Self-Practice is what yoga is all about. For thousands of years, Yoga has been taught from teacher to student on a one-to-one basis taking a student through his or her own development at an appropriate pace.
This is the traditional form of Ashtanga yoga as taught by the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, South India - hence the name.
In Mysore-style classes, each student practices the Ashtanga system at their own pace, with individual instruction and hands-on adjustments by the teacher. It's a little bit like a private class within a group environment. Students new to Ashtanga are not expected to know the sequence; it is an all-levels class and beginners are welcome. Students can start their practice at any time during the session - the length of practice and time needed will vary for each person.
Poses are added gradually to ensure a safe yet challenging experience. This allows for a deeper connection to develop between teacher, student, and the practice. As a new student, one is introduced to postures one at a time. An on-going student finds an opportunity to refine the practice and gain the ability to move efficiently through the practice without being led verbally by a teacher.