These pages contain descriptions of the primary and intermediate asanas of the Ashtanga Vinyasa System. The linkage between asanas is such that multiple practice sequences may be constructed. While many ashtanga students and teachers keep rigidly to the "series" currently taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. This however may often be inappropriate as Jois himself stated in "The Yoga Mala" ( page 41 )
As the bodily construction of each human being is different, it is important to practice the asanas accordingly. The benefit to be had from each asana or pranayama can be derived just as well from another that better suits the structure of a person's body. Some asanas are not suitable for particular people and may be painfull.
The princials of the ashtanga vinyasa system are breath ( a constant ujjai ), sight ( observing correct drushti or gaze points ), count ( the number of breaths to enter, maintain, and leave the asana ) and posture ( the correct or personal best attempt at the asana ) . Where appropriate the bhandas mulabanda and udiana banda are maintained. Ancilary to these points is the observance of moon days and the concept of macro alignment.
Hence the following asana pages are presented to aid the development of personal practices within the ashtanga system. Practitioners may bear in mind that the ashtanga tradition is a dynamic one and the series taught by Jois and Iyengar are subject to periodic change. Generally ashanga teachers will maintain a particular order ( as it makes keeping track of a class far easier ) and it is best to follow the order maintaind by your current teacher. However when working on your personal practice the pages here may be used for guidance although the advice of an experienced teacher is also of great benefit. Varing the asana practice is essential as the body changes appropriate practice changes and the possabilities offered by the variation add flexability of mind and variety to a practice which may otherwise grow shallow and stale with a competitive hunger for more advanced asanas while leaving the foundations shallow. Yogaratna BNS Iyengar likens the ashtanga series to scales in music and when the scales are masterd one may develop the music.
Generally the practice follows the order of Suryanaskar followed by seated postures ( primary, intermediate, advanced or a subset thereof ) followed by closing seated or inverted postures. Each of the seated postures being linked by a jumping derived from suryanaskar sometimes known as the vinyasa.