Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Yoga is a scientific discipline that allows exploration of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of your being to discover the potential and possibilities within each of us in a single and unified manner.

Brought to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009), Ashtanga Yoga combines breath control (pranayama) and physical postures (asana) with sense withdrawal (pratyahara) and concentration (dharana). The result is a powerfully transformative experience that produces deep internal healing.

By synchronizing movement to breath (vinyasa) through a dynamic series of postures an internal heat is created that purifies the body and restores its natural vitality. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mental state.

The term Vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement and breath – which turns static Yoga postures in to dynamic flowing movement. Attention is focused on the breath during postures, and you will hold postures for a predefined number of breaths.

The term Vinyasa also refers to a specific series of movements that are frequently done between each pose in a series. They are what will very often get you from one posture to another.
You will be using Ujjayi breathing throughout your practice, which is a relaxed diaphragmatic style of breathing. . The steady cycles of breathing provides you with a calming mental focal point. Additionally, Viṅyāsa and Ujjayi together create internal heat, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating.

Don’t worry – I can teach you this style of breathing very easily once you are ready to add that to your practice!
Again, once you are ready, you will also be using your Bandha’s, which is basically muscle locking and contraction, which combined with your Postures and Breath focuses energy in the body.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is different from many yoga classes in the west in that the order of poses is completely predefined. A practice will comprise of four main parts: an "opening sequence of 10 Sun Salutations and several standing postures, a back-bending sequence, and a set of inverted postures, referred to as the "finishing sequence." Practice always ends with savasana, or resting pose.