Ashtanga yoga is a science with practical exercises that has evolved over thousands of years to nurture moral, physical, ental, rmotional, and spiritual development.

The word Ashtanga means "eight branches", and was first used by Patanjal about 2 500 years ago. He was the first yogi to write down a systematic method to achieve yoga, "union", and his eight folded path works as well today as a guide for yoga practices.

In this context, the word yoga "union" means to integrate the body, mind, and soul, which leads to insights about our true nature. To achieve this, it's important that we gain control over our mind, and minimize all unnecessary stimuli and confusion that prevent our clarity and insights.

The third branch in Ashtanga yoga is asanas, a number of classical, physical yoga practices that unite the mind and the body through the breath. The slow, even breathing becomes the focal point of the mind.

The most important part of Ashtanga yoga is the union of breath and movement. In the vinyasa, the movements between postures, it's the breathing technique called ujjayi that initiates the movements, and then the breathing and movements flow together.

Vinyasa is translated from Sanskrit as "to move", "to bring forth", "to receive", "to start from", and nyasa as "to place", "to poistion".

In their research into the basic foundations of this type of yoga, guru Sri Krishnamacharya and his studen Shri K Pattabhi Jois, the current guru of Ashtanga yoga, found two basic ingredients. The positions, asanas, are linked together in a specific order, and the transitions between the asanas are carried out in a specified number of breaths and movements.

In his book Yoga Mala Sri K. Pattabhi Jois describes how every asana starts with Samasthitih. where the practitioner stands or sits and with smoth breathing is ready to begin the next movement, which is executed with an exact set of movements and breaths and returns the practitioner to Samasthitih.

These principles start from the very beginning in the first Surya Namaskara A, which consists of nine movements. First five movements with five breaths, the sixths movement is held for five breaths, and then three movements with three breatths. The second movement, Surya Namaskara B,  consists of seventeen movements. First thirteen movements with thirteen breaths, the fourteenth movement is held for five breaths, and then three movements with three breatths.

These are the basic principles of Ashtanga Yoga which leads to a practice that is known for its beautiful, flowing sequencies of movements and positions that are weaved together on the thread of the breath.

The three key components in this vinyasa system are the ujjayi-breathing, the bandha-locks, and the dristi-focal points. When these three become one, the practitioner experiences tristana, the sixth and seventh branches of Ashtanga yoga – concentration and meditaiton.

Ujjayi and Bandha

Ujjayi breathing is characterized by its hissing sound when the air flow is regulated by the muscles around the glottis in the throat.

The air in the inhalations and exhalations flow passively through the nose and is pulled to the back of the throat, where the flow is controlled by the practitioner through the contraction of the muscles around the glottis. The air flow in the inhalations and exhalations are the same, and this even breathing rythm creates the meditative aspects of Ashtanga yoga.

When we do ujjayi breathing, we discover the connection between the breath and the bandas, the "locks" at the pelvic floor and lower abdomen. The locks are not so much physical as they are energy locks, where they generate and control the flow of prana, which is connected with the breath. The control of the bandha require a great sensitivity between hard and soft, and when that is achieved, the breathing becomes freer and the body becomes lighter and stronger.