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Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient practice that is both a philosophical and a physical system, one that may be practiced throughout ones life to bring about optimal health, heightened focus and peace of mind. In recent years it has become widely known through the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Pattabhi Jois, or "Guruji" as he is affectionately known to his students, has been teaching this style of yoga for more than sixty years now, inspiring and training many of the senior yoga instructors around the world. Many styles of Hatha Yoga have borrowed from this method, including Vinyasa yoga, Power yoga, and Dynamic yoga - all of which use the physical aspects of Ashtanga to create an energetic class. What distinguishes these styles is that the asanas (postures) flow in a graceful sequence, guided by rhythmic breathing, to produce an inner heat and suppleness in the body and a meditative state of mind. When muscles become warm it is then safer to stretch to our full potential, while we attempt to quiet the mind and create a dance-like movement by linking the postures together. With regular practice the body is molded like a piece of clay, each day being stretched, strengthened and balanced from the inside out. Yoga helps to prevent injuries during intense training and makes us more aware of our movements and posture throughout the day. Ashtanga literally
means "eight limbs or branches".
The physical side of Ashtanga is just one of these branches. There
have been many interpretations of these eight limbs but in the briefest
sense they are the following: |
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