The Yoga-„Treasure Map“ – What you can find on AshtangaYoga.info

The most difficult step in Ashtanga is probably the first step of getting to the mat. Therefore, this guide will help you through your practice - with detailed step-by-step explanations of all practice series in words and pictures. Plus: tips on breathing, bandhas, etc.

• Tradition: the legendary history of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

  Generations of great yogis have shaped the living tradition of Ashtanga yoga for centuries: Learn why Ashtanga is like yoghurt fermentation, yoga is more than just a kaleidoscope and why ants are responsible that we cannot read an important document about it's Vinyasa system.

  • The Who's Who of the Ashtanga Yoga tradition

    Looking back at the legendary lineage of the Ashtanga tradition: From Patanjali to Vamana Rhishi, and Krishnamacharya to BNS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois - an ancient yoga tradition with refreshing vitality in the present.

  • Krishnamacharya – the guiding light of Ashtanga Yoga

    Ashtanga yoga, as well as many other types of yoga in the world, would probably be absent without him: Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) saved traditional yoga from oblivion and created the basis for our present-day yoga practices. Just a myth?

  • How Ashtanga Yoga found its way to the West

    It was just a small photo in one of many yoga books. And yet this picture set a revolution in motion. It brought Europeans and Americans to Pattabhi Jois in India, and Ashtanga Yoga to the West.

  • Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga travels the world

    From Jivamukti to Sharon Gannon and David Life, to Brian Kest’s Power Yoga - many modern styles of yoga are children of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. So you can be anywhere in the world and feel a bit at home...

• With Bandha, Drishti, and Ujjayi your body becomes a temple ...

  ... when breathing and asana, tension and concentration come together into one unit. So with Ujjayi, Bandha and Drishti you create the foundation of your practice, and the spiritual dimension of Ashtanga Yoga develops.

  • Tristana – The Lotus Blossom of Ashtanga Yoga

    When movement and breath fuse together, the energy carries the body seemingly effortlessly and focus moves from the exterior to the interior, we reach Tristana. Or: through vinyasa, bandha and drishti we achieve the spiritual dimension in Ashtanga yoga practice.

  • Ujjayi Pranayama - the victorious breath

    The beauty of unifying breath and movement is truly majestic. With the breathing techniques of Ujjayi pranayama we can open a gateway, melt snow, or ride the waves like a surfer. Experience it here …

  • Vinyasa - like beads on a garland

    Vinyasa arises from merging breath and movement into one another. Asanas become the pearls on a thread, thoughts like raindrops in the ocean, practice becomes an energetic track in the ether, the breath like the rush of the sea...

  • Using bandha to control energy from the breath

    Two poles of a battery between which energy flows – in this way bandhas conduct breath through the body. Working against the force of gravity and achieving lightness. Here you will find the necessary bandha know-how...

  • Asana + direction = alignment

    An asana alone does not define you as a yogi. Only the interaction of breath and energy, lightness and stability, falling back and advancement will open the door for you to the wealth of experience of the infinite cosmos of yoga. If this is understood, the direction, or alignment, results in the asana arising almost by itself.

• Yoga positions (Asana, poses) and moves (Vinyasa) for Ashtanga

  The complete system of Yoga positions (Asana) and moves (Vinyasa) from Ashtanga Yoga. Including detailed pictures of all poses and explanations. Let if flow!

  • Surya Namaskara A - Sun Salutation from Ashtanga Yoga Practice

    Surya Namaskara A - the first sun salutation - five rounds for a start in a practice of Ashtanga Yoga. It's nine movements are shown here in pictures and text.

  • Surya Namaskara B - the second sun salutation and step in yoga

    Surya Namaskara B extends the flow of first sun salutation. Here we continue the Ashtanga Yoga practice with five repetitions each consisting of 17 movements.

  • Six standing poses become fundamental positions for Ashtanga Yoga

    Yoga for beginners and advanced: Six standing positions compose, just after sun salutations, the fundamental psitions for the Ashtanga Yoga practice.

  • The finishing sequence: The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice ends

    The finishing sequence rounds off each and every Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice. These 16 Asanas are learned stepwiese and provide a harmonious flow of energy.

  • Primary Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: yoga chikitsa (cikitsa)

    Learned the basics? Now add primary series, Yoga Chikitsa (Cikitsa), in the middle of your Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice - one by one you will learn 41 asanas.

  • Nadi Shodhana (Sodhana): the intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga

    Familiar to primary series? - intermediate Series, also Shodhana Nadi (Nadi Sodhana), opens with it's 40 yoga asanas, an energetic dimension of Ashtanga Yoga.

  • Ashtanga Yoga Advanced A series: Sthira Bhaga - for advanced only

    Ashtanga Yoga for advanced practitioners: 35 tough Asanas of third series (Advanced A) play fool with gravity. The reward: Sthira Bhaga, sublime serenit.

A journey into the yoga philosophy: With Yoga Sutra and Patanjali, large Mantra collection and Sanskrit transliterator, old sources and new traslations.

• Mantra collection of Yoga

  A mantra is a sacred verse or sound. Symbolic it represents a spiritual experience. A large Yoga Mantra collection with translations from Sanskrit

  • The Ashtanga Yoga Mantra opens the practice

    A profound part of the tradition is the opening mantra that starts every Ashtanga practice. We salute this ancient tradition and Patanjali.

  • The Ananta Mantra, Adoration of Antanta, King of the Nagas

    Krishnamacharya provided each of his students with their own personal mantra to be used before the start of each practice. BNS Iyengar honours Patanjali with these words and passes this mantra on to his students.

  • Paying obeisance to Patanjali

    Krishnamacharya provided each of his students with their own personal mantra to be used before the start of each practice. TKV Desikachar honours Patanjali with these words and passes on the mantra on to his students.

  • Mangala Mantra – the striving for peace as the closing mantra of the Ashtanga practice.

    With the traditional mantra of peace we close every Ashtanga practice. The energy we created throughout the practice is send into the world in form of love, light, and peace.

  • Gayatri Mantra – Bowing to Surya – the sun

    Through the popular and ancient mantra of light, the Gayatri mantra from the Vedes, we bow to Surya – the sun – and ask for enlightenment.

  • Bhadram-Shanti-Mantra

    Pattabhi-Jois’s favorite mantra is the Bhadram-Shanti-Mantra. With this mantra we spiritually focus towards the Ashtanga practice in general and towards the Surya Namaskaras in particular.

• Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutra – the Guide of Yoga, with Translation and Comments

  The Yoga-Sutra is one of the most important texts in the age-old Yoga Philosophy. Literally it means „Guide“ or „Main Thread“ of Yoga. Even after Thousands of Years it did not lose it’s relevance for the present. You will find here four Sutra Chapters in a new Translation, commented by Dr. Ronald Steiner.

  • Yoga-Sutra 1 – Samadhi Pada: about enlightenment

    The beginning chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is about enlightenment - Samadhi Pada.

  • Yoga-Sutra 2 - Sadhana Pada: about the Practice

    The second Chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra - contains instructions for our Practice - Sadhana Pada.

  • Yoga-Sutra 3 - Vibhuti Pada: about the results

    The third chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra instructs us about the results of our practice - Vibhuti Pada.

  • Yoga-Sutra 4 - Kaivalya Pada: about Liberation

    Finally the fourth chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is about liberation - Kaivalya Pada.

• Svatmarama’s Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika – The Candle of Hatha-Yoga

  Svatmarama illuminates the Darkness of Hatha-Yoga. The title of his book, Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika, means ´The Candle (or Light) of Hatha-Yoga´. Be illuminated by knowledge: We present this important Yoga text not only in it’s original Sanskrit form, but also translated and commented!

  • Hatha-Yoga Pradipika - Chapter 1: Diet and Asana

    The first chapter of Svatmarama’s Hatha yoga Pradipika, „Prathamo Padeshah“, is about diet and physical exercises (Asanas).

  • Hatha yoga Pradipika - Chapter 2: Pranayama, Sat-Kriya and Kumbhaka

    The second chapter of Svatmarama’s Hatha yoga Pradipika, „Dvitiyo Padeshah“, tells you about Pranayama, Kumbhaka and Sat-Kriya as well as Sat-Karma.

  • Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Chapter 3

    The third chapter of Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svwatmarama is all about Mudra and Bandha.

  • Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika - Kapitel 4: Nada, Bindu, Kala

    Das vierte Kapitel der Hatha-Yoga Pradipika von Svatmarama

• The mystical yoga teachings of the Upanishads

  The first philosophical roots of yoga are found in the texts of the classical Upanishads, which are about 2,500 years old. This tradition of mystical yoga teachings was continued by the later Upanishads about 500 years ago.

  • Chandogya Upanishad: first mention of the Nadis

    The oldest of the Upanishad texts originate from the 6th century B.C. – including the Chandogya Upanishads. This extract from chapter VIII.6 is perhaps the first mention of the nadis.

  • Katha Upanishad: Nadis – Energy channels of the heart

    The Katha-Upanishad originates from the 5th century B.C:- in this extract from chapter II. iii the discussion is about the nadis, the energy channels of the heart.

  • Yoga Shikha Upanishad: about Hatha yoga and Raja yoga

    The Yoga Shikha Upanishad probably originates from the 13th century. This extract from the first chapter probably present the earliest known tantric view of Hatha yoga and Raja yoga. This Upanishad is also the oldest text in which the two terms are defined.

• Transliteration & Transkription Tool: Become a Master of Sanskrit and Devanagari

  You are reading a document written in Sanskrit but don’t understand it? You prefer reading a text written in Devanagari in phonetic transcription? Then it’s time to use our Transkription & Transliteration Tool. BTW: It also understands Velthuis, ITRANS or Harvard-Kyoto. Promise!

• A small Sanskrit and Devanagari course – with transliteration

  Speak and read like a real Yogi – study the old texts in their original Devanagari script and recite the Sanskrit mantras correctly. Besides: interesting information about transliteration systems.

  • Vowels in the Sanskrit language

    Vowels also do exist in Sanskrit – pronounciation, spelling and transliteration of all vowels. As well: sonants. Each on its own and in connection with a consonant.

  • Consonants in the Sanskrit language

    All the consonants of the Sanskrit alphabet with pronounciation, spelling and transliteration.

  • Sanskrit conjunctions – linking of the letters

    They are of absolute importance: conjunctions build the bridges from letter to letter in the Sanskrit language.

  • Numbers in the Sanskrit language

    Sanskrit has its own counting system – fnd all numbers from 1 until 28 in Devanagari with an explanation of the pronounciation. Here you can learn the traditional Vinyasa count of the Ashtanga Yoga system.

• Problems displaying Sanskrit or Devanagari on your computer?

  We’ve reproduced the old Sanskrit Texts and mantras in the original Devanagari script. Some browsers cannot accurately produce this script so you can check and correct it here.

Dive into the mystical World of Yoga. Use our Tips to get orientatet finding yoga music, yoga teachers, yoga books and more yoga epipment

• Books: Worth reading (not only) for Ashtanga-Yogis

  Book Recommendations: Yoga and Anatomy Classics, about Practice or Philosophy, Patanjali or Pattabhi Jois - we thoroughly reviewed those books about Ashtanga-Yoga. Our résumée: Highly recommended!

  • The best books concerning Ashtanga Yoga

    Obviously, the most important book was written by Pattabhi Jois himself - the Yoga Mala. Nevertheless, others wrote great Ashtanga books as well. Here are just a few books we recommend.

  • Reading recommendations: Yoga philosophy in books

    The philosophical back-up: These books accompany your yoga-journey with their ancient treasures of knowledge – not outdated at all!

  • The most important anatomy books for Ashtanga-yogis

    There is nothing like a basic anatomy know-how in Yoga! Here is a list of the best anatomy books to help you understand your students and your own body better!

• Yoga Music: CD recommendations

  Yoga music to support your Yoga practice! The offer is huge, we recommend only the best for your yoga practice - from Chill Out to cool beat.

  • Beat it – music for the vigorous Ashtanga yoga practice

    Funky grooves to warm up, motivate, and support. Let the music inspire your practice! Ashtanga goes modern!

  • Chillout-Zone – music for the relaxational yoga practice

    Smooth sounds for relaxation. Music to relax and rejuvenate. Chillout for the smooth yoga practice.

• Yoga teacher and Yoga Classes

  Looking for a yoga class nearby? The yoga teachers directory including search function. Find a teacher for Bikram Yoga, Power Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha ...

  • Add a Yoga teacher to our Directory

    You want to be part of our community? Here you can describe yourself as a Yoga teeacher with your style and apply it for inclusion in our Directory. An entry in our Directory is absolutely free for you.

• Best of Internet: Recommended Yoga Webpages

  He who is searching, will have success and find! Especially if he follows our personally selected surf hints. We recommend to you Webpages from the whole wide spectrum of Yoga, from practical hints for your practice, over to clothes suitable for Yoga, not ending with age-old Yoha Philosophy. Finally it does not end with AshtangaYoga.info but there are other fine Yoga sites as well.

  • Your webpage in our Directory

    You want to be part of our Community? Here you can describe your webpage and suggest it for inclusion in our Directory. An Entry in our Directory is absolutely free for you.

Whether evening courses on a regular basis, special workshops, amazing Yoga retreats or a Yoga teacher Training – here you have got the opportunity to get to know Ashtanga Yoga and deepen your knowledge about it.

• Workshop-Calender for Ashtanga-Yoga

  Discover the fascinating wolrd of Ashtanga Yoga: All workshops, retreats, conventions and Teacher Training from and with Arjuna (Dr. Ronald Steiner). Recently added to our Program: Yoga journeys.

• Yoga-Therapie im Gesundheitszentrum Roggenburg

  Yoga-Therapie und Manuelle Medizin - Ganzheitliche Heilung durch Bewegung, Atem und Konzentration.

• Ashtanga workshop archive: This one you missed!

  The Ashtanga Yoga archive: announcement, Fotos and press articles regarding all workshops in the past, courses, retreats and training with Arjuna (Dr. Ronald Steiner).

• The shop for Ashtanga Yoga

  From experience for experience. Products for Ashtanga Yoga, designed and tested by Dr. Ronald Steiner. New: Practicecard 1. Serie

• Always up to date – with the Ashtanga Yoga newsletter!

  Don’t miss anything in the Ashtanga Yoga world: with our newsletter we will keep you up to date on a regular basis, as well as letting you know of new courses, trainings, workshops and retreats. You would like to be on-board? Then sign up, you are just one click away..

  • Unsubscribe from the AshtangaYoga.info newsletter

    No longer you want to receive the AshtangaYoga.info newsletter? Just use this form to unsubscribe.

  • Newsletter overview

    An overview where you can find everything important regarding recent Ashtanga Yoga newsletters. Study our newsletter archives!

• Press about AshtangaYoga.info and Dr. Ronald Steiner

  Reports in media and press about AshtangaYoga.info and Dr. Ronald Steiner.

AshtangaYoga.info opens up knowledge of Ashtanga yoga to you. Arjuna, Dr. Ronald Steiner, would like to share that with you and introduces you to people on this web site who support him with his work. Would you like to be part of it? Then find out more here...

• These people work behind the scenes of AshtangaYoga.info

  This webpage lives and grows continuously – thanks to all the people who support Arjuna (Dr. Ronald Steiner) in his work, discuss its contents intensely (till their heads smoke), work meticulously on a design for the website, programme the web site and contribute pictures, ...

• Looking for fellow Yogis!

  AshtangaYoga.info is a non-commercial info-guide – and lives on the love of yoga. We are happy to involve everyone who would like to share their knowledge and experience with others and support us. Are you in?

• Send us a message!

  If you have questions, ideas and opinions you would like to share with us, if you want to contribute an article about yoga or if you want to invite yogis to a retreat, then we will be happy to hear from you. Just send us a message by email. Please make sure your email address is spelled correctly.

• Imprint

  Responsible for this web page

• Disclaimer: Nice to know

  Not that interesting – but good to know, because even on our website everything to do with AshtangaYoga.info needs to be legal and in accordance with copyright etc.

Everything making your yoga practice at home easier. Maybe you like to put a cheat sheet next to your mat or you want to be guided through the Ashtanga series in a lead class. You can also listen to the yoga sutras and mantras.

• Cheat sheets for the Ashtanga yoga series (PDF)

  The perfect cheat sheet to be put next to your yoga mat: Asana sequences in a small and practical format for downloading & printing. These cheat sheets contain photos of the fundamental poses as well as pictures of the first, second and third Ashtanga yoga series.

• Traditional Vinyasa count for the Ashtanga yoga practice (PDF)

  Downloads for traditional “Vinyasa counts” are, compared to the cheat sheets, slightly larger and contain guidelines for asanas and rhythmic breathing.

• Yoga mantras – sung by Ronald Steiner (MP3)

  Have you always wanted to join in singing the yoga mantra in a yoga class? Here is the possibility of learning it. In these MP3s Ronald is singing it for you as often as you want him to.

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – sung by Ronald Steiner (MP3)

  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali rank among the basic philosophical writings of yoga. There has been and still is a long tradition of passing it on from teacher to pupil to be rehearsed. With the rhythm of the Sanskrit language wisdom is transported, which exceeds the simple meaning of the words easily. Find here the Yoga Sutras sung by Dr. Ronald Steiner (MP3).

• Ashtanga Yoga - Led class with Ronald Steiner (MP3)

  Let Ronald Steiner guide you through your Ashtanga yoga practice. The Ujjayi breathing can help you find the right rhythm for your practice. If you are looking for a more precise guideline, the lead classes on five more MP3s help you through the whole Ashtanga practice.

Are you looking for certain information regarding Ashtanga Yoga? Here you can search all pages of AshtangaYoga.info, looking for one or more key words.

The complete Ashtanga-Yoga-„Bus Map“ – Lost your way on AshtangaYoga.info or looking for certain information? Here is your quick guide.

Sorry but the requested page does not exist any more. May be one of the listed search results does fit your search. Otherwise you can start a new search or use the menu to find what you are looking for.