Ashtanga (Astanga) vinyasa yoga, as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois ("Guruji") of Mysore, South India, is one of the most popular forms of yoga practised in the West today. It is a classical method of Hatha Yoga and is renowned for it's dynamic and flowing sequence of asanas. The traditional method of teaching Ashtanga vinyasa yoga focusses on the individual to ensure that each student practices according to his or her own ability. This helps to promote self awareness and a realisation of progress through the development of a regular practice.

The asanas are practised with

(i) empasis on a controlled and even breath (the ujjayi breath)

(ii) by using muscular contractions or locks (bandas), and

(iii) by adopting specific gaze points (dristis).

With continued and regular practise, this system of yoga can lead the practitioner into a form of moving meditation.

So by practising asanas with vinyasa and focusing on the ujjayi breath and the bandhas, we can unlock energy and generate prana/lifeforce within ourselves. If we also withdraw the senses by using the dristi, we can start to meditate on what we are doing and keep the energy we have generated in the practise within us. Then we can move towards a state of yoga chikitsa, yoga therapy or profound healing. This healing can be used positively for example to quiten a busy mind, to remove restricted movement or pain in a hip, a knee or a back etc, to correct the body on a structural or emotional level, or to answer such questions as "Who am I ?" and "Why am I here ?".

Guruji often says: -
            "Do your practise and all is coming"
            "Ashtanga Yoga is 99% Practise, 1% theory"