The vinyasa links the asanas together in the dance of the breath. Ashtanga uses a set series of asanas. The Moon Sequence seems to have made many aspects of the Primary Series more accessible - both physically and psychologically. Through painful experiences - not only personal but equally through those of others - we have the opportunity to learn and move forward with a better understanding of what it means to create a safe and supportive environment for all teachers and yoga practitioners. There are few Ashtanga postures that consistently work the side of the body, both for flexibility and strength - some standing postures such as Trikonasana, Parighasana in Intermediate, Vasisthasana in Advanced A. Gaining better awareness, flexibility and strength in your side body is an integral part of a complete Yoga practice. Although it might not be strictly ‘necessary’ it is so much better if you do. The important thing to consider is that some of this is good, too much is not.

I think that is a great thing that he borrowed from other systems and invented something very valuable, while still adhering to the traditional foundation of Yoga. When the 5 senses are quelled, the mind can then become still. So if that is our approach, then Ashtanga is not rigid at all. Once you have worked through most of Primary, and eventually started Intermediate and then possibly on to Advanced a few years later, there are no variations that are traditionally allowed in the Ashtanga standing postures, as opposed to many possibilities through the sitting postures. After teaching many Ashtangis the Moon Sequence, which has more variations for the hips, I found many students relieved and excited to add this to their repertoire. 5. One last aspect that Ashtanga Yoga does not utilise, and that I have only partially used in my own teaching is the use of circular movements, either based on some kind of contemporary dance, or Chi Gung and other Chinese based practices. They've dedicated their lives to the practice and teaching of Ashtanga yoga and always welcome an open dialogue with the practitioners. Ashtanga practitioners tend to be both consistent, and in order to practice 5 or 6 times per week, they tend also to be a little rajasic, at least in the first few years.

Students learn postures in a fixed order using a special movement-breathing technique called 'vinyasa'. The breath is the essence and heart of this discipline and links posture to posture in a precise order. The Ashtanga philosophy is to integrate all of the eight limbs of yoga, which include: Yama (moral codes), Niyama (self-discipline), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (oneness with the self). She is an avid Mysore-style practitioner at Maya Yoga and completed her 200 Yoga Teacher Training in 2014. One reason she loves Maya Yoga so much is the luxury of time that Mysore Style of Yoga affords her for long meditation sessions after her practice. Based on no evidence to the contrary, it seems obvious to me that Prof. T. Krishnamacharya invented the Ashtanga sequences, borrowing many of his ideas from Western gymnastic training. I often give a shoulder sequence to Ashtanga students as homework, and sometimes introduce it within the Primary Series. In a ‘Mysore class’, students work at their own pace, practising and progressing through the series according to their ability and individual needs. However, What is ashtanga yoga if you are not practising under the guidance of a teacher how do you know when you can move on?

Mysore is the city in the south of India where Ashtanga yoga was taught by K. Pattabhi Jois from the 1930s until his death in 2009. Mysore self-practice is the traditional way of practising Ashtanga yoga and enables the student to learn individually, yet with all of the group energy of a conventional class. Since Krishnamacharya’s time, Pattabhi Jois further modified, refined and adapted the sequences to his own needs and, I believe, to the particular needs of the Western students who came to learn from him. Kat: Who is Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga right for? Through proper breathing (ujjayi or breathing with sound), postures, gazing points (dristi) and locks (bandhas), the Ashtanga yoga practitioner gains control of the senses and a deep awareness of the self. Sound repetitive? Yep. It is. This polarity holds true for every method, tradition, religion and culture on the planet. At the other end of the spectrum, I see a great deal of variation in the Vinyasa Yoga method being taught - I would say that this is the most popular method of Yoga being taught around the planet. Given that the bulk of Vinyasa Yoga is stemming from Ashtanga Yoga, to really understand either of these completely would mean embracing both of them.