Ashtanga Yoga is a practice designed to purify the body, realign the nervous system and find focus and mindfulness. It is a set series of postures linked together to create a flowing sequence that is synchronised with the breath.
Where Does it Come From?
Ashtanga Yoga comes from Mysore, in the south of India. Pattabhi Jois, or Guruji as his students call him, began practicing and refining the Ashtanga system in 1927 with his teacher, the great Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Sadly he departed this world in May 2009 and the lineage holder is now Sharath Jois. The lineage holder is now his grandson Sharath Jois who currently runs at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore.
The Meaning of Ashtanga
‘Ashtanga yoga’ translates as ‘eight-limbed yoga’ (ashta=eight, anga=limb). It refers to the eight limbs outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra, a text written around 500BCE. This text includes moral and ethical guidelines, postures, breath work, sense withdrawal, concentration, and meditation.
The eight steps basically act as guidelines on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life.
Benefits
• Develops strength and flexibility
• Lubricates joints
• Massages internal organs
• Tones muscles
• Promotes self-awareness
• Releases chronic tension
• Improves circulation
• Helps with weight loss
• Calms restless thoughts
• Supports mental clarity
Practicing Ashtanga Yoga
To begin practicing Ashtanga Yoga you first attend a led class, where the teacher will instruct the Primary Series of postures – called Primary A. This sequence of poses is intended to realign the spine, detoxify the body, and build inner strength, flexibility (especially in folding forwards), and stamina.
It is sequence of about 75 poses and will take you an hour and a half to two hours to complete. The teacher will guide you to the level your body is at and then provide instructions on how to work on the next pose in the sequence. It is almost certain you will not complete the entire series – and this is ok. The series is designed to be approached progressively.
Overall there are 4 published sequence in Ashtanga yoga, each one providing another level of deep inner cleansing for the body and mind.