Taught by Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta, Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system. In early 1900’s, the text was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari. It was passed down to Pattabhi Jois later. A series of physical postures and breathing exercises are included in this style of Yoga. Refered to the eight libs of Yoga, this dynamic, physically demanding practice is helpful for making our body toxin free and the mind steady, focused and calm.

Ashtanga Yoga consists some series of posture (Primary series, Intermediate series and advanced series).

Primary Series:

In Ashtanga Yoga Primary series there are 75 poses including standing, seating postures and back bends. It takes about two hours to complete all the postures. Before start practicing the series, practitioners should warm-up their body that they can do by practicing ‘Sun-Salutation’. After warm-up, they can proceed to the standing balanced poses, seated poses, back bends and relaxation. This Primary series is helpful for getting balance, flexibility and strength.

Intermediate series:

Intermediate series include Nadi Shdana (nervous system)-purification. By practicing this series, you can clean and strengthen your nervous system and energized different pars of your body. Like the Primary series, this series should be practiced after warm-up by following ‘Sun Salutation’. Then you can follow balanced poses and seated poses etc. You can do the Intermediate series after completing the Primary series and after completing the Intermediate series, you can start four advanced series which are called Sthira Bhaga, meaning divine stability.

Advanced Series:

This series include challenging arm balance postures. There were two intensive advanced series earlier that was outlined by Pattabhi Jois. Later he subdivided those series into four series so that the postures become easier to hold by the practitioners.

Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga:

There are many physical and psychological benefits we can get by practicing Ashtanga Yoga regularly. We can improve our self awareness and find out our real nature hidden in our very inner self. This style of Yoga help us to turn ourselves from the artificiality to reality and we can improve our interconnection with our inner self. Regular practice of this Yoga workout can help us to get benefited physically, emotionally, mentally and intellectually. Here goes some of the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga:

1. Ashtanga Yoga workouts make our body toxin free and protect it from harmful elements as well as keep it free of disease and strong enough.
2. It also help us to burn extra fat and lose weight and also makes our body prepare to maintain balance in any stressed situation.
3. Ashtanga Yoga helps the practitioners maintain properly balanced, strong and healthy body.
4. This style of yoga also help us to think positively and consciously and understand the difference between feelings and emotions by pushing all the negative feelings and thoughts.
5. It also helps us to recognize the things we really want to achieve and to project carefully so that we can fulfill the our desires and dreams.
6. We can become more focused, stable, calm and conscious in any kind of situations.
7. We can get rid of any kind of negative feelings such as anger, jealousy, fear or any other negative feelings.
8. We understand that there are sufficient things for us and we can achieve whatever we want.
9. We can understand that everything in our surroundings are  made up of three elementary particles of nature, mass and energy.

Disadvantages of Ashtanga Yoga:

1. One of the disadvantages of Ashtanga Yoga is that we cannot move on to second series before completing the first series properly.
2. Ashtanga Yoga consists an intense workouts which are not a relaxing style rather more challenging and not perfect for the light hearted.

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