Gayatri Mantra
History and Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra The Gayatri mantra first appeared in the Rig Veda, an early Vedic text written between 1800 and 1500 BCE. ... The mantra is a hymn to Savitur, the sun god. According to Brooks, the sun in the mantra represents both the...
Yoga Sutras
The Complete Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali 195 Reference Text for Yogis Past and Present This module is suitable for everybody – beginners, advanced students or teachers – wishing to acquire precise knowledge of this fundamental text. The Yoga Sutra-s present the subtlest...
Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)
Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)
Garbha Pindasana
Garbha: WombPinda: EmbryoAsana: PoseGarbha Pindasana is the twenty-second pose of the primary series, and the seventeenth seated pose. This is the fourth pose of what is often called the “apex” of the Primary series—five challenging asana in the middle of the...
Kurmasana-Supta
Kurmasana or Tortoise Pose is a yoga asana. Sanskrit: कूर्मासन; Kurma – Tortoise, Asana – Pose; Pronounced as: Koohr-Mah-Sah-Nah. Kurmasana or the Tortoise Pose resembles a tortoise that withdraws into its shell when threatened or agitated. The name comes from the...
Ashtanga Fundamental-Asanas
Six standing poses become fundamental positions for Ashtanga Yoga Yoga for beginners and advanced: Six standing positions compose, just after sun salutations, the fundamental positions for the Ashtanga Yoga practice. Fundamental-Positions Basic Sequence
Winter
Everyone loves to complain about winter. It’s cold. The howling wind and below-freezing temperatures chap your skin and numb your face. You have to wear so many layers just to go outside that getting ready takes like 20...
Hanuman and The Selfless Service
Hanuman is the monkey deity renowned for his courage, power and faithful, selfless service. The Life of Hanuman is related below in the form of short numbered and illustrated accounts of some of the most important parts of his life. Some say Hanuman was born as the...
Krishnamacharya
Whether you practice the dynamic series of Pattabhi Jois, the refined alignments of B.K.S Iyengar the classical postures of Indra Devi, or the customized vinyasa of Viniyoga, your practice stems from one source: a five-foot, two-inch Brahmin born more than one hundred...
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The term Astanga refers to “the eight limbs of yoga”, which are described in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras. “Astanga Yoga Is Patanjali ” – Sri K. Pattabhi Jois External Limbs Yama – social ethics “restraints” Niyama – personal ethics “internal restraints” Asana –...
Practice Guideline
Do not eat before practice! We recommend that you leave at least four hours between eating a meal and practicing yoga. Ideally your digestive system should be as empty as possible - also morning practice is best after going to the bathroom. Do not drink water during...
Led Class
In a Led Primary Series class, the teacher calls out the postures and vinyasas (counted movements linking the postures with the breath) of the Ashtanga Primary Series. The group moves and breathes together in sync. These are focused, highly energetic classes and...
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
What is Ashtanga Yoga? Ashtanga Yoga comes from the ancient text titled Yoga Korunta by Vamana Rishi. These teachings were passed on to Sri T. Krishmacharya in the 1900âs by his teacher Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari. Krishmacharya then passed the teachings on to...
Mysore Style Guidelines
Asana Practice - Mysore Style Asana practice is healing, strengthening and purifying - a perfect antidote to the modern lifestyle which causes so much physical and mental stress. Yoga can alleviate many common ailments such as headaches, insomnia, back pain etc.. It...
Guru Parampara
Guru (Teacher) Being a civilization that respects experiential knowledge, we hold high respect for the teacher of such knowledge. It is separated from the socio-political structure and spans across social/political divisions since such knowledge is beyond those...
Ashtanga Chants
Opening Prayer: Closing Prayer:
Closing and it’s happenings
The Closing Sequence of Ashtanga Yoga Each series of Ashtanga Yoga has “bookends”, meaning each series starts with sun salutes and ends with closing series, what is in between (standing and seated poses) changes depending on which series you are practicing that day....
Ashtanga Yoga Series
The primary series of Ashtanga yoga is a precise sequence of postures, linked together with vinyasa sequences. It is used as the daily yoga practice for yogis who practice Ashtanga yoga, the sequence of yoga as was taught by Sri K....
Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is the royal eightfold yoga, standardized by the ancient sage Patanjali. It's outset and conclusion is the state of unlimited ecstasy and freedom that forms the core of our being. Patanjali calls this state objectless samadhi, the Upanishads refer to it...
(9) Focusing Points In Yoga
Nava Drishtis (Dristi) concentrate and bring greater awareness into our asana practice there are 9 Drishtis (focused eye gazing points) which we can use. Nasagrai Drishti – the space just beyond the tip of the nose. This is used most often and is the primary drishti...