YOGA SHALA WEST
AN AUTONOMOUS AND INTERDEPENDENT COMMUNITY OF
ASHTANGA YOGA PRACTITIONERS
IN THE HEART OF WEST LOS ANGELES
SCHEDULE
Mysore-style practice
7:30-10am
Sunday - Thursday
Led practice
8am
Friday
We take rest on the new and full moon to honor the cycles of nature. Those dates can be found on our real-time calendar below.
TEACHERS
Pranidhi Varshney
Pranidhi is the founder of this little shala that could. The teacher who has had the most impact on her is Manju Jois. She has also studied with Nancy Gilgoff, Sharath Jois, and several other teachers within the ashtanga yoga lineage. Her children, courageous and wise little beings, teach her most of all. The thread that runs through all her work is the desire to nurture community, authenticity, and balance.
Meredith Fogg Liebross
Meredith joined the shala in 2019 and has become an integral part of our community. Her experience spans traditions, including Vinyasa, Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga. Trained by Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller, Annie Carpenter, and Paul Cabanis. she brings a unique understanding of anatomy, alignment and therapeutics to the Mysore room. A mother of three young children, Meredith views her own practice as a daily reminder of life’s singular truth; everything changes.
FEES
At YSW, we:
-sustain a community of dedicated practitioners via a flexible, contribution-based fee structure
-contribute what we can individually toward the health of the whole
-choose to upset the transactional nature of contemporary yoga culture
-encourage our students to think not about getting the best deal, but about allocating capital in a way that aligns with their core values
-trust that we will take care of each other through our collective integrity
Please choose a monthly fee below. You may also purchase a 10-class package or single class if you have an established practice. A custom contribution option is also available for those who need to or would like to contribute beyond these parameters.
Your contributions are essential as we strive to make ashtanga yoga practice accessible for all dedicated practitioners and build our community. We thank you for sharing your abundance with the shala!
FAQ
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Ashtanga yoga is a form of practice that cultivates and harnesses the healing power of synchronizing breath with movement. Students practice a sequence of postures at their own pace while the teacher offers one-on-one insight and assistance to each student. Practicing in this way is called mysore-style. This unique method of yoga practice allows for students of varying physical abilities to share space, creating a diverse community.
The ashtanga yoga method was first developed by T Krishnamacharya and K Pattabhi Jois, and continues to thrive through the many teachers around the world, and in the heart of each practitioner.
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Simply contact Pranidhi to set up your starting date and time. In order to give each student ample care and attention, we generally take one new student per week. New students are encouraged to commit to daily practice for two weeks. If daily practice is prohibitive, a minimum of 3 days a week is recommended. During this time, you will begin to learn the ashtanga yoga method and experience its benefits. After two weeks, please choose the monthly fee most appropriate for you. These first two weeks are offered as a gift. In exchange, we ask that you ‘pay it forward’ by performing an act of kindness or contributing to a service-based organization of your choosing.
Students with an established ashtanga yoga practice are welcome to join the shala anytime.
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Anyone willing to put in the effort can practice yoga.
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Yoga has roots in Hindu philosophy but it is not inherently religious. It is a physical, mental, and energetic practice, and a unifying experience. Its spiritual components will depend on the intent of the practitioner, and can be complementary to many faith traditions. The 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga provide us with a framework of how to live a content and connected life.
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As often as you’d like, up to 6 days a week. As a community, we take rest on new and full moon days. Women are encouraged to take rest during the 2-3 heaviest days of their menstrual cycle. In the ashtanga community, this is affectionately known as the “ladies holiday.”
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We do not have a shower but we do have a large bathroom and separate changing room. Students who need to attend to work or family obligations after practice are encouraged to take a shower in the morning before practice and freshen up at the shala afterward. This is common practice in the ashtanga yoga community and works well.
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Yes, the shala is a family-friendly environment. We encourage children to come with their parents and quietly observe practice, as long as they are not distracting to fellow practitioners. Children are also welcome to wait in the lobby while their parents practice. Older children who are interested in learning the practice are welcome to join our community.