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Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga of Pattabi Jois
Religious origins:Hinduism
Regional origins:Mysore, India
Founding Guru:Krishnamacharya of Mysore, Satguru of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Mainstream popularity:Growing from the late 20th century
Practice emphases:Employs Vinyasa, or connecting postures. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India Satguru or Sadguru means true Guru. (सदगुरू The term satguru distinguishes itself from other forms of gurus such as musical instructors Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Vinyasa विन्यास vinyāsa (pron vin-yaah-sa) is a Sanskrit term often employed in relation to certain styles of Yoga.
Derivative forms:Vinyasa Yoga; Flow Yoga - Employs connecting postures, without use of specific series'
Related schools
Iyengar Yoga

Sivananda Yoga

Other topics

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a system of yoga that has its origins (allegedly) in an ancient manuscript known as the Yoga Korunta, compiled by the sage Vamana Rishi. Vinyasa Yoga is a derivative form of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga that employs the Vinyasa technique of "connecting postures" but does not use the six " Yoga is not a Religion, yoga is the Science of religions" B Sivananda Yoga, after teachings of Swami Sivananda, is a non-proprietary form of Hatha yoga in which the training focuses on preserving the health and wellness The Yoga Korunta is an allegedly lost manuscript of uncertain origins purportedly compiled by the ancient sage Vamana Rishi. Its current form was developed at the Mysore Palace in Mysore India. The Palace of Mysore is a palace situated in the city of Mysore, southern India. Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country [1] and is commonly attributed to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois by way of his Satguru, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, Satguru or Sadguru means true Guru. (सदगुरू The term satguru distinguishes itself from other forms of gurus such as musical instructors

In discussing the Ashtanga Vinyasa system, a clear distinction must be made between the eight (ashta) limbs (anga) of classical yoga as outlined by Pantanjali in the Yoga Sutras, and the Ashtanga which is the subject of this article. This is an article about the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali For general information on sutras see Sutra. The eight limbs denoted by the word ashtanga refer specifically to the eight spiritual practices outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. It should be noted that practitioners of most modern day schools of Hatha Yoga, including Pattabi Jois, draw from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and thus practice ashtanga yoga. To avoid this confusion many yoga practitioners have taken to referring to Jois's system as Pattabi Jois's Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Contents

History and legend

The Ashtanga Vinyasa series is said to have its origin in an ancient text called the Yoga Korunta, compiled by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari at Mount Kailash. The Yoga Korunta is an allegedly lost manuscript of uncertain origins purportedly compiled by the ancient sage Vamana Rishi. Kailasa redirects here For the band see Kailasa (band Mount Kailash (Devanagari कैलाश पर्वत( Kailāśā Parvata This manuscript was later passed on to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, In addition, there is also evidence that the Ashtanga Vinyasa series incorporates exercises used by Indian wrestlers and British gymnastics. [2]

Krishnamacharya has had considerable influence on many of the modern forms of yoga taught today. Among his students were many notable present-day teachers such as B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, his son T. Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar ( Kannada:ಬೆಳ್ಳೂರ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮಾಚಾರ್ ಸುಂದರರಾಜ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್ (also known as Yogacharya Indra Devi ( Latvian: Eiženija Pētersone ( Indra Devi) May 12, 1899 &ndash April 25, 2002) born as Eugenie V. K. Desikachar, his grandson Kausthub Desikachar, along with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, Krishnamacharya was well known for tailoring his teachings to address specific concerns of the person or group he was teaching, and a vinyasa series for adolescents is a result of this. When working under the convalescing Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnamacharya set up a shala, or yoga school in the palace grounds and adapted the practice outlined in the Yoga Korunta for the young boys who lived there. The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for "great king" or " High king " (a Karmadharaya from mahānt Shala is a Babylonian and Akkadian war goddess the consort of the storm-god Adad. Vinyasa has since been thought of as a physically demanding practice, which can be successful at channeling the hyperactivity of young minds. This system can also be used as a vessel for helping calm ongoing chatter of the mind, reducing stress and teaching extroverted personalities to redirect their attention to their internal experience.

Vinyasa method

This style of yoga is characterized by a focus on viṅyāsa, or a dynamic connecting posture, that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. Vinyasa विन्यास vinyāsa (pron vin-yaah-sa) is a Sanskrit term often employed in relation to certain styles of Yoga. Asana ( Sanskrit आसन sitting down < आस to sit down) is a body position typically associated with the practice of Yoga, intended Vinyasa translates as linking and the system also implies the linking of the movement to the breath. Essentially the breath dictates the movement and the lenghth of time held in the postures. Unlike some Hatha yoga styles, attention is also placed on the journey between the postures not just the postures themselves. The viṅyāsa 'flow' is a variant of Sūrya namaskāra, the Sun Salutation. For the chapter from the holy text Taittirīya Āranyaka, see Surya namaskara chapter. The whole practice is defined by six specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathing patterns (ujjāyī breathing). Ujjayi breathing is a breath technique employed in a variety of Hindu and Taoist Yoga practices

A standard viṅyāsa consists of the flow from caturaṅga, or plank, to caturaṅga daṇḍāsana, or low plank, to ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana (Upward-facing dog), to adho mukha śvānāsana, or Downward-Facing Dog. Vinyasa विन्यास vinyāsa (pron vin-yaah-sa) is a Sanskrit term often employed in relation to certain styles of Yoga. The purpose of viṅyāsa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced āsanas with reduced risk of injury.

There are six series altogether. Each sequence typically begins with 10 Sun Salutations and the standing poses. This is referred to as the "opening sequence". The student then moves to either the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, B, C, or D, depending on his or her skill level, a back-bending sequence, finally closing with a set of inverted postures, referred to as the "finishing sequence". Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally taught in Mysore style (supervised self practice), where each student moves through the practice at his or her own pace and level. See also Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga The Mysore style of yoga Asana practice is a particular way of teaching Yoga within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition In the West, it is more common to find classes devoted to a specific series, and guided by an instructor.

Higher level practices within Hatha

Bandhas

There are three bandhas which are considered our internal body locks, prescribed in the different postures. Hatha Yoga ( Sanskrit हठयोग hʌʈʰʌjogʌ also called Hatha Vidya (हठविद्या is a particular system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama The bandha is a sustained contraction of a group of muscles that assists the practitioner not only in retaining a pose but also in moving in and out of it. The Mūla Bandha, or root lock, is performed by tightening the muscles around the pelvic and perineum area. Mūla Bandha is a Sanskrit compound term Mūla denotes " root " " base " " beginning " " foundation The pelvis (pl pelvises or pelves) or pelvic girdle is the irregular bony structure located at the base of the spine (properly known In Human anatomy, the perineum is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the Pubic symphysis and the Coccyx. The Uḍḍīyāna Bandha, often described as bringing the navel to the base of the spine, is a contraction of the muscles of the lower abdominal area – this bandha is considered the most important bandha as it supports our breathing and encourages the development of strong core muscles. Jālaṅdhara Bandha, throat lock, is achieved by lowering the chin slightly while raising the sternum and the palate bringing the gaze to the tip of the nose.

Drishtis

Drishti (dṛṣṭi), or focused gaze, is a means for developing concentrated intention. The most common is Ūrdhva, or upward gazing, where the eyes are lifted, with the spine aligned from crown to tailbone. This technique is employed in a variety of postures.

There are, in total, nine drishtis that instruct the yoga student in directing his or her gaze. Each pose is associated with a particular drishti. They include:

Mantras

The Ashtanga practice is traditionally started with the following Sanskrit mantra:

vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde saṁdarśitasvātmasukhāvabodhe

niḥ śreyase jāṅ̇galikāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāntyai

ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śaṅ̇khacakrāsi dhāriṇam

sahasra śirasaṁ śvetam praṇamāmi patañjalim

which is roughly translated into English as:

I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus,
The awakening happiness of ones own self revealed,
Beyond better, acting like the jungle physician,
Pacifying delusion, the poison of samsara. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language

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.

and closes with the mangala mantra:

svasti prajabyah paripalayantam nyayena margena mahim mahishah

gobrahmanebyah shubamashtu nityam lokasamasta sukhinobavantu

which is roughly translated into English as:

May prosperity be glorified -
may rulers, (administrators) rule the world with law and justice
may divinity and erudition be protected
May all beings be happy and prosperous.

Although many practitioners assert that this yoga was devised by Jois from reading the Yoga Korunta, no one (aside from Krishnamacharya and Jois) has ever seen this text and Jois himself has occasionally dismissed the story as untrue. A far more likely explanation for Ashtanga's creation is that Jois was asked to devise a yoga sequence for children and adolescents, whom he had been asked to teach by his guru. Noticing that their attention spans were short, particularly for poses held for any length of time, and that introspection was not one of their strengths, Jois began to formulate a style of yoga that would cater to the youths' natural vigor and flexibility, while minimizing aspects they found tedious. And so he devised a new form of surya namaskara with athletic jumps and challenging push ups, and a series of poses -- none of which would be held for more than five breaths with the exception of shoulder and headstand -- that were visually exciting, and physically demanding. The poses were sequenced to be performed without interruption, and the sequences were designed with young, flexible bodies in mind.

Modern culture

The practice of Yoga asana has been popularized by the entertainer Madonna, who is a student of the Vinyasa style. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American British musician Sting, a Kundalini and Tantric Yoga devotee, has also contributed to the popularization of Yoga practice in the West. Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award One of the more popular Yoga practice video features actress Ali McGraw, also a long-time practitioner. Alice "Ali" MacGraw (born April 1 1939 MacGraw has described her father as "violent"

The mantra referenced above was made famous in Western culture by Madonna's use of it in her song "Shanti/Ashtangi". Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American " Shanti/Ashtangi " is a song by the American singer Madonna.

References

  1. ^ Sjnom, N. E. (1999), The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (2nd ed. ), Abhinav Publications, ISBN 8170173892 
  2. ^ Cushman, Anne. New Light on Yoga. Yoga Journal.

Further reading

See also

External links

Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Rāja Yoga ("royal Yoga " "royal union" also known as Classical Yoga or simply Yoga) is one of the six orthodox ( Astika) Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Patañjali ( Devanāgarī पतञ्जलि (fl 150 BCE or 2nd c This is an article about the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali For general information on sutras see Sutra. Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois,
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