Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (अष्टांग विनयसा योग) is a style of yoga as exercise popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century, often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. He claimed to have learned the system from his teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. The style is energetic, synchronizing breath with movements. The individual poses (asanas) are linked by flowing movements (vinyasas). Jois established his Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in 1948. The current style of teaching is called the Mysore style after the city in India where the practice was originally taught. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga has given rise to various spinoff styles of Power Yoga. Although there are various forms, styles, and types of yoga, Siddha Spirituality of Swami Hardas Life System also accepts the concepts of modernization of Ashtanga Yoga to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Meaning of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga means eight limbs or branches, which purpose is to create a union among body, mind, and spirit. But, the eight limbs come from the foundations of yoga philosophy in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois, his grandson, encourage the practice of Ashtanga Yoga, and that means all eight limbs.

The first limb is Yamas, and it has five moral codes, including behavioral attitudes and abstentions. These codes allow us to be in harmony with ourselves and our social interactions with the rest of the world. The second limb of Patanjali’s eight-limbed yoga system contains the five internal practices of Niyamas. The practices extend the ethical codes of conduct provided in his first limb, the yamas. One support the other, Niyama and Yama are part of the same ethical system, and the union and practice of these limbs take you to Asanas. After the integration of your mind and spirit of Yamas and Niyamas codes, there comes the third limb of yoga, Asana.

Approach for Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga students are expected to memorize a sequence and to practice in the same room as others without being led by the teacher. The role of the teacher is to guide as well as provide adjustments or assist in postures. In other locations, led classes are taught twice per week in place of Mysore-style classes, and the teacher will lead a group through the same series at the same time. The led classes were only introduced in K. Pattabhi Jois’s senior years.

Sequences and series

Usually, an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice of asanas begins with five repetitions of Surya Namaskara ‘A’ and five repetitions of Surya Namaskara ‘B’, followed by a standing sequence. Following this the practitioner progresses through one of six series, followed by a standard closing sequence.

Six series

1. The Primary Series: Yoga Chikitsa, Yoga for Health, or Yoga Therapy.
2. The Intermediate Series: Nadi Shodhana, The Nerve Purifier (also called the Second series).
3. The Advanced Series: Sthira Bhaga, Centering of Strength.

• Advanced A, or Third series
• B, or Fourth series
• C, or Fifth series
• D, or Sixth series

There were originally four series on the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga syllabus: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, and Advanced B. The fifth series of sorts was the “Rishi series”, which Pattabhi Jois said could be done once a practitioner had “mastered” these four.

Method of instruction for Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

According to Pattabhi Jois’s grandson R. Sharath Jois, one must master poses before being given permission to attempt others that follow. However, Pattabhi Joi’s son Manju Jois disagrees; in his view, students were occasionally allowed to practice in a non-linear format.

In the 21st century, a “new generation” of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga teachers have adopted Sharath’s new rules, teaching in a linear style without variations. Practice takes place in a strict Mysore environment under the guidance of a Sharath-approved teacher. How-to videos and workshops, detailed alignment instructions, and strength-building exercises are not part of the method, neither for the practitioner nor for the teacher. However, most teachers who claim to have been taught by Sharath teach the above methods, exercises, and postures.

Principles of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga vinyasa yoga emphasizes certain main components, namely Tristhana (“three places of action or attention”, or the more physical aspects of poses) and Vinyasa (which Sharath Jois defines as a system of breathing and movement).

Tristhana

Tristhana means the three places of attention or action: breathing system (pranayama), posture (asana), and looking place (Drishti). These are considered core concepts for ashtanga yoga practice, encompassing the three levels of purification: the body, nervous system, and the mind; and are supposed to be “performed in conjunction with each other”.

Asanas

The asanas in ashtanga yoga follow a set sequence as described above. Their stated purpose is to increase the strength and flexibility of the body. Officially, the style has very little alignment instruction. Breathing is ideally even and steady in the length of the inhale and exhale.

Drishti

Drishti is the location where one focuses the eyes while practicing asana. In the ashtanga yoga method, there is a prescribed point of focus for every asana. There are nine Drishtis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side, and left side.

Vinyasa

Vinyasas are flowing sequences of movements that connect each asana with the next. Modern vinyasa yoga in addition coordinates the breath with the vinyasa transition movements between asanas.

According to Sharath Jois, the purpose of vinyasas is to purify the blood, which is otherwise heated and supposedly contaminated by the practice of asanas.

Breath

Although Ashtanga yoga keeps a general principle of steady and even inhales and exhales, the specifics of breath during the asanas are debated.

Rechaka and Puraka

In his book Yoga Mala, Pattabhi Jois recommends staying five to eight breaths in a posture or staying for as long as possible in a posture. Breathing instructions given are to do rechaka and puraka, (exhale and inhale) as much as possible. “It is sufficient, however, to breathe in and out five to eight times in each posture.” 

In an interview regarding the length of the breath, Pattabhi Jois instructs practitioners to (translated quote), “Inhale 10 to 15 seconds then exhale also 10 to 15 seconds”. He goes on to clarify, “(As) your breath strength is possibly 10-second inhalations and exhalations, you do 10, 15 seconds possible, you do 15. One hundred possible, you perform 100. 5 is possible, you do 5”. His son Manju Jois also recommends taking more breaths in difficult postures.

Ujjayi breathing

Various influential figures have discussed the specific process of breathing in Ashtanga. Pattabhi Jois recommended breathing fully and deeply with the mouth closed, although he did not specifically name this as Ujjayi breathing. However, Manju Jois does and refers to breathing called “dirgha rechaka puraka, meaning long, deep, slow exhalations and inhalations. It should be dirgha… long, and like music. The sound is very important. You have to do the Ujjayi pranayama”. 

In late 2011, Sharath Jois stated that Ujjayi breathing as such was not done in the asana practice, but that asanas should be accompanied by deep breathing with sound. He reiterated this notion at a conference in 2013 stating, “You do normal breath, inhalation, and exhalation with sound. Ujjayi breath is a type of prāṇāyāma. This is just normal breath with the free flow”.

Master the asanas first

As far as other types of pranayama in Ashtanga, the consensus seems to be they should be practiced after the asanas have been mastered. Pattabhi Jois originally taught pranayama to those practicing the second series, and later changed his mind, teaching pranayama after the third series.

Videos teaching

Sharath Jois recently produced a series of videos teaching alternate nostril breathing to beginners. This pranayama practice was never taught to beginners by his grandfather and is one of the many changes Sharath has made to the Ashtanga Yoga method of instruction.

Bandhas

Bandhas are one of the three key principles in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, alongside breath and Drishti. There are three principal bandhas which include:

• Mūla Bandha; or root lock at the pelvic floor (drawing in the perineum).
• Uḍḍīyāna Bandha; drawing back the abdomen, 2 inches below the navel.
• Jālaṅdhara Bandha; throat lock, achieved by lowering the chin slightly while raising the sternum.

Mula and Uddiyana bandha recommended

Both Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois recommend practicing Mula and Uddiyana bandha even when not practicing asana. Pattabhi Jois has this to say: (translated quote) “You completely exhale, apply mulabandha, and after inhaling you apply uddiyana bandha. Both bandhas are very important. After bandha practice, take (your attention) to the location where they are applied and maintain that attention at all times while walking, talking, sleeping, and when the walk is finished. Always you control mulabandha”.

Sharath Jois says, “Without bandhas, breathing will not be correct, and the asanas will give no benefit”.

What to wear to Practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga?

There is no need to spend a lot of money on how you look to practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. This kind of shoe will bring you to balance, and grip, and help you with the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice. In terms of pants, simply choose comfortable pants or shorts that stretch.

Many practitioners prefer tighter pants to help check alignment and to keep everything covered. For your topside, choose a moisture-wicking fabric, especially if you’ll be participating in a heated yoga room. Also, there are three things you should never leave out: a mat, a bottle of water, and a towel. If you have longer hair, you will most likely want to keep it off your neck for comfort. Whatever hairstyle you choose, be sure it will be comfortable when you are lying down.

inyasa yoga improves energy levels while promoting relaxation and lowering stress levels. It also offers several other benefits.

History of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Pattabhi Jois

Pattabhi Jois claimed to have learned the system of Ashtanga from Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who in turn claimed to have learned it from a supposed text called Yoga Kurunta by an otherwise unknown author, Vamana Rishi. This text was imparted to Krishnamacharya in the early 1900s by his Guru, Yogeshwara Ramamohana Brahmachari. Jois insists that the text described all of the āsanas and vinyāsas of the sequences of the Ashtanga system. 

Manju Jois

According to Manju Jois, the sequences of Ashtanga yoga were created by Krishnamacharya. There is some evidence to support this in Yoga Makaranda, which lists nearly all the postures of the Pattabhi Jois Primary Series and several postures from the intermediate and advanced series, described with reference to vinyasa.

Krishnamacharya’s asana system

There is also evidence that the Ashtanga Yoga series incorporates exercises used by Indian wrestlers and British gymnasts. Recent academic research details documentary evidence that physical journals in the early 20th century were full of postural shapes that were very similar to Krishnamacharya’s asana system. In particular, the flowing Surya Namaskar, which later became the basis of Krishnamacharya’s Mysore style, was in the 1930s considered an exercise, not part of yoga.

The etymology of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Jois elided any distinction between his sequences of asanas and the eight-limbed Ashtanga Yoga (Sanskrit अष्टांग ashtanga, “eight limbs”) of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The eight limbs of Patanjali’s scheme are:

• Yamas,
• Niyamas,
• Asana,
• Pranayama,
• Pratyahara,
• Dharana,
• Dhyana, and
• Samadhi. 

The name Ashtanga in Jois’s usage may, suggests yoga scholar Mark Singleton, derive from the old name of Surya Namaskar in the system of dand gymnastic exercises, which was Ashtang dand, after one of the original postures in the sequence, Ashtanga Namaskara (now replaced by Chaturanga Dandasana), in which 8 body parts all touch the ground, rather than Patanjali’s yoga.

Tradition of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

There is a lot of debate over the term “traditional” as applied to Ashtanga Yoga. The founder’s students noted that Jois freely modified the sequence to suit the practitioner. Some of the differences include the addition or subtraction of postures in the sequences, changes to the vinyasa (full and half vinyasa), and specific practice prescriptions for specific people.

Changes to the practice

Several changes to the practice have been made since its conception. Nancy Gilgoff, an early student, describes many differences in the way she was taught ashtanga to the way it is taught now. According to her experiences, some of the differences include:

Changes in the standing sequence

Pattabhi Jois originally left out seven postures in the standing sequence, but later assigned Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana before the Intermediate Series was given; 

Changes in the series

Utkatasana, Virabhadrasana A and B, Parivritta Trikonasana, and Parivritta Parsvakonasana were not in the series at this point; and Jois did not give her vinyasa between sides of the body poses or between variations of a pose.

Group changes

Likewise, Baddha Koṇāsana, Upavishta Konasana, and Supta Konasana were also grouped together without vinyasa between them, as were Ubhaya Padangusthasana and Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana.

Primary and intermediate series

According to Gilgoff, Pattabhi Jois prescribed practicing twice a day, primary and intermediate, with no vinyasa between sides in Krounchasana, Bharadvajasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Eka Pada Sirsasana, Parighasana, and Gomukhasana in the intermediate series. 

Closing sequence

The closing sequence included only Mudrasana, Padmasana, and Tolasana until the completion of the Intermediate sequence. She states that the original Intermediate series included Vrishchikasana after Karandavasana and ended with Gomukhasana.

She also notes that Pattabhi Jois added Supta Urdhva Pada Vajrasana as well as the seven headstands when another yogi asked for more; these eight postures were not part of the Intermediate Series prior to this.

Power Yoga spinoffs

Power Yoga began in the 1990s with “nearly simultaneous invention” by two students of K. Pattabhi Jois, and similar forms led by other yoga teachers. Beryl Bender Birch created what Yoga Journal calls “the original Power Yoga” in 1995.

Bryan Kest, who studied Ashtanga Yoga under K. Pattabhi Jois, and Baron Baptiste, a Bikram Yoga enthusiast, separately put their own spins on the style and branded it. Neither Baptiste’s Power Yoga nor Kest’s Power Yoga are synonymous with Ashtanga Yoga. In 1995, Pattabhi Jois wrote a letter to Yoga Journal expressing his disappointment at the association between his Ashtanga Yoga, and the newly coined style “power yoga”, referring to it as “ignorant bodybuilding”.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Risk of injury

A good number of Mr. Jois’s students seemed constantly to be limping around with injured knees or backs because they had received his “adjustments”, yanking them into Lotus, the splits, or a backbend. Tim Miller, one of Jois’s students, indicates that “the adjustments were fairly ferocious”. Injuries related to Jois’s Ashtanga Yoga have been the subject of discussion in a Huffington Post article.

In 2008, yoga researchers in Europe published a survey of practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga, indicating that 62 percent of the respondents had suffered at least one injury that lasted longer than one month. However, the survey lacked a control group (of similar people not subject to the treatment, such as people who had practiced a different form of yoga), limiting its validity.

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