What is Ashtanga Yoga?

Purification of mind and body through Ashtanga Yoga

AsthangaYoga, a very popular form and a purist form of yoga, has become toast of yoga practitioners in the modern era and it is the form of yoga which directly emanates from Patanjali Yoga Sutras. It was a system manuscripted and invented by Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta. Rishi Patanjali has outlined about Ashtanga Yoga in his yoga sutra and it is as the name suggests �Eight Limbed Yoga� . The theory and practice of Yoga Korunta, manuscript of Ashtanga Yoga, was imparted to T Krisnamacharya in the early part of 1900 by his guru Rama Mohan Brahamchari and from there it reached to Pattabhi Jois in 1948. It is growing under sacred tradition of Guru parampara.

The first two steps toward controlling the mind are the perfection of yama and niyama But here is the catch. If your limbs and sub-limbs are not strong. In such a scenario However,one should take up daily asana practice to make the body strong and healthy (Jois 2003 10). With the body and sense organs thus stabilized, the mind can be steady and controlled. Use of of vinyasa and tristhana is extremely important in Ashtanga Yoga. The meaning of "Vinyasameans� is breathing and movement system. The basic purpose of vinyasa internal cleansing" Through improved blood circulation you get relaxation in joint pain and your limbs become stronger.

The meaning of Tristhana is union of "three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. It is to be noted that they always act in conjuction

Posture: In Ashtanga yoga,asana is grouped into six series. "The Primary Series detoxifies and aligns the body. The Intermediate Series purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels. The Advanced Series integrates with higher levels. Each level prepares you to go in the next level in the sequential order and posture is a preparation for the next developing the strength and balance required to move further.

Aspects of Ashtanga Yoga

Breathing: The breathing performed with vinyasa is called ujjayi. Both the inhale and exhale should be steady and even, the length of the inhale should be the same length as the exhale. With the passage of time the duration and intensity of the inhalation and exhalation should increase.

Looking Place: Dristhi is the gazing point on which one focuses while performing the asana In the practice of asana, when the mind focuses purely on inhalation, exhalation, and the drishti, the resulting deep state of concentration paves the way for the practices of dharana and dhyana, the six and seventh limbs of Ashtanga yoga .

There is a well-defined process of cleansing and it is step by step. Once your body is purified then process of purification of mind starts. After the body purification is over nervous system can be purified. But, mastering even first step takes a persistently long time and you have to be really patient in order to get hold of it. The sense organs are always looking outside and the body is always giving into laziness. However, through determination and diligent practice, these can be controlled. Once you control your body, mind control comes automatically.