Talk:Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

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[edit] Article improvement and name "Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga" or "Ashtanga Yoga"

First of all, thank you Mottad (whoever you are!) for doing some massive improvements to the text here! I was just in Mysore, South India, and while I was there I was showing a few folks the dearth of quality information about Ashtanga Yoga, and about Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, on Wikipedia. But I'm glad the situation has improved. My first concern from here is that it's not called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, it's called Ashtanga Yoga. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has never called it anything else. Thus we should move the information away from this page and to the Ashtanga Yoga page. I am, however, a Wikimedia beginner, so I wish to take this slowly. I also have plenty of things I would like to add here, under the curatorial guidance of my friend who has published nearly all of the english language articles by Sri K. Patabhi Jois. He has also published much of the biographical information about the life of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. So there's a well of information from which to be drawn. (I'm still unclear about this Talk page as well... It's function and appearance, and who checks it. I guess I'll go through the Wikipedia tutorial...) - Souljerky

  • Hi souljerky. Thanks for the heads-up! I'm also a wikipedia beginner, and this is pretty much the only change I've made. Although I kinda planned to make entries for the bandhas, I ahven't really had time. Um, what else. Oh, it was saved as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga by someone else, I didn't know why and don't know how to change it. As for the information on Jois, I think it's great that you updated his page with that. How long were you in Mysore? Was it amazing? Mottad
  • Hi all. It's been about 3 years since I was in mysore, but I hope to be getting back soon. Anyway, I think the use of "vinyasa" in ashtanga vinyasa yoga is to differentiate it from the philosophical system of Ashtanga Yoga. And yes, I know that Ashtanaga Yoga as taught by Jois does embrace that system. But the system doesn't necessarily require one to practice ashtanga yoga as taught by jois. One could simply practice mediation and be following the philosophical system of Ashtanga Yoga. For practicality's sake "Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga" is a good term to differentiate between the philosophical root and thiss particular system of following it (as opposed to any others), and one that does, after all, accurately describe the practice. Keep breathing!
  • It seems that the wisest thing to do is call it what Pattabhi Jois calls it: Ashtanga Yoga. If there is a need to differentiate it from other types of Ashtanga Yoga, people may always say "Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Pattabhi Jois." The Ashtanga Yoga's taught in India within different traditions vary widely, except for in their general definition of consisting of eight-limbs. EHS111 22:29, 1 October 2005 (UTC)
I think I gave the page its original name. The problem is that there is already a page called Ashtanga yoga, and this page explains the general idea of the eight limbs, so this name is gone. If you want to name the page Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Pattabhi Jois, go ahead, but I feel that it is a pretty awkward name. In any case, I would suggest to put a redirect of the current name to whatever new name you choose. Wikipedia lives from people who go ahead and do bold edits, so if you have a better name for the page, by all means go for it. Wilke 08:18, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Merging plan

Looks like the majority feels that there is no difference between Ashtanga and Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. I would like to propose the following merging plan. Introduction and method sections together can go in as a Pattabhi jois style of Ashtanga section in Raja Yoga aka Ashtanga yoga article. Bandas, Drishtis and Mantra can become independent or new sub sections in Raja yoga as these sections dont exist in that article yet. Rest of the stuff can be merged into their respective headers. --Vyzasatya 12:24, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

The consensus was there was no difference between Ashtanga Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, yes. However that is not the same as saying there is no difference between Raja Yoga and the Ashtanga Yoga of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Definitely do not merge. Move this article to Ashtanga Yoga, (this would require the assitance of an Administrator). Paul foord 23:16, 7 October 2005 (UTC)
The above logic doesn't make sense to me. From the Raja Yoga article, "Raja yoga also is known as Ashtanga Yoga. The term Ashtanga means eight limbs, thus Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight limbs of [Raja] yoga." Thus, "Ashtanga Yoga" is "Raja Yoga." Now, if there is "no difference" between "Ashtanga Yoga" and "Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga," this article should be merged into Raja Yoga. If Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is not the same as Raja Yoga, then it's not the same as Ashtanga Yoga either. In that case, Ashtanga Yoga should remain a disambig page and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga should stay put. — RDF talk 23:45, 7 October 2005 (UTC)
I am of the same opinion as RDF in this case. May be we should call for vote. --Vyzasatya 05:37, 8 October 2005 (UTC)
In the methods section it says The main difference of this style of Yoga to other styles is the focus on vinyasa, which is the union of movement and breath. Hence the article itself declares that it is a specialised form of Ashtanga Yoga. Hence this article should remain Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.--Vyzasatya 05:44, 8 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Yoga school template

Very nice template Paul, I think It should be adopted in all the Yoga schools pages. --Vyzasatya 05:37, 8 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Mention the Six Series and Add Asana Lists

There should be some mention that Ashtanga (vinyasa) yoga has six series. I've got some information about this on my own site that I've lovingly collected and I wouldn't be opposed to reproducing it here. This is the page I'm talking about: Ashtanga Yoga Series. There's also a list of asanas in each series which could be added too, I'm sure you could find them by browsing the link provided. I'm just not sure if they should be on a new page or appended to the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga page. Opinions welcome. Coffeeaddict 08:57, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article title, settled?

Are we all more or less happy about the name of this article? I'd have thought this school was more commonly known as Ashtanga Yoga (a scrappy-looking disambig page at present), arguing for a move to that title, but admittedly that might have some POV implications (the name being basically a claim on the part of the founder that his style is the Raja Yoga of Patanjali (others merely manifestations thereof, standard one-upmanship in this area, not to say many others). Alternatively, that about a parenthetical disamig, like Ashtanga Yoga (Pattabhi Jois) or something to that effect. Alai 04:27, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

Keep current The advantage of the current title is it is descriptive, I would prefer not to reference Jois in the title. Paul foord 09:38, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
It is more well-known under just "Ashtanga Yoga", at least in Austria; I was very surprised there was more than one kind of Yoga with this name when I first looked for it on Wikipedia... —Nightstallion (?) 19:27, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nasagrai drishti

Hope this is the right place to ask this. The Nasagrai drishti is listed as "at a point six inches from the tip of the nose". In David Swenson's 'Ashtanga Yoga' book he says it's simply "the tip of the nose"

[edit] the Ujjayi breath

I have heard some contention as to whether the breath used in Ashtanga Yoga should appropriately be called "Ujjayi Breath". It was relayed to us in a class in NH, USA (and i don't know that this was actually said) that Nancy Gilgoff feels Ujjayi, when properly done is done in a seated practice involving the 3 locks, and not done while flowing through Vinyasa. Rather that the breath in Ashtanga practice should be called- "the ocean-sounding breath" or a breath "imitating the rasp or drag heard in Ujjayi breathing". I would love someone with a little more involvement with the Mysore community to comment on this. I was taught at Sivananda Yoga Farm (Grass Valley, CA USA) that Ujjayi breath was a breath that was done with a very certain seat, a certain emphasis on engaging all three locks and done in a slow and deliberate manner with a certain count - but i never wanted to question the difference between the views of these two systems - it seemed it would reveal itself in time, and now I am excited to hear your thoughts on it!

[edit] Krishnamacharya's teachings

Regarding Krishnamacharya's teachings, based on my discussions with other direct students of his (Mark Whitwell and Srivatsa Ramaswami) and review of written material by his son TKV Desikachar, I must dispute the statement that "Today, Ashtanga remains the most faithful to his original teachings to teenage boys." I don't believe this statement is verifiable nor does it reflect NPOV, so I recommend deletion (or significant revision) of it. SeekingToKnow 06:31, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

The last section of the article (referring to the origins of Ashtanga Yoga and discussing various options of this, especially one theory that it was actually K.P. Jois, not T. Krishnamacharya, who designed the practice) does not seem to be very well supported by evidence. Although the theory could be true, I find it misleading to make it part of a Wikipedia article which should try to stick to the facts as far as possible, not so much discuss theories. This is not meant as an insult. Or perhaps a hint that the origins are somehow unclear but that it is the personal practice that matters instead would make sense? --85.181.66.248 12:21, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ashtanga redirect

Questioning whether the ashtanga redirect is appropriate since Ashtanga and ashtanga are not the same thing. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.120.118.244 (talk) 11:31, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merger with Ashtanga Yoga

Merge - The articles are redundant. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.182.92.124 (talk) 13:57, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ashtanga Yoga content moved here

Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga with origins that can be traced back to the early 1900s. It is said to have been first recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the text Yoga Korunta. The text went through the hands of various gurus before being found in Calcutta library by Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who took extensive notes and passed these on to his student Sri Pattabhi Jois. However, some have cast doubt on the existence of this manuscript[1]. Jois teaches the system at his Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India and the system is now practiced throughout the world.

Ashtanga Yoga, which means “eight-limbed yoga”, aims to cleanse both mind and body. This can be done through the eight spiritual practices: yama or moral codes, niyama or self purification and study, asana or posture, pranayama or breath control, pratyahara or sense control, dharana or concentration, dhyana or meditation, and samadhi or contemplation.

It is believed that the body needs to be freed of impurities first before the mind can be controlled. The first four practices are for that purpose, while the latter are for mental and spiritual cleansing. Asana in particular is grouped into series. The body is first purified through the Primary Series, and then the cleansing of the nervous system is worked on in the Intermediate Series. Yoga postures are perfected in the Advanced Series, where there are different levels that require increasing flexibility.

The eight principles are further practiced through vinyasa and tristhana. Vinyasa literally means “breath-synchronized movement”, and here the yogi inhales or exhales—rechaka and puraka—as he does asanas. This combination of breathing and movement detoxifies the body through better blood circulation. The impurities in the body are then released through sweat.

Tristhana, on the other hand, refers to the three subjects of focus during yoga practice: posture, breathing system, and looking place. These are essential for cleaning the body and clearing the mind. Posture is improved through asanas; breathing is done through balanced inhales and exhales. Meanwhile, there are nine places or dristhis that the yogi looks at while doing the yoga postures. These are the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side, and left side. Gazing at these will help refine the mind.

Ashtanga yoga also aims to get rid of the six poisons that cover the light in the spiritual heart. This light is said to represent God. The six poisons are kama or desire, kridha or anger, moha or delusion, lobha or greed, matsarya or envy, and mada or sloth. Once these are vanquished over time through the diligent practice of Ashtanga yoga, the light will be uncovered and the yogi’s Universal Self will be revealed.

Other schools teachers and organisations of yoga that rely on the 8-fold path elucidated by Patanjali in Sutra 2.28 refer to themselves as practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga as well.[1] The eight-fold path is also central to the work of still other teachers of yoga.