About
Astanga Vinyasa - an introduction
Ast - meaning eight
Anga - meaning limbs
Vinyasa - synchronisation of breath and movement
Yoga - To yoke to join, union of mind and body
Astanga vinyasa yoga - The eight limbs
Yama Ethics - 1st limb
Moral guidelines
Niyama - 2nd limb
Self discipline
Asana - 3rd Limb
Posture - In the physical practice of yoga in Astanga the postures are linked together by vinyasa
Breath control -4th Limb
Pranayama - using various methods of breath extension and retention.
Pratyahara - 5th Limb
Sense withdrawal, a turning inwards of the mind so external factors do not cause distraction in our practice.
Dharana -6th limb
Developing concentration
Dhyana - 7th limb
Meditation, a stilling of the mind.
Samadhi - 8th limb
A state of joy and peace, the union with the true self and universal consciousness.
Astanga Yoga is a dynamic form of Hatha Yoga that uses various tools to keep heat, concentration and focus. These tools are bandha, dhristi, and ujjayi breath.
Mulabandha, the drawing up and soft contraction of the perineum
Uddianya bandha the area of the navel drawn in and up
Drishti the focus of the eyes, initially an external practice that softens and becomes also internal
Ujjayi breath a soft light of the epiglottis causing a soft rasping of the breath this gives something for the ears to listen to.
When all these are focused on together they help to create a physical practice that becomes very meditative in nature.
The typical practice of Astanga yoga usually starts with 5 sun salutations A and B (Surya Namaskara) then a set standing sequence followed by the Primary series Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga therapy) or the second series nadi shodana(nerve cleansing).
Six series in total.
These normally take one and half to two hours, so due to most classes only being one and a half hours a mixture of the two series are often taught.Often the Instruction to take your vinyasa is given and this is the invite to keep the heat of the practice by linking together the movements from the sun salutations between postures.
If you're not used to practicing Astanga, in a led practice the room can often look quite chaotic with people doing many different variations of an asana (posture). But this allows people to experience their own yoga and helps develop and encourage self practice under the watchful eye of the teacher.
