Ashtanga is Vinyasa
© Deb Dowson at Revolution Community Yoga
If you practice a vinyasa yoga, then you probably know that vinyasa means “movement with breath” and have experienced classes that flow from pose to pose. Ashtanga yoga is designed the same way, and many familiar poses such as sun salutations, triangle, forward folds and twists appear in the beginning sequence. The main difference in Ashtanga is that the series of poses are practiced in the same order each time.
Practicing a set series in this way is beneficial as it allows the body to open and grow stronger through repetition and consistency. It is understood that this takes time and patience, so in the practice there are many opportunities to modify or rest. The most meaningful component of the practice is what is happening internally, and with the focus on the breath it is easier to be aware of what your body needs. There are plenty of ways to approach the practice to make it as challenging or as restorative as you need. Ashtanga is a practice that was designed to be accessible to anyone.
Whether you practice Ashtanga yoga once a day, or once in a while, by turning your focus to your breath in movement you can experience the mindful and healing quality of this therapeutic practice.
When introduced to yoga as a teen, Deb was delighted and intensely curious about both the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga. In 1997 she began to practice seriously and her passion for practice and learning grew into a desire to teach. In 2004 Deborah was RYS certified after a year-long teacher training program where she studied both Iyengar based and Ashtanga Yoga at Yoga on High in Columbus, Ohio. Deb has taught various styles of yoga since then, but for the last several years her focus in teaching and her personal practice has been on Ashtanga yoga. For Deb, Ashtanga yoga is a life-long practice that continues to be transformative, therapeutic and a joy to learn about, to practice and to teach.