Yoga Chikitsa (योग चिकित्सा, Yoga Cikitsā) is the Sanksrit (संक्सृत्, Saṁksr̥t) name for the primary series and it can be translated as Yoga Therapy. Therefore this series purifies and heals the body.
The first or primary series forms the basis for all subsequent series. Superficially seen it may seem the easiest of all six Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga series. It is however the most difficult one; it is the series first learned by every Ashtanga-Yogi; this is where one becomes familiar with the Vinyasa System and gets used to everyday Yoga practice. The following series do not bring anything that is relatively new. Only a couple of new postures integrate into the system one is already familiar with.
Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana
उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन
Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana

utthita (उत्थित, utthita) = stretched
hasta (हस्त, hasta) = hand
padangushtha (पादान्गुष्थ, pādānguṣtha) = big toe
asana (आसन, āsana) = Posture
Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana (उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन, Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana) = stretched-hand-grasps-big-toe
Vinyāsa | breath | Dr̥ṣṭi | explanation of movement |
1 | IN | nāsāgre | lift right leg, take big toe |
2 | EX | bend forward, chin to shinbone | |
5BR | pādayoragre | Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana (उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन, Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana) (right side) | |
3 | IN | nāsāgre | lift head |
4 | EX | leg to the right, look over left shoulder | |
5BR | pārśvadr̥ṣṭi | Utthita Parshvasahita (उत्थित पार्श्वसहित, Utthita Pārśvasahita) (right side) | |
5 | IN | nāsāgre | leg forward |
6 | EX | pādayoragre | leg far up to the top, to forehead |
7 | IN | hands to waist | |
5BR | nāsāgre | Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana (उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन, Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana) (right side) | |
(EX) | lower leg | ||
8 | IN | nāsāgre | lift left leg, take big toe |
9 | EX | bend forward | |
5BR | pādayoragre | Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana (उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन, Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana) (left side) | |
10 | IN | nāsāgre | lift head |
11 | EX | leg to the left | |
5BR | pārśvadr̥ṣṭi | Utthita Parshvasahita (उत्थित पार्श्वसहित, Utthita Pārśvasahita) (left side) | |
12 | IN | nāsāgre | leg again forward |
13 | EX | pādayoragre | leg far up to the top, to forehead |
14 | IN | hands to waist | |
5BR | nāsāgre | Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana (उत्थित हस्त पादान्गुष्ठासन, Utthita Hasta Pādānguṣṭhāsana) (left side) | |
- | EX | nāsāgre | Samasthitih (समस्थितिः, Samasthitiḥ) |
legend for the Vinyāsa table:
- The grey part of the table is performed in Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga practice.
- Yellow marked is the position depicted on the photo.
- Vinyāsa:1 = ekam; 2 = dve; 3 = trīṇi; 4 = catvāri; 5 = pañca; 6 = ṣaṭ; 7 = sapta; 8 = aṣṭau; 9 = nava; 10 = daśa; 11 = ekādaśa; 12 = dvādaśa; 13 = trayodaśa; 14 = caturdaśa; 15 = pañcadaśa; 16 = ṣoḍaśa; 17 = saptadaśa; 18 = aṣṭadaśa; 19 = ekonavimśatiḥ; 20 = vimśatiḥ; 21 = ekāvimśatiḥ; 22 = dvāvimśatiḥ; 23 = trayovimśatiḥ; 24 = caturvimśatiḥ; 25 = pañcavimśatiḥ; 26 = ṣoḍavimśatiḥ; 27 = saptavimśatiḥ; 28 = aṣṭovimśatiḥ
- breath: IN = Inhalation; EX = exhalation; 5BR = five breaths
- Dr̥ṣṭi: nāsāgre = to the nose; añguṣṭhamadhye = to the middle of the thumb; bhrūmadhye = in the middle of the eye brows; nābicakre = to the navel; ūrdhvadr̥ṣṭi = upwards; hastāgre = to the tip of the hand; pādayoragre = to the tip of the foot; pārśvadr̥ṣṭi = sidewards