Original Teachings

Practice and all is coming

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

The practice of Ashtanga Yoga, as taught by the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois his son, Manju Jois, Derek Ireland,Sharmila and his daughter Saraswathi Jois, Sharath Rangaswamy and all the Senior teachers, encompasses asanas, chanting, pranayama as well as philosophy.

Original teachings!

The following are aspects that Pattabhi Jois emphasizes as the main components of Ashtanga Yoga.

Vinyasa: Vinyasa means synchronization of breath and movement. In this way all asanas are assigned a certain number of vinyasas.

Tristhana: This means the three places of attention or action in asana: breathing, bandhas and gazing points. These three are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.

Asanas purify, strengthen and give flexibility to the body. Breathing is rechaka and puraka, that means inhale and exhale. Both the inhale and exhale should be steady and even, the length of the inhale should be the same length as the exhale. Breathing in this manner purifies the nervous system. Dristhi is the place where you look while in the asana. There are nine dristhis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side and left side. Dristhi purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind.

An important component of the breathing system is mula and uddiyana bandha. These are the anal and lower abdominal locks which seal in energy, give lightness, strength and health to the body, and help to build a strong internal fire. Without bandhas, breathing will not be correct, and the asanas will give no benefit. When mula bandha is perfect, mind control is automatic.

Origins of Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system of Yoga that was taught by Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta . This text was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900’s by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and was later passed down to Pattabhi Jois during the duration of his studies with Krishnamacharya, beginning in 1927.

Yoga

Union, communion; the union of our will to the will of God which enables us to look evenly at life in all its aspects; the method to achieve this – the word yoga is derived from the root yuj meaning to join, to yoke.

Vinyasa

Vinyasa means breathing and movement system. For each movement, there is one breath. For example, in Surya Namskar there are nine vinyasas. The first vinyasa is inhaling while raising your arms over your head, and putting your hands together; the second is exhaling while bending forward, placing your hands next to your feet, etc. In this way all asanas are assigned a certain number of vinyasas.

Ashtanga, as described by the sage Patanjali, is comprised of eight limbs:

Yama:
Niyama:
Asana:
Pranayama:
Pratyahara:
Dharana:
Dhyana:
Samadhi:

Yama

Yama contains the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence, satya, or truthfulness, asteya, or freedom from greed, brahmacharya, or control of sensual pleasure and aparigraha, or non-covetousness.

Ahimsa is more than just lack of violence. In every situation we should adopt a considerate attitude. It means not causing injury to anyone, including animals, in any form, at any time or for any reason in word, thought or deed.

Satya means to speak the truth. Speak the truth which is pleasant. Do not speak unpleasant truth, do not lie, even if the lies are pleasing to the ear. If one follows the truth in this manner, all one?s words will become true and all one?s desires will be fulfilled.

Asteya is the opposite of stealing ? to take nothing that does not belong to us. This includes not stealing the possessions and property of others. Being envious of or vengeful of another; cheating someone with sweet words; gaining selfish ends under guise of truthfulness: all are to be abandoned.

Brahmacharya suggests that we should form relationships that foster an understanding of the highest truths. It does not necessarily imply celibacy. Rather, it means responsible behaviour with respect to our goal or of moving towards the truth.

Aparigraha means to take onl means to take only what is necessary and not to take advantage of a situation.

Niyama

Niyama, compared with yama, are more intimate and personal. They refer to the attitude we adopt towards ourselves. The niyamas are shaucha, or cleanness, santosha, or modesty and contentment, tapas or the desire to keep the body fit, swadhyaya, or the study of the self, ishwarapranidhana, or surrender to God.

Shaucha has both an inner and outer aspect. Outer cleanness simply means keeping ourselves clean; inner cleanness has as much to do with the healthy, free-functioning bodily organs as with the clarity of our mind. Practicing asanas or pranayama are essential means for attending to this inner shaucha.

Santosha is the contentment of keeping the mind focused in a single direction, always being happy, and never feeling regret for any reason. It also means to accept what happens. It is about ourselves, what we have and how we feel about what we have been given.

Tapas literally means to heat the body and by so doing to cleanse it. Behind the notion of Tapas lies the idea that we can get rid of the rubbish in our body.

Swadhyaya is the study of the self from the skin of the body to the core of the being. Therefore, it means to get close to yourself; to study yourself.

Ishwarapranidhana means carrying out all our actions, spoken or unspoken, without desiring their fruit. Let it suffice that we know we have done our best. We can leave the rest to a higher power.

Asana

Asana means posture, which is the art of positioning the body as a whole, with a physical, mental and spiritual attitude. The pose is re-thought and re-adjusted, so that the various limbs and parts of the body are positioned in their places in a proper order and feel rested and smoothened, and the mind experiences the tranquillity and calmness of bones, joints, muscles, fibres and cells. If asana is practiced in accordance with established rules, then diseases related to the body and sense organs can be prevented.

Pranayama

Pranayama is the practice of various breathing techniques. Prana is energy, ayama is creation, distribution and maintenance. Pranayama is the science of breath, which leads to the creation, distribution and maintenance of vital energy. It is only by bringing body, breath and mind into unison that we realize the true quality of an asana. The first step of our yoga practice is to consciously link breath and body. In pranayama we focus our attention on the breath. The true aim of the various techniques of breathing in pranayama is first and foremost to give us many different possibilities for following the breath. When we follow the breath, the mind will be joined into the activities of the breath. In this way pranayama prepares for the stillness of meditation.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara is usually translated as withdrawal of the senses. The word ahara means nourishment. Pratyahara translates to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses. The moment the mind becomes silent, the self rests in its abode and the mind dissolves. Similarly, when the muscles and joints are rested in their position, the body, senses and mind lose their identities and consciousness shines in its purity.

Dharana

Dharana is concentration or complete attention. It is therefore the condition in which the mid focuses and concentrates exclusively on one point. The point can be anything at all, but it is always just a single object.

Dhyana

In dhyana, one becomes involved with a particular thing and a link is stablished between self and object. In other words, you perceive a particular object and at the same time, consciously communicate with it. Dharana must precede dhyana because the mind needs focus on a particular object before a connection can be made. Where dhyana is, there must be asana, where asana is, there must be dhyana.

Samadhi

Samadhi means to bring tSamadhi means to bring together, to merge. Sama means balance or in harmony. When the soul, which is the cause of existence, diffuses and harmonizes everywhere, that is Samadhi. A state of joy and peace.

opening and closing chants

opening prayer

Vande gurunaam chaaranara vinde sandar shita svaatma sukhava bodhe
nihshre yase jaangalika yamane
Samsara haala haala moha santye

abahu purushara kam sankha chakraasi dharinam
sahasra shirasam svetam
pranamaami Patanjalim

I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus,
The awakening happiness of one’s own self revealed,
Beyond better, acting like the jungle physician,
Pacifying delusion, the poison of samsara.

Taking the form of a man to the shoulders,
Holding a conch, a discus, and a sword,
One thousand heads white,
To Patanjali, I salute

closing prayer

Om Svasti prajaabyham paripaalayantam
Nyaayena maargena mahiim mahimshaam
Go braahmanebhyach shubhamastu nityam
Lokhaa samastaa sukhino bhavantu

May all be well with mankind.
May the leaders of the earth protect in every way by keeping to the right path.

May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred.
May all the worlds be happy.

All the series in Ashtanga Yoga have the same Surya Namaskar-standing postures finishing and breathings series

Surya Namaskar A
Surya Namaskar B
Padahastasana
Utthita Trikonasana
Utthita Pasrvakonasana
Parivritta Parsvakonasana
Prasarita Padottanasana A
Prasarita Padottanasana B
Prasarita Padottanasana C
Prasarita Padottanasana D
Parsvottanasana
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana C
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana D
Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
Utkanasana
Virabhadrasana A
Virabhadrasana B

PRIMARY SERIES

Dandasana
Paschimottanasana A
Paschimottanasana B
Purvottanasana
-Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana
-Trianga Mukhaikapada
Paschimottanasana
Janu Sirsasana A
Janu Sirsasana B
Janu Sirsasana C
Marichyasana A
Marichyasana B
Marichyasana C
Marichyasana D
Navasana
Bhujapidasana
Kurmasana
Supta Kurmasana
Garbha Pindasana
Baddha Konasana
Upavishta Konasana
Supta Konasana
Supta Padangusthasana A
Supta Padangusthasana B
Supta Padangusthasana C
Chakrasana
Ubhaya Padangusthasana
Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana
Setu Bandhasana

FINISHING SERIES

Urdhva Dhanurasana
Paschimottanasana
Sarvangasana
Halasana
Karnapidasana
Urdhva Padmasana
Pindasana
Matsyasana
Uttana Padasana
Sirsasana A
Sirsasana B
Breathing Series
Yoga Mudra
Paddha Padmasana
Padmasana
Utpluthih
Stiff Savasana 10breaths
Savasana

intermediate Series asana names

Pashasana
Krounchasana
Shalabhasana A
Shalabhasana B
Bhekasana
Dhanurasana
Parsva Dhanurasana
Ushtrasana
Laghuvajrasana
Kapotasana
Supta Vajrasana
Bakasana
Bharadvajasana
Ardha Matsyendrasana
Eka Pada Sirsasana
Dwi Pada Sirsasana A
Dwi Pada Sirsasana B
Yoganidrasana
Tittibhasaba A
Tittibhasaba B
Tittibhasaba C
Tittibhasaba D
Pincha Mayurasana
Karandavasana
Vrishchikasana
Mayurasana
Nakrasana
Vatayanasana
Parighasana
Gomukhasana
Supta Urdhva Pada Vajrasana
Mukta Hasta Sirsasana A
Mukta Hasta Sirsasana B
Mukta Hasta Sirsasana C
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana A
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana B
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana C
Baddha Hasta Sirsasana D