Practice with Bianca Authorised Level II Ashtanga Yoga Teacher

Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system of Yoga, a living lineage, dating back thousands of years in a unbroken line of teachers, sages and gurus that has reached millions of practitioners through the life of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois. It is continued and honoured by R. Sharath Jois teachings at Sharath Yoga Centre, the Jois family and every Ashtanga teacher and practitioner today. Ashtanga Yoga Katowice teaches Yoga in this direct lineage and is happily to connect you with this ancient wisdom towards health, liberation and happiness.
The Ashtanga Yoga method is composed of therapeutic and progressive sequences of asanas (poses), organised into 6 series or three groups of movement sequences meant to be practiced daily. The Primary Series which cleanses and tunes the physical body. The Intermediate Series which purifies the nervous system and The Advanced Series which cultivates strength and grace.
Students start with learning the asanas in Primary Series slowly. Many spend their entire life working on these postures, and others will move on to the next series, across many years of practice.
Postures are linked together through flowing movement (vinyasa). Vinyasa means breath synchronised with movement. In Ashtanga Yoga the movement is always synchronised with the breath. The result is an open heart, and a clear mind in a light and strong body. The Ashtanga method emphasises on the following aspects:
Ashtanga Yoga utilizes a three-pronged approach called Tristana. Tristana consists of correct breathing, yoga postures/asanas (including correct use of the bandhas or internal locks), and the precise gazing (dristi).  This is both a method and a state and practitioners develope control of the senses, a deep awareness of themsleves and their inner sensations, emotions and workings of the mind. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, practitioners develop steadiness of body and mind.

•Asanas: or poses to purify, strengthen, and give flexibility to the body. There are three groups of movement sequences and six series in total: The Primary Series, Yoga Chikitsa, cleanses and tunes especially the physical body. The Intermediate Series, Nadi Shodhana, purifies the nervous system, opening up for more subtle experiences of our energies and mind. The Advanced Series A, B, C and D,Sthira Bhaga, literally meaning strength and grace, which further explores flexibility, vigor and tranquility as an integrated synergy, requiring higher levels of humility and dedication. Each series of postures must be accomplished before proceeding to the next. The practice is cumulative and it is essential to follow the order of postures (asanas) meticulously as each individual asana builds on the previous one and prepares practitioners for the next. The sequential process of learning Ashtanga Yoga allows its practitioners to develop the concentration, strength, flexibility and stamina needed to progress in a safe and balanced manner. Each asana, or group of asanas, has a specific effect that is counter balanced by the previous asana, or group of asanas.

•Breathing: to purify the nervous system. The core of the practice. Facilitates movement in the physical body, creating ‘room to roam‘ between your bones underneath your skin. quiets the mind from unnecessary entanglements. distributes appropriate energy through-out your body and unifies the physical, mental and energetic bodies to one solid entity of motion, transformation and power. Generates purifying heat in the body.

•Dristhi or gazing point to purify and stabilize the functioning of the mind. The eyes as a help to focus the mind, instigating a more internal and potentially meditative practice. Helps keeping your mind and senses within the parameters of your physical body.

Ashtanga Yoga is beyond a physical practice. It's a way of living. Ashtanga literally means 8 limbs.

The eight limbs are described by Patanjali as:

Yama (ethical disclipline):
ahimsa (non-violence), satya (thruthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (refraining from sexual indulgence), aparigraha (detachment).

Niyama (observation & purification):
sauca (cleanliness, purity), santosha (contentment), tapah (austerity), svadhyaya (study towards self knowledge), ishwara-pranidhana (surrender to God/higher self).
Asana (postures)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (consciousness itself)

“ The eight branches mutually support each other and are to be learned and taken into daily committed action. An established asana practice prepares dedicated yogis for a balanced practice of the more subtle limbs such as pranayama which are the key to embodying the yamas and niyamas. The heart of yoga is ethical living, honesty and compassion.”

How to Learn
Please note that you should learn only from a traditionally trained teacher to ensure a safe and healthy journey for the body and mind into the science of the Ashtanga Method to yoga.