Yoga is an ancient philosophy originating in India that describes the steps necessary for achieving spiritual enlightenment. Based on this philosophy, Pattabhi Jois began teaching Ashtanga yoga, a system of vinyasas, or flowing postures, in 1948. Literally meaning "eight-limbed" yoga, Ashtanga yoga incorporates the eight principles of enlightenment described in ancient yoga texts, placing special emphasis on posture, breathing and meditation.
Vedas and the Yoga Sutras
According to AshtangaYoga.info, the earliest roots of the vinyasa principles of Ashtanga yoga can be traced back to the Vedas, the first written text of mankind. The Veda texts, some of which may date back as far as 8,000 B.C., refer to a system of breathing, movement and counting reminiscent of the Ashtanga yoga postures. The philosophical basis for Ashtanga yoga can be found in another ancient text, "The Yoga Sutras," written by Patanjali between 400 B.C. to 200. "The Yoga Sutras" describe eight steps to spiritual purification and enlightenment: yama, which translates to moral codes in dealing with others; niyama, or self-purification and examination; asana, or posture; pranayama, or breath control; pratyahara, or control of the senses; dharana, or concentration; dhyana, or meditation; and samadhi, self-awareness.
Yoga Korunta and the Ashtanga Vinyasa System
Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga based on "The Yoga Korunta," a yoga manuscript imparted to yoga teacher Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900s and later passed down to Pattabhi Jois. Based on this text and Jois' 25 years of tutelage under Krishnamacharya, Jois developed Ashtanga yoga. Jois began teaching the vinyasas of Ashtanga yoga to students when he opened a school in Mysore, India, in 1948. According to Jois, the bodyheat generated by the vinyasas promotes internal purification, a component of the steps that lead to spiritual enlightenment as described in "The Yoga Sutras."
Jois' Yoga Mala and How the West Found Yoga
Between 1958 and 1960, Jois wrote "The Yoga Mala," which describes the principles of Ashtanga yoga. The book was published in 1962, and to date, remains a standard of reference for Ashtanga yoga. In 1964, a Belgian named Andre van Lysebeth traveled to India, learned Ashtanga under Jois and began writing his own books about yoga. After Lysebeth began publishing books on Jois and Ashtanga yoga, Westerners from Europe and the United States began to travel to India to study yoga under Jois. In the 1975, Jois brought yoga to the United States when he was invited to teach an Ashtanga yoga workshop in California.
Present Day Ashtanga and Children of Ashtanga
The popularity of yoga has continued to grow since Jois started to teach the Ashtanga vinyasa system to Westerners in the 1960s and '70s. Ashtanga yoga is famous worldwide. Celebrity practitioners like Madonna and Sting have also helped to increase the popularity of Ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga yoga has several "children," which include other vinyasa-based styles of yoga whose founders trained under Jois. These include Prana Flow Yoga by Shiva Rea and Power Yoga by Bryan Kest and several others.
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