Yoga Styles

Ashtanga

Guru Pattabhi Jois on his 91st birthday (2006)

This style of yoga is founded by Pattabhi Jois who was born in 1915 and began his studies with Krishnamacharaya in Mysore, India at the age of 12. He became the leading practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga yoga, which is a set series of poses done in a flowing Vinyasa style. In 1958, Pattabhi Jois published his treatise on Ashtanga yoga, Yoga Mala.

The Ashtanga method stresses daily Vinyasa flow practice using ujjayi breathing, mula bandha, uddiyana bandha, and drishti. It is a fast-paced, intense, athletic style of yoga practice. The designated series of poses is always performed in the same order at students’ own pace. It can be very physically demanding, because of the constant quick movements from one pose to the next.

The first or primary series, called Yoga Chikitsa, meaning yoga therapy, realigns the spine, detoxifies the body, and builds strength, flexibility and stamina. This series of about 75 poses takes an hour and a half to two hours to complete, beginning with sun salutation A and B, standing series, seated series, inversions and backbends before relaxation.