" Practice, practice, practice and all is coming." ~ Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois

 

Ashtanga Yoga (also known as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga) is a powerful, dynamic form of yoga that has a set sequence of postures (or asanas) synchronised with controlled breathing.  This flowing movement is called vinyasa. 

 

The unique aspect of Ashtanga Yoga is its focus on self-practice.  Once the basic sequence of asanas is learned, you are able to practice them alone at home, taking into consideration your lifestyle and family commitments.  As your body opens and practice develops, you are taught the next asana in the sequence by a competent teacher.   

 

The asanas are designed and taught systematically to detoxify the body through the creation of internal body-heat and a purifying sweat.  A balance of body strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness develops.  The practice incorporates the techniques of: ujjayi breathing (or Victorious Breath); the holding of internal core muscle locks (called bandhas); and fixed gaze points (called drishti) to contain body energy and focus mental attention.  Ashtanga can be likened to a 'moving meditation' and is a complete system of yoga practice.

 

Ashtanga Yoga is designed into six different series: Primary Series (called Yoga Chikitsa, yoga therapy); Intermediate Series (called Nadhi Shodhana, purifying the nervous system) and; Advanced A, B, C and D (called Sthira Baga, integrating strength with grace of movement).  Each series needs to be practiced proficiently before proceeding to the next and taught in correct sequence.  For most people, practising at the Primary Series level is sufficiently challenging.   

 

The master of Ashtanga Yoga is Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India.  Guruji, as he was affectionately known, passed away on 16 May 2009 at the age of 93, after a lifetime of total devotion to Ashtanga.  When he was 12 Guruji began his studies with his teacher Krishnamacharya, based on the methods from the Yoga Korunta – an ancient text that is the source of Ashtanga Yoga.  Guruji was the love and light that is yoga.  

 

                                            

 

The Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute offers westerners the chance to taste Ashtanga's authentic teachings - a visit is an unforgettable experience for any Ashtanga devotee and is highly recommended!  Guruji’s grandson, Sharath Rangaswamy, along with his mother Saraswathi, continue the lineage and teach daily classes.  Classes held are in the form of ‘self-practice’ where students practice in silence alongside one-another, according to the pace of their breath and their physical capability, receiving individual assistance from the teacher as needed – this form of self-practice is known the world over as ‘Mysore-style’.

 

Sharath is the world’s most advanced Ashtanga Yoga practitioner, being the only student who has mastered all five series.  It takes several years of devoted, daily practice and study to become an Authorised or Certified Teacher of Ashtanga Yoga – currently there are only 11 in Australia and less than 200 in the entire world. 

 

At Momentum, I am committed to practicing and teaching Ashtanga Yoga in an authentic way, according to this tradition.