Ashtanga Yoga Jersey

08/02/2026

04/02/2026

There’s a well-known story about a lute player who became discouraged with his meditation practice and went to the Buddha for guidance.
“What happens when you tune your instrument too tightly?” the Buddha asked.
“The strings break,” the musician replied.
“And what happens when you tune it too loosely?”
“When it’s too loose, no sound comes out,” he answered. “The string that produces a tuneful sound is neither too tight nor too loose.”
“That,” said the Buddha, “is how to practice.”

Negotiating the space between too tight and too loose — on the yoga mat and in life — is an ongoing endeavour. Am I pushing too hard, chasing the next asana and constant progress? Or am I holding back, avoiding the subtle discomfort that invites growth? Finding the middle way is the way of Yoga: threading the continuum between ease and effort.
So how do we observe this in our practice? Instead of fast and furious, try slow and curious. Take your time and let the breath be your guide. Soften when you notice unnecessary tension. Honour effort, and rest deeply. Choose consistency over intensity. And above all, release judgment of your practice.
Just like the lute, our practice finds its music when we are neither forcing nor collapsing, but listening closely — responding moment by moment to what is truly needed. May we tune ourselves with care, patience, and a willingness to adjust, again and again!

04/01/2026

This is what January looks like:
Four solid weeks of practice—every Moonday on a weekend.
🔥

04/01/2026

Two monks are travelling together by foot. On their way they meet a woman sitting beside a river. She asks them to help her cross. Courteously, they lift her up, putting her on their shoulders and with the water up to their knees, struggle across the river. Reaching the other side, they put her down gently. Then they continue walking along the road in silence. After some time, one of the monks asks his friend: „Was it not a sin to take her in our arms?” The other monk answers, „Are you still carrying her? I left her a long time ago!”*

As we step into 2026, I wish you a year of travelling lightly. May your practice support your life, not weigh it down. Practice with honesty—try your best every day, be strong when strength is needed, and soften when surrender is called for. Stay present while you are on your mat, then leave the practice behind when you step away. Carry its clarity, not its effort, into your day. Enjoy it, and then the next day, wake up, return to your mat and begin again and again.

📸 December 2022, Bylakuppe, India

(*Awakening the Spine: Yoga for Health, Vitality and Energy by Vanda Scaravelli)

02/01/2026

This little trooper walked to the Shala on her own because, in her own words, “she needed to practice” — just a day before her birthday! Despite a broken toe, she did everything she could with admirable drishti and presence, especially impressive for a soon-to-be seven-year-old.

May this be a gentle reminder for 2026: show up as you are, do what you can, and trust that it’s enough.

Happy New Year Everyone!

22/11/2025

Conference tomorrow at 3pm.
We’ll cover bandhas, yoga shala ethics and etiquette, and possibly some chanting (and cake of course 🍰).

If you’d like to learn more about Ashtanga or deepen your understanding, you’re welcome to join. It’s free.

11/11/2025

One year on, and I still find myself longing for more time in your presence.
Your infectious smile and that lightness of being that surrounded you are missed deeply.

Forever grateful, Sharathji.
Om shanti 🕊️

07/09/2025

✨ New Lunchtime Yoga Class! ✨
Pause your day and recharge with Ashtanga Yoga 🌿
We’ll practice sun salutations and fundamental poses from the Primary Series, focusing on breath and bandha—perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners wanting to find balance in just 45 minutes.

📅 Tuesdays, 12:00pm (first class 16 September 2025)
📍 71 La Colomberie, St Helier
⏱️ 45 minutes
💷 £12 per class or 10 classes for £100

Take a mindful break and step back into your day feeling grounded and refreshed.

📩 Book your spot:
✉️ anna@ashtangayogajersey.com
💬 WhatsApp: +44 7554 377833

27/08/2025

✨ Start Your Ashtanga Yoga Journey This September! ✨
Ready to build strength, boost flexibility, and find inner calm?
Join our Ashtanga yoga classes and discover how mindful movement and breath can transform your body and mind.
In our Mysore-style Ashtanga program, you can practice at your own pace and grow with one-to-one guidance, supported by weekly led classes and our vibrant yoga community.
💬 Drop us a message if you’d like to join us!

06/08/2025

I’m taking some time out for my annual holiday. In Ayurveda, Ritucharya—the seasonal regimen—encourages us to live in harmony with nature’s rhythms, adapting our lifestyle, diet, and mental focus as the seasons change. In this light, taking a holiday becomes an expression of this ancient wisdom—a pause to recalibrate both body and mind. Just as nature shifts and renews itself, we too benefit from a change in time and space.

While I’m away, the shala will operate on a reduced schedule, with offering Mysore classes on Wednesdays and a led class on Fridays. Swipe right for full details.

Our usual schedule resumes on Monday, 18th August. I look forward to returning to Jersey refreshed and refocused, and more deeply attuned to the rhythms that guide our practice.