From the article: Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtangis are some of the most dedicated practitioners I know. If you've caught the bug, tell us about why you love this practice. Or if it didn't work for you, tell us about that too. Readers Respond
Ashtanga
- Been doing Ashtanga for about 24 months. This fits me perfectly. Very individualistic; intense, challenging, forces one to relax and yet concentrate. Maintaining inner heat is the challenge...and to keep the lower back and glutes warm and limber. Proper breathing and focus is so central and critical for success. Love the Swenson brothers.
- —Guest Buckley
Brilliant concept, needs revision
- As a yoga teacher for the past 37 years, I have found the concept of Astanga yoga vinyasa to be brilliant! The pure style of Astanga is not. From a teaching standpoint, in today's yoga world the practice of a fixed system which is very injury prone to the masses is very impractical. Loving the movement of vinyasa, I had to create a flow style which had elements of proper alignment, a balanced series of postures, pranayama and quiet sitting meditation. The Astanga style in my opinion should be made user friendly.
- —Guest yogin77
love it
- i am a 51 year old female. i have been practicing and teaching ashtanga yoga for 11 years. i find it to be a very powerful and transformative practice. hope to continue to the end of life as i know it...
- —Guest Elizabeth McCloud
I love this practice
- As a beginner in yoga, I looked at different styles of yoga and really tried having an open mind yet really being true to my own instinct. I found Ashtanga yoga to have everything I want in a yoga practice. It's challenging (and I like challenge) yet there's so much emphasis on one's personal pace (like the Mysore class). It deals so much with flexibility AND strength. It doesn't utilize props so it makes the practitioner, in my opinion, feel more personal in his or her own practice. Ashtanga yoga has been my favorite yoga practice and I hope to keep developing the poses and moves.
- —Guest Joyce117
I love Ashtanga!
- I really enjoy Ashtanga practice. I love the sequence, the discipline. I also very much enjoy the Mysore style classes. I like the fact that you have to learn the sequence and you can go at your own pace. I do find it's tough, but I try to respect my body and do as much as I can. So far I have felt a reflective mood after practicing that other styles fo yoga do not give me. It makes me reflect on patience, on process, on being constant in life and patient.
- —Guest She_yogini
Ashtanga Evolution....
- The one thing I love about yoga is that it is constantly evolving. All sorts of practices for people to enjoy. My roots are in Ashtanga, but as I got older in mind and body I realized I still have a love for Ashtanga, but found the speed not to my liking, or kind to old injuries. I still go through my vinyasa but at a much slower rate of speed focing more on the alignment of Iyengar, and the softening and heart opening of Anusara. I still think nothing warms up the body like a series of Sun Salutes, but yoga is so much more than that. Explore.
- —Guest dpbrthe
Astanga is the way forward for me!
- I was introduced to Astanga 7 months ago after yet another injury left me frustrated and unable to train or compete. I hike, scale rock faces, run and swim. I push my body hard and often injure myself when over tired. Astanga has strengthened my core in a way that no amount of ab work in the gym could come close to. The result is that I am way stronger than before and have been injury free for 7 months (a first for me!). My aerobic endurance has increased due to the influence of Ujayi breath, my muscles have lengthened and strengthened from the bone outwards, not only making me leaner, but improving my endurance. The meditative benefits from the practise are great - going deep within during Mysore practise teaches one inner discipline and focus that is very useful in long distance training. The best thing about Astanga tho, is that - unlike the other sports I participate in- I'll still be practising well into old age and my body will remain lean and strong. I could keep going - but rather try for yourself and see. Remenber tho - Astanga's not for sissies!
- —Guest Jo Yeatman
It's not my type of yoga
- Problems with Ashtanga for me are: 1) Lack of flexibility. I prefer to do my own sequencing of asanas. I'm probably not against doing the same sequencing every time, that said I developed a different sequence that works better for me. 2) The Ujjai breath is not for me. 3) Doing a vinyasa between every pose does not work well for me at this stage of my practice. Ashtanga has also some positives that other types of yoga do not: 1) Mysore style where the teacher works one on one with students is a plus that other tyeps of yoga do not have. Students go at their own pace during mysore and this is another advantage.
- —Guest Bill
Yoga for Life
- Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series is the healing practice and if practiced as Patabhi Jois originally taught it is a yoga practice one can do for Life. I am 61 and practice and teach this yoga for life. As to what many people think Ashtanga Yoga is, one should learn it from David Williams, who should know. Those that went to Mysore later learned a transformed version of Ashtanga that does cause injuries and is not what PJ taught. His children and grandchilden have changed it for materialistic reasons and I do not recommend going to Mysore unless things change there in how it is presented.
- —Guest ganesha
Nothing is appropriate for everyone
- It is quite unimportant whether I "like" something or not. The relevant point on the path of yoga (a presumption, I know) is that the practice itself serve the living of the human being doing it. I've done the primary series and as a physical practice it has some appealing things and some not so appealing (to me). Since the practice was designed for adolescent males it tends to be a very physically demanding practice. As such, it would be difficult to maintain such a practice in the later years of life. But it clearly has value to so many.
- —purnayoga
Make me stronger
- I am 40 and started yoga a few years ago. I switched from Anusara to Ashtanga last month. My body feels the difference! I feel stronger and more open. Ashtanga is more straight forward. Nothing mumbo-jumbo. You may not be able to do the whole primary series at once, but you know your body and break it down. Practice with patience and respect your body. Another thing that I like is the flow of inhaling and exhaling with the movement If you want body/mind strength, Ashtanga is the way to go.
- —Guest New York Yogi
Love It
- I have been doing Ashtanga for about 2 1/2 months. At first I thought of yoga as silly, now I have a new and profound respect for yoga. It builds strength, flexibily and concentration. This form of yoga pushes me and I have seen great results in a short period of time as I take it serious and do my best. I can get through the entire workouts and feel great. Yoga is now my favorite workout, and I do many kinds. I am presently 48 1/2 years old and wish I would have started doing yoga decades ago. This form of yoga is a real challenge but the results are also great. I can do things now that I never could do when I was younger.
- —Guest Barry
For me, I'll leave it
- I find Ashtanga to be too rigid for me. I know it has been great for many, many people and I don't mean to disparage it or Pattabhi Jois's contribution, but for me I prefer the more flexible styles like Vinyasa. I've seen a lot of people who practice Ashtanga end up with injuries especially in their knees from practicing lotus pose without having enough flexibility in their hips. And the primary series is almost all forward bends which leaves me feeling unbalanced. I don't think following a proscribed sequence is necessary, and causes a striving towards end goals for many students.
- —Guest Joyce
Love It!
- I've heard so many awesome things about David Swenson and his teaching of ashtanga. I'm attending a workshop next month at my favorite studio, Hegel Yoga in Tempe AZ, which is where I was introduced to ashtanga. Can't wait!
- —Guest Guest Kate
Love it!
- I get bored in slower paced classes. I like being able to focus on myself during mysore style, and I always feel fantastic after a class. So sorry to hear about the passing of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. We should all live so healthy as to make it to 93!
- —VegJolinda
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