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Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga History

The Ashtanga Vinyasa series originates from an ancient text called the Yoga Korunta, compiled by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari at Mount Kailash.

Krishnamacharya has had considerable influence on many of the modern forms of yoga taught today; gurus such as B.K.S. Iyengar and Indra Devi, along with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, were his students.

Krishnamacharya was a master at tailoring his teachings to the needs of the person or group he was teaching, and he developed a vinyasa series for adolescents boys.

This manuscript and system was passed on to and taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois to a receptive western audience.

Ashtanga has since been thought of as a physically demanding practice, which can be successful at channeling the hyperactivity of young minds. The system can calm the ongoing chatter of the mind, reducing stress and teaching extroverted personalities to redirect their attention to their internal experience.

The Ashanga Vinyasa Method

Vinyasa is a dynamic connecting posture which creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. The vinyasa ‘flow’ is a variant of Surya Namaskara, the Sun Salutation. The whole practice is defined by a series  of six specific postures, always done in the same order, combined with a breathing patterns called ujjayi breathing.

A standard Vinyasa consists of the flow from Chaturanga (Plank) to Chaturanga Dandasana (Low plank), to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-facing dog), to Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-facing dog).

The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to physical purification  through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury. The attention to the breathing technique keeps the mind present and focused.