Ashtanga Vinyasa

Ashtanga Vinyasa is one of the most dynamic and disciplined yoga systems in the world — a practice rooted in ancient tradition, built around the intelligent union of breath and movement. Vinyasa describes the precise linking of each movement to an inhale or exhale, turning a physical sequence into something continuous, rhythmic and deeply meditative.

The system was developed and taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, southern India, who studied under the legendary T. Krishnamacharya. His school in Mysore became a destination for practitioners worldwide and the tradition has since spread globally through an unbroken teacher-to-student lineage.

The practice follows a fixed sequence of postures, beginning with the Primary Series — Yoga Chikitsa — which works to detoxify and realign the body from the ground up. At the heart of every session is trishtana — the union of three focal points that work together simultaneously: ujjayi breath (a steady, audible breath generated by a gentle constriction of the throat, which regulates the nervous system and anchors the mind), drishti (a specific gaze point for each posture that cultivates concentration and draws awareness inward), and bandhas (internal energetic locks in the pelvic floor and lower abdomen that channel energy and protect the spine).

It is trishtana that elevates the practice beyond physical exercise — when all three are present, the practice becomes a genuine moving meditation.

Ashtanga Vinyasa is traditionally and best taught in Mysore style. Each student moves through the sequence at their own pace and breath, working independently in the room. The teacher moves around, offering hands-on adjustments, guidance and corrections where needed. Crucially, postures are introduced gradually — you don't learn the entire sequence at once. With the help of the teacher, you build up your own personal practice step by step, adding new postures only when you are ready. This makes it a deeply individual journey, accessible to complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It is also common practice to join the so called led-classes to get the feeling of Ashtanga.

Level: ALL / good for absolute beginners