The method
Ashtanga Yoga is a traditional system of yoga, whose origins is associated with the Yoga Korunta text and an oral transmission preserved through generations. This knowledge was passed from teacher to student through the parampara, reaching T. Krishnamacharya at the beginning of the 20th century.
Krishnamacharya transmitted this teaching to his students, among them K. Pattabhi Jois, who dedicated his life to the practice and dissemination of the method in Mysore, India. This lineage was later carried forward by his grandson, Sharath Jois, regarded as the Paramaguru of the tradition.
The method is structured in six progressive series of postures, each designed to work on different aspects of the practitioner: from more physical levels to more subtle dimensions of being. In the traditional learning, students progress posture by posture at their own pace, respecting their limitations and allowing the body to assimilate the practice as the experience gradually deepens.
The practice is based on Tristhana, the three places of action: breath, posture (asana), and focus of gaze (drishti). When integrated, these elements transform the practice into a moving meditation, connecting body, mind, and breath.
The repetition of the sequence becomes a tool for self-study. Over time, it cultivates awareness, stability, and a deeper understanding of oneself, expanding the perception of the body, the mind, and one’s patterns.
The Mysore style is the name given to the traditional teaching model of Ashtanga Yoga. The term comes from the city of Mysore, in southern India, considered the birthplace of Ashtanga Yoga, where the practice was taught for many years and continues to be taught to this day. The name "Mysore style" therefore means yoga as it is taught in Mysore.
In this class format, there is no collective guidance from beginning to end. Each student performs the sequence taught to them at their own pace, following their breath and respecting their limits. The teacher provides individual support, offering guidance and adjustments when necessary. Even in a group, the practice becomes deeply personal, allowing each individual to develop their process in a unique way.
Because it doesn't depend on constant instructions from the teacher, the practitioner learns to direct their attention inward, making the practice a space for listening and internal perception. Over time, it becomes more fluid and autonomous, approaching the true goal of yoga: self-knowledge.
Mysore Style
How does the practice work?
The traditional Ashtanga method has some fundamental pillars.
All of these pillars are taught in the introductory class and experienced daily in the students' practice.
Tristhana
These are the three areas of action: breath, posture (asana), and point of focus of the gaze (drishti). These three elements transform the practice into a meditative process in movement, connecting body, mind, and breath.
Moons and Rest
The practice follows a rhythm that respects the cycles of the body and nature. Therefore,
There are specific days of rest throughout the month, known as moon days.
Parampara
The living and continuous transmission of knowledge from teacher to student, preserving the essence of teaching through direct practice and shared experience across generations.
Parampara
Parampara is the traditional transmission of knowledge from teacher to student, in a direct and continuous manner across generations.
In Ashtanga Yoga, this means that the method is not learned solely through books or theory, but through guided practice and lived experience. The teaching is transmitted directly.
Without filters or personal adaptations, preserving the essence of the method as it was received.
This method of transmission ensures that the practice maintains its integrity over time, avoiding interpretations that could distort its principles. At the same time, it allows the...
The teaching should be sensitively adapted to each student through direct interaction with the teacher.
More than a concept, parampara is something that is experienced. It is in this relationship of trust between teacher and student that knowledge becomes alive, profound, and relevant, accompanying the practitioner throughout their journey.
