In Ashtanga, the primary series is known as the Yoga Chikitsa, meaning therapy. It works to realign the spine, detoxify the body as well as improve stamina and flexibility. The ashtanga yoga primary series compose of 75 poses that lasts for about an hour and half to two hours, depending on the instructor on how many poses he wants to utilize in class.

Yoga Chikitsa starts with surya namaskara or sun salutation, which is done so that the body can be purified and restored to health, before the next pose is done.  There are two known sun salutation the surya namaskara A and B. The yoga practitioner goes through 18 various postures so that the body can prepare for the next series of poses.

After going through the surya namaskara, the primary series steps to the standing poses. These lead the yogi through a set of postures requiring flexibility. It also allows the body to prepare for the more difficult steps that follow: the seated version of the Yoga Chikitsa. Some of the positions include: Big toe pose, side intense stretch, Hands under feet, triangle, Revolved triangle, extended side angle, extended hand to big toe, wide leg forward fold, half bound lotus and warrior. These are the standing ashtanga yoga primary series poses.

After the standing poses, Chikitsa moves on to the seated postures, inversions and backbends. Although they are seated, they are much harder to do than the standing poses, it involves plenty of coordination and concentration. Some of the seated poses includes staff pose, west intense stretch, east intense stretch, half bound lotus, head to knee pose, boat, handstand, arm pressure pose, tortoise, embryo in womb, rooster, bound angle, wide angle seated fold, the wheel and the bride building pose.

After that, a few relaxation pose follows including upward bow, intense stretch and the corpse before starting the shoulder stands including supported limb, plow ear pressure, upward lotus, embryo, intense feet and leg stretch, lifting from the headstand, energetic lock, Childs pose, bound lotus, fish and the uplifting. The pose that concludes the yoga session is called the corpse. This only means that the yogi is at an extensive relaxation that his limbs have reached a level of tranquility that is equal to that of a corpse.

Chikitsa is supposed to be the most difficult form of ashtanga, this is because it is meant to be a long and strenuous workout that will lead you to the ashtanga yoga primary series. Many beginners find it difficult as they begin the workouts, but as the workout session progresses, with the right instructor that will lead you to the series, it can prove to be a fun as well as healthy and vital workout session that provides you with mental and physical relaxation as well.