Blog | Ashtanga Yoga Oxford

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."
Rumi

"Love and serve humanity.
Assist everyone.
Be happy, be courteous.
Be a dynamo of irrepressible joy.
Recognise God and goodness in every face.
Thre is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future.
Praise everyone. If you cannot praise someone, let them out of your life.
Be original, be inventive.
Be courageous.
Take courage again and again.
Do not imitate, be strong, be upright.
Do not lean on the crutches of others.
Think with your own head. Be yourself.
All perfection and every divine virtue are hidden within you.
Reveal them to the world.
Wisdom, too, is already within you.
Let it shine forth.
Let the Lord's grace set you free.
Let your life be that of the rose.
In silence, it speaks the language of fragrance.
Om Namaha Shivaya."

Babaji, 1984

Guru Purnima 2010

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (July/August) is traditionally celebrated as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima by Hindus. On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide).

For all the Ashtanga Yoga pratictioners our Guru - literally ‘the one who shines light where there is darkness’ - is Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). He started learning yoga when he was 12 years old, after meeting one of the greatest yogis of the last century, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. A few years after, Pattabhi Jois left his family and village and travelled more than 100 km with only 2 rupees in his pocket, so that he could study Sanskrit at the University of Mysore. For the first 2 years he had to beg for food every day, but he never stopped practicing yoga. In 1930, he met Krishnamacharya again in Mysore where he was giving a demostration, and he began to study yoga with his Guru again. His influece, energy and spirit is inherent in and inseperable from each of our daily yoga practices today.
We thank him for this amazing practice that he has passed to us and that its benefits have changed the life of so many. – Thanks Guruji

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009)

A famous verse known from the Skanda Purana – Guru Gita glorifies the Guru:

Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||

“The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman manifest.”

Ashtanga Yoga lineage - Saraswati, Sharath, Shambava

Students pay respect to Guruji in the Shala

Guru Purnima

Bella & Saraswati

Sruti - Sharath's wife

Prasad (blessed food) after celebrating our Guru's birthday

Enjoying

Tokyo from my balcony

Good morning Tokyo!

Good night Tokyo!

Kamakura

Engaku-ji Temple Gate

The largest of Kamakura’s “five great” Zen temples, deep in trees, Engaku-ji was founded in 1282.

The main hall

Zen house

What a peace!

Little shrine...

...and its Buddha

Hachiman-gu Shrine

Hachiman shrines are dedicated to the God of War. This one was built in 1063 as a guardian shrine of the Minamoto (or Genji) clan.

Sake barrells collection of the clan!!!

Samples from all the corners of the region like pint classes from different pubs. Just a little bigger!

Be pure before entry a temple and pray

At the entrance of every temple there is always a place like this to self purifying before praying. With the little cup take some pure water from the spring. Wash first the left hand then the right. Then take a sip of water from the right hand, rinse the mouth and spit the water. Liberate your mind cleaning your hands from your actions and your mouth from your speech then only you can pray.