Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga with origins that can be traced back to the early 1900s. It is said to have been first recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the text Yoga Korunta. The text went through the hands of various gurus before being found in Calcutta library by Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who took extensive notes and passed these on to his student Sri Pattabhi Jois. However, some have cast doubt on the existence of this manuscript. Jois teaches the system at his Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India and the system is now practiced throughout the world.

Ashtanga Yoga, which means eight-limbed yoga, aims to cleanse both mind and body. This can be done through the eight spiritual practices: yama or moral codes, niyama or self purification and study, asana or posture, pranayama or breath control, pratyahara or sense control, dharana or concentration, dhyana or meditation, and samadhi or contemplation.

It is believed that the body needs to be freed of impurities first before the mind can be controlled. The first four practices are for that purpose, while the latter are for mental and spiritual cleansing. Asana in particular is grouped into series. The body is first purified through the Primary Series, and then the cleansing of the nervous system is worked on in the Intermediate Series. Yoga postures are perfected in the Advanced Series, where there are different levels that require increasing flexibility.

The eight principles are further practiced through vinyasa and tristhana. Vinyasa literally means breath-synchronized movement, and here the yogi inhales or exhales—rechaka and puraka—as he does asanas. This combination of breathing and movement detoxifies the body through better blood circulation. The impurities in the body are then released through sweat.

Tristhana, on the other hand, refers to the three subjects of focus during yoga practice: posture, breathing system, and looking place. These are essential for cleaning the body and clearing the mind. Posture is improved through asanas; breathing is done through balanced inhales and exhales. Meanwhile, there are nine places or dristhis that the yogi looks at while doing the yoga postures. These are the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side, and left side. Gazing at these will help refine the mind.

Ashtanga yoga also aims to get rid of the six poisons that cover the light in the spiritual heart. This light is said to represent God. The six poisons are kama or desire, kridha or anger, moha or delusion, lobha or greed, matsarya or envy, and mada or sloth. Once these are vanquished over time through the diligent practice of Ashtanga yoga, the light will be uncovered and the yogi’s Universal Self will be revealed.

Other schools teachers and organisations of yoga that rely on the 8-fold path elucidated by Patanjali in Sutra 2.28 refer to themselves as practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga as well. The eight-fold path is also central to the work of still other teachers of yoga.