Why do I keep making cheat sheets?

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

Second series, or nadi shodhana, is a sequence of poses designed to clear the nervous system and the energy channels of the subtle body known as the nadhis. There are over 70,000 nadhis in the body. The focus of this series is on backbends, deep hip openers, and some inversions. 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.

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 Forearm Stand Sequence

Primary Series:

Ashtanga Second Series Chart

Intermediate Series: