My Daily Ashtanga Practice: A Journey On the Mat
Yoga is not about perfect poses; it’s about showing up. I share my real, messy, and meditative journey on the mat to help you build your own consistent practice.
The effort of one person is valuable, but the synergy of practicing with like-minded people and a teacher gives a quantum leap. This pose, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, is a journey of patience and persistence.
Working on Karandavasana, a challenging arm balance. This pose has been a long journey of facing my fears and patiently breaking down the technique. Each attempt teaches me something new about strength and surrender.
The goal is to make the practice your own, to transform instructions into experience. Ashtanga is an intellectual practice that, over time, becomes meditative. It's about asking "how" and "why" within your own body.
A short practice is not a bad practice. On busy days, I try to find time for myself on the mat, remembering my teacher's words and turning technical instructions into my own feelings and experience.
Practicing Eka Pada Rajakapotasana in a historic Indian temple. For me, yoga is the union of attention, movement, and the mind's reactions, bringing it all into balance.
Why do I love difficult asanas like Mayurasana (Peacock Pose)? In these moments, there is only a silent contact with my inner nature, full of potential. This, for me, is yoga.
The simple ability to move can bring such desired joy and peace. You always have more potential than you think. Just get on the mat, start moving, and see where you lead yourself.
A deep forward fold, Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana, using the wall for support. Props can be valuable tools for exploring alignment and increasing flexibility safely in your home practice.
Working on Hanumanasana, the splits. Ashtanga has helped me find a unique combination of strength and flexibility, making me feel more energetic at 35 than I did at 25.
The standing sequence of the Primary Series is the foundation. It teaches deep breathing, core engagement (Uddiyana Bandha), and how to work from your center. Mastering these details is essential for progress.
About My Practice: The Journey On the Mat
The poses you see here are the result of years of trial, error, and messy home sessions. I do not teach you to copy my shape, because the goal is to make the practice your own. Instead, I help you understand the 'how' and 'why' behind each movement so you can build a practice that fits your life, not the other way around.
My practice is my laboratory. It is a space for intellectual inquiry and meditative movement where I explore both my limits and my potential. Often, when we start practicing from videos or books, we treat yoga like physical education, mimicking the external form without grasping the essence.
In my virtual shala, we change that. Whether you are joining for our Mysore-style sessions or a guided Led class, the focus is on personal guidance and real-time feedback. I teach in both Ukrainian and English to create a supportive, international community.
Ashtanga is an intellectual practice that, over time, becomes deeply meditative. We work on the foundational details like Uddiyana Bandha and proper breathing so that the practice stops being a mechanical chore and starts being a source of energy. I have navigated injury, post-partum recovery, and the chaos of traveling with a baby, so I know that a 'perfect' practice is a myth. A short practice is not a bad practice. The only 'perfect' practice is the one you actually do. Come as you are, and let’s work on your alignment and breath together.
Tanya Lymar
Hi, I'm Tanya. Motherhood flipped my world upside down, and my mat became the place where I found myself again. I teach Ashtanga online, not just as a workout, but as a way to handle life’s chaos with a little more grace and strength.
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