Yoga

Yoga is a collection of physical, mental and spiritual practices. Combined these practices have the intention of clarifying the mind and freeing the body of disease. Through this development of body and mind one begin the journey towards self realization.

Maharishi Patanjali (the founder of Ashtanga Yoga and the author of the Yoga Sutras) described yoga as the control of the activity of the mind.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashta means eight and Anga means limbs therefore Ashtanga literally means the eight limbs of yoga.
The eight fold path of Ashtanga consists of:

• Yama
• Niyama
• Asana
• Pranayama
• Pratyahara
• Dharana
• Dhyana
• Samadhi

The eight limbs of Ashtanga combine for a physical and mental purification to prepare the body and mind to attain to yoga. Theses limbs can be divided into two groups as below.

External (outer discipline)

• Yamas
• Niyamas
• Asana
• Pranayama

Internal (inner discipline)

• Pratyahara
• Dharana
• Dhyana
• Samadhi

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga asana is a system of poses that are practiced in a series with attention to breath, body movement, gazing point and bhandas. To concentrate on all of these things at the same time is the practice of Ashtanga Yoga.