Ashtanga Yoga is different from many yoga classes in the west in that the order of asanas is completely predefined.
A practice will comprise four main parts:
- an opening sequence
- one of the six main series
- a back-bending sequence
- a set of inverted asanas (referred to as the "happy ending" or "finishing sequence").
Practice always ends with savasana.
The opening sequence begins with 10 Sun Salutations and then several standing asanas. Next, the practitioner will do one of the six main series, referred to as the Primary series (Yoga Chikitsa), Intermediate series (Nadi Shodhana) or Advanced A, B, C, or D (Sthira Bhaga) series level. Newcomers to Ashtanga Yoga practice the primary series, after learning the standing sequence.
The Primary Series is the most important series as it forms the basis of the entire system. Practitioners may advance to more difficult series over a period of years or decades, but the goal of this style is not to learn the more difficult asanas but rather to learn to maintain internal focus throughout the practice.
-Wikipedia
Part 1 contains 34 General poses of ashtanga yoga.
