Ninie Ahmad: Off her yoga mat.

Her daily AFFIRMATIONS of staying optimistic especially when she's (upside) down.

Archive for the ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ tag

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” ~WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

without comments

Everytime I travel especially to North America,
I would not miss a chance to visit other yoga studios, take a break from teaching everyday
and usually learn so much more just by being just another student in other teachers’ class.

Dharma Mittra’s Master Practice class, NYC

Upward kitten in front of Downward Dog by the beach, Toronto

With Tara Stiles at her Strala, Broadway NYC

Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto (AYCT)

During my visit to Toronto a couple of weeks ago,
I met David Robson of Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto (AYCT) at his centre.

I was at AYCT for just one Mysore class on the first day of Hari Raya morning but David’s teaching and moving Ashtangi persona left me YouTube-ing for more!

Tell me if you are not moved by this..

David Robson’s LIVING THE PRACTICE

David Robson’s LEARN TO FLOAT

Thanks to David, watching his YouTubes AND floating are now my husband & I’s favourite new pastime replacing marathons of Mad Men and Entourage.

Also thanks to David, for the inspiration and realization that:
to be a walking example and ‘living the practice’,
I have to do my Ashtanga practice earlier than my students.

Well, maybe not every 3am for now, but 4.30 in the morning - almost every day for sure.

Love and Toronto light.

“Now that I know what I’m without, you can’t just leave me. Breathe into me and make me real..”

with one comment

It has been exactly two years since our Guruji left his body and left behind a legacy of magical Ashtanga practice to mankind.

I did not get a chance to meet Guruji personally in this lifetime but I somehow often hear him whispering to my ears during my much-deserving Dead Body after my every Ashtanga practice - reminding me that I JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH all this seemingly-impossible Ashtanga poses and Series

  • SO THAT I can simply sit still as I meditate in Full Lotus
  • AND take a moment (or an hour..) to thank my Maker with the perfect body and happy mind I have I already have
  • TO KNOW that I do not need to accumulate more temporary recognition and unnecessary material possesions

I can never repay you,
I can only practice what you taught me.

~ SANTINA

In loving memory, lotus feet and profound gratitude to

Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois
(July 26, 2023 – May 18, 2023)

“This series of postures (the Intermediate Series) is a very advanced form of practice and while it’s only the Second Series, it can give you the sense of just how deep you can go in the Ashtanga Yoga practice with regular disicpline, devotion and faith in the journey.” ~KINO MACGREGOR

with 3 comments

One of my favourite teachers that I practice my Second / Intermediate Series Ashtanga every morning with (her DVD) is Kino MacGregor. She was also featured in my last two entries.

Kino is the youngest woman in the world to hold certification to teach Ashtanga yoga by its founder late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. She was only 29 years old when she was certified to teach Ashtanga. I am already 29 and I still struggle in tucking my leg behind my head :(

If you think yoga only requires flexibility (and breathing ya daa ya daa), watch this other Youtube of Kino and prepare to be mesmerized.

Oh yes, this girl can float and fly!

Everytime I feel like giving up my Second / Intermediate Series  as I thought

  • my spine is not open enough
  • my hamstrings are not elongated enough,
  • my core is not strong enough
  • I secretly & pessimistically believe Ashtanga Yoga might just be for men (in tights!)

I just sit still for a minute, look up at Kino and be inspired.

I am positive that if I invested (way way way) MORE time on my mat, standing on my hands - one day I might just be able to be as strong, as flexible and as graceful as Kino.

I also love how Kino and I are almost of the same height proportion ;)

Ha haaa, Kino on cover of Yoga Journal side by side with an old photo of mine.
When I can still tie up my hair, that is.


While we are at it ;) , have you voted for me to be on cover of Yoga Journal TODAY?

Love and let’s float Friday together today!

I do yoga not because I was flexible, strong and balanced but it is yoga that GIVES me this flexibility, strength and balance.

with 2 comments

Anyone that told you “yoga is boring”, “yoga is too easy”, “yoga is not enough a workout for me” evidently has never tried Ashtanga Yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga 411:

1. Ashtanga Yoga (the practice) is deemed the most physical yoga practice and it is said that anyone who can finish Second Series sequence to have the fitness level (strength, flexibility, control, stamina, balance, grace) of an Olympic gymnast.

More 411:

- Madonna practices Third Series

- It took me EIGHT YEARS to khatam complete First Series as I got stuck in Supta Kurmasana for years (you must be thinking, poses that THAT in only First Series, I know rightttt?). I now in my third year of Second Series and as expected, literally suck stuck at Yoga Nidrasana O_o


2. Ashtanga Yoga sequence is to be practiced in its exact sequential order. Practitioners are prohibited from moving / skipping to the next pose unless the intended pose is performed as each pose is meant to be the preparation pose for the next one.

Image from Ashtanga Yoga


3. There are three groups of sequences in the Ashtanga system. Each series starts with five Sun Salutation A, three Sun Salutation B, Standing Sequence, The *Series with vinyasa (jumping back to chaturanga dandasana, upward dog & downward dog to change every side and every pose), The Closing Sequence & Corpse Pose. A complete and continuous Ashtanga practice (some people I know take FIVE MINUTES Child Pose after every seating vinyasa!) at any series usually takes at least 90 minutes to be performed (I just have to state this to this detail because some ‘Ashtanga’ classes I went to at Tr@# Fitness / Tr$% Yoga KL are NOT Ashtanga classes at all).

The *First / Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa) detoxifies and aligns the body.

The *Second / Intermediate Series (Nadi Shodhana) purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels.

The Advanced Series (Sthira Bhaga) *A or Third, *B or Fourth, *C or Fifth and D or Sixth Series integrate the strength and grace of the practice, requiring higher levels of flexibility and humility.

Primary Series & Intermediate Series demo by my Ashtanga teacher, Kino MacGregor


4. While there are many aspiring Ashtangis in this lifetime, only those certified by the late founder Sri K Pattabhi Jois (now his grandson) of Ashtanga Yoga should /can teach an Ashtanga class or else the class has to be named Ashtanga Led / Mysore (self-practice monitored by Ashtangi) / -inspired.


5. Until 2008, there are only 48 certified Ashtanga yoga teachers in US. Complete directory for certified Ashtanga yoga teachers in the world can be found here.


While I do not hold any dream of becoming an Ashtanga certified teacher anytime soon,
I choose Ashtanga Yoga as my daily practice because with Ashtanga,

  • I discover my every potential as a human being that every muscle, every sensation, every organ is meant to be used, appreciated and nourished
  • I learn that there is really no shortcut to being healthy and practicing everyday is the only way
  • I become the strongest, most open and balanced body I can be
  • I accept my body and imperfections
  • I am humbled by a 10001 more poses that I still can’t do
  • I respect my limit and understand others’

Peace and practice, practice, practice.

Project Alpha Season 2: NINIE AHMAD (Episode 37/49)

without comments

50 visitors online now
44 guests, 6 bots, 0 members
Max visitors today: 98 at 03:53 pm MYT
This month: 130 at 06-10-2023 04:47 pm MYT
This year: 202 at 26-07-2023 02:48 pm MYT
All time: 202 at 26-07-2023 02:48 pm MYT