| One of the philosophies of Yoga is called Patanjali and | | | | Pratyahara is to help us isolate ourselves from the |
| comes from the Sanskrit for its definition of Ashtanga | | | | hustle and bustle and background noise of the world to |
| Yoga. Ashta means 8 and Anga means limbs and | | | | allow our minds to focus within and become a haven |
| these 8 limbs are intended to help the Ashtange Yoga | | | | for positivity. |
| devotee to live a healthy life. The practice of this form | | | | Dhyana is to help us concentrate on our mission and |
| of Yoga is intended to help us minimize stress in our | | | | long terms goals from the pursuit of meditation |
| lives, which if course is a good thing, or at least | | | | Samadhi is the attainment of a state of bliss and |
| minimize its effect. It also strengthens our endurance. | | | | peace, the ability to find and focus on our life mission |
| Ashtanga Yoga was made popular by the Yoga guru | | | | and to continually strive to reach the final goal of |
| Shri K Pattabhi Jois. | | | | personal enlightenment. |
| There is a different term in western Yoga to describe | | | | As can be seen Ashtanga Yoga has some lofty ends. |
| what is in effect a form of Ashtanga Yoga. This term | | | | It is practiced in a series of stages where the student |
| is Power Yoga. Power Yoga is modeled on Ashtanga | | | | of progresses at their own pace to achieve their goal. |
| yoga. | | | | This starts with the Yoga Chikitsa which is a form of |
| The 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are as follows: | | | | Yoga therapy which is intended to detox the body and |
| Asana is the discipline of performing Yoga exercises | | | | to build strength and stamina. It takes around 2 hours |
| for the betterment of your body and spirit. | | | | to complete the 75 poses involved. The start of the |
| Niyama is for taking control of your life. Control comes | | | | exercises is the surya namaskar (the sun salutation) |
| from personal restraint. Niyama is the combination of | | | | and then the student moves on to a series of standing |
| joy (santosh), patience (tapa), self study (swadhyaya), | | | | exercises and sitting exercise followed by inversions |
| purity (shoucha) and love of god (esgwar pranidhan). | | | | and relaxation exercises. |
| Yama is to enable us to dwell on the good and | | | | The second set in the series of 6 is called the nadi |
| honorable of human behavior. This is comprised of non | | | | shodana and it helps with strengthening the nervous |
| violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), celibacy | | | | system. These exercises follow the same sequence |
| (brahmacharay), and the ability to stay clear of envy, | | | | as the first set of exercises but with the inclusion of |
| jealousy and other possessive and destructive | | | | some extra exercises. |
| behaviours (aparigraha). Stealing is also resisted | | | | The final set of 4 from the series is called sthira bhaga |
| (asteya). | | | | meaning divine permanence. This the final and |
| As with many other branches of Yoga the breathing is | | | | advanced form of the practice and is only for students |
| controlled and this is Pranayma. | | | | who have finally mastered the intitial exercises. |
| Dharna is to help us concentrate on personal learning | | | | The pursuit of Yoga, including Ashtanga Yoga, is a |
| to improve our understanding of our place in the overall | | | | lifetime passion. It isnt easy and requires discipline, but |
| scheme of life, and to form long term goals or a firm | | | | the discipline is worth it. |
| mission for our life. | | | | |