Irrespective of the roots and KP Jois ethical shortcomings we have to acknowledge that "overall Aṣṭāṅga Vinyasa Yoga arranges postures in sequences to create a continuous flow. While you move through the sequences you focus on the breath and internal holds (bandhas) so that the body is heated and purified to make it strong, vibrantly healthy and ready for pranayama and meditation. Making the body capable of performing prolonged mediation is the only purpose of yoga postures (āsanas) in the Pātañjala Yogasūtras and its commentaries [Ondračka 2020, p 6] [and in this context] Aṣṭāṅga Vinyasa Yoga is the bedrock and preparation for [a systematic integration into] the eight-limbed yoga that [the] sage Patanjali describes" [Maehle 2020b] which is exactly what we should be mostly caring about.
At this point we should step out of the each particular posture and look at the entire system as a compilation of principles towards (a) certain goal(-s). These goals can manifest as physical attributes but clearly move beyond this point and in the context of the Yogasūtras-s we are clearly looking towards liberation i.e. kaivalya.
A closer look at the yoga sastras will reveal the proliferation of yogāsana; the fundamental āsana described in all of them is Padmāsana i.e. Lotus Posture, the mastery of which is bound to the development and success on the higher limbs.
We shall view the Aṣṭāṅga series as a preparation towards (a) building-up Padmāsana and (b) maintaining it for a rather long time-frame that will enable the student to access the fruits of the higher limbs.
Primary Series: it is primarily a great hip-opening and core strengthening sequence that will gradually allow someone to be able to sit down comfortably. Sets up the foundational work on the bandhas and controlled breathing.
Intermediate Series: work is transcended from the base i.e. hips and core toward the "sacred" spine. A healthy spine is a generative term that implies both strength and flexibility; both of these features are necessary when seated in Lotus i.e. the line that tracks the spine should reflect the natural curves of its different areas magnified, exaggerated : after developing a strong core reflecting a stable and lengthened lumbar area in the primary series one is then proceeds to work on the dorsal and cervical areas[1].
Advanced Series: here the point of attention is drawn towards (a) balance and (b) overall power building and despite the fact that it might as well look odd - at first glance - in terms of relation to Padmāsana the relation becomes clear if one considers the relatively large amounts of physical strength and poise needed to maintain the Lotus posture for a tremendous amount of time (up to 3 hours according to scriptures).
Broken down in pieces the advanced yogic postures is nothing but a combination of the elements found in the first two series same as complex terms are formed through combination of simpler words or agglutination of simpler particles. In that sense, "one is obtaining the health effects of the āsanas faster without having to go through repeating the alphabet each and every day from the beginning" [Iyengar, 1991, p tbc].
On the subtle body the effects are also known to flourish by empowered activation of the chakras. BKS Iyengar makes a bold statement when referring to the benefits of vrschikāsana i.e. "scorpion pose" as to how the kick on the head using ones foot liberates her / him from the poison of the ego [ibid, p 388]. Unfortunately, the practical examples of people managing to accomplish the posture suggest anything but that. Still yet, the tremendous amount of internal balance, strength, flexibility and awareness is remarkable and capable of enhancing one's way towards liberation.
Despite its importance, only a few have paid intense attention at this āsana. Disclaimer By all means, inability to perform Padmasana correctly does NOT mean that you are incapable to move into the higher limbs; there is a repertoire of various seated āsanas to choose from in order to begin or implement in case of dysfunctional limbs or injuries.
By now it should be clear that their is a systematic work on multiple aspects of the human physiology i.e. gradual development of the base upward until our heads which are eventually summarised in Padmāsana and provide one more step to move forward.
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[1] I will speak later on about the attributes and benefits in the 01 physical (strength and flexibility), 02 subtle (purification of the nadi-s) and 03 psychological aspects (the "oral character") as the focus of the practice and how they integrate in Padmāsana.
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