Ashtanga Yoga Defined

Copyright (c) 2005 Olena.

Practising ashtanga yoga, I start my every day. Thus, I will use these words to describe Ashtanga as it is known to me: the sound of one's breath, the sweat dripping down one's body and forming puddles on the mat, constant movement that a body craves, and the inner strength one develops with each time he/she takes to the mat.

This style of yoga is based on a set series of poses linked together by a thread of breath and a sun salutation as a transitional sequence between poses which are held statically for five full breaths. After 10 years of practising and studying yoga, I favour this style the most. Under little or no teacher supervision, repetition of the same familiar poses allows a student to let go, or better said, go with the flow of movement and learn to trust the wisdom of the body to go deeper and fuller into the pose, and learn to listen to the sound of one's breath to guide and sustain oneself in a new pose.

Ashtanga style of yoga gained its popularity under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois who celebrated his 90's birthday in 2005 in Mysore, India.

Olena and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India (2004).

Olena Yoga

Whether you take a led yoga class or practice yoga in the privacy of your home, the most important thing is to practice. I teach yoga and understand the importance of making a decision to commit to your practice. Sometimes you don't have the time or energy to practice. That is normal. Honor your body on those days, but with each new day renew your commitment to practice, and all is coming...

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about yoga and Pilates, contact Olena, a certified Yoga and Pilates teacher at: ok@olenayoga.com. Olena has been a student of yoga and Pilates since 1999 and studied with teachers in the U.S., India and Ukraine.