About Astanga Yoga

When you see Astanga Vinyasa Yoga practiced you watch a body in flowing motion, as if moving through a choreographed dance. This flow is known as Vinyasa or breath and movement synchronisation. The body moves with strength and grace.

What you hear when Astanga Yoga is practised is the rhythmic sound of Ujjayi breathing (victorious breath or fire breath). This is a form of pranayama/breath control. The sound of this breath comes from the back of the throat and can be likened to a soft snoring sound. It is used through the entire practice. Ujjayi breathing generates heat in the body making it more supple and therefore safer to move. The heat also allows the body to sweat having a cleansing and purifying effect.

What you feel when you practice Astanga Yoga is the systematic opening of the body as you move through the set sequence of asanas. The order of the sequence remains constant, equally cultivating strength and flexibility. Initially this is the Primary series or yoga Chikitsa (yoga therapy) and is designed to therapeutically align the body. Proficiency in this takes time and is required before moving on.

Over time, deeper awareness allows you to refine the internal aspects of the practice. Focus, concentration and alignment are enhanced through the use of soft gaze points or drishtis in the asanas.

Astanga Yoga’s dynamic nature is brought about by an inner strength yet outer softness with no forcing. It is experienced as a feeling of lightness in the body. It allows the practice to take on a graceful appearance. This is attributed to the use of the bandhas (locks) Uddiyana Bandha (flying upward lock) and Mula Bandha (root or base lock) are located below the navel and in the perineum respectively. To activate initially you apply a muscular contraction in these areas, in this way protecting the body through correct control whilst moving into and out of the asanas. Leading from this an energetic up-liftment occurs as the bandhas direct the flow of prana (life force energy) within the body on a subtle level.

The culmination of all of these key elements develops a meditative quality to the practice. In this way individuals are able to realise their potential and develop from their own inner wisdom.