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 is believed to be over 5,000 years old but its popularity is owed to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who under the guidance of his guru Krishnamacharya created The Ashtanga Yoga Reasearch Institue in Mysore, India aimed at teaching this exact type of yoga.
The benefits provided by Ashtanga yoga encapsulate the entire being, physical, emotional, and mental. Physically it frees the body 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. Mentally it helps in the analysis of sensory data and helps in understanding as it opens the mind.
How is Ashtanga Yoga Performed?
Often referred to as the athletic yoga due to its discipline and dynamic system of Vinyasa, ashtanga yoga vinyasa is a set 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. When one is in the full expression of the asana, it held for a minimum of five breaths. Ashtanga uses actively both the abdomen and the thorax to breathe (thoraco-diaphragmatic breathing). Air is literally pumped out of the lungs. The aim is to breathe more deeply so as to increase vitality, hence the term vinyasa that means it incorporates breathing into the movements.
The different poses are done so one may become aware of all the areas of the body, and as awareness is achieved the life force is directed to that area. Chronic diseases are believed to develop where awareness is absent. As one learns to breathe into all areas of the body, it is believed that the life force is also spread evenly to the all areas of the body.
Ashtanga uses abdominal and thoracic breathing (thoraco-diaphragmatic breathing). 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. By breathing deeply and exhaling deeply as well you are able to exhale toxins and inhale oxygen to bring life to all areas of the body, thus the body is returned to its original state of health.
Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series: How Is It Done?
