The document provides a history of Ashtanga Yoga, distinguishing between Ashtanga Yoga as Patanjali's eight limbed path and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as the physical practice developed by Pattabhi Jois. It describes how the physical yoga postures were introduced later to prepare the body for meditation. It then discusses the origins and development of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, including how Pattabhi Jois and Krishnamacharya were said to have discovered the ancient Yoga Korunta text describing its six series of postures. However, the original text was later destroyed by ants.

1. History of Ashtanga Yoga
Yoga originated as an Eastern practice of meditation to reach “union” of the individual self with
the divine, universal Self. As Patanjali says in Book I, Sutra II “Yogah Citta Vrtti Nirodah” ~ “Yoga
is the silencing of the modifications of the mind”.
The physical yoga postures were introduced much later in order to prepare the body for
mediation. The asana practice is what is widely known as yoga in the West nowadays. It is a
beginning of deeper understanding of the body, mind & the spirit connection.
Over the last century, many different styles of this asana practice have developed from this
origin. It is important to note that the earliest styles of physical yoga are Ashtanga Vinyasa and
Iyengar yoga, which form the basis of many newer styles of yoga. Both Pattabhi Jois, "The father
of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga", and Iyengar, of Iyengar yoga, were disciples of Krishnamacharya.
Krishnamacharya was a Sanskrit scholar, a healer and a yoga master (even he didn't like to be
called as "Yogi"). He had a lasting impact on the asana practice as we know it today.

2. Ashtanga Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
There is a need to distinguish between Ashtanga yoga – Patanjali’s eight limbed path to yoga–
and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga – the physical practice of the series of Ashtanga yoga by Pattabhi
Jois. “Ashta” means eight and therefore Ashtanga Yoga in the eight limbed path includes eight
branches that are essential to reach yoga, union or enlightenment. These eight limbs are
described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. A “sutra” is a thread. The Yoga Sutras are 196 aphorisms
that describe how to reach the final state of Samadhi or bliss.
Eight limbs path to Universal
The first of eight limbs is the Yamas or ethical observations, which are concerned with one’s
behaviour in relation to the outside world. The second of the eight limbs is the Niyamas or self-
observations, which are concerned with one’s self in regards to inward and outward cleanliness.
As the third limb we find the Asana or physical postures, as we learned earlier in IYFV blog post:
a mental state in a physical body. “Asana” is sanskrit word that means a steady and joyful seat.
Pranayama or breath control is the fourth of eight limbs and the most common type of
pranayama in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is The Ujjayi, Victorious breath, used during the physical
practice. The last four limbs are more subtle as we move towards Higher states of Being. These
are Pratyahara or sense withdrawal, Dharana concentration, Dhyana meditation, and Samadhi,
also known as bliss & enlightenment.

3. Basics of Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Of the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, the third and fourth limbs are very explicit in the
physical practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga as designed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. These are Asana
and Pranayama ~ the physical poses and the breath control. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is known for
its dynamic, constantly moving and breathing practice. Each movement is connected to one
breath, being either the inhalation or exhalation. Ujjayi breath is utilised throughout the entire
practice, being an audio meditative tool for practitioner, enabling an increase of the life force,
Prana. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is comprised of six series or sequences, of which the most widely
practiced is the first one, Full Primary Series. Traditionally, the practitioner has to master each
pose before being allowed to move onto the next. As a result, various practitioners may stay
lifetime with only the first series. The concept of the set sequences of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is
that repetition breeds success. The Full Primary Series focuses on forward folding and was
designed as Yoga Chikitsa – Yoga Therapy to heal the body.
Yoga Korunta & Ants - myth

4. How, then, did the influential asana practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga originate?
The story goes that Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois were at the University of Calcutta in the
1930s, studying Sanskrit scriptures, when they came across a bundle of palm leaves known as
the Yoga Korunta. On these palm leaves, it is said, were the outlines of what would become the
six series of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga as taught by Pattabhi Jois. Myth has it that the Yoga Korunta
was later eaten up by ants, never to reveal its secrets. Originally, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was
taught by Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. In 1948, Jois established the Ashtanga Yoga Research
Institute in Mysore, which is now known as the K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Only as
late as 1975 did Pattabhi Jois travel to the West (California, USA) to teach his first Ashtanga
Vinyasa workshop overseas. Larry Shultz, among the other first western practitioners studied
with him for over 7 years.
Pattabhi Jois spent more than 70 years of his life dedicated to practicing and teaching Ashtanga
Vinyasa yoga. In 2009, he passed away from natural causes, but his healing teachings lives on.
He was said to be strict but loving man, who laughed a lot. "Practice - and all is coming"

5. “Practice what you teach, teach what you practice.” It's Yoga Firenze, Italy: "Shifting the
philosophy that one pose had to be completed perfectly before the next was given; he (Larry
Schultz) created a sequence of postures that brought advanced poses to all levels of
practitioners, allowing for modifications. His shift in the tradition was sparked by the reality of
taking an eastern science and introducing it to western thinkers. The practice had to be fun and
accessible to all, while maintaining its scientific powers of healing, energizing and rejuvenating."
See you in It's Yoga Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga classes! The Rocket® is Ashtanga: "Eastern science for
western practitioners"
Class info & schedule in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
Namasté each and everyone of you!

6. Vamana Rishi is the name of the sage, who is believed to be the elusive author of the ancient
yogic text, the “Yoga Korunta.” This text was allegedly discovered by Krishnamacharya in the
early 20th Century, and he used it to teach influential students, such as K. Pattabhi Jois and B. K.
S. Iyengar, who went on to teach their own yoga systems. However the text itself was not
preserved, and as such, its existence has been questioned by some. There are also no known
records of the author Vamana Rishi.
“Yoga Korunta.”
Vamana Rishi
Despite there being no clear records of the sage Vamana Rishi, the name Vamana is relatively
common in India. It is the name of Vishnu’s fifth avatar. The word “Rishi” generally refers to a
seer or a sage, and it comes from the root word drsh, meaning “to see”.
Legend has it that Vamana Rishi was a sage born at a time when Ashtanga Yoga had been nearly
forgotten, and as such he incarnated himself deliberately for the task of bringing it back to
mankind. While in the womb, Vamana Rishi meditated on Vishnu, and it is said that Vishnu
taught Vamana Rishi the entire systems of Ashtanga Yoga. Vamana Rishi refused to be born until
they had covered the whole curriculum.
Pattabhi Jois in his 1962 book “Yoga Mala” quoted Vamana Rishi as having said:
“Vina vinyasa yogena asanadin na karayet -
Oh yogi, do not do asana without vinyasa”

7. What does Yoga Korunta mean?
The "Yoga Korunta" is professed to be an ancient Sanskrit text about yoga, written by the
ancient Sage Vamana. Its writings and teachings were used by Krishnamacharya to teach his
students, including B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois. These teachings were subsequently used
by Jois to form his Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga method.
There is some controversy over whether the text actually existed, as the original text did not
survive. This debate has led some to question the credibility of different methods of yoga
teaching.
Yoga Korunta
The "Yoga Korunta" is said to be unusual. Unlike other books on yoga, it outlined a complete
yoga method. It is claimed that Sage Vamana incarnated himself specifically to bring back the
Ashtanga yoga method, which had almost been lost at the time of his birth. While in the womb,
he meditated on Vishnu, and was taught the Ashtanga yoga system by Vishnu before his birth.
Legend has it this took longer than nine months and Vamana refused to be born until he knew
the whole system.
Vamana allegedly wrote the text in rhymed stanzas of sutras, as was typical for texts transmitted
orally by gurus. He included teachings on asana
groupings, vinyasa, bandhas, drishti and mudras.

8. However, this text was lost somehow over the centuries and it is said that Krishnamacharya was
tasked with finding the "Yoga Korunta" by his guru, Ramamohan, when he parted with him in
1924. He eventually found the text in Calcutta, but it was written on palm leaves and had been
severely damaged by ants. He transcribed and recorded the text, then passed it on orally to his
students through his teachings.
Within asana practice, there are nine different categorizations of drishti:
Nasagrai drishti: the nose tip (standing forward fold)
Bhrumadhye drishti: the ajna chakra, or between the eyebrows (fish pose)
Nabi chakra drishti: the navel (downward-facing dog pose)
Angusthamadhye: the thumb (upward salute pose)
Hastagrai drishti: the hands (triangle pose)
Parsva drishti: the right side (Bharadvaja's twist pose)
Parsva drishti: the left side (All twist poses)
Padayoragrai drishti: the toes (seated forward bend)
Urdhva drishti: upward (warrior one pose)