The Ashtanga Primary Series: A Brief Intro
The Astanga Yoga workout consists of the Primary, Intermediate and Advanced Series of poses. Each one starts off with the Surya Namaskara or the Sun Salutations and then proceeds to its first set, the standing postures. The postures are unique to each set and end with back bending and the finishing sequences that include shoulder stand, headstand and the lotus. It can take a lot of years of practicing daily before one can master the ashtanga primary series, as well as the other series that use the ashtanga yoga workout.
Referred to as the Yoga Chikitsa or Yoga Therapy which helps to develop a healthy mind and body that is calm as well. When you do the workout you primarily work on aligning your spine as well as detoxification of the body and building stamina and flexibility. The yogi is subjected to about an one and a half hours to two hours of intense yoga workout. The ashtanga primary series consist of about 75 postures and the instructor may or may not choose to utilize all poses for a full workout.
The workout begins with the sun salutations, as all the other steps in the series. This is done so the body will be purified and health can be restored. The Sun Salutations or the Surya Namaskara have two types the Surya Namaskara A and Surya Namaskara B. Either of the two entails going to a series of around 18 poses to prepare the body for the next succession of asana.
After the Surya Namaskara the primary series shift to the standing poses. This pose requires flexibility from the yogi as well as prepares him/her to the more difficult, seated pose in the series of Yoga Chikitsa. The seated Chikitsa is more challenging than the standing pose of the ashtanga primary series since this involves a more complex positioning that involves more coordination and concentration.
The yoga session is ended by the corpse, a pose that signifies that the body is in a state of utter relaxation that the serenity it emits is like that of a corpse. Chikitsa is said to be the most challenging form of ashtanga, maybe because, more so for beginners, the ashtanga primary series entails a long, rigorous, strenuous workout. But if you find the correct instructor ashtanga yoga may prove to be an enjoyable yet healthy and vigorous, mental and physical relaxing endeavor one might consider going through.
