Ashtanga Yoga Explained
Ashtanga Yoga As It Was Taught By Shri K. Pattabhi Jois In Mysore
May 25, 2008
The roots of Ashtanga yoga are said to be in an ancient text called Yoga Korunta, written by Vamana Rishi. Its teachings were passed on to the famous yoga teacher T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900s by his own teacher, Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari. A student of Krishnamacharya, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, founded the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, now called Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, in the Southern Indian city of Mysore in 1948.
Pattabhi Jois, or Guruji as his students call him, passed away on the 18th of May 2009 in Mysore at the age of 93. Guruji's daughter Saraswathi and her son R. Sharath continue teaching in the KPJAYI.
The Practice Of Ashtanga Yoga
A central part of the Ashtanga Yoga practice is Vinyasa, breath synchronized movement. For each movement there is one breath: an inhalation or an exhalation. Another key element is Tristhana, the combination of the breathing system (Ujjayi Pranayama), postures (asanas), and gazing point (dristi).
A part of the breathing system are bandhas or "seals": the mula bandha or anal lock, and the uddiyana bandha or abdominal lock, which are used to seal energy and make the practice strong and light.
Together these elements produce heat, and sweat is a visible part of an Ashtanga practice. The heat purifies the body, the nervous system and finally also the mind from six poisons: desire, anger, delusion, greed, envy and sloth.
The Eight Limbs Of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga has a reputation for being a very physical form of yoga. However, physical postures are only one of the "eight limbs" of Ashtanga Yoga, which are described in the Yoga Sutras written by the Indian sage Patanjali approximately 2000 years ago. There are four external limbs:
- Yama, abstinences
- Niyama, observances
- Asana, postures
- Pranayama, breath control
The practice of the external limbs leads to the internal limbs:
- Pratyahara, withdrawal of senses
- Dharana, concentration
- Dhyana, meditation
- Samadhi, contemplation
Ashtanga Yoga has six series of postures, which are always done in the same order. The Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa or yoga therapy) purifies the physical body, and the Intermediate Series (Nadi Shodhana) cleanses the nervous system. The Advanced Series A, B, C and D (Sthira Bhaga) are progressively more and more challenging.
Practicing Ashtanga Yoga Mysore Style
The traditional method of studying Ashtanga Yoga is self-practice or "Mysore style". When studying Ashtanga Yoga in the KPJAYI in Mysore, students practice at their own pace and within their own limits. Postures are taught one by one, and new postures are added to the practice only when a student can do the previous ones and remember the sequence. "Led classes" are taught in Mysore generally only on Fridays and Sundays.
How To Find An Authorized Ashtanga Teacher
Ashtanga teachers are authorized or certified only by the KPJAYI. There is no Ashtanga Yoga teacher training programme that is approved by the KPJAYI. Authorized and certified ashtanga teachers are listed on the KPJAYI website. Authorized and certified teachers are expected to study regularly in Mysore and teach the system as it has been taught to them by Guruji. Authorized teachers have made at least four study trips to the KPJAYI, each visit lasting a minimum of three months. Certified teachers are advanced practitioners who have usually made at least eight annual trips to the KPJAYI.
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