The Essence Of Ashtanga Yoga

A True Yogi Has No Quest

We're not in a quest to find the 'essence', 'enlightenment' (maybe allignment). We're here to listen, to observe, to be. That's why when I'm talking about an essence, I talk about my observations, trying to see things as they are. Don't take it too seriously, and have your own experience be your guide.

99 Percent Practice, 1 Percent Theory Enough

The words of the late Ashtanga's Guruji, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois:

Yes, 99% practice.

Practical experience is not coming - yoga is no.

You experience, you want to experience.

That's why 99% and have practice - 1% theory enough.

Theory, don't understand it-

Practice, practice, practice, practice.

After - gradually, gradually, theory also understanding.

You don't practice - no yoga.

Mūla Bandha

As we said earlier, you have to (99%) experience it yourself, so I won't bore you with much theory.

Mūla Bandha appears almost in any assana. Usually you don't fully lock it, which means you can preserve the Bandha lock for most of the practice.

[As] Yoga practitioner, you must take mulabandha.

Mūla Bandha means the anus control.

Mūla Bandha you always take.

Sitting time, talking time, walking time, eating time - all the time...

Automatically, gradually, is coming [comes] your Mūla Bandha

After - gradually, gradually, theory also understanding.

Without Mūla Bandha - no yoga.

This guy might help you visualize it (he also adds Uḍḍiyāna Bandha to the mix, and he has the same name as I do)

Breathing

Now, use your Mūla Bandha, and let's watch a typical ashtanga practice

ekam (1), inhale

dve (2), exhale

treeni (3), inhale

chatvaari (4), jump back [and please exhale]

Breathing makes everything much easier, comfortable. Breathing is part of what unlocks the way to "Sthira Sukam Asanam" (steady, comfortable poses).

Wait! That's It? What About Technique/Flexibility/Strength/Focus?

If you practice, if you breathe, if you use your Mūla Bandha, that's the essence. If you have a 'quest', let it be one of those. Oh, and of course, have a teacher, someone to pass you down this important 1% of theory.

My yoga teacher once told me he watched Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' grandson, Sharath (I can't find this specific video), and he wondered - Sharath wasn't perfect (in his technique). Then my teacher suddenly realised, that his 'quest' for technique was not the 'essence'; he saw Sharath use his Mūla Bandha, breathe. It's as simple as that. Sometimes we see an end and we make it the means.