Ashtanga vinyasa yoga and makes it thin, so that it may circulate freely". Sharath also claims that the heated blood removing toxins, impurities and disease from the organs through sweat produced during the practice. He claims that "it is only through sweat that disease leaves the body and purification occurs". Although ashtanga yoga keeps a general principle of steady and even inhales and exhales, the specifics of breath during the asanas are debated. In his book, "Yoga Mala", Pattabhi Jois recommends staying five to eight breaths in a posture, or staying for as long as possible in a posture. Breathing instructions given are
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga and never taught by Sharath. However most of his teachers who claim to have been taught by him will teach the above methods, exercises, & postures, even though none of what they teach is part of the Ashtanga method of instruction under Sharath. Pattabhi Jois also did not require students to independently drop back and come up from back bending before progressing to the 2nd series. Sharath changed the requirements, and has now made this mandatory. However, it is important to note that Pattabhi Jois was the founder of the system, and taught each of his original students differently, instructing