Ultimately, your teacher will be the one that knows best when you are ready to begin the Second/Intermediate series. The Ashtanga Advanced Series. The Advanced series is definitely one that you must have a six-day-a-week practice and be proficient in the Intermediate series to begin. The practice consists of six series of Ashtanga yoga poses: Primary: known as yoga chikitsa, or yoga therapy, this series of Ashtanga yoga poses centers around forward bends. Second/Intermediate: known as nadi shodhana, meaning nerve cleansing, this series focuses primarily on back bends. Filed Under: Ashtanga Tagged With: Ashtanga, Intermediate Series, Primary Series, Vinyasa, Yoga About David Robson David Robson is a practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, in the tradition of KPJAYI. The Second Series is known as Nadi Shodana, which means 'nerve cleansing.' This series focuses on the energetic regions of the spine, pelvis, and hips. Experience traditional pacing and vinyasa of Ashtanga's intermediate second series. Students must have experience with second series in the Mysore classroom up to eka pada sirsasana. The postures of Second Series are added “one-by-one”, in the words of Pattabhi Jois, to the practice of First Series. As a student gains proficiency in the new postures more are added until the entire new series is learned. In fact this is the method of progression in all the series of Ashtanga yoga.

Why do I keep making cheat sheets?

Students aren’t allowed to use them in my Mysore room.

On many occasions, I’ve pried a sweaty cheat sheet out of the trembling hands of a nervous student.

Why can’t you use a cheat sheet?

Because memorizing the sequence of asanas is part of learning the practice. Committing the series to memory promotes concentration. Doing all that hard work helps you to own your practice. And, finally, we Ashtangis are infamous for eschewing props, and what’s the cheat sheet but a prop for your brain? (Sidenote- upon the discovery and development of writing, Plato called it “A pernicious crutch to memory”.)

So if you can’t use them in the room, why do I bother making them? I think it’s because I like to see little pictures of myself doing the poses. Specifically, doing the poses the way I want my students to do the poses. So, a little bit of ego, and a little bit of honest concern.

Anyway, here they are. Feel free to download and share them. Just don’t bring them into my Mysore room.

BTW- all the pics are from the fantastic Tim Bermingham!

Ashtanga Second Series

Primary Series:

Ashtanga Second Series Of Poses

Intermediate Series: