About Ashtanga

The second verse of the Yoga Sutras says:

"Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind."

Ashtanga yoga is a comprehensive system of yoga designed to bring about this stillness of mind and transcendence of duality.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, South India, taught this method for more than 65 years and singlehandedly brought it to the world.

Jois was taught the practice by his guru, the legendary yogi T. Krishnamacharya, under whom he studied for 30 years. It was Jois whom Krishnamacharya entrusted to develop and teach the system. In 1948 Jois founded the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in his adopted home city of Mysore. The first western students began coming in the 1970s. Since then, under the guidance of Jois and his grandson, Sri R. Sharath, the school, recently renamed the K. Pattahi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI), has come to be regarded as the world's leading authority on Ashtanga yoga. Over the years, literally thousands of Ashtanga practitioners from many countries have gone there to study.

The system has the Sanskrit name Asht-anga, or "eight-limbed" yoga, after the eight traditional limbs of yoga described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Indeed, Jois has often stated that the Ashtanga yoga he learned and teaches and that of Patanjali are one and the same.

The starting point for practice is the third limb, the activity of moving into, holding, and then moving out of a series of postures, or asanas, following the breath. Over time, regular practice of the third limb naturally fosters the growth within each practitioner of the other seven limbs.

The postures are in a specific sequence, starting with Sun Salutations and ending in Padmasana (Lotus posture), followed by relaxation. The postures are linked together by a flowing transitional movement known as Vinyasa. Students begin by learning the Primary, or introductory, series, known in Sanskrit as Yoga Chikitsa, or "yoga therapy." Postures are learned one at a time. New postures are given only when a student demonstrates proficiency throughout his or her entire practice including the most recent posture learned. Readiness for new postures is determined by the teacher.

Learning the postures begins with the breath. The goal is simultaneously to deepen and control the breath. The breathing method used in Ashtanga yoga is called in Sanskrit Ujjayi Pranayama, which translates roughly as "victorious lifting of the breath (energy)." For a brief "how to" on Ujjayi Breathing, click here.

When done with correct breathing, the postures of Primary series purify the body for further practice. The combination of breath, movement and forward-bending postures powerfully stimulates the body's internal heat, producing a purifying sweat. With daily practice, toxins are released, the organs are toned, and overall health is improved, allowing the mind to become steady and clear, and integrity to take greater root. The body becomes lighter, stronger and more flexible, and areas of tightness and even trauma begin to open. At the same time, internal awareness develops: the practitioner comes to observe the breath energy (prana) more closely as it moves in the body, and gains deeper somatic understanding. With consistent practice, one learns to observe things calmly, sensibly, unafraid, without avoidance or attachment.

To practice yoga properly, it is necessary to gain a high level of proficiency with the postures. However, mastery of postures is by no means sufficient to realize the full benefits of the Ashtanga system. It is equally important to develop proper breathing technique, visual focus, mental concentration and the application of internal locks, or bandhas. These are the fundamentals of asana practice, which differentiate yoga from exercise. While they can be taught to a degree, they largely are the student's responsibility to develop. Their importance cannot be overstated.

Depending on a student's age, physical abilities and dedication to practice, learning the entire Primary series can take anywhere from a few months to several years. Students who complete Primary series then may go on to learn the Second, or intermediate, series known in Sanskrit as Nadi Shodhana, or "nervous system purification." Learning and mastering Second series typically takes many years. For the most experienced practitioners, there are then some even more Advanced series of postures beyond that.

Students who are ready to learn Second series postures beyond dwi pada shirshasana or Advanced series should seek to study with a Certified Ashtanga teacher or at KPJAYI in Mysore. These postures are not taught at Ashtanga Yoga Boston. Students who have completed Second series and/or are practicing one of the Advanced series are welcome to enroll and do their practice at the school, on the understanding that they will not be given new asanas or be adjusted beyond dwi pada shirshasana.

Mysore-style and Led Practice

Sunday through Thursday, classes are conducted "Mysore-style," as taught at KPJAYI in Mysore. During class, each student does his or her practice, with one-on-one assistance from the teacher. Beginning and experienced students practice side by side. All students are taught postures gradually, adding to their practice as they learn and demonstrate command of each one. An atmosphere of concentrated silence is maintained.

Once a week, on Friday morning, class is led, or "counted," in Sanskrit, the traditional language of yoga. Everyone practices at the same time. Students doing less than full Primary should stop their practice where they normally do and wait for finishing asanas.

It is hoped that all students attending the school will make Ashtanga yoga their daily practice. To the extent lifestyle changes are required to make this possible, these are generally well worth it. If one has a desire to make room for a daily practice in one's life, it is usually not difficult to do. Often it is simply a matter of re-arranging sleep hours, improving one's diet and phasing out unhelpful activities.

Where a student has work or other commitments that do not permit daily class attendance, he or she is still welcome to enroll in the school and come fewer than six days per week, in consultation with the teachers. We are sorry, except in rare cases, we cannot accept students who do not attend at least three days per week.

Ashtanga yoga is appropriate for students of any age or background. The only prerequisite is a willingness to learn the practice. Students who are not physically fit or who may have a limiting physical condition can usually learn the practice, but should be prepared to be patient. Progress happens gradually.

For more information on the practice, please visit www.kpjayi.org.

Some photos from the Primary and Intermediate series. Click on any thumbnail to go to photo gallery.

back to top