Ashtanga Anyone?
There are basically 5 types of yoga. Vinyasa being the most common and the one you've probably done if you've taken a class that didn't specifically identify itself as some style. It's the style I teach at RealFit.tv. Ashtanga, another style of yoga, is characterized by a predefined set of postures and is well known for its strict discipline and physical practice. Ashtanga was developed many, many years ago and was passed down to Pattabhi Jois in 1927 from his Guru Sri. T. Krishnamacharya.
Ashtanga literally means eight limbs which links to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Patanjali proposed that the path of internal purification for revealing the universal self consists of these eight spiritual practices:
Yama [moral codes]
Niyama [self-purification and study]
Asana [posture]
Pranayama [breath control]
Pratyahara [sense control]
Dharana [concentration]
Dhyana [meditation]
Samadhi [self realization]
So how does one work there eight limbs? Well Asana, or the actual physical postures that most people associate with yoga, defines Ashtanga as quite a difficult style of yoga. This is the method by which we purify the body. By practicing our Pranayama, or breath control, we build beautiful heat within the body that allows us to stretch deeper and cleanse ourselves internally thus working on our Niyama.
The difficulty of the asanas forces us to focus the mind, or Dharana, and pull all of our attention inward hence we meditate, Dhyana. As we practice more and more we gain greater insight into the intricacies of the poses and how our body interacts with each asana. With time we learn to control our senses to achieve the posture we are in, or Pratyahara. All of this leads us to be more in tune with all that is around us, including our own self, enhancing our Yamas and Samadhi.
The asanas in Ashtanga are grouped into six series. The Primary Series detoxifies and aligns the body. The Intermediate Series focuses on purification of the nervous system by opening up and clearing energy channels. The Advanced Series, A, B, C and D combine the strength and grace of the practice and is truly beautiful to watch.
Namaste
Ashtanga literally means eight limbs which links to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Patanjali proposed that the path of internal purification for revealing the universal self consists of these eight spiritual practices:
Yama [moral codes]
Niyama [self-purification and study]
Asana [posture]
Pranayama [breath control]
Pratyahara [sense control]
Dharana [concentration]
Dhyana [meditation]
Samadhi [self realization]
So how does one work there eight limbs? Well Asana, or the actual physical postures that most people associate with yoga, defines Ashtanga as quite a difficult style of yoga. This is the method by which we purify the body. By practicing our Pranayama, or breath control, we build beautiful heat within the body that allows us to stretch deeper and cleanse ourselves internally thus working on our Niyama.
The difficulty of the asanas forces us to focus the mind, or Dharana, and pull all of our attention inward hence we meditate, Dhyana. As we practice more and more we gain greater insight into the intricacies of the poses and how our body interacts with each asana. With time we learn to control our senses to achieve the posture we are in, or Pratyahara. All of this leads us to be more in tune with all that is around us, including our own self, enhancing our Yamas and Samadhi.
The asanas in Ashtanga are grouped into six series. The Primary Series detoxifies and aligns the body. The Intermediate Series focuses on purification of the nervous system by opening up and clearing energy channels. The Advanced Series, A, B, C and D combine the strength and grace of the practice and is truly beautiful to watch.
Namaste
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