The Yoga Body And Spirit – Is It Possible?

It is believed widely in India, the home of Yoga, that yoga actually is achieving control of one's mind and body and thence the spirit, which should be the pursuit of every human being in his quest for the meaning of life. Yoga in its basic yet highest sense means union with the Supreme which is also in each of us. Though such concepts are a bit foreign to western countries, it is suffice to say that attaining the Yoga body and spirit is the aim of Yoga. There have been many teachers who have established their own unique methods in the instruction and dissemination of yoga for the greater good. One of them is the Ashtanga Vinyasa Tradition popularized by Mr K. PattabhiJois of Mysore born in 1915, who learnt it from his Guru or master T. Krishnamacharya. Mr. KP Jois set up his institute in 1948 and drew a large number of students. He became well known for treating ailments like hypertension and diabetes. In 1964, the first westerner, a Belgian called Andre van Lysbeth visited him and stayed to learn ashtanga yoga under him. After he went back to Belgium, he wrote a book called 'Pranayama" providing the contact details of PattabiJois who became widely known in the western world after that. What is Ashtanga Yoga Ashtanga means 8 limbs or branches as mentioned in the yoga sutras of Patanjali the father of yoga, of which the practice of yoga postures or asanas is just one. Needless to say, all 8 branches are taught and practiced in this form of yoga. This is also known as Mysore style of yoga. In this style a sequence of postures is taught which the student has to master. It is a linear format basically but which has moved on to a more non linear format with emphasis on breathing and alignment. Salutations to the sun, called suryanamaskara is the opening sequence followed by any one of six series and a closing sequence. The six series are called Primary, Intermediate and Advanced series A,B,C and D. Ashtanga Yoga bruxelles provides many ashtanga yoga studios in Brussels. Practice of Ashtanga Yoga is still very popular seventy odd years in its modern form. What are the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga that helps in attaining the yoga body and spirit. 1. Ashtanga Yoga lays emphasis on all eight branches of yoga unlike other yoga courses which concentrate only on the postures 2. Ashtanga yoga, because of its very nature, emphasizes on physical strength and muscle training and you end up with a strong, controlled, toned body 3. Ashtanga yoga promotes endurance and stamina because of the exacting sequences of fast changing poses. 4. Since the yoga student has to concentrate on a lengthy sequence of poses and has to get them right, his mind is totally focused. By this there is relief from mental tension. These benefits make Ashtanga yoga a challenging, but beneficial instruction to take up.