You'll be mesmerized by this awesome and beautiful video (7min 46sec) of Ashtanga Yoga practitioners that was shot on location in India. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is an established branch of Raja Yoga. The term ashtanga, meaning eight limbs, refers to the eight limbs of yoga. Thus the term does not refer to which poses one does, nor the order of poses and has nothing to do with any particular series (Primary Series, Secondary Series and so on). The term "Ashtanga" or "Astanga" does not describe whether one practices 'vinyasa' or the more sustained, focused action in poses as describe in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; where 'asana' is described as being still and firm. In Raja Yoga, a classical Indian system of Hindu philosophy, these were expounded by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
Ashtanga seeks to embody the traditional eight limbs of yoga (referred to as ashtanga or Raja Yoga) as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. The Pattabhi Jois Vinyasa series (or Ashtanga Vinyasa (sic)) is said to have its origin in the ancient text Yoga Korunta by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari at Mount Kailash, and later passed on to Pattabhi Jois.
