Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is a system of yoga taught by Shri K Pattabhi Jois, Guruji as he is affectionately known was a student of Krishnamacharya who also taught BKS Iyengar and Indra Dev one of first Western women to be taught yoga.

Guruji passed away in 2009 and his grandson R. Sharath continues to teach from the Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore.

Daily practice

Students are encouraged to develop a daily practice under the guidance of an experienced teacher and gradually work through a set sequence of asanas known as the primary series. Each asana is linked with the preceding asana by a vinyasa, which is a series of flowing movements. All of this is done to the regulated breath of the practitioner. Vinyasas, while challenging to perform, serve to neutralise the effect of the previous asana and prepare the body for the next one. The three tools that are emphasized in this dynamic style of yoga are: Breath, Bandha and Dristi.

Mysore style

The traditional method of teaching Ashtanga yoga is called 'Mysore style'. The Mysore style class is an early morning self-practice class where the student practices the primary series and the teacher offers adjustments and gives new asanas to the student when appropriate to do so. In this way the student safely builds up to the full primary series. The student can then progress on to the intermediate, and advanced series. This process takes years, requiring persistence and patience.

One of Guruji's famous quotes "one percent is theory and ninety nine percent is practice." serves to emphasize the practical nature of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. Another famous quote of his is: "Practice, practice, and all is coming!"