Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga began with the rediscovery of an ancient manuscript entitled Yoga Korunta. The manuscript describes a unique system of Hatha yoga that was created and practiced by the ancient sage Vamana Rishi. (Some believe to be the original asana practiced by Patanjali, the complier of the Yoga Sutras.) The manuscript was recieved by Krishnamacharya, an influential Indian Yoga healer and scholar who taught many of modern yoga’s most influential teachers, including Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Jois introduced ashtanga yoga to the West in the late 1960s and taught in Mysore until his death of natural causes in 2009 at 93 years of age.

The Yoga Korunta emphasizes vinyasa, or breath-synchronized movement, where one practices a posture that has specific breathing patterns associated with it. This breathing technique is called ujayyi pranayama, or “the victorious breath”, and it is a process that produces intense internal heat and profuse sweating that purifies and detoxifies the muscles and organs. This process also releases beneficial hormones and nutrients, and the resulting sweat is usually massaged back into the body. Regular breathing ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result of practicing vinyasa is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.

There is a proper sequence to follow when practicing ashtanga yoga. One must graduate from one sequence of postures to move onto the next. The Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa) detoxifies and aligns the body, purifying it so that toxins do not block vital processes. The Intermediate Series (Nadi Shodhana) purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels, allowing energy to pass through easily. The Advanced Series A, B, C, and D (Sthira Bhaga) integrate the grace and stamina of the practice, which calls for intense flexibility.

It is best to find a trained and knowledgeable teacher to assist you through this discipline. It is an intense exercise that is rigorous and should be practiced six days a week. Those who practice ashtanga vinaysa yoga purposefully say that you are guaranteed to find serenity and fulfillment with each breath that you take.

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Francesca De Souza
Yoga-Tips.Teauta.com