Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is a method of yoga practice the yogi Krishnamacharya gave to his student, Pattabhi Jois to refine over decades. The owners of Yogaspace, Jean & Rob, spent many years visiting the modern master of Ashtanga Yoga, Pattabhi Jois, in India to learn this wonderful method of yoga practice. After many years of dedicated daily practice, and with numerous trips to India spending between 2 and 6 months under his guidance they were given his blessing (Authorisation) to teach Ashtanga Yoga. They are currently the only Authorised Ashtanga Yoga teachers in Perth and 2 of 11 Authorised teachers in Australia. They have found Ashtanga Yoga, practiced correctly, to be a profoundly transformative experience, both physically, mentally and spiritually.
Ashtanga Yoga is a powerful system of practice designed to purify the body, nervous system and mind. One of the main distinguishing features of Ashtanga yoga is that it links a set series of postures together in a flowing sequence that is synchronised with the breath. This is called vinyasa.
The purpose of vinyasa is to build heat in the body, to warm and thin the blood. This improves circulation and removes impurities from the internal organs. These impurities are then eliminated in a profuse, purifying sweat.
The resulting purification of the body and nervous system is aided by a special system of deep breathing called ujjayi pranayama, or 'victorious breath'. Internal muscular locks called bandhas are integral to this style of resonant breathing. The bandhas also help to stabilise the spine, bringing lightness and health to the body.
Finally, Ashtanga yoga steadies the mind by focusing the gaze on specific dristhis or 'looking places'. This focus on posture, breath and gaze is called Tristhanam and is what purifies the body, nervous system and mind.
The home of Ashtanga Yoga is Mysore, India, where it is taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. Now 92 years old, Pattabhi Jois, or Guruji as his students call him, began practicing and refining the Ashtanga system in 1927 with his teacher, the great Sri T. Krishnamacharya.
A typical Ashtanga Yoga class may be a led class or a Mysore style class. In led classes the teacher verbally instructs each pose for the class to perform together. Once students are familiar with the sequence they move on to the traditional teaching format - Mysore style classes. Here everyone practices the sequence in silence according to the rhythm of their own breathing while the teacher instructs and 'adjusts' students individually. This is a powerful form of practice that helps cultivate internal awareness and external sense withdrawal. Since we repeat the same series of postures each day, eventually the practice becomes a mirror for our ever-fluctuating body, mind and emotions, allowing us to come to better know ourselves and ultimately awaken to our true nature.