Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
| Ashtanga yoga | |
|---|---|
| Founder | K. Pattabhi Jois |
| Established | late 20th century |
| Practice emphases | |
| Employs Vinyāsa, or connecting asanas. | |
| Related schools | |
The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a style of yoga codified and popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. Ashtanga means eight limbs or branches, of which asana or physical yoga posture is merely one branch, breath or pranayama is another. Both Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois, his grandson, encourage practice of Ashtanga Yoga - all eight limbs. The first two limbs - Yamas and Niyamas - are given special emphasis to be practiced in conjunction with the 3rd and 4th limbs (asana and pranayama).
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois began his yoga studies in 1927 at the age of 12, and by 1948 had established the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute for teaching the specific yoga practice known as Ashtanga (Sanskrit for "eight-limbed") Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga is named after the eight limbs of yoga mentioned in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
"Power yoga" is a generic term that may refer to any type of aerobically vigorous yoga exercise derived from Ashtanga yoga.
The term Mysore style comes from the city Mysore, in Karnataka, India, where Pattabhi Jois and T. Krishnamcharya taught. Students are expected to memorize a sequence and practice in the same room as others without being led by the teacher. The role of the teacher is to guide as well as provide adjustments or assists in postures.
Twice per week Mysore-style classes are substituted with led classes, where the teacher takes a group through the same series at the same time. However, it should be noted the inclusion of 2 led classes per week was only included in P. Jois' senior years.
Usually an Ashtanga practice begins with five repetitions of Surya Namaskara A and five repetitions of Surya Namaskara B, followed by a standing sequence. Following this the practitioner begins one of six series, followed by what is called the closing sequence. The six series are:
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