Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga is a traditional way of learning and practising the Ashtanga sequence, where students practise at their own pace under the guidance of a teacher. Unlike group-led classes where everyone moves together, Mysore-style emphasises self-practice with individual guidance. Each practitioner gradually learns the sequence step by step, receives personalised corrections, and progresses according to their body, capacity, and consistency.

This method makes the practice both traditional and highly adaptable, and is one of the reasons it continues to remain relevant today.

Background and origin

To understand the Mysore-style, it’s important to understand the roots of the practice. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888–1989) is often referred to as the Father of Modern Yoga. During his years of teaching at the Mysore Palace between the 1920s and 1940s, he developed an innovative system linking breath with movement. His teaching emphasised sequence, discipline, and most importantly, adapting yoga to the individual.

Krishnamacharya taught for over 50 years. After his Mysore years, he moved to Chennai, where his teachings continued and where the present-day Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram is located. The idea of adapting practice to age, health condition, lifestyle, experience level, and individual goals remains a core principle of Mysore-style Ashtanga even today.

Through his work, Krishnamacharya presented yoga as a therapeutic and healing practice—one that could benefit individuals irrespective of age, social background, or religious belief. While his early teaching reflected the social norms of the time, his approach gradually evolved as his career progressed.

Teachers shaped by Krishnamacharya

• B.K.S. Iyengar

• Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

• BNS Iyengar

• T.K.V. Desikachar

• Indra Devi

Later practitioners, such as A.G. Mohan and many others, carried forward his teachings. Each student interpreted the teachings differently and developed their own methodologies.

How different lineages evolved?

B.K.S. Iyengar

B.K.S. Iyengar developed what later became known as Iyengar Yoga. His focus shifted toward precise alignment, therapeutic application, and the use of props. While the roots came from Krishnamacharya’s teachings, Iyengar adapted the system to make postures accessible and structurally clear for a wider audience.

K. Pattabhi Jois

Pattabhi Jois took the dynamic, breath-linked sequencing and developed what is now known as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. The practice followed set sequences, connecting breath and movement in a continuous flow. The teaching method that emerged from his school in Mysore eventually became known as the Mysore style.

T.K.V. Desikachar

T.K.V. Desikachar continued the principle of adapting yoga to the individual. His approach focused more on therapeutic application, breath-work, and personalised practice rather than fixed sequences. This reflected Krishnamacharya’s later teachings, where individual needs took priority, which evolved into Viniyoga.

B N S Iyengar

B N S Iyengar represents the Mysore Ashtanga lineage rooted strongly in tradition while allowing thoughtful adaptation. His teaching emphasises breath awareness, bandha understanding, and functional movement. Practice is adapted to age and physical capacity, with emphasis placed on continuity rather than perfection and performance.

Indra Devi

Indra Devi, often referred to as the First Lady of Yoga, was influential in globalising yoga. As the first woman student to learn under Krishnamacharya, she taught in Hollywood during the mid-twentieth century and presented yoga in a gentle, accessible manner. Her work demonstrated that yoga could be practised by everyone, not only advanced practitioners.

A.G. Mohan

A.G. Mohan, who studied extensively with Krishnamacharya in his later years, emphasised simplicity, breath awareness, and adapting yoga to modern life. His approach continued the principle that yoga should serve the practitioner rather than demand uniformity.

How Mysore-style emerged

The Mysore-style of practice was developed and popularised by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, Karnataka. It is named after the city where he taught for decades.

• The emphasis is on self-practice.

• Each student practises only up to the asana taught.

• Students learn and move at their own pace.

• Teachers guide students one-on-one through adjustments and instruction.

What happens in a Mysore class?

A Mysore class may initially appear unusual because everyone practises differently within the same space. The studio remains open for a period of time, there is no set group pace, and teachers guide and adjust individually. Duration depends on what has been learnt, and shorter practice is acceptable when required. Individual guidance helps prevent injury.

Why is the Mysore style relevant today?

Today’s urban life often involves changing schedules, long working hours, and mental stress. Mysore practice accommodates these realities because there is no pressure to match a group pace. Practice duration can vary, and guidance remains personalised rather than generic—making it accessible to professionals, students, homemakers, and anyone managing demanding schedules.

A practice that adapts to real life

One of the strengths of Mysore-style Ashtanga is that the practice adapts to the practitioner. Some days your practice might be shorter, while on other days, you can explore at greater depth. Continuity comes from showing up regularly rather than completing everything perfectly. It brings the practice to the student rather than forcing the student to fit into the practice.

Personal reflection

When I first began practising yoga, I started with what is broadly known as Hatha Yoga. This style is largely influenced by Iyengar-based teachings, though the sessions vary depending on the teacher or class chosen. These were typically group classes lasting about an hour, where students followed instructions together.

While this approach helped me develop a structural understanding, it remained largely teacher-dependent. In contrast, Mysore-style allows one to gradually learn and practise the sequence independently. Over time, the practitioner develops familiarity, ownership, and continuity in practice. Rooted in Krishnamacharya’s teachings and developed through Pattabhi Jois, Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga represents a traditional system that remains relevant today: a quieter form of yoga where the practice evolves around the individual, combining structure with adaptability.