Ashtanga Yoga Groningen

One of the realizations many of us have regarding daily practice is how different we feel from day to day. Environmental factors such as weather, time of year, and the phase of the moon affect how we feel, as do lifestyle factors like sleep, hydration, alcohol, and stress. The ancient yogis and Vedic Seers recognized this and recorded these observations in traditional texts.

My mentor, Pattabhi Jois, taught us that each day has a certain energy and that the practice should be adapted accordingly. Remember, these are guidelines rather than fixed rules. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to note how the days of the week each have a special theme:

Ashtanga Yoga and Vedic Astrology

Sunday: Ruled by the Sun (Surya), associated with vitality and leadership. Primary or Intermediate Series (New poses may be added)

Monday: Ruled by the Moon (Chandra), associated with emotions and intuition. Primary, Intermediate, or Advanced Series (New poses may be added).

Tuesday: Ruled by Mars (Mangala), associated with energy and action. (No new poses.)

Wednesday: Ruled by Mercury (Budha), associated with communication and intellect. (Progression allowed)

Thursday: Ruled by Jupiter (Guru), associated with wisdom and expansion. (New poses often introduced)

Friday: Ruled by Venus (Shukra), associated with love and harmony. (Primary Series)

Saturday: Ruled by Saturn (Shani), associated with discipline and structure. (Rest Day)

Perhaps you’ve heard me say, “No new poses on Tuesday”? Just following the above guidelines…

Of course…

Yoga philosophy is not a fixed orthodoxy. Rather, these are ideas to be contemplated and wrestled with until arriving at your own conclusions and realizations, just like the ancients did. Perhaps that is why we sometimes encounter contradictions in philosophy from teacher to teacher.

At the end of the day, yoga is packed with wisdom to be investigated, experienced, and tested thoroughly before arriving at a conclusion.

*If you are curious about the days of the week topic above, I highly recommend Robert Svoboda’s book “Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution”