Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a system of yoga that has its origins(allegedly)in an ancient manuscript known as the Yoga Korunta, compiled by the sage Vamana Rishi. Its current form was developed at the Mysore Palace in Mysore India. and is commonly attributed to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois by way of his Satguru, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya.

In discussing the Ashtanga Vinyasa system, a clear distinction must be made between the eight (ashta) limbs (anga) of classical yoga as outlined by Pantanjali in the Yoga Sutras, and the Ashtanga which is the subject of this article. The eight limbs denoted by the word ashtanga refer specifically to the eight spiritual practices outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. It should be noted that practitioners of most modern day schools of Hatha Yoga, including Pattabi Jois, draw from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and thus practice ashtanga yoga. To avoid this confusion many yoga practitioners have taken to referring to Jois's system as Pattabi Jois's Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.