A photograph captures an intricately detailed brass statue of the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. The statue is positioned centrally on a light-coloured wooden shelf, showing Shiva in a dynamic cosmic dance pose with multiple arms (four clearly visible) within a large circular, flame-fringed halo. He balances on his right leg on a prostrate figure, and his left leg is raised. The background, which is slightly out of focus, features a framed chart pinned to a white wall, displaying rows and rows of small illustrative human figures in various yoga asanas (poses), arranged in a sequence with unreadable descriptive text below each pose. The statue has a worn, aged metal finish. The perspective is frontal.

What is Ashtanga Yoga

A common question from people beginning to think about Ashtanga yoga is “What is Ashtanga Yoga?”. This page gives a short summary of Ashtanga Yoga and some of its history.

Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic form of postural yoga that was introduced through the teachings of Pattabhi Jois and later by his grandson Sharath Jois. Pattabhi was a student of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, often referred to as the founder of modern postural yoga. Ashtanga became popular in the Western world in the 1990s due to a number of prominent western teachers travelling to practice with Pattabhi in India, and to Pattabhi beginning to travel abroad, to spread the word about his yoga system.

Central to the Ashtanga Yoga method is a three-way combination of: Breath (Ujjayi); Posture (Asana/Bandhas) and Gaze (Drishti). This combination is known as the Tristana method. Through dedicated practice and skillful application of these three key elements, the Ashtanga yoga method becomes a moving meditation.

In Ashtanga yoga, students follow a set sequence of postures and vinyasas (the movements in and out of the postures). This sequence is repeated every time the student practises and, over time, is committed to memory. There are 6 set sequences in the Ashtanga yoga method which students may progress through over time:

  1. The Primary Series, or Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga Therapy)
  2. The Intermediate Series, or Nāḍi Śodhana (Nerve Cleansing)
  3. Advanced A, B, C and D, collectively known as Sthira Bhaga (Strength and Grace)
Class styles
Mantras
Moon days
A photograph captures an intricately detailed brass statue of the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. The statue is positioned centrally on a light-coloured wooden shelf, showing Shiva in a dynamic cosmic dance pose with multiple arms (four clearly visible) within a large circular, flame-fringed halo. He balances on his right leg on a prostrate figure, and his left leg is raised. The background, which is slightly out of focus, features a framed chart pinned to a white wall, displaying rows and rows of small illustrative human figures in various yoga asanas (poses), arranged in a sequence with unreadable descriptive text below each pose. The statue has a worn, aged metal finish. The perspective is frontal.