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Class Styles - Astanga Yoga
Vina Vinyasa Yogena
Asanadin na Karayet - Vamana Rishi, Yoga Korunta
Astanga Yoga in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Mysore, South India You Tube Video of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Yoga is a philosophy of life, which also has the potential to create a vibrantly healthy body and mind. Astanga Yoga, practiced in its correct sequential order, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscover his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness - physical, psychological, and spiritual. Through this practice of correct breathing (Ujjayi), postures (asana), and gazing point (dristi), we gain control of the senses and a deep awareness of ourselves. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, one acquires steadiness of body and mind. Astanga literally means eight limbs. They are described by Patanjali as: Yama (abstinence), Niyama (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (contemplation). These branches support each other. Asana practice must be established for proper practice of pranayama, and is a key to the development of the yamas and niyamas. Once these four externally oriented limbs are firmly rooted, the last four internally oriented limbs will spontaneously evolve over time. Vinyasa in the Astanga tradition means breath synchronized movment. The breath is the heart of this discipline, and links asana to asana in a precise order. By synchronizing movement with breathing and practicing mula and uddiyana bandhas (locks), an intense internal heat is produced. This heat purifies muscles and organs, expelling unwanted toxins as well as releasing beneficial hormones and minerals, which can nourish the body when the sweat is massaged back into the skin. The breath regulates the vinyasa and ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result is a light, strong body. 6 Series There are three groups of sequences in the astanga system. The primary series referred to as Yoga Chikitsa meaning yoga therapy, detoxifies and aligns the body. The intermediate series named Nadi Shodhana meaning nerve purification) purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing energy channels or nadis. The advanced series is composed of 4 parts now referred to as A or 3rd series, B or 4th series, C or 5th series, and D or 6th series. The Advanced grouping is named Sthira Bhaga meaning divine grace. Each series integrates the strength and grace of the practice, requiring higher levels of flexibility and humility. Each level is to be fully developed before proceeding to the next, and the sequential order of asanas is to be meticulously followed. Breath The continuity of deep, even breathing cannot be overemphasized in the Astanga yoga system. When breath feeds action, and action feeds posture, each movement becomes gentle, precise, and perfectly steady. According to the teachings of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, "breath is life." Breathing is our most fundamental and vital act and holds a divine essence; exhalation is a movement towards god, and inhalation an inspiration from god. Our last action in life is to exhale, which, in essence, is the final and total surrender to God. Practice It is said where there is no effort there is no benefit. Strength, stamina, and sweat are unique aspects of this traditional yoga, seemingly contrary to Western perceptions of yoga. This demanding practice requires considerable effort and taps into and circulates a vital energy throughout the body, strengthening and purifying the nervous system. The mind then becomes lucid, clear, and precise; and according to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois "wherever you look you will see God." Only through the practice will we realize the truth of what our guru often says - "everything is God." Please note the importance of learning the Astanga method only from a traditionally trained teacher. Only a qualified teacher can provide the necessary guidance to assure safe, steady progress without injury to body or mind. History of Astanga Both a style of yoga and the eight limbed path of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Astanga has become known to Americans as the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, South India. Browsing ancient manuscripts in a Calcutta library with his teacher, T. Krishnamacharya (whose students include BKS Iyengar, Desikachar, and Indra Devi), Jois discovered the vinyasa, or breath movement system, written on grape leaves, perhaps hundreds of years old, considering the nature of the Sanskrit in which it was written. This text was known as the yoga korunta. Characteristics & Tools of the Practice The elements of the Astanga system have brought incredible techniques to the forefront of yoga around the world. One of the most powerful aspects of the practice is vinyasa meaning breath synchronized movement. The breath is the heart of this discipline and links asana in a precise order, according to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Like most Sanskrit words, vinyasa has a variety of meanings depending on context: 1) movement or position of limbs, 2) arrangement or order, 3) putting together and connecting (vinya means to put down in different places or spread out). In this system, vinyasa means the synchronization of movement with breath linking asanas in a precise sequence. In addition to vinyasa, the practice is also characterized by 3 foundation principles or tristhana.
Methods of Learning
Founder, Proponent, and Guru Sri K. Pattabhi Jois was born in 1915 in Mysore, south India. He studied yoga under Acharya Sr T. Krishnamacharya from 1927 to 1945. He attended the Sanskrit College of Msyore and eventually served as a professor of Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta. The Maharaj of Mysore appointed him head of the Yoga department. At the Sanskrit College in 1937, and he retained that post until his retirement in 1973. In 1945 he was honored with the title "Yogasana Visharada" (one who is distinguished in Yoga Asana) by Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Puri. In 1948, he founded the Astanga Yoga Research Institute with a view to teaching yoga according to traditional methods prescribed by the ancient maharishi's of India and to explore the curative value of yoga as described by the ancient texts. Recommended Reading
Resources Astanga Yoga Research Institute ASTANGA YOGA MANTRAM Opening Invocation Vande Gurunam Caranaravinde Abahu Purusakaram I bow to the lotus feet of the supreme guru who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being, who is the final refuge, the jungle physician, who eliminates the delusion/ignorance caused by the poisonous herb of samsara or conditioned existence. To the sage Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, who has thousands of radiant white heads in his form as the divine serpent Ananta, and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell representing divine sound, a wheel of fire representing a discus of light representing infinite time, and a sword representing discrimination, to him, I prostrate. MANGALA MANTRA Closing Prayer Swasthi Praja Bhyah Pari Pala Yantam Let prosperity be glorified, Do your practice and all is coming. |
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