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Philosopher Alan Watts once commented in The Wisdom of Insecurity, “But tomorrow and plans for tomorrow can have no significance at all unless you are in full contact with the reality of the present, since it is in the present and only in the present that you live. If happiness always depends on something expected in the future, we are chasing a will-o’-the-wisp that ever eludes our grasp, until the future and ourselves, vanish into the abyss of death.” While it may sound a little dark, it is this idea of harnessing and living in the “now”that attracts so many places a strong emphasis on spiritual philosophy, flowing breaths and yoga postures.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was initially brought to the Western world by the teachings of Patanjali Maharishi, a sage from Mysore India. He spoke about the significance of reaching internal purification and reconnecting with the “Universal Soul” through eight principles: moral codes, self-purification and study, posture, breath control, sense control, concentration, meditative awareness and contemplation. He believed that each step provided the foundation for the next step, much like each posture (or “asana”) builds upon the next.

At the commencement of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a yoga instructor will help students master “external cleansing practices.” They learn about morality and study, while practicing particular postures and breathing. Teachers help novices find the correct positions and inspire students to live a just and moral existence. Next, after days of mastering the correct postures and gaining strength, students will learn to control their minds. Through posture, breathing and focusing, the practice purifies the body, nervous system and mind over time.

In practice, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga encompasses six unique postures (otherwise called “asanas”) that are always completed in the same sequence. In the opening asana, there are ten standing “Sun Salutations” or “The Primary Series,” which aims to align and detoxify the body. The “Intermediate Series” focuses on the nervous system by opening and clearing internal paths of energy. “The Advanced Series A, B, C and D” helps people achieve maximum flexibility, strength, definition and humility. Teachers emphasize the mastery of each level before proceeding to the next, with special focus and attention given to each progressive step.

The ujjayi (meaning “victorious breath”) method of breathing in and out, combined with the fluid, dynamic asanas, heats the blood and generates a detoxifying sweat, or what is referred to as “internal cleansing.” Advanced methods of breathing techniques (bandhas) teach learners how to “lock” or “seal” energy and redirect it to one of the 72,000 energy channels within the body. To derive maximum benefit from the asanas, learning to lock in positive energy is crucial. Nine different focus points seek to purify and stabilize the mind, facilitating concentration.

Once perfect form is attained, a true understanding of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is found and the 6 spiritual poisons (desire, anger, delusion, greed, sloth and envy) will be eliminated. It is claimed that the mind will become unshackled and true happiness and understanding will pour in. With life moving so rapidly, the usefulness of yoga meditation attracts around 16.5 million Americans every year.

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