If we study the history of Ashtanga yoga we can find a large number of great teachers. Among first ones, were Vamana Rishi and Patanjali, and then Sri Tirumali Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois was teaching Ashtanga yoga for 65 years the same way his teacher Sri Tirumali Krishnamacharya did.

He was born in 1915 in the family belonging to the brahman caste, so from his early childhood he was learning Vedas and different rituals. At the age of 12 he attended a demonstration given by Krishnamacharya, and after that, he spent 25 years with him learning Ashtanga yoga.

Jois was married, father to three children. Today two of them (Manju Jois and Saraswati) are teaching the knowledge their father had taught them.

He founded the «Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute» where he was teaching until his death. He is the author of the book «Yoga Mala» (Mala – necklace), in which he gave knowledge of the authentic Ashtanga yoga form 1958 to 1960. It was published in English in 1999 for the first time.

Sri Tirumali Krishnamacharya

This great Yogi travelled to Himalayas around 1916 to learn yoga.

There he met Rama Mohan Brahmachari, his teacher, with whom he spent seven and a half years learning the Ashtanga yoga system. During that time he memorised the book «Yoga Korunta» as well as some other scriptures.

This ancient manuscript is the basis on which the Asana – Vinjasa – Bandha system of Ashtanga yoga is based upon. He also learned the knowledge of Patanjali Yoga Sutras that are the spiritual and philosophical basis of that yoga.

After leaving his teacher, around 1924, he started the search of «Yoga Korunta». He found one copy at University library in Calcutta, but sadly it was too damaged so he could not keep it.

«Korunta» means groups, and it is said that the text has the same groups of asanas and everything about bandhas, drishtis, as well as all the 6 asana series as are taught today. Therefore, «Yoga Korunta» represents the basis of the practical part of Ashtanga yoga.

«Yoga Korunta» was written by a Yogi called Vamana Rishi. He is said to have been born at a time when the knowledge of Ashtanga yoga was forgotten, so he was needed in order to bring that knowledge back to the humankind.

«Yoga Sutras» by Patanjali (the basic philosophical aspect of Ashtanga yoga) are not hard to find. They are available in many translations and commentaries. According to the western research, they were written between 400 and 200 B.C. «Yoga Sutras» are a primary text of the science of classical yoga, where Patanjali systemises the existing techniques and knowledge of Yoga. «Yoga Sutras» define yoga as «yoga citta vrtti nirodha», meaning: yoga is calming the waves in the mind. Only with calm mind can person be strong, stable and resistant to daily stresses and see his/her true nature. To achieve this goal there is a path described in «Yoga Sutras» and it consists of 8 limbs.

«The same as a chair has 4 legs; Yoga has 8 legs or limbs. Each is attached to a whole. So, if you pull one, everything else follows. If you pull one leg of a chair, the whole chair is pulled. When the body develops, the whole body develops together. All the limbs grow at the same time. It is not like firstly a nose grows, then ears. All the aspects, all the limbs of the body develop simultaneously. That is why Patanjali says that those are all limbs of Yoga. Unfortunately, people think those are all phases that should be achieved one after another. That is misunderstanding and misconception within Yoga. Yama is the first of the 8 limbs of Yoga:

1. Yama: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (moving within the consciousness of the Being) and aparigraha (non-accumulating).

These are the greatest vows because they are applied at any time, any place, for all people without exception. There are some laws that are not universal and apply only to certain people and certain places at certain times. But, these 5 principles are universal.

2. Niyama: shaucha (pureness), santosha (contentment), tapah (endurance, patience), svadhyaya (studying the Being, the Self), eshhwara pranidana (commitment)

3. Asana: (body postures); Sthiram sukham asanam – asana is that which is stable and comfortable. When we are comfortable we are not steady. We don't sit up straight and when we are straight, we are stiff. We are not comfortable. But asana is both together. You are straight and firm but at the same time relaxed. They root out the conflict within you. Each time you are confused and your mind is in conflict, do asanas. take the asana posture and you will see that clarity arises. The effect of the asanas is to purify ass conflicts, dualities.

4. Pranayama: (breathing techniques). They make the curtain around the light thinner. You are the light, but you are not aware of it because there is a thick iron curtain around. Pranayama makes this iron curtain thinner and more transparent, so that you are able to perceive that you are the light.

5. Pratyahara: (withdrawal of the senses within). It brings all our senses, our body, everything as one whole. You feel that you are one whole. You feel complete. Then, all of your senses listen to you and you don't have to listen to them and such pleasure, such peace, such joy, such ecstasy and completeness arise. These are the effects of pratyahara.

(from the speech about Patanjali's Yoga Sutras given by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)

6. Dharana: focus of the mind

7. Dhyana: meditation

8. Samadhi: self-realisation

Ashtanga was named after Patanjali's eightfold path (Ashta = eight, anga = limb). Pattabhi Jois himself says that Ashtanga yoga is Patanjali's yoga.

But the roots of Vinjasa system of Ashtanga yoga can be found mush earlier. They go far to the first written document of the mankind – Vedas.

There are 4 Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvanaveda. Two have signs of Ashtanga Vinjasa yoga practice and vinjasa system. Rigveda was the first one written, it is believed to date from the 8000 B.C. Yajurveda was written somewhat later, but still is a very ancient text. In both texts explanations of postures and breathing (Vinjasas) can be found, especially in «sun salutations». Physical and spiritual benefits are also given in detail.

In Yajurveda, in Aruna mantra, there is number 9 for the number of Vinjasas in Surya namaskar A. And in Maha Sura Mantra of Rigveda, the number of Vinyasas for the Surya namaskar B is 17, as it is today. (Pattabhi Jois, February 2004).

By practicing Surya namaskar (Sun salutation) people can become happy, experience joy and contentment and avoid tiredness in older age. Surya namaskar should be practiced according to the instructions which means: vinjasas (posture in harmony with breath), breathing, meditation, drishtis (focus points) and bandhas (muscle contractions). (Pattabhi Jois).

All the methods should be learned from the qualified teacher.