While containing six series of postures,
most practitioners spend their entire lives working on the first or Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga because
its level of strength and flexibility is already quite challenging.
Yet the Primary Series is a complete practice that can help you heal your body and mind. The physical practice of yoga can be likened to brushing your teeth.
Ashtanga literally means eight limbs and is defined by the sacred yogic text, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as Yama (moral codes), Niyama (self-purification and study), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense control), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (total peace).
Ideally teachers are well-versed in all eight limbs before they begin teaching so that they may truly guide the student through the entire journey of yoga.
Yoga is as strong as you make it and takes you as deep as you are willing to go.
1.14: sa tu dīrgha kāla nairantarya satkārā ‘‘sevito dṛḍhabhūmiḥ. We become grounded in practice when it is done uninterruptedly, for a long time, with devotion.
If you’d like to go to Mysore to study with Sharath Ji, more info can be found here:
www.sharathjois.com