Our approach to Yoga at Ashiyana is more of a philosophy, or quality of mind, than a style of Yoga, and the essence of this is about holding our guests in a loving embrace.

In the context of a yoga class, this means - creating a safe and nurturing space where the emphasis is on relaxing rather than pushing; sensing your own body rather than following others; becoming aware of your inner dialogue; and connecting with yourself deeply.

We offer you the whole breadth of yoga, including heart-opening practices, self-inquiry and philosophy, and mindful movement that is not limited to classical yoga postures, e.g. ecstatic shaking, dance and calisthenics.

Whilst all of our Yoga offerings at Ashiyana are based on the creation of a safe and loving space, each of our teachers draw inspiration from their personal backgrounds, as per the list below.

Hatha

Strictly speaking, all physical postures are part of Hatha Yoga (Hatha Yoga Pradipika); however, more commonly, a Hatha class refers to any class that is not part of a recognised form of Yoga, e.g. Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, etc.

Vinyasa Flow

‘Vinyasa’ is a word used to express a flowing sequence of postures where movement aligns with breath; it is therefore a slightly more dynamic practice.

Iyengar

B.K.S. Iyengar was a master of the workings of the body, and when performed mindfully, the very precise instructions offer the possibility to challenge your mental and physical limitations; alignment is the focus, and multiple props are often used.

Yin

Yin classes are slow and mindful, where the focus is on staying in a posture for longer periods; this provides the space to explore what is arising mentally, emotionally and physically. 

Restorative

Often through the use of props, restorative Yoga allows the body to rest in stillness and relaxation more easily, enabling restoration of the whole body-mind.

Ecstatic Shaking

Combining techniques of mindful, dynamic movement, meditation, breathwork and Yoga Nidra, ecstatic shaking is all about liberating the body of blocks and tensions in order to experience inner stillness and joy.

Qi Gong

A practice to cultivate and balance qi (or ‘chi’), and translated as ‘life energy’, Qi Gong involves coordinating slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm meditative state of mind.