Ashtanga

In the literal sense, the term ashtanga is taken in the meaning of eight limbs and gives a clear reference towards the eight limbs of yoga. Basically there is a misconception about this very term regarding its relationship with the poses and postures that are employed during the practice of ashtanga yoga. However as a matter of fact, the literal interpretation of ashtanga has nothing to do with the ashtanga yoga poses and postures. Instead, as mentioned above, it symbolizes the eight limbs of yoga in the essence of its literal meaning.

As for the Ashtanga yoga postures, they are called Asanas. The meaning of Asana is taken in the sense of staying or abiding. It is a way through which a person can behold the experience of physical and mental union (that is, the union of the body and mind). Westerners commonly refer to Asana as postures. The main purpose of yoga postures in Ashtanga yoga is to achieve a certain level of comfort and fitness during the course of meditation along with the practice of pranayama. The ideal posture for meditation is one in which a person can sit in a comfortable position and there is no need for him to move. There are many benefits in the context of physical health and fitness connected to Ashtanga yoga. The Ashtanga yoga health and fitness routine comprises of a number of benefits, the first one revolving around building strength. The second advantage involves the increase in physical flexibility and muscle tone. There is also a mental benefit attached to the practice of Ashtanga yoga, which talks about developing mental focus. In addition to that, Ashtanga yoga also provides a strong cardiovascular workout and also plays an important role in reducing stress. When it comes to learning and practicing Ashtanga Yoga, it is quite a challenging prospect. The entire course of Ashtanga yoga consists of several series. The very initial phase (series) of Ashtanga yoga is the Ashtanga primary series, which is also known as the First Series or Yoga Chikitsa. The basic idea of the Ashtanga yoga primary series is yoga therapy, which aims to heal all sickness and purifies the body, thus preparing it for a more intense session of yoga practice.

Ashtanga yoga is basically practiced on a mat. In relation to the mechanics of this branch of yoga, an ideal Ashtanga yoga mat would be the Premium Black Mat or the Mysore Practice Rug. People who regularly practice yoga are familiar with these mats. The reason why the Mysore Practice Rugs are ideal for Ashtanga yoga is the fact that they are traditional cotton yoga mats. As for the Premium Black Mats, they are preferred for Ashtanga yoga because they are very dense in nature and lay quite flat and firm, making their surface ideal for the achievement of stability in yoga practice.

Overall, being such a challenging prospect in terms of high levels of physical and mental intensity, Ashtanga yoga could not be carried in a smooth course without the involvement of some retreats and breaks in between. These Ashtanga yoga retreats and Ashtanga yoga holidays enable the person (who is practicing Ashtanga yoga) to gain an adequate degree of energy to continue with the Ashtanga yoga. Not just retreats but many training institutes which offer Ashtanga yoga training also offer Ashtanga yoga weekends, the basic purpose of which revolves around providing peace and calm for sound sessions of meditation. The practice of Ashtanga yoga could be easily classified as a defined set of postures (asanas as elaborated by the yogis), which are always done in the same order and are also accompanied with specific breathing patterns (ujjayi breathing). The Ashtanga yoga sequence starts with Sun-Salutations and standing poses- this is known as the opening sequence. Later on the student proceeds to either of the three levels (primary, intermediate or advanced) depending upon the degree of his/ her skill. The Ashtanga yoga sequence is concluded with a set of inversions, which are also referred to as the finishing sequence. Many institutes provide Ashtanga yoga teacher training. For this purpose, there are Ashtanga yoga studios. Some institutes also provide training to students and teachers to learn Ashtanga yoga by offering Ashtanga yoga dvds and Ashtanga yoga videos.

Speaking in the light of facts, the idea to learn ashtanga yoga is definitely a wise one when it comes to achieving a high level of mental and physical health.