I've been watching for this video for so long !!! Maybe a 1000 times ! Thank you Lesley, I still can't believe you are gone. I will continue practice because you are the one who inspired me from the beggining. This is my way of honoring your memory.
I always come back to Lesley and I miss her dearly I've never met her but she has been such a support system in my darkest days I hope that you're teaching the angels yoga
I stumbled upon this video randomly searching for beginner Ashtanga, hoping to get back into practice after many years away. Cued it up, and dove straight into it. Struggled a bit, sweated, but kept breathing, and by the time I was at Shavasana I felt a calming ease that I had not felt in a long time. I am now in tears reading the comments. Rest in peace, Leslie. Thank you for your gift, your legacy lives on. Namaste.
I appreciate when people try to stay as close to the original art form as possible, like using the correct vocabulary, even if it's in another language. So, thank you for that.
I've been doing this ashtanga yoga for a month. At least 5 times a week. I can truly say that happiness comes from within. There is no outside factors you need to chase to make yourself cheerful. If your body is happy your mind is happy your spirit is happy.
This is very positive I really needed to read this. I have depression and just started doing yoga. I’ve always been drawn to it. Since I started doing it this week I do feel a little better and was hoping it wasn’t just in my mind. Do you recommend any specific yoga for weight-loss / depression? ❤️thank you
after a long time now and with some sadness too, I did my first Asthanga Class again with you,Lesley. Your classes will forever help me, doing my Yoga practice at home. Rest in Peace
I just completed this wonderful practice today. Thank you so much Leslie for this offering and your contribution to the world. You were and still are an amazing healer. May you rest easy, beautiful soul. Namaste.
you prolly dont care at all but does someone know a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I was stupid forgot the login password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Hassan Gideon I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I have to say that I have not been able to watch Lesley's video until today. I adored her work and she for sure was/is the most sincere and devoted Yoga teachers. Her voice and ease with the practice is a gift. I am saddened but glad to engage with her guidance again. Mt heartfelt prayer to her family as she was such a force of nature. namaste
This video supported me through really learning most of the Ashtanga Primary Series. Today I found out the news of your passing. So saddened by this. Deep peace to you, Lesley 🙏💛🌾
This is so heartbreaking!! I just finished this first class with her and was thinking what a beautiful person she is. May she rest in peace. Her love and gifts here live on :'(
@@sophiajordan7118 how do you make a comment like that? It maybe due to illness, or an accident or maybe something to do with health. Why do you think and conclude maybe suicide? It’s sad to know she was lost at young age.
@@Shyamazha I agreed. There has been much contemplation about the cause of Lesley's passing but the family is very determined to keep it private. I think we should respect that and leave speculation aside. She is gone and she is terribly missed. Her video classes are a treasure she left for all of us. Let us express out deepest gratitude for that and send peace and love up to her soul on high. That's all there is left to do.
I've been practicing your 30-minute ashtanga for the past couple of months and have built up the strength to move up to this 1 hour class. Thank you for keeping this channel going.
I've been practicing ashtanga yoga for years doing classes, now I want to incorporate it into my morning routine. I woke up at 6AM and this routine gives me life. thank you so much for posting this!
I have been watching this video for 6 years. Today was the 1st practice after a 30 Day Water Fast. This practice made me cry with so much gratitude. Thank you for creating this as it has transformed my life forever. Thank you. 🙏
I love your class I am a beginner yogi and have been doing your class 6 days a week for 3 months, I have noticed a change in my flexibility, strength and calmness thank you so much!
Just started practicing Ashtanga form of yoga, and it is awesome. Thank you for this free class. I still cannot do the entire sequence all the way through, but I know it will come with time, patience, and practice.
My dear Lesley you was my favourite yoga teacher. I cant belive that You are not with us. My everyday starts with You and with yours trainings. Deep peace to you, Lesley. Love You
as a lean, 200 lb former athlete who's mostly stuck to resistance training for the past couple of years (never yoga), this class is humbling. I like it.
+Kennedy Otieno I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, there are things that are very different about yoga....however, I doubt that I could do the things that you can do! :-)
+Fightmaster Yoga As I go through your class & muscle fatigue starts to set in, I find myself having to either pause the video or resort to straying away from your breath count (I'm usually able to keep up if I cheat & let my breathing rate increase). Which of these 2 methods would you say is better?
+Ken Otieno Happens to me too, all of a sudden it's a new pose and I find myself taking a quick breath in and change, because I forget myself. :D My method is either pausing or just doing it slowly until I finish the pose at my pace, and then 'rewinding' the video. You do interrupt yourself, but I think it's ok if you';re still learning.
I keep practicing this session - and I really love your attitude, and guidance. My body is returning to this form of yoga after nearly 10 years, and I am really enjoying the journey. I love the odd little giggles during the commentary, it reminds me to smile during the practice. I struggle with the breathing, but I know it will come in time. Thank you again Lesley - Suzie
suzanne eustace Thank you so much for your lovely message! I'm glad you're enjoying the Ashtanga practice. I'm also glad that you like my little giggles! I was always taught to remember the joy of our practice and I'm glad that you feel it too! :-)
Lesley I just want you to know how much I appreciate your videos. Ashtanga can seem very unattainable for beginners but you make it very accessible. Thank you so much you are a great teacher.
Intense practice! But very relaxing. Kind of fast for me right now, but I will come back and work on my speed. It made me fall asleep. I am barely getting back into yoga as a regular practice so I appreciate your practice. Thank you!
Bless you. Namaste and thank you for the light you shone on so many people. I was sad to watch your videos for a while. They pulled me out of so many dark days for so many years. May your light shine forever.
MORE ASHTANGA! This is the second time I do this class and I absolutely adore it! One hour long classes are the best, also cannot get enough of Ashtanga!
Lesley - you are the best thing that has happened to UA-cam! Thank you so much for sharing yoga with the world! I will be going overseas soon and am thankful that I know I can keep my practice going (with a teacher) because of your yoga! You always have great, fun, challenging but accessible classes! Thank you! I'd love to see more Ashtanga classes with other primary and intermediary elements! Thank you!!
I am sick and did not want to go to class only to be coughing a bunch so grabbed my mat and found this wonderful video to practice with at home. Thank you so much! It was great! :)
Roxanne Guzman Hi Roxanne! I hope you feel better soon and it's so nice of you to stay home while you're sick. I'm sure your fellow yogis will appreciate not getting sick. :-) xx
As a classical ballet dancer, yoga has always been very challenging. Ballet is all about holding tension in the body to appear light and lifted, whereas yoga focuses on breathing through poses and allowing gravity to hold you. I always disliked yoga because it was so different from how my ballet body has been trained to move, but I really am learning to love this practice. Ashtanga is so centering, both in the mind and body.
Lesley, this is an amazing class. I'm new to ashtanga and this is my 2nd week practicing with your video. The first week was interesting considering how awkward some of my poses were as I've never performed them before. 2nd week in and already I'm seeing such a huge difference. I hope to be as strong as you in the future. Thanks again!
I just started with this class with her and wanted to tell her how much her teaching is helping me get started in Ashtanga. I’m mortified to find she died. I plan to do this class more. No words at this moment but do know her spirit moved on to a higher place. 🙏🙏🙏
8 років тому+3
I did this again this morning. I LOVE this practice, I love this lesson, it was soo perfect! Thank you so much Lesley! :) :) :)
Absolute Love. It's been almost 2 years since this video changed my life, and 2 years in which my life has changed in so many ways, and it is only the beginning. Yet, when I come back to it, it is the form of yoga that leaves me feeling the best of all, the best sensation of wholeness, completeness, as if all that I needed was here, in this practice. Both my body, and my mind, who is washed out. Thank you Lesley for the best yoga class ever.
I've been practicing with you for a while and now I'm into your ashtanga series! I can't believe what a yogi I am now! haha! Love love you! Thank you for helping me love yoga!
Many thanks for providing this guide. I live in a remote area, with no access to in-person yoga classes, but have been looking to ways to build healthier routines into my life at home. I believe this practice will be a great way for me to begin, and it's very generous for you to share it with the online community. I found it clear and accessible, but it also challenging enough to provide room for me to grow and feel excited about continuing/progressing in my ability to do all of the movements and positions. Thank you again!
Hi Lesley: just a brief note to thank you for your authentic generosity and gentle spirit. I also appreciate your desire to lead us in not just in the asanas but to contribute to our evolution as we live the philosophies embraced by yoga
Tammy Davis Thank you Tammy! It means so much to me to try and communicate the beautiful philosophies of yoga along with the asanas...your comment really touched my heart. :-)
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and poses. I simply love ashtanga and I can feel the benefit on my body/mind/spirit. Has done guided classes long ago and my body just transformed. I have scoliosi and a problem with my neck but I am also a physiotherapist and I could never praise Ashtanga yoga enough for what has gave me and still giving me. At the moment I do live in a place far away rom ashtanga venues and find your channel is just a blessing! thank you so much. Namestè
Your energy is so beautiful Lesley! In every single class, no matter how short or long it is you end up feeling peace and content. Thank you SO MUCH! Namaste!
thanks for the second breath - mouvement! The first one was 31 years ago with the help of "light on yoga" by Ivegar,i'm 50 now. Looking for the aweareness - the third one - the last step in my lifetime. Sincerely yours, lyakh.
Join...l'm awfully sorry. The Teaching isn't on honour of people around me- the war is running. I can only have a glimpse of what you are doing, to catch a bit of inspiration.Thanks a lot!
Hi Leslie, I started doing this class two months ago, as a proper beginner! Doing it 5-6 times a week has built my strength and flexibility, and I love every second of it. Each day I discover something better in my poses. Is there anything you would suggest to better my practice regarding any of your other videos, as a beginner? There are just too many to choose from! I can't thank you enough for showing me the benefits of yoga; it's reduced my stress, anxiety, and depression after losing my pregnancy. It feels wonderful to like my body again. Love from South Africa, Abi
Hi Lesley. My outdoor Sunday Yoga class had an event elsewhere so I decided to check out some other yoga classes on youtube. I've heard of Ashtanga and was challenged by this class Thank you and all who made it possible!
Thank you for this class! May I put in a request for the full series to be available soon? It would be so very helpful for me in my practice. You are a lovely teacher, thank you so much for sharing your joy in yoga with us! Namaste
Thanks for all your kind dedication Leslie, I have been enjoying your videos almost daily for a month now and it is so nice to practice to your voice and sequences instead of alone. All the from Chile a big thanks to you. Elisa
Whoever says yoga isn't exercise or isn't challenging doesn't know what they're talking about hahah. If I keep practicing and doing this will I eventually master these poses? It was so hard!! But I loved it!
Yeah it was very fast paced it for me felt out of sync but you are very masterful at that speed. Much respect. I had to slow it down to .5x otherwise I get dizzy
Thank you for this pleasant yoga video. However, for "beginners", I felt it was a bit fast during some sequences, and would have liked the camera to have shown you from mat to ceiling, as there were many instances where I questioned what my feet should be doing.
V Spiering Thank you! That is a good point. The Ashtanga practice is difficult for beginners...good job practicing it! This class is geared more toward beginners: ua-cam.com/video/W0FxPT0O0SA/v-deo.html you may like it better...
Your videos are superb. Clean, concise, no fancy camera angles, just pure instruction. I've done hot vinyasa for years but want to get into ashtanga and I love your videos. Amazing.
Hi. I am a thirteen-year-old.At the first parts of the video I really hate you for making the asanas complicated and the way you move and flow make me think that everything is easy but its not. I don't know how but while I was practicing with you I finally did the paschimotanassana pose without the knees bent,the shoulder stand without any support and ear pressure. While I was in Savasana, I don't know why but I'm crying and smiling. Thank you. Namaste!!
Jui Ianne Bacay thank you so much for your message! Yes, this class is difficult and it took me a LONG time to be able to flow like I do. You will too if you continue...I promise. I love that you were smiling and crying in Savasana...I don't really know why you did either...I only know that it's really awesome! :-)
although I really enjoy this and want to learn Ashtanga, this is too fast-paced for me and for me, I think my practice needs to be more slow and really getting the movements. You were going as fast as I believe you normally would on your own, and for an intro class it seemed too fast for me. Personal preference though.
+bethaknee t. Seeing that Ashtanga is a very demanding yoga I think it is a good representation of what it is. I tryed it, and I was unable to keep up. However, little by little and eventually you can complete the video.
+bethaknee t. No matter what yoga you do, you still have to go at your own pace. This class is more like all levels yoga because obviously that arm balance in lotus at the end is NOT a beginner posture! This class just allows a *range* which is a great introduction to primary series compared to the complete practice. Just watch a demo of the primary series from someone who practices the higher series (like second and so forth). The real way that primary series is taught by a teacher in person is that the teacher teaches you a few postures at a time. You would not start by practicing all postures at one, unless perhaps you are super experienced at vinyasa and know most of the postures already. Even then, ashtanga is very different, and most people are taught it one posture at a time. Then over time you do all postures at once in a complete form. I learned the primary series in person from a teacher and that is why I use these videos as a lead primary series practice for all levels. However, it is really not wise to do this class if you are a true beginner. You can injure yourself by doing the posture right, especially chaturanga dandasana and Sarvangasana, among many others. Just be careful and start with one posture at a time.
+bethaknee t. No matter what yoga you do, you still have to go at your own pace. This class is more like all levels yoga because obviously that arm balance in lotus at the end is NOT a beginner posture! This class just allows a *range* which is a great introduction to primary series compared to the complete practice. Just watch a demo of the primary series from someone who practices the higher series (like second and so forth), and you will clearly see that this is indeed an intro to ashtanga primary. The real way that primary series is taught by a teacher in person is that the teacher teaches you a few postures at a time. You would not start by practicing all postures at once, unless perhaps you are super experienced at vinyasa and know most of the postures already. Even then, ashtanga is very different, and most people are taught it one posture at a time. Then over time you do all postures at once in a complete form. I learned the primary series in person from a teacher and that is why I use these videos as a lead primary series practice for all levels. However, it is really not wise to do this class if you are a true beginner. You can injure yourself by doing the posture wrong especially chaturanga dandasana and Sarvangasana, among many others. Just be careful and start with one posture at a time.
I used to do yoga fix 90 while I was traveling in Switzerland But after I came back to Korea, I forgot to do it and I am just back to this each series. Definitely going back to yoga fix 90. I'm so happy to do your yoga series. Always I am so thankful of your generosity for sharing yoga practices. And you know what, I'm going to take yoga instructor course in an year. You just made me remind what I want to do in the future. You made me find my happiness in my daily life. Thank you very much. Hope I can meet you one day when I go to America. Cheers!
Lesley hi I'm new to yoga.. im not very flexible but I would love to do this... I was wondering what does this type of yoga do for the mind and body. . Please can you inform me
I've started doing this video every week "Ashtanga Monday". Incorporating this into my normal yoga week (5-6 days per week) has really helped my flexibility & stamina. Thanks a ton Lesley! You rock :)
I've been forgoing ashtanga for weightlifing this past year and started to miss it lately. I decided to practice a bit at home before going back to my usual ashtanga class. I managed to do everything but was sweating so much. For some reason I cried too during the final meditation. Your soft speech touched me, and I think my body missed the movement that ashtanga provided for some time. Thank you for the amazing class. Both my body and my soul felt rejuvenated🤍
I've been practicing yoga for several years now, Ashtanga for most of it, & I can say that I still prefer the half primary series. I'm not very athletic at all, plus I have some physical limitations, so it suits me better. You also don't have to do nearly as many vinyasas, so you don't feel as tired as if you went to a heated classroom. I also have David Swenson's full Primary Series video & practice that very regularly (& highly recommend it), but this video accurately sums up the postures that I do frequently when I practice Ashtanga on my own. It's always nice to have someone guiding the breath so that it doesn't feel like a "power yoga" kind of class.
I've been watching for this video for so long !!! Maybe a 1000 times ! Thank you Lesley, I still can't believe you are gone. I will continue practice because you are the one who inspired me from the beggining. This is my way of honoring your memory.
Same
Me too!! Thank you Lesley!! You continue on in our practice! ❤️
When did she leave?
Same
I always come back to Lesley and I miss her dearly I've never met her but she has been such a support system in my darkest days I hope that you're teaching the angels yoga
I stumbled upon this video randomly searching for beginner Ashtanga, hoping to get back into practice after many years away. Cued it up, and dove straight into it. Struggled a bit, sweated, but kept breathing, and by the time I was at Shavasana I felt a calming ease that I had not felt in a long time.
I am now in tears reading the comments. Rest in peace, Leslie. Thank you for your gift, your legacy lives on. Namaste.
Still going back to this video after more than 7 years. Thank you Lesley. Rest in power.
I appreciate when people try to stay as close to the original art form as possible, like using the correct vocabulary, even if it's in another language. So, thank you for that.
I've been doing this ashtanga yoga for a month. At least 5 times a week. I can truly say that happiness comes from within. There is no outside factors you need to chase to make yourself cheerful. If your body is happy your mind is happy your spirit is happy.
+Space Man thank you so much! Yes, you're so right....happiness is an "inside job!" :-)
This is very positive I really needed to read this. I have depression and just started doing yoga. I’ve always been drawn to it. Since I started doing it this week I do feel a little better and was hoping it wasn’t just in my mind. Do you recommend any specific yoga for weight-loss / depression? ❤️thank you
Erin, hope you're continuing to feel the benefits. Check out Yoga with Adriene, too, as she has some specific playlists for this sort of thing.
Erin, this very ashtanga yoga make you lose weight and tone your body, keeep doing and see the result.
Does it help.in toning body..waist I.mean
after a long time now and with some sadness too, I did my first Asthanga Class again with you,Lesley. Your classes will forever help me, doing my Yoga practice at home. Rest in Peace
I just completed this wonderful practice today. Thank you so much Leslie for this offering and your contribution to the world. You were and still are an amazing healer. May you rest easy, beautiful soul. Namaste.
Rest In Peace Lesly. You’ve changed so many lives
What??? She died?!
you prolly dont care at all but does someone know a trick to get back into an instagram account..?
I was stupid forgot the login password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Hassan Gideon I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im in the hacking process atm.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Hassan Gideon It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my ass :D
@Liam Christian Happy to help :)
I have to say that I have not been able to watch Lesley's video until today. I adored her work and she for sure was/is the most sincere and devoted Yoga teachers. Her voice and ease with the practice is a gift. I am saddened but glad to engage with her guidance again. Mt heartfelt prayer to her family as she was such a force of nature. namaste
This video supported me through really learning most of the Ashtanga Primary Series. Today I found out the news of your passing. So saddened by this. Deep peace to you, Lesley 🙏💛🌾
very sad indeed maybe it was a suicide ....rip
It's sad.I didn't know😔.
This is so heartbreaking!! I just finished this first class with her and was thinking what a beautiful person she is. May she rest in peace. Her love and gifts here live on :'(
@@sophiajordan7118 how do you make a comment like that? It maybe due to illness, or an accident or maybe something to do with health. Why do you think and conclude maybe suicide? It’s sad to know she was lost at young age.
@@Shyamazha I
agreed. There has been much contemplation about the cause of Lesley's passing but the family is very determined to keep it private. I think we should respect that and leave speculation aside. She is gone and she is terribly missed. Her video classes are a treasure she left for all of us. Let us express out deepest gratitude for that and send peace and love up to her soul on high. That's all there is left to do.
Thank you Leslie. Much love to you in the universe. Love to your family also
I've been practicing your 30-minute ashtanga for the past couple of months and have built up the strength to move up to this 1 hour class. Thank you for keeping this channel going.
Rest in Power! I always go back to this when I can’t make a class or need to do some recovery. Thank you ❤✨
I've been practicing ashtanga yoga for years doing classes, now I want to incorporate it into my morning routine. I woke up at 6AM and this routine gives me life. thank you so much for posting this!
+The Minimalist Ninja wonderful! So glad this is helpful to your practice! :)
I have been watching this video for 6 years. Today was the 1st practice after a 30 Day Water Fast. This practice made me cry with so much gratitude. Thank you for creating this as it has transformed my life forever. Thank you. 🙏
I love your class I am a beginner yogi and have been doing your class 6 days a week for 3 months, I have noticed a change in my flexibility, strength and calmness thank you so much!
One the greatest of all times especially here on UA-cam. You are deeply missed and loved.
Just started practicing Ashtanga form of yoga, and it is awesome. Thank you for this free class. I still cannot do the entire sequence all the way through, but I know it will come with time, patience, and practice.
My dear Lesley you was my favourite yoga teacher. I cant belive that You are not with us. My everyday starts with You and with yours trainings. Deep peace to you, Lesley. Love You
as a lean, 200 lb former athlete who's mostly stuck to resistance training for the past couple of years (never yoga), this class is humbling. I like it.
+Kennedy Otieno I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, there are things that are very different about yoga....however, I doubt that I could do the things that you can do! :-)
+Fightmaster Yoga As I go through your class & muscle fatigue starts to set in, I find myself having to either pause the video or resort to straying away from your breath count (I'm usually able to keep up if I cheat & let my breathing rate increase). Which of these 2 methods would you say is better?
+Kennedy Otieno I think it's best to focus on the breath. :-)
+Ken Otieno Happens to me too, all of a sudden it's a new pose and I find myself taking a quick breath in and change, because I forget myself. :D My method is either pausing or just doing it slowly until I finish the pose at my pace, and then 'rewinding' the video. You do interrupt yourself, but I think it's ok if you';re still learning.
i literally came here to say the same thing. very humbling and motivating
My no.1 COVID-19 lock-down routine. Thank you so much!
I keep practicing this session - and I really love your attitude, and guidance. My body is returning to this form of yoga after nearly 10 years, and I am really enjoying the journey. I love the odd little giggles during the commentary, it reminds me to smile during the practice. I struggle with the breathing, but I know it will come in time. Thank you again Lesley - Suzie
suzanne eustace Thank you so much for your lovely message! I'm glad you're enjoying the Ashtanga practice. I'm also glad that you like my little giggles! I was always taught to remember the joy of our practice and I'm glad that you feel it too! :-)
Lesley I just want you to know how much I appreciate your videos. Ashtanga can seem very unattainable for beginners but you make it very accessible. Thank you so much you are a great teacher.
+Sara Carlsson I'm so happy that you like the classes! I appreciate your message! xx
Intense practice! But very relaxing. Kind of fast for me right now, but I will come back and work on my speed. It made me fall asleep. I am barely getting back into yoga as a regular practice so I appreciate your practice. Thank you!
I know your comment was 6 years ago but I thought to mention that you can slow down the speed of the video.
Thank you Lesley. You are alive in our hearts.
RIP Yogini 🙏🏻🙏🏻
You will be missed deeply ❤️
What has happened to her
Bless you. Namaste and thank you for the light you shone on so many people. I was sad to watch your videos for a while. They pulled me out of so many dark days for so many years. May your light shine forever.
This class was pretty challenging - had to rest at some parts - but even then I felt so energized and at peace at the end of it. Thank you!
MORE ASHTANGA! This is the second time I do this class and I absolutely adore it! One hour long classes are the best, also cannot get enough of Ashtanga!
+Pythia77 thank you!!!! Did you see the whole first series? Here is the link if you want to try it: ua-cam.com/video/qJzfZ6w0s4g/v-deo.html :-)
This has been my go-to practice video since CV19 started. Just counted, I have done it 49 times. Thank you!
Lesley - you are the best thing that has happened to UA-cam! Thank you so much for sharing yoga with the world! I will be going overseas soon and am thankful that I know I can keep my practice going (with a teacher) because of your yoga! You always have great, fun, challenging but accessible classes! Thank you! I'd love to see more Ashtanga classes with other primary and intermediary elements! Thank you!!
kachikally1 Thank you so much!!! Yes, after we finish our Yoga Fix 90 we'll add more Ashtanga! Have a great trip overseas! xx
Thank you. Now that we’re isolated due to Coronavirus, this video is really helpful to continue with my practice. Namaste!
same for me :)
Same
Perfect; I play it over and over again- so peaceful. Lesley is and will stay with me as long as I live
So energizing and challenging. Thank you Lesley - from one heart to another
I am sick and did not want to go to class only to be coughing a bunch so grabbed my mat and found this wonderful video to practice with at home. Thank you so much! It was great! :)
Roxanne Guzman Hi Roxanne! I hope you feel better soon and it's so nice of you to stay home while you're sick. I'm sure your fellow yogis will appreciate not getting sick. :-) xx
As a classical ballet dancer, yoga has always been very challenging. Ballet is all about holding tension in the body to appear light and lifted, whereas yoga focuses on breathing through poses and allowing gravity to hold you. I always disliked yoga because it was so different from how my ballet body has been trained to move, but I really am learning to love this practice. Ashtanga is so centering, both in the mind and body.
So nice that you're receiving some yoga benefits :)
A beautiful, thorough practice. Leslie, I am grateful for all you've taught me, for all you gave. XXX
Lesley, this is an amazing class. I'm new to ashtanga and this is my 2nd week practicing with your video. The first week was interesting considering how awkward some of my poses were as I've never performed them before. 2nd week in and already I'm seeing such a huge difference. I hope to be as strong as you in the future. Thanks again!
I just started with this class with her and wanted to tell her how much her teaching is helping me get started in Ashtanga. I’m mortified to find she died. I plan to do this class more. No words at this moment but do know her spirit moved on to a higher place. 🙏🙏🙏
I did this again this morning. I LOVE this practice, I love this lesson, it was soo perfect! Thank you so much Lesley! :) :) :)
I cannot get enough of this class... :)
Absolute Love. It's been almost 2 years since this video changed my life, and 2 years in which my life has changed in so many ways, and it is only the beginning. Yet, when I come back to it, it is the form of yoga that leaves me feeling the best of all, the best sensation of wholeness, completeness, as if all that I needed was here, in this practice. Both my body, and my mind, who is washed out. Thank you Lesley for the best yoga class ever.
I've been practicing with you for a while and now I'm into your ashtanga series! I can't believe what a yogi I am now! haha! Love love you! Thank you for helping me love yoga!
❤️
Many thanks for providing this guide. I live in a remote area, with no access to in-person yoga classes, but have been looking to ways to build healthier routines into my life at home. I believe this practice will be a great way for me to begin, and it's very generous for you to share it with the online community. I found it clear and accessible, but it also challenging enough to provide room for me to grow and feel excited about continuing/progressing in my ability to do all of the movements and positions. Thank you again!
This video will never be the same..
My first experience with Ashtanga, absolutely beautiful thank you thank you thank you Lesley!
+Suzanne MacInnis It's a beautiful practice and tradition. I'm so glad you were able to share it with us! xx
This practice feels sooo good. Thank you so much. Your voice is so meditating me during practice.Beautiful.
Hi Lesley: just a brief note to thank you for your authentic generosity and gentle spirit. I also appreciate your desire to lead us in not just in the asanas but to contribute to our evolution as we live the philosophies embraced by yoga
Tammy Davis Thank you Tammy! It means so much to me to try and communicate the beautiful philosophies of yoga along with the asanas...your comment really touched my heart. :-)
This is a perfect video for a daily before-work Ashtanga practice. Love it!
😊
A wonderful introduction to the foundations of Ashtanga Yoga.
Dude, every time I practice 'with you' you school me a little bit more. Thank you so much. With love from Uk Namaste :D
I really loved how this reminded us constantly to pull in our belly because this is something I always forget. Loved the soft, soothing voice too!
Lesley, you're amazing and incredibly strong! Thank you for this video, it reminds me that I am a perpetual student.
Wow so nice to observe ashtanga taught by someone with a soft & gentle tone. Thank you
Love your voice and gentle manner. It's encouraging me to venture back to ashtanga...:-)
carol durand Thank you Carol! Welcome back to your Ashtanga practice! :-) xx
I miss you Lesley! Thank you for your encouragement and permission that yoga is not about perfe tion. Peace be with you!!
first ashtanga experience. I Lovvvved it! Thanks!
+Caleb Starnes Awesome!
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and poses. I simply love ashtanga and I can feel the benefit on my body/mind/spirit. Has done guided classes long ago and my body just transformed. I have scoliosi and a problem with my neck but I am also a physiotherapist and I could never praise Ashtanga yoga enough for what has gave me and still giving me. At the moment I do live in a place far away rom ashtanga venues and find your channel is just a blessing! thank you so much. Namestè
+Karuna Poorun Thank you so much! The mat is from Liforme and there website is liforme.com. :-)
Vvv
silvio Rodrigues
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The best yoga class on youtube. Hands down. Thank you.
this was fun! my favorite part is going from cobra to downward facing dog! i can feel a nice stretch
Your energy is so beautiful Lesley! In every single class, no matter how short or long it is you end up feeling peace and content. Thank you SO MUCH! Namaste!
+maria daniela Garcia That is such a lovely thing to say, thank you very much!!! xx
thank you so much for sharing your yoga. I love your guidance and it helps me understand more about the sequence and the movement :)
Thank you so much!! xoxo
I thank you for this class... I tried this class few days ago in Singapore... I tried again this time.. I rejoice this session.. THANK YOU.. NAMASTE 🙏
2023 still doing this awesome practice with Lesley ❤
thanks for the second breath - mouvement! The first one was 31 years ago with the help of "light on yoga" by Ivegar,i'm 50 now. Looking for the aweareness - the third one - the last step in my lifetime. Sincerely yours, lyakh.
+Владимир Лях That's wonderful!! I'm so glad you joined us today!
Join...l'm awfully sorry. The Teaching isn't on honour of people around me- the war is running. I can only have a glimpse of what you are doing, to catch a bit of inspiration.Thanks a lot!
Hi Leslie, I started doing this class two months ago, as a proper beginner! Doing it 5-6 times a week has built my strength and flexibility, and I love every second of it. Each day I discover something better in my poses. Is there anything you would suggest to better my practice regarding any of your other videos, as a beginner? There are just too many to choose from! I can't thank you enough for showing me the benefits of yoga; it's reduced my stress, anxiety, and depression after losing my pregnancy. It feels wonderful to like my body again. Love from South Africa, Abi
Hi Lesley. My outdoor Sunday Yoga class had an event elsewhere so I decided to check out some other yoga classes on youtube. I've heard of Ashtanga and was challenged by this class
Thank you and all who made it possible!
Thank you, Leslie! This is amazing intro to Ashtanga. I loved it!
This is my new favorite class. I wish I had time for it every morning. Thank you so much for posting this.
Thank you for this class! May I put in a request for the full series to be available soon? It would be so very helpful for me in my practice. You are a lovely teacher, thank you so much for sharing your joy in yoga with us!
Namaste
Thanks for all your kind dedication Leslie, I have been enjoying your videos almost daily for a month now and it is so nice to practice to your voice and sequences instead of alone. All the from Chile a big thanks to you. Elisa
Elisa Sepulveda thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you're joining us from Chile! :-)
Wooooo really loving Ashtanga! Getting that jump through!! Good stuff. I want to get good at this! :)
Glad that you're getting into Ashtanga :)
Thank you for these classes Leslie. Grace, skill and heart all in one!
Deep appreciations ~ Jai
Whoever says yoga isn't exercise or isn't challenging doesn't know what they're talking about hahah. If I keep practicing and doing this will I eventually master these poses? It was so hard!! But I loved it!
It will all come by time:)
Your voice is so gentle and soothing. I wish and pray I talk the same through the day and keep my cool. Thank you for your practice.
Really really nice. It's just so fast paced and quite challenging :) Lots of poses i just couldn't do.
9threalm Yes, this one takes some practice. Just do what you can...take it easy and do what you can...as you continue, you'll be able to do more. :-)
Yeah it was very fast paced it for me felt out of sync but you are very masterful at that speed. Much respect. I had to slow it down to .5x otherwise I get dizzy
You are truly a work of art. Wonderful teaching, wonderful poses, wonderful meditation. 🙏🏽namaste.
Thank you for this pleasant yoga video.
However, for "beginners", I felt it was a bit fast during some sequences, and would have liked the camera to have shown you from mat to ceiling, as there were many instances where I questioned what my feet should be doing.
V Spiering Thank you! That is a good point. The Ashtanga practice is difficult for beginners...good job practicing it! This class is geared more toward beginners: ua-cam.com/video/W0FxPT0O0SA/v-deo.html you may like it better...
This video and the follow up ashtanga videos from fightmaster are the best i have ever seen, They always get me back to the mat. Thank you.
I can only afford my yoga class 2 times a week,is this something that can keep me going for the rest of the days alone at home?
Ειρήνη Μαραγκάκη Yes. This is a nicely paced half-primary series. Get a good book - Swenson, Friend, Beryl - to help guide you.
Your videos are superb. Clean, concise, no fancy camera angles, just pure instruction. I've done hot vinyasa for years but want to get into ashtanga and I love your videos. Amazing.
Hi. I am a thirteen-year-old.At the first parts of the video I really hate you for making the asanas complicated and the way you move and flow make me think that everything is easy but its not. I don't know how but while I was practicing with you I finally did the paschimotanassana pose without the knees bent,the shoulder stand without any support and ear pressure. While I was in Savasana, I don't know why but I'm crying and smiling. Thank you. Namaste!!
Jui Ianne Bacay thank you so much for your message! Yes, this class is difficult and it took me a LONG time to be able to flow like I do. You will too if you continue...I promise. I love that you were smiling and crying in Savasana...I don't really know why you did either...I only know that it's really awesome! :-)
I'm 53 and I very often smile and cry while doing yoga.
so nice to do this one again after so many yrs. this class is perfection. love the simplicticty and disciplined style.
although I really enjoy this and want to learn Ashtanga, this is too fast-paced for me and for me, I think my practice needs to be more slow and really getting the movements. You were going as fast as I believe you normally would on your own, and for an intro class it seemed too fast for me. Personal preference though.
+bethaknee t. Seeing that Ashtanga is a very demanding yoga I think it is a good representation of what it is. I tryed it, and I was unable to keep up. However, little by little and eventually you can complete the video.
+Space Man I agree with both, somewhat. It needs more than one try to learn.
+bethaknee t. Why don't you start with something else to learn asanas and then move to Ashtanga?
+bethaknee t. No matter what yoga you do, you still have to go at your own pace. This class is more like all levels yoga because obviously that arm balance in lotus at the end is NOT a beginner posture! This class just allows a *range* which is a great introduction to primary series compared to the complete practice. Just watch a demo of the primary series from someone who practices the higher series (like second and so forth). The real way that primary series is taught by a teacher in person is that the teacher teaches you a few postures at a time. You would not start by practicing all postures at one, unless perhaps you are super experienced at vinyasa and know most of the postures already. Even then, ashtanga is very different, and most people are taught it one posture at a time. Then over time you do all postures at once in a complete form. I learned the primary series in person from a teacher and that is why I use these videos as a lead primary series practice for all levels. However, it is really not wise to do this class if you are a true beginner. You can injure yourself by doing the posture right, especially chaturanga dandasana and Sarvangasana, among many others. Just be careful and start with one posture at a time.
+bethaknee t. No matter what yoga you do, you still have to go at your own pace. This class is more like all levels yoga because obviously that arm balance in lotus at the end is NOT a beginner posture! This class just allows a *range* which is a great introduction to primary series compared to the complete practice. Just watch a demo of the primary series from someone who practices the higher series (like second and so forth), and you will clearly see that this is indeed an intro to ashtanga primary. The real way that primary series is taught by a teacher in person is that the teacher teaches you a few postures at a time. You would not start by practicing all postures at once, unless perhaps you are super experienced at vinyasa and know most of the postures already. Even then, ashtanga is very different, and most people are taught it one posture at a time. Then over time you do all postures at once in a complete form. I learned the primary series in person from a teacher and that is why I use these videos as a lead primary series practice for all levels. However, it is really not wise to do this class if you are a true beginner. You can injure yourself by doing the posture wrong especially chaturanga dandasana and Sarvangasana, among many others. Just be careful and start with one posture at a time.
tender style, full of patience and peace! It's very practical!
+林青儀 Thank you so much! :-)
This was my first time trying this one. I really liked it.
Question: What does it mean to “seal in the practice”? Thanks in advance
It means to keep the energy that you created for you, instead of letutingj it flee
Thanks lesley, love your calm and gentle manner, perfect pace. Cheers from France.
Can I request a full-primary class if it's possible?
김혜수 Yes!! We are planning to add it after the 90 days are finished. My teacher might practice too. :-)
Fightmaster Yoga Wow, Thank you!!
Thank you for my first introduction to ashtanga. Very humbling.
Practice and all is coming 😊
John Frusciante brought me here :D
From the Chili Peppers? Cool!
Yep
Nikolai Megdanov I’m a huuuuuge fan ♥️
me too!!!
How?
I used to do yoga fix 90 while I was traveling in Switzerland
But after I came back to Korea, I forgot to do it and I am just back to this each series. Definitely going back to yoga fix 90. I'm so happy to do your yoga series. Always I am so thankful of your generosity for sharing yoga practices. And you know what, I'm going to take yoga instructor course in an year. You just made me remind what I want to do in the future. You made me find my happiness in my daily life. Thank you very much. Hope I can meet you one day when I go to America. Cheers!
guzelesecegim I'm so happy that you found your love! I hope that we meet one day in the US too!
Lesley hi I'm new to yoga.. im not very flexible but I would love to do this... I was wondering what does this type of yoga do for the mind and body. . Please can you inform me
***** hey Lesley and thank you for the information. .. I will start my journey of yoga on Monday. .. thank you again.. peace & love
***** hey I have a question. . Should I do this yoga every day or every other day...
***** thank you
I've started doing this video every week "Ashtanga Monday". Incorporating this into my normal yoga week (5-6 days per week) has really helped my flexibility & stamina. Thanks a ton Lesley! You rock :)
I've been forgoing ashtanga for weightlifing this past year and started to miss it lately. I decided to practice a bit at home before going back to my usual ashtanga class. I managed to do everything but was sweating so much. For some reason I cried too during the final meditation. Your soft speech touched me, and I think my body missed the movement that ashtanga provided for some time. Thank you for the amazing class. Both my body and my soul felt rejuvenated🤍
Your sweet voice smooths out all the difficulties, thank you!
Time and time again this video makes my life peacefull. Gives me strength and Insigt. No Lesley, thank you. 😊❤ This is truely transforming my life.
Thank you my amazing teacher! 💕 🙏 You are still here with me.
I've been practicing yoga for several years now, Ashtanga for most of it, & I can say that I still prefer the half primary series. I'm not very athletic at all, plus I have some physical limitations, so it suits me better. You also don't have to do nearly as many vinyasas, so you don't feel as tired as if you went to a heated classroom. I also have David Swenson's full Primary Series video & practice that very regularly (& highly recommend it), but this video accurately sums up the postures that I do frequently when I practice Ashtanga on my own. It's always nice to have someone guiding the breath so that it doesn't feel like a "power yoga" kind of class.
Namaste, Leslie. Wonderful class. Thank you, beautiful precious and gentle Co-Creator. Om Shanti Om. ~ Joyful
***** thank you for your beautiful and sweet message! Love and blessings to you. :-)