Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute

Address
Astanga Yoga Research Institute
876/1, 1st Cross, Lakshmipuram,
Mysore - 570 004, Karnataka
India

Location
The nearest airport is Bangalore for the international tourist. Mysore is well connected to Bangalore as well as to other cities by rail and road. There are many government and private buses plying between these two major cities in Karnataka, India. The frequency is as high as every fifteen minutes.

About the Institute
The Yoga education taught at Astanga Yoga Research Institute has been gaining popularity in recent years, especially amongst foreigners. Tourists from all corners of the globe practice this brand of yoga, which is extremely physical and requires a lot of concentration and perseverance. The octogenarian hatha yoga master K Pattabhi Jois founded the Mysore-based Astanga Yoga Research Institute. Today, he and his grandson Sharat jointly run the institute. A complete paradise for people who are suffering from stress. Interestingly, the Institute does not provide lodge or board facilities. But there is no problem of staying as lots of lodges and rooms offering hospitality to the foreign guests have sprung up alongside the increasingly popular Astanga Yoga Institute.

About the Course
At Astanga, students of all ages and abilities practise together and segregation is only practiced based on sex. The presence of Pattabhi, claim some of the students, creates a state of powerful cognitive awareness. The basic course is designed in such a way that a minimum of a one-month stay is required. It is advisable to report in advance and inform either Jois or Sharat about your arrival date and the commencement of the course since visitors who have just dropped by have been turned away if the place is full up. This usually happens during the 'tourist season' since that is the busy time of the year.

The tiny Concrete studio of Joe has the capacity to accommodate 12 persons at a time. The activities at ashram begin at 4 am. Significantly, the students are divided into batches and classes are conducted in shifts. The classes are held on all days except Sundays, new moon and full moon days. Another important fact, is that women practitioners are allowed to take a gap of three days in their practice during their monthly menstruation.

Course Fee
Interestingly, the Astanga Yoga Institutes's rates are steep as compared to other Yoga institute. The cash come out to Rs 12,000 per month or US$ 250. There is also an initial signing in fee or initiation fee of Rs 4,500 or UD$ 100 per student. The fees are only for the yoga lessons. Coming to this resort is a pleasure for tourists and generally they don't watch the fees in front of the gains that they get from course.