The history of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Die Geschichte des Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Systems

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga History Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Geschichte

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Roots

Patanjali statue, the author of Yoga Sutra

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic (Hatha-) Yoga that was taught and introduced to many students from all over the world by Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. It is based on the ancient principles of the "vinyasa krama" that Jois had learnt from his teacher T. Krishnamacharya.

All Yoga postures ("Asana") are linked and synchronized with a specific breathing teachnique. This leads to a deeply concentrated independent and meditative Yoga practice .

Three key principles are being observed during the practice:

  • Integration ("Bandha") of the oppositing qualities and tendencies in postures ("asana"), creating "good" alignment and intensity
  • The steady breath ("Ujjayi Prāṇāyāma") is calming as well as heating and a key to concentration and meditation
  • A specific gazing point for each ("Drishti") also makes the practice much more internal and concentrated

All components of the practice require and promote concentration and mindfulness, the heart of Yoga practice.

Individual Teaching - Mysore Style

Ashtanga must be taught in small groups in the tradtional one-on-one teaching style.

Only this way the student will develop an independent Yoga practice and the important teacher-student relationship can flourish.

We will teach you step by step to ultimately become free from us :)

The lineage of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (parampara)

Although P. Jois was responsible for making this particular method of Yoga world famous, he insisted that he did not invent anything. Instead he always said that he was accurately teaching what he has learnt from his guru Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya again attributed all his knowledge to his own teachers and an ancient lineage of teachers and students. Ultimately the value of yogic practices can only be recognized in relation to the ancient scriptures in which the meaning of Yoga was defined.

Yogic lineages have always been independent from families. Thus the method Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is not and has never been owned by the Jois family.

You can only be regarded as a yogi when you respect the famous mahavratam, the five ethical laws of Yoga according to the Yoga Sutra. More so for teachers, the gurus.

A guru must not be greedy, a guru must not injure students physically or mentally. There are too many reports of such cases from Mysore over the past years. Let's make sure to the lineage pure from impure teachers regardless of family names or titles.