Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is a yoga system referring to the Yoga sutras (sanskrit aphorisms) from the ancient sage Patanjali, around the second century BC.

Ashtanga literally means in Sanskrit 8 limbs ( astau:eight – anga:limb):

• Yamas: restrains to the outside world,

• Niyamas: internal observances,

• Asanas: physical postures,

• Pranayama: breathing practices,

• Prathyara: withdrawal of the senses,

• Dharana: concentration,

• Dhyana: meditation,

• Samadhi: state of meditative absorption.

Ashtanga yoga is characterized by the Guru Parampara lineage (teachings passed directly from the guru to the disciple).

R. Sharath Jois is the actual Paramguru after his late grandfather Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who was a disciple of T. Krishnamacharya, the Father of yoga.

He is running the actual Sharath Yoga Center in Mysore, India where hundreds of practitioners from all over the world come every year to study from the source.

The method of teaching Ashtanga is called Mysore-style, it’s the traditional way to teach students individually, at their own pace in a group setting.

Ashtanga yoga asanas practice is made of six series (sequences of postures) named:

1. Primary Series or Yoga Chikitsa

2. Intermediate series or Nadhi Shodana

3. Third series or Advanced A

4. Fourth series or Advanced B

5. Fifth series or Advanced C

6. Sixth series or Sthira Bhagah

Link to the list of Authorized teachers from the Sharath Yoga Center.