Breathing instructions given are to do rechaka and puraka, (exhale and inhale) as much as possible. In his book Yoga Mala, Pattabhi Jois recommends staying five to eight breaths in a posture, or staying for as long as possible in a posture. Vinyasa Īlthough Ashtanga yoga keeps a general principle of steady and even inhales and exhales, the specifics of breath during the asanas are debated. There are nine dristhis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side and left side. In the ashtanga yoga method, there is a prescribed point of focus for every asana. ĭrishti is the location where one focuses the eyes while practicing asana. īreathing is ideally even and steady in the length of the inhale and exhale. Officially, the style has very little alignment instruction. Their stated purpose is to increase strength and flexibility of the body. The asanas in ashtanga yoga follow a set sequence as described above. These are considered core concepts for ashtanga yoga practice, encompassing the three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and the mind and are supposed to be "performed in conjunction with each other". Tristhana means the three places of attention or action: breathing system (pranayama), posture (asana), and looking place (drishti). Principles Īshtanga vinyasa yoga emphasizes certain main components, namely tristhana ("three places of action or attention", or the more physical aspects of poses) and vinyasa (which Sharath Jois defines as a system of breathing and movement). However, most teachers who claim to have been taught by Sharath teach the above methods, exercises, and postures.
How-to videos and workshops, detailed alignment instructions and strength-building exercises are not part of the method, neither for the practitioner nor for the teacher. Practice takes place in a strict Mysore environment under the guidance of a Sharath-approved teacher. In the 21st century, a "new generation" of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga teachers have adopted Sharath's new rules, teaching in a linear style without variations. However, Pattabhi Joi's son Manju Jois disagrees in his view, students were occasionally allowed to practice in a non-linear format. Sharath Jois, one must master poses before being given permission to attempt others that follow.