Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa: An Introduction

Ashtanga yoga Vinyasa is one of the oldest forms of yoga. Ashtanga Yoga literally means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, representing the eight aspects of yoga as taught by the sage Patanjali. It owes its popularity to Sri K despite it being 5000 years old. Pattabhi Jois, who under the careful eye of his guru Krishnamacharya founded The Ashtanga Yoga Reasearch Institue in Mysore, India focused at teaching this exact type of yoga.

The benefits provided by ashtanga yoga series encapsulate the entire being, physical, emotional, and mental.   Physically it gets rid of diseases, making it strong and light, allows the body to absorb and maintain prana that is believed to prolong life span.  Emotionally it frees us of old emotions and allows us to see clearly and not link ourselves to a situation or condition. Its effect mentally includes improved analysis on sensory data while opening the mind at the same time.

How is Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa Performed?

Often termed to as the athletic yoga because of its discipline and interlinking system of Vinyasa, ashtanga yoga vinyasa is a group of particular asanas or postures that are performed in a chronological order, starting with the ten sun salutations followed by standing, seating and finishing moves. The full expression of the asana requires one to hold a minimum of five breaths. In ashtanga the thoraco-diaphragmative breathing is used. By pumping it out the lungs get rid of the air. Vinyasa means breathing along while moving thus deep breathing is encouraged in order to increase vitality.

The various postures are done so one may become aware of all the parts of the body, and as awareness is reached the life force is directed to that area. Chronic diseases are believed to develop where awareness is absent. The life force is spread evenly through out the body be learning to breathe into the different body parts.

Breathing in ashtanga is done using the abdomen and the thorax. By increasing inhalation, oxygen supply is increased as well and by increasing exhalation toxin are exhaled too which includes physical, mental, emotional and environmental toxins.  These toxins build up in areas where oxygen is almost absent and these leads to chronic illnesses. Inhaling and exhaling deeply can help the body get rid of toxins and bring life to different areas thus bringing the body to its original state of health.

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