The Ashtanga Yoga Method
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 1,354 legacy views
Legacy rating: 3/5 from 1 archived votes
Ashtanga is a Sanskrit word, which is created by joining two words, ashta and anga. Ashta means eight. Anga is translated as limbs or steps. Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight aspects of Yoga practice. Yoga is union. Yoga is a tangible method of attaining liberation from suffering and ultimate realization of supreme consciousness.
The eight aspects of Yoga practice are Yama(restraints), Niyama(observances), Asana(posture), pranayama(breath control), Pratyahara(withdrawal of the senses), Dharana(concentration), Dhyana(meditation) and Samadhi(absorption).
The Yamas are the moral codes, which free the mind and life of a yoga practitioner from undesirable thoughts and feelings resulting from incorrect actions. The Yamas include, Ahimsa(non-violence), Satya(truthfulness), Asteya(non-theft), Brahmacharya(preserving vital energy) and Aparighraha(non-envy).
The Niyamas are those thoughts and activities, which promote a state of mind, which is conducive to Yoga. The Niyamas include Saucha(cleanliness), Santosha(contentment), Tapas(heat), Svadhyaya(study of the supreme), Ishvara Pranidhana(surrender to the supreme).
The Asana practice is the gateway into the steps of Ashtanga Yoga. Asana practice, which includes Pranayama, returns the body to a radiant state of health and purifies the subtle energy body. This prepares the mind for meditation and encourages dis-functional behaviour patterns to be abandoned.
The Ashtanga Vinyasa System, refers to a method of Yoga practice, which was described in the Yoga Kurunta, by Vamana Rishi. It includes hundreds of postures, which are sequentially linked by Vinyasa. Vinyasa is the breath-initiated movement between postures. Three actions are emphasized in the Ashtanga Vinyasa method. Bandhas(locks or energy seals), Dristi(the gaze or looking place in each posture) and Oujaii Pranayama(a sound induced breath applied to both the inhaling and exhaling breath).
When these principles are applied continuously, the Asana practice reveals the culmination of Ashtanga Yoga.
Article author
About the Author
Caroline Klebl teaches workshops, teacher training courses and yoga retreats within the US and internationally. She has put out a . To view her present teaching schedule please visit her website
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Wrist Assured Gloves for Yoga and Pilates
Does wrist strain and pain interfere with your yoga or Pilates practice? If so, the new innovative Wrist Assured Fitness Gloves and Yoga Gloves will provide the pain relief and comfort you need to continue practicing yoga and Pilates without wrist pain. Our Wrist Assured Fitness Gloves improves comfort by relieving wrist strain, joint pain, nerve compression and stress on the soft tissues of the wrist during weight bearing yoga asanas and Pilates exercises.
Related piece
Article
Muscle Cramps
Yesterday in my Pilates mat class, one of the participants developed a cramp in her foot. After her agony subsided, she asked “What causes muscle cramps and why do I get them so frequently in my feet?” We’ve all experienced a muscle cramp, sometimes known as a “charley horse” (wonder where that term came from?), and can attest that cramps can be downright painful! If we’re lucky we might experience the milder form of an annoying twitch or muscle spasm. Muscle cramps commonly involved the skeletal muscles, or those which we have voluntary control over.
Related piece
Article
Yoga and Business
Yoga for Business People: Lifetime Habit Mr. La Forge (Yoga Trainer) suspects that because the mind-body exercises typically are easier to pursue, executives have a better chance of making a lifetime habit of them. To see if his opinion is correct, he launched a five-year study of 110 middle- and upper-level executives in companies in the US.
Related piece
Article
Yoga and Health
Infertility Yoga – How It Can Help You Conceive If you are worried about your infertility problems, you will find infertility yoga to be a real ray of hope. This form of yoga focuses on strengthening the reproductive organs by relaxing your body and mind. The ancient Indian tradition of yoga is practiced mostly for enhancement of health and well-being and it has been found to be extremely effective in dealing with problems related to sexuality and fertility. Benefits of Infertility Yoga Yoga involves active participation of both, your mind and body.
Related piece