This type of yoga is a dynamic practice of traditional yoga, which combines dynamic postures (Asanas) with breathing (Vinyasa) in coordination with movements and your gaze (Drishti).

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is divided into several series:

• Therapeutic yoga or Yoga Chiktsa to eliminate toxins and re-educate posture. It is done as follow: do the chair pose, Utkatasa: a sitting pose with your feet together. Raise your arms above your head, inhale and hold the position while holding your breath.
• The “Nadi Shodhana” series to balance the nervous system and unblock energy channels involves the Salabhasana or locust pose: lie face down on the floor, arch your spine and raise your legs and torso while you inhale. Hold your breath. Then exhale and relax.
• The “Sthira Bhaja” series is an advanced practice which helps maintain stability and strength. The “Nata Rajasana” or dancer’s pose: stand with your feet together. Bend your right leg backwards and take hold of the ankle with your hand. Keep your balance, breath consciously and stretch your leg backwards.

Ashtanga yoga is a demanding activity and requires concentration, patience, constancy and resistance.

What are the lessons like?

An Asana sequence or something similar is repeated to develop strength, elasticity and balance. According as goals are reached, the instructor introduces new, more complex poses.

• We start as usual with a mantra or message spoken out loud to motivate us to aim for physical and mental health.
• This is followed by sun salutations, as a form of warming up and to aid concentration.

This is how you do the salutation:

• Standing poses for stability.
• Sitting pose, for toning.
• Final stretching for balance and harmony.
• Breathing and movement (Vinyasa).
• Abdominal and pelvic floor contraction, with slow breathing and your gaze (Drishti) focused on a fixed spot.

Remember the benefits of practising yoga:

1. It helps release
2. It eases tension and anxiety.
3. It improves body posture and reduces joint pain.
4. It improves flexibility and balance.
5. It strengthens the immune system.
6. It enhances lung capacity.
7. It increases our ability to concentrate and pay attention.
8. It improves
9. It strengthens
10. It strengthens the cardiovascular system.