usual and feeling heavy and bloated. And staying with your family for a week may at times feel more challenging than kapotasana!

But fear not, this week we’re going to give you some simple tips to keep you feeling great this Holiday season!

Intermittent Fasting for Ashtangis

By Melissa Singh | November 27, 2018 |
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Lemon water

By now you’ve probably heard of Intermittent Fasting. It’s become a quite popular nutrition protocol in the fitness world these days, and it isn’t without warrant.

So you might be wondering, is this something I should be doing as an Ashtangi?

This week we’re taking a look at IF and how it can be beneficial for Ashtangis!

How Your Dosha Impacts Your Practice

By Melissa Singh | November 23, 2018 |
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Your Dosha, or mind-body type, according to Ayurveda, may impact your practice both physically and mentally. This week we’re looking at how each Dosha may show up in the Ashtanga practice.

Why It’s Important to Stick to One Practice

By Melissa Singh | November 14, 2018 |
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Betty Cho

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why we do what we do in Ashtanga Yoga. Why we place such an emphasis on sticking to the sequence, the correct vinyasa, and the count. And truthfully I’ve been having some trouble finding the words to express it. It feels so much bigger than me, but I…