What is Ashtanga Yoga?

It has several progressive sequences which do not change from class to class. The first or Primary Series is the one I teach, occasionally adding some of the more accessible postures like backbends form the second series. The Ashtanga Primary Series comprises a sequence of postures threaded together with a continuous breath (Ujahi breath – a deep breath with sound in the throat). We practice the same sequence each week, developing awareness, progressing and deepening the practice. The practice begins with an opening chant, several sun salutations, a standing sequence, a seated sequence and a set of inversions. We link postures with breath and the two flow together smoothly (linked by vinyasa or flowing movements) to create an intense internal heat (agni) which detoxifies the muscles, purifies the nerves and relaxes the mind.

This practice begins with an opening chant, several sun salutations, a standing sequence, a floor-based sequence and a set of inversions to finish. The Primary Series is also known as Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga Therapy), healing the body from deep within the gastro-intestinal tract and the energetic system of nadis and chakras deep in the spinal cord. This focused practice combines several of the eight limbs described in hatha yoga above.

Yoga Nidra

Using scripts from the book entitled Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati of the Bihar School, I read a little Yoga nidra is a means of achieving a very deep state of mental and physical relaxation.  I usually use part of a script at the end of each class e.g. “rotation of consciousness” or “rapid image visualisation”, but when we have a workshop we can enjoy an hour of the deepest rest using several different visualisation approaches.