What is Ashtanga Yoga?

Ashtanga Yoga blends the dynamic breath-based movements of the Mysore Vinyasa tradition with the timeless philosophy of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. It offers a grounded and invigorating path for those seeking spiritual liberation, physical vitality, mental clarity, and holistic well-being while remaining engaged in everyday life. The Mysore tradition of Ashtanga Yoga is a householder lineage that supports spiritual aspiration alongside the complexities of family, work, and community. It invites steady transformation through daily practice and does not require monastic withdrawal from worldly life (through learning from monastics and taking retreats that change our daily routines and challenge our attachments can be very helpful).

What is the Mysore Tradition?

Developed in the 20th century by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India, the Mysore tradition is rooted in the Vinyasa method taught by his guru, the fountainhead of modern yoga, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. At the center of the practice is the principle of tristhāna (three dwelling places). These are 1) mind or gaze-focus; 2) body or posture and energy; and 3) breath or spirit-soul. Together, these bring the practitioner into a state of focused awareness. Mysore Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga follows progressive series of postures, beginning with the Primary Series known as Yoga Chikitsa, or yoga therapy. Each student moves at their own pace, learning one posture at a time with individualized guidance. The goal is not necessarily to complete all the postures and sequences, but to cultivate presence, humility, and inner strength at whatever stage we’re at.

Mysore-style classes are the heart of this approach. Unlike led classes, students move through their memorized sequence at their own rhythm, receiving personal support from the teacher which allows for a practice adapted to each individual body-mind. The room is meant to be quiet and meditative to hold the focused energy. It is not about performing postures, but about showing up and letting the breath guide the practice.

What is its Ancient Philosophy?

The term “Ashtanga Yoga” comes from the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. These sutras offer a profound spiritual framework that transcends religion and emphasizes direct experience. Composed over two millennia ago, the sutras draw from an oral tradition that threads teachings on ethics, discipline, breath, and meditation into a path of self-realization. The eight limbs of yoga (yama, niyama, asana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi) provide structure without rigidity, inviting reflection and transformation through practice.

Studying the yoga sūtras balances the practice of the Mysore Vinyasa as it helps to cultivate a deeper understanding of the mind-body, a spirit of inquiry, intentional presence, and the goal of discernment while honoring one’s unique relationship with the sacred.

As Krishnamacharya taught, the yoga path is like walking up a hill toward a temple, every step holds meaning, and the view expands with patience and devotion.

Who is it for?

Some people practice yoga postures without the philosophy. Some study yoga philosophy without the practice. Ashtanga invites both. This is a method for anyone seeking meaningful transformation through practical and philosophical structure, discipline, and self-inquiry.

You don’t need to be flexible or strong to begin. You only need a willingness to learn, to go slow, and to meet yourself honestly on the mat. In Mysore class, there is no rush and no competition. You are guided, step by step, to develop a practice that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal.

If you are ready to listen inward, breathe with intention, and walk a path that honors ancient wisdom in the context of modern life, you are already on the way.