Different people like different styles of yoga. For some it’s vinyasa flow, for others it’s restorative, while others prefer Bikram yoga.
Throughout my 18 years of on-and-off yoga practice (which is currently on), it is ashtanga yoga that I usually come back to time and again as the style that I most prefer.
I sometimes think of ashtanga like black licorice. You either love it and or it just doesn’t work for you at all.
I’m in the love camp.
In case you aren’t famililar with it, ashtanga was developed and taught by Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois (known to his students as Guruji). During each practice, yogis do the same poses in the same sequence. Each and every time. (Until they have mastered the series—which often takes years—at which point they move to the next series.)
What non-ashtanga fans often complain about with this style is the thing that really attracts me—that each time you do the practice you follow the same structure and do the same poses in the same order: Standing Forward Bend A and then B, Triangle, Reverse Triangle, Side Angle Pose, etc.
For some this feels rigid, yet I experience the opposite. The structure of the discipline actually allows me great opportunities to explore new understanding. Instead of it being boring as others feel, I find it really engaging. Because I know that Seated Forward Bend always comes after Staff Pose, for example, I am not wondering what I need to put my attention on next. The reliable repetition allows me to really learn and grown in my practice as I can see tangible “results”—for example, how much deeper I can get into Marichyasana C, or how much more relaxed my breathing is in Boat Pose.
What ashtanga yoga has taught me is that structure can provide me with great understanding, freedom, flexibility, and awareness.
Why do I share this with you? Because it seems to me to reflect some of the learnings inherent within the opposition between Jupiter and Saturn that we are currently experiencing. The first of the alignments occurs on May 22, 2010, with Jupiter in Pisces and Saturn in Virgo. The subsequent two oppositions will occur on August 16, 2010 and March 28, 2011 with Jupiter in Aries and Saturn in Libra. (The alignment does not just color the dates of the exact opposition but casts an energetic shadow throughout this whole time period.)
On the surface, these two planetary energies seem disparate. Saturn is about limitations, structure, and discipline while Jupiter is about expansion, abundance, and the urge for exploration.
And yet as I see and experience with my ashtanga practice, Saturn and Jupiter can be friends and greatly support each other. I’ve come to learn how predictability (Saturn) can foster great teachings (Jupiter). I have seen how a committed and reliable form (Saturn) is not stifling but rather can allow for freedom of expression and the discovery of growth and meaning (Jupiter). It has also made me realize that having rules to follow (Saturn) doesn’t limit my growth but rather inspires inner wisdom and understanding (Jupiter).
This is not to say that integrating these two energies—something we are being called on personally and collectively to focus on from now through the spring of 2011—is an easy feat. Yet, if we hold onto some Jupiterian optimism and mix it with some Saturn realism, if we honor the structure while knowing opportunities will thrive because of it, we may see—as I do in my yoga practice—that these two energies can work together and that, in doing so, they can add beauty and riches to our lives.
Postscript: Of course, experiencing Jupiter through applying Saturnian principles isn’t the only way that these archetypes can dance. In fact, today after writing the first part of this post, I had the synchronistic experience of taking a wonderful hatha yoga class with a dear friend.
Unlike ashtanga practice, this class–like most yoga classes–did not follow a prescribed sequence for which I had foreknowledge, but was rather the unique flowing creation of the teacher. Therefore, to me, the class more overtly held the Jupiterian expression of expansion and freedom.
I thought about this and reflected to myself how it was that I could balance this more Jupiterian style with a Saturnian approach, how I could marry the two archetypes during this practice. What I found was that the Jupiterian openness made me call upon the Saturn within me: the knowledge I had collected over the years about which asanas work for my body and which don’t, and the inner authority that could inform me how to get into and out of postures with discipline and attention to what best met my body’s structural needs. So, within this experience, I saw how when provided a more Jupiterian experience, it was really fruitful to bring in Saturn and have these energies–that of freedom and that of restriction, that of unlimitedness and that of limits–work together.
Remember if you feel a push/pull this year between optimism (Jupiter) and cynicism (Saturn), between what’s possible (Jupiter) and what’s probably (Saturn), between freedom (Jupiter) and structured accountability (Saturn), that it need not necessarily be an either/or choice. In all likelihood, there very well may be a way that both can be blended to create opportunities for sustainable unfolding.
Subscribe and get the free 
As a yogini for the past 15 years, I find this post fascinating. Just another way to look at life. And living is truly about perspective, how to get it and keep it.
I like being able to understand a bit more about the world through astrology and how the heavens rule and effect our lives.
Thank you.
LOVED this post. I am an ashtangi as well, though at the moment I’m practicing with a wonderful vinyasa flow teacher. After years of finding exactly the same creativity through structure that you spoke of, I realize that I became very rigid in my disciplined freedom
Exploring another type of vinyasa flow is really eye opening, from both a physical and psychological perspective.
I see how I came to use that predictability as a crutch, to rely too much on the routine. I became lazy, truthfully, after a time. Not being ‘in control’ of where the practice is going is humbling for someone who struggles with a heavy Saturn (conjunct my Venus in the 5th and part of a TSquare opposite my moon sq Pluto. huzzah!)
I’ve realized (often the hard, miserable way) the importance of learning to incorporate Saturn into my life constructively. It can be a wonderful influence, if you take the time to breath. And relax. And practice!
So, I’m experiencing that push pull you mentioned, sounds like we may be having similar yogic experiences. A healthy dose of structure and discipline, in a completely reworked way. Sustainable unfolding is a fantastic sentiment, and I’m going to keep it if you don’t mind!
Love your site and Namaste!
Thank you for this! I was in a karate style that emphasized kata (repetitious forms until you mastered one and could move to another) over free-sparring and I immediately understood what you meant with Ashtanga Yoga. I had no idea there was a yoga practice like this and I really enjoyed kata in karate, so I may now look into Ashtanga yoga too. I’m giddy with the new discovery!
In regard to your postscript, once a student had mastered a kata, he or she began to see how that kata applied to free-sparring and how all the kata were really variations on “the next right move” that you would normally take in a seemingly random spar session. Kata helped the student learn that there is less free form to sparring than at first appears! It is said that soon your body memory recalls the kata and helps you when there is no form.
I too love Astanga yoga – but since Saturn returned to Virgo, I’ve been plagued with structural issues with my shoulder and neck that completely prohibit this kind of practice. I’ve had to allow my yoga to be extremely gentle – and sometimes my yoga is no yoga at all these days, until I can heal. It feels restrictive but necessary. Thanks for your daily postings – they’re lovely.
Jill: I am in complete agreement with you about how living is about persepective. And I am so happy that you find the astrology to help with that perspective and understanding. Namaste, Stephanie
Hi, Kiki. Thank you so much for sharing. I understand how the structure and predictability can end up being a crutch and how it can contribute to being less present rather than more. I am so glad that you brought that up as that is an important piece that I didn’t include. Sustainable unfolding..it’s yours…it’s everyone’s. Namaste, Stephanie
Hi, Fiona. This is really wonderful insight–thank you so much for sharing this as it’s another example of the interplay between the Jupiter and Saturn energies. If you have any more questions re: ashtanga yoga, feel free to email me at Stephanie AT PlanetaryApothecary DOT com. Namaste, Stephanie
Hi, Lainie. I had a similar experience about 7 years ago (one quarter Saturn cycle ago). I ended up herniating my disk and I think that my not having enough structure in my practice and movement did contribute to it over the years. I ended up redefining what yoga meant to me. And also seeing how attached I was to it for many things in my life. The detachment, the awareness that came was really so incredibly value…a very very yogic learning. I wish your shoulder and neck speedy healing. Namaste, Stephanie
This is an amazing and so insightful post. You’re absolutely right in letting the practice flow and be with your body and who you are while letting the planets join in harmony together. More posts please!
Kelly: Thank you for your reflections as well as your yoga teachings. Namaste, Stephanie
Triangle pose is great. It’s one of my favorite poses, but there are always little ways to tweak it for better alignment. I found that Leeann Carey has a great free yoga video on this subject: http://planetyoga.com/yoga-blogs/index.php/free-yoga-video-hands-on-adjustments-for-trikonasana/