Ashtanga Yoga Tradition and Etiquette

This is the 2nd half of Stacy McCarthy's article in the IDEA Fit Tips: News and Inspiration for Fitness Professionals. Read on.

Whether you are teaching some of the postures of the series in a Power Yoga or a Vinyasa Flow class, you can keep your class as close to the traditional, time-tested foundational principles as possible using these tips.

1. 
   If you are comfortable with it, begin class with the Ashtanga Vinyasa Invocation. Start in Samasthiti, standing with feet together and arms by your side. The spine is long and the bandhas (see point 6) engaged. This is different from Tadasana (Mountain Pose) used in other styles of Hatha Yoga. You can download the chant at www.yoganamastacy.com.
2. Use the Sun Salutations Suryanamaskara as the foundation for warming up and keeping the rhythm and flow to the practice. Depending on the time you have available, do either 3 or 5 Sun Salutations A and B.
3. Vinyasa is the synchronization of breath to movement. Keep the postures moving in a continuous flow typically holding each one for five full breaths.
4. Drishti is the specific focus or gaze assigned to each posture. Focus the mind and body surrendering to the flow of the movement.
5. Use Ujjayi Breath, an audible, deep, hissing breath throughout the practice. It produces intense internal heat and a profuse sweat that purifies and detoxifies muscles and organs.
6. Ashtanga Vinyasa is founded on the subtle locks or bandhas. Mula bandha root lock is a lift from the pelvic floor. Maintain it throughout the practice, creating a lightness and working from the inside out. Uddiyana bandha is the contraction of the anus to the diaphragm. Jalandhara bandha is a chin lock with the spine held tall and the chin locked to the crook of the neck.
7. Use props minimally. Traditionally, the Ashtanga system encourages adjusting the posture by finding avenues of support within the body rather than through the use of any external apparatus.
8. Mysore or self practice is the traditional way Ashtanga is taught in Mysore, India. Students move through the practice at their own pace and level in silence to the rhythm of their own breath. The teacher assists you in the form of hands-on adjustments and postures are given one by one in a sequential order. Beginners and advanced students practice side by side in a non-competitive atmosphere. A few health clubs have slowly integrated this form of teaching, but it should be taught by a Master Ashtanga Teacher who has an in-depth knowledge and personal experience of the different series.
9. The finishing postures are the same regardless of what series you are practicing. They are restorative postures designed for cooling down, balancing out the body and integrating the effects of the practice.
10. The real teacher is the practice itself. Develop a consistent personal yoga practice outside of your teaching time. As Phattibi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga says, "Do your practice; all is coming."

Read the full article here.