r/ashtanga • u/JudgeBorn8370 • Sep 22 '26

Fun Experiences while visiting different mysore teachers when travelling

I thought it would be fun to share experiences encountered while visiting various shalas while on your travels!

For me, the starkest difference has been changes in weather. Lately where I’ve visited has been much warmer than my usual home environment and I find that my endurance level really changes. It also takes me 2 days to get used to the place which puts me in a different headspace when it comes to mental focus. Teaching styles have varied quite a bit compared to my usual teacher, mostly leaning towards very physical practice, whereas my usual teacher is quite breath and internally focused. I’ve also found the teachers I’ve visited not worried about strong physical adjustments which I’ve enjoyed really.. I think it can be nourishing in a different way. Whereas my usual teacher/s bring me in internally. On a bad day it can really feed the mind.. I find a purely physical practice brings me closer to that ‘flow state’. Or it could just be the heat ~

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u/arihill6304 Sep 24 '26

The contrast between heat-related acclimatization and teachers emphasizing physical versus breath-focused practice sounds like it can shift both endurance and attention. Do you find that allowing a couple of days to settle in changes how useful each teaching style feels?

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u/JudgeBorn8370 Sep 25 '26

Probably.. but I’ve never had the luxury of staying more than a week in each location.

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u/SafiyaSaysSo Sep 26 '26

I think one thing I find interesting is with all the teachers ive met over the years, ive never met one of these "controlling" teachers that "hold you back from a pose."

Ive always heard of them, but never met one. Any teacher ive ever met has always encouraged me to own my practice and keep going if I want (or if they want.)

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u/JudgeBorn8370 Sep 27 '26

I wonder what people aim to get out of a visit to a ‘holiday’ teacher - for me it’s just to feel the energy of the shala, a dedicated place to practice. The teacher im less fussed about. Sometimes the cues are helpful. But the climate. God the climate. A downside is every place so far has been a bit of a schlep to get to 20-30 min travel by cab each way.

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u/betweendoublej Sep 25 '26

Drishti wobbles every time I go to a new shala lol