Mysore
Green Yogi is home to Atha, a Mysore Ashtanga Yoga program led by Timothy Lynch six mornings a week.
Mysore is the name of a large city in south India, and is where this particular method of Ashtanga yoga was established and popularized by a handful of teachers including: Pattabhi Jois, Sharath Jois, and BNS Iyengar. The Mysore method is a self practice - a teacher works one on one with students building slowly on a set sequence of postures. The focal points (called Trishtana) are the framework upon which the practice is built. They are: breathing, gazing point, and posture. The practice is meant to transform from the inside out the mental and physical patterning of our daily lives.
the potential for healing is great when the priorities of practice are process rather than goal oriented, breathing rather than accumulation of technique or asana oriented, and when through dedication, discipline, and persistent self study we consciously move toward embodying our entire selves in more nurturing, accepting, and less judgmental ways. as a result of continued efforts and attention over time, the body/mind organism gains more stability, becoming lighter and more clear. through our daily practices we unveil these ideas as they slowly unfold into embodied realities.
in 2014 timothy founded mysore oakland, a six morning a week mysore program in california. he guided this thriving community of practitioners for three and a half years before relocating back to brooklyn, nyc (where he had previously spent 20 years) with his family in 2017. during that time, he was a mysore room guide at the shala yoga house five mornings a week in manhattan.
in october 2019, timothy returned to the bay area and planted the seeds for atha, a six morning a week mysore ashtanga yoga practice space. he has been guiding the community since. he has taught in nyc, san francisco, oakland, bali, costa rica (casa ashtanga nosara), and berkeley, ca.
he is grateful for the support and guidance of eddie stern, rolf and marci naujokat, sharath jois (who he received authorization from in 2014), sharmila desai, peter sanson, dr. nagaraja rao, and the late s.n. goenka of the vipassana tradition. he is also honored to have worked with and learned from all of the amazing humans who have stepped into our community spaces and shared a part of themselves and their efforts over the years. he recognizes the enormous privilege it has been to have made nine extended trips to india to study. he is humbled and indebted to the people and traditions of india, which have been and continue to be a great source of inspiration, confrontation, and mystery.
timothy has a degree in fine arts from the school of visual arts, nyc and in 2023 finished three years of waldorf teacher training at the bay area center for waldorf teacher training. he has facilitated a parent education + support group at berkeley rose waldorf school in berkeley, ca for the last two years. the group is oriented towards building a greater understanding of the developmental arch of childhood from birth to 7 years of age. he offers consultations with parents of children from birth to age 7. more information on that here.
To inquire about practicing mysore ashtanga yoga reach out to timothy@atha-room.com or visit https://atha-room.com/.