All about Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is considered the supreme discipline among all yoga styles. The challenging style consists of six series, only the first of which is practiced. This post explains why Ashtanga Yoga is so strenuous and why it differs from other yoga sequences.
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Origin and practice of Ashtanga yoga
Ashtanga Yoga was first practiced in the Indian city of Mysore. The teaching goes back to the health-conscious Maharaja Tirumalei Krishnamacharya, who once opened a yoga school in his palace. Not only the royal family, but also hyperactive boys were taught there. The challenging practice of Ashtanga Yoga served to bring her restless nature under control. This yoga flow only became really known through a master student of this yoga school, Pattabhi Jois. As a yoga teacher, he later taught students himself and worked out asanas that build on one another. One of his students, the Belgian Andre Van Lysebeth, later wrote a book on Ashtanga Yoga and popularized the yoga style.
Peculiarities of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is characterized by a constant sequence of asanas. Each asana is held for five breaths. The breathing rhythm within the sequences is also specified by the teacher. In Ashtanga Yoga, a particularly clean execution of the exercises is crucial in order to keep the risk of injury small.
The second and third series in Ashtanga Yoga are rarely practiced. Overall, the yoga style differs significantly from other yoga units due to its high tempo. While other styles such as hatha yoga are designed to respect your own physical limits, Ashtanga yoga is about the exact opposite: about consciously pushing the body to its limits. Taught in a traditional, strictly Indian manner, Ashtanga Yoga can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. At the same time, Ashtanga Yoga teaches you to practice humility and show discipline.
Fit and balanced through Ashtanga Yoga
The sweaty Ashtanga Yoga affects the body and mind in many ways. The quick sequences help keep the body in the present. There is no room for stressful thoughts during the exercises. Even more than other yoga styles, Ashtanga yoga conveys the important message of being satisfied with your own physical condition.
For whom Ashtanga Yoga is suitable
This style of yoga is suitable for students who want to powerfully sculpt and train their body. A certain regularity is required for this: Among the Ashtanga yogis it is considered customary to practice the first series every day and to gradually increase it. For those who prefer calm and meditative asanas, Ashtanga Yoga is not the optimal style.
The first series in Ashtanga Yoga
The first series in Ashtanga Yoga is considered the most difficult, which can only be learned after some time. Yogis who successfully practice the first series often go on to the second and third series. The challenging first series consists of mostly powerful exercises such as the warrior, the crow or the boat.
What beginners should consider
It is recommended for beginners to practice Ashtanga Yoga under supervision. Because the high speed requires a lot of concentration, at the same time the asanas have to be executed precisely and cleanly. In general, beginners in this yoga style need a lot of discipline and patience with their own bodies. It's not uncommon to spend months or even years working on the first series. But the sweaty effort is worth it, as Ashtanga Yoga has a very healthy effect.
