Ashtanga comes from the Sanskrit words astau (eight) and anga (limb). The eight limbs refer to the eight foundational principles of yoga as laid out in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. Together, they form a holistic path of spiritual development leading to liberation.

The eight-fold path consists of yama (integrity), niyama (self-discipline), asana (the physical practice), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense-withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation or contemplation) and samadhi (peace, enlightenment or the ultimate experience of interconnectedness).

According to the ashtanga yoga tradition, the journey starts with the third limb, the physical practice, followed by the fourth, pranayama. Once firmly established in these two limbs, a natural understanding of the first two will arise. Once these four external practices are integrated, resulting in a healthy body, a quiet mind and a heightened awareness, the more subtle layers will be addressed through the final four limbs.

Mysore-style practice is the traditional self-practice approach to ashtanga, deriving its name from the city in India where it developed. Practitioners do their individual practice in a group setting, under the supervision of a teacher. This setting allows for a deeply meditative practice and a high level of individual support on your personal journey. Read all you want to know about the Mysore here.

It depends. Traditionally, ashtanga is considered a daily practice, with six days of practice per week and rest on moon days. That being said, it is not about following a rule, but about finding out what works for you. Although it is a fact that you will benefit most from a regular practice, it is equally important to make the practice fit your life, not your life the practice.

As a general guideline, you can try to practice three to five times per week. But even one or two times per week can already make a big difference. Note that it is always better to practice more often but shorter, than to do a long, intense practice less often or even on an irregular basis. Consistency is key.

Absolutely! We’d even encourage you to do so. Although the practice involves a good range of different movements, it is not all-encompassing. It doesn’t contain pulling or hinging, for example. There is no progressive overload in terms of weight. And practising ashtanga doesn’t do much for your cardiovascular health, either.

Adding strength and mobility work will not only prevent asymmetries and injuries, but it will also deepen and improve your practice. At the same time, it gives a solid base to practice any type of sports in a healthy, long-term sustainable way.

And your yoga practice is beneficial for other sports too: you know how to focus, breathe and engage your core, and yoga helps to prevent tightness from monotonous movements. Experiment to find a combination that works for you, or reach out if you’d like some advice!