MOON DAYS: NEW MOON= THURSDAY 9/10/2026 AND FULL MOON= SATURDAY 9/26/2026.

This month is a month of 5 TUESDAYS. That means at least three led Primary Series classes are on the calendar if we’re alternating weeks like usual, this month. So Tuesday the 1st, 15th, and 29th will be a teacher-led version of Primary Series. Tuesday the 8th and 22nd will be Mysore style, or a more self-guided practice session. If you’re wondering what that is, head over to the Mysore Page.

The three times that we’ll have a led class, I am going to focus on an aspect of Tristhana for each class. The 1st will be Breathing. The 15th will be about Bandha, and the 29th I will be covering Dristi.

What ARE these bolded terms and words? you ask. Tristhana is kind of a Sanskrit-y mashup word for what gives life to an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice. Generally understood as BREATH/BANDHA/DRISTI, these are the three pillars or legs of your practicing of Yoga. BREATHing in a certain way during your practice time gives an energetic and mental benefit, which ties in with your movements and economy /manipulation of your subtle and physical energies. This would be BANDHA. Drawing your senses inward and concentrating on a visual point at the same time continues the stability and strength of your practice, body and mind. This is DRISTI. All three overlap with each other, and all three points of focus have a physical/gross component and an internal/subtle component.

Breath: you can’t do Yoga without it! Change your breathing, change your mental process.

Bandha: Movement doesn’t happen without the breath. Bandha directs and conserves energy when coordinated with your breathing. It adds another layer to concentration and stilling of the mind. Vinyasa fits in this category too, because it is a specific movement or sequence of movements and postures.

Dristi: often this can mean “follow your nose”-with your eyes. Nasagrai is one of the indispensable looking places in this practice. : ) But definitely not the only one!

And another thing……

Ashtanga Yoga Shala Minneapolis is hosting Sathu Jois for a September workshop weekend! This is not something of mine or at my usual studio, but if you have the option, it’s a great place to learn about Ashtanga Yoga if you’ve been wanting to. Information here!