The Ashtanga Tradition
A Note About the Ashtanga Tradition (and my teaching style)
My practice is rooted in the classical Ashtanga tradition - a rigorous physical form involving a set sequence of postures that are learned progressively and are linked together through a prescribed breathing pattern. The lineage holder of this tradition is Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who taught students from across the globe for over 70 years and who passed away in 2009. His grandson Sharath is the living lineage holder. My teachers in this tradition are many and various, though I acknowledge Tim Miller as a primary source of inspiration and guidance. Tim teaches this demanding physical practice with great gentleness and loving kindness. While I have been influenced by many teachers over the years - ranging from Anna Forrest to Iyengar teachers and including many of the wonderful local teachers in the Bay Area - I always come home to the ashtanga practice.
My teaching style draws from my personal practice, however I do not teach the ashtanga form in its most strict or classical sense. I adapt my approach and sequencing based on the foundation provided by this tradition. My goal as a teacher is to support each student in developing their own unique relationship to yoga practice. Ultimately, whatever the style, the sequencing, the teacher, or the environment where we place our mat, our yoga practice should help us to feel more steady and vibrant in body, mind, and heart. Through the connection of breath and motion, the practice guides us towards greater self-awareness and a stronger connection with our inherent inner strength and peace. Whether you stand on your hands or stand on your feet, whether you sit in full lotus or in a chair, whether you can put your feet behind your head or can’t yet reach your toes, you can connect with the deep wisdom of the practice through your breath and your attention.
Yoga is for everybody!
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
While Ashtanga Yoga can signify this very specific tradition and style of practice, the direct translation of the Sanskrit word “ashtanga” outlines the entire yogic path. “Ashtanga” translates as eight (ashto) limbs (anga). Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase before?
What are the eight limbs of yoga? A brief (very brief) outline of the eight limbs follows:
You can think of the yamas and niyamas as the ethical codes of conduct to guide “right-living”. These principles support the yogi in living harmoniously, with purity in thought, speech, and action. The yamas are things not to do, or restraints, and they involve our interactions with others and the world. The niyamas are things to do, or observances, and are personal practices relating to one’s inner world. There are five of each.
1. Yamas
Ahimsa: nonviolence, compassion
Satya: truthfulness
Asteya: non-stealing
Brahmacharya: non-excess (Traditionally translated as celibacy. Keep in mind, these practices were originally specified for young Indian Brahmin men - thus, we may interpret these guidelines to apply to our real lives today.)
Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, non-greed
2. Niyamas
Saucha: purity
Santosha: contentment
Tapas: self-discipline, training your senses
Svadhyaya: self-study, inner exploration
Ishvara Pranidhana: surrender
We can devote a lifetime to the development of these qualities! We can begin by bringing an awareness of these sensibilities into our asana practice. For more in-depth interpretations and further insights into the yamas and niyamas you can of course find loads of additional reading all over the interwebs. Or go straight to the source and get yourself a copy of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Most versions of this source text include extensive commentary.
With an awareness of the moral and spiritual foundation offered by these principles, we move on to the next two limbs, which most modern yogis will be familiar with. These are:
3. Asana
Physical practice, the postures
4. Pranayama
Breath control, breathing practice
The next two limbs you practice, at least in part, when you sit in stillness. These are:
5. Pratyahara
Withdrawal of the senses, non-reactivity to external stimuli
There are many specific practices associated with Pratyahara. Within our asana practice our work with the dristi (the steady eye gaze) supports this single-pointed attention and helps limit the influence of external influences.
6. Dharana:
Concentration.
In our seated practice of stillness, first we sit there and concentrate on the breath, we try to focus our minds on the breath instead of on the thoughts. Concentration comes before we truly enter the meditative state.
The last two are where we are headed with a lot of practice over time. Maybe. But the point is not to GET THERE, but to BE HERE. So as modern yogis living in the world - with jobs, and families, and social lives - we engage with these practices to help us live our lives with more ease and peace, with greater health and joy. The final steps of the yogic path are:
7. Dhyana
Meditation
8. Samadhi
Enlightenment! Freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Ta-da! The eight limbs of yoga.
“Yoga does not promise a life without hardship, sorrow, or pain. But it gives us tools to keep the mind steady through success and failure.”