Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa style yoga
Siobhan with Pattabhi Jois 2004 at the A.Y.R.I. Mysore, India. Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system of Yoga that was taught by Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta. This text was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900's by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and was later passed down to the late and greatly missed Pattabhi Jois(right) during the duration of his studies with Krishnamacharya, beginning in 1927.
The following are aspects that Pattabhi Jois emphasizes as the main components of Ashtanga Yoga.
Vinyasa: Vinyasa means a breathing and movement system. For each movement, there is one breath. For example, in Surya Namskar (sun salutations) there are nine vinyasas. The first vinyasa is inhaling while raising your arms over your head, and putting your hands together; the second is exhaling while bending forward, placing your hands next to your feet, etc. In this way all asanas are assigned a certain number of vinyasas.
The purpose of vinyasa is for internal cleansing. Breathing and moving together while performing asanas heats the body, or as Pattabhi Jois says, "boils the blood". Stagnant blood is unhealthy and causes disease in the body. The combination of the asanas (postures) with movement and breath purifies and allows the blood to circulate freely around all the joints, taking away body pains. When there is a lack of circulation, pain occurs. The heated blood also moves through all the internal organs removing impurities and disease, which are brought out of the body by the sweat that occurs during practice.
Sweat is an important by product of vinyasa, because it is only through sweat that disease leaves the body and purification occurs. The Yoga practice brings these toxins to the surface, which are removed through sweat. If the method of vinyasa is followed, the body becomes healthy, strong and pure. We become more focused, alive, youthful and happier. The body feels liberated from the practice and it always leaves you wanting more. The beauty of Ashtanga is that there is indeed always more to take from this practice if you take it on board and embrace, focus and surrender to its natural ability to lift us onto a higher plane.
The Ashtanga system was the one element of the yoga system I really took hold of as its benefits were felt almost immediately. I love to teach this system of yoga and give backto others the great joy the system brings to our lives. The key is in wanting to embrace it and let go of all the things that stop us from being freer individuals.