Ashtanga Yoga Philosophy

Patañjali compiled the existing Yoga knowledge of his time and wrote a book called the Yoga Sutras.



This book of 196 sutras, or verses, make up what is commonly called "Classical” or “Raja” (royal) Yoga. 



The Classical definition of Yoga comes 
from Patanjali:

yogaścittavṛittinrodaḥ - Yoga is channeling or controlling the fluctuations of the citta. 


The citta is the sum total of our: thoughts, desires, senses, emotions, personality, intellect, perception, memory, understanding, recognition and cognition.

It consists of three parts: the sensory mind, ego, and intellect.

It is thought that learning to direct and control the citta allows us to see our True Self and gain direct experience of the Ultimate Reality.



To achieve this objective Patañjali defined 8 practices which are also known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

This term Ashtanga Yoga is found in the second chapter of Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Most of us believe there is more to life then we can explain or comprehend, and we want to connect to some greater mystery beyond, and find something more meaningful then our solitary self.

The modern practice of Ashtanga Yoga provides us with the tools to explore and uncover these deeper aspects of existence, and discover our interconnectedness with all living beings.

Pattabhi Jois taught a form of Hatha Yoga and believed it was essential for most students to enter the Eight-Limbed-Path through the third limb: asana (postures).

Most forms of "flow" or "power" yoga classes taught in yoga studios and gyms across the world today, trace their roots back to the Ashtanga-Vinyasa-Asana system of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

However, he would say there is much more then just the practice of postures involved in the system of Yoga he disseminated. Pattabhi Jois always claimed that the Yoga he was teaching was completely in-line with Patañjali’s Ashtanga Yoga Philosophy.

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