Ashtanga Yoga as It Was (The Long and Short of It)
by Nancy Gilgoff
The following is the way Guruji taught Nancy the Primary and Intermediate series during her first trip to Mysore in 1973. David Williams and Nancy stayed four months and took two classes per day (excluding Saturdays and moon days).
In the first class, she was taught five Surya Namaskara A plus the three finishing postures (Yoga Mudrasana, Padmasana, and Tolasana). The second class added five Surya Namaskara B. Soon Guruji settled her practice at three each of A and B, then began adding at least two postures per class, always ending with the three finishing poses.
Standing postures ran through Parsvottanasana, without Parivritta Trikonasana or Parivritta Parsvakonasana at that time. After Parsvottanasana came a jump through to Dandasana. Seated postures used fewer vinyasas: no vinyasa between sides, and grouped variations (Janu A/B/C, Marichyasana A–D, and the konasana family) before a vinyasa.
Once Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana were placed back into standing after Parsvottanasana, Intermediate followed immediately after Primary. Nancy and David learned both series in the first two months, then practiced both together twice a day until Guruji later asked for one series a day.
When Guruji taught led classes on Maui in 1980 (Paia), many vinyasas were added. Asked whether to include them in her own practice, he told Nancy to add them to build strength. Utkatasana, Virabhadrasana, and the revolved standing postures entered the sequence in later years.
Originally the syllabus held four series (Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, and Advanced B), with a fifth “Rishi series” for practitioners who had mastered the four.