Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy [Paperback]

Gregor Maehle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007

Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy is the first book of its kind, presenting a comprehensive guide to all eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Join author Gregor Maehle, a seasoned yogi and compassionate teacher, as he guides you through the history and lineage of yoga; the fundamentals of breath, bandhas (energy locks within the body), drishti (the focal point of the gaze), and vinyasa (sequential movement); a detailed breakdown of the asanas of the Ashtanga Primary Series, following the traditional vinyasa count; a lively and authentic rendering of the complete Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, yoga's ancient sacred text; and a glossary of yoga terminology.

In the asana section, Maehle describes each posture with clear, meticulous instructions, photographs, anatomical illustrations, and practical tips. Information on the mythological background and yogic context of specific postures brings further insight to the practice. In the philosophy section, Maehle illuminates the Yoga Sutra using the major ancient commentaries as well as his own insights.

This volume makes the entire path of Ashtanga Yoga accessible to modern practitioners. Both practical guide and spiritual treatise, Ashtanga Yoga is an excellent introduction to the eight limbs of yoga and an invaluable resource for any yoga teacher or practitioner.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Gregor Maehle’s Ashtanga Yoga weaves philosophy and integrated knowledge of anatomy into our yoga practice to keep us centered in the heart of a profound tradition.”
— Richard Freeman, founder of the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado

“A much-needed new tool for practicing yoga with greater safety in the physical form and with much greater depth in the inner form of the practice. A valuable contribution to the evolving understanding of this profound system and method of yoga.”
— Chuck Miller, Ashtanga Yoga teacher, senior student of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois since 1980

“If you want to keep only one book on yoga in your shop, this is the one to have.”
— New Age Retailer

From the Back Cover

"Gregor Maehle's Ashtanga Yoga weaves philosophy and integrated knowledge of anatomy into our yoga practice to keep us centered in the heart of a profound tradition."
-- Richard Freeman, founder of the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado

"A much-needed new tool for practicing yoga with greater safety in the physical form and with much greater depth in the inner form of the practice. A valuable contribution to the evolving understanding of this profound system and method of yoga."
-- Chuck Miller, Ashtanga Yoga teacher, senior student of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois since 1980

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 1 edition (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577316061
• ISBN-13: 978-1577316060
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.8 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gem of a book March 28, 2010

By ashtanga abhyasi

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are books that you read and others you treasure. This one is definitely in the latter category. Every time I read it, I get 100% of the "1% theory" aspect of my practice. This book has it all - the philosophy, the anatomy and of course, the practice. Thank you for a wonderful gift that will last a lifetime

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource tool for the yogi. December 13, 2007

By LG

Format:Paperback

This is not just another 'how to do yoga yourself' book, but a thorough study of both the postures and philosophy of Ashtanga yoga. At a time when almost every well-known teacher has their own 'brand' of yoga, Mr. Maehle goes back to the source to both explain the foundation of the practice and the philosophy that supports the physical practice.
Almost all western practictioners come to yoga as a form of excerise and are unaware of the philosophy from which the physical practice developed. This book covers both in accessable language and explanation. Serious student will want to have this as a resource and serious Ashtangis will find it invaluable along with D. Swenson's Practice Manual. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars To the discriminating student of ashtanga vinyasa, or anatomy: Don't judge this book by its cover or its reviews September 17, 2012

By R. Samuell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My thoughts and feelings on this book are mixed, hence the two-star rating. I've been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa for about 10 years, and I remember when this book initially came out, I was excited to see what it had to offer. Here are my thoughts for now:

What do I like:

(1) Practical tips on how to research certain postures to work on physical problems common to Western students (e.g. tight hips, quadriceps, shoulders, etc).

What I do not like:

(1) The author's use of anatomy to analyze postures is tiresome and oftentimes inaccurate. Maehle does not take into account how muscles and joints function in relation to gravity. It seems as if he has researched what the standard muscular action is based upon a body being in anatomical position, and then he translates that knowledge to whatever position the body is in regardless of its orientation to gravity. For example, he says that the hip flexors pull the spine forward in a seated forward bend (paschimottanasana), which may or may not be the case depending on the relation of the body to gravity. If you are doing a standing forward bend, the hip flexors are usually not concentrically shortening; rather the muscles that are controlling the movement are the eccentric lengthening of the spinal extensors. The same holds true for seated forward bending.

(2) The author has a subtle form of self-promotion in this book. He argues that the Yoga Korunta, the apocryphal text upon which the Ashtanga Vinyasa system is based, was originally bound together with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Yoga Bhyasa. There is little evidence to support the existence of the Yoga Korunta, much less to support such a combination of the text. It then becomes apparent that the claim only bolsters the author's layout for his own book which combines a verbose and tiresome analysis of ashtanga yoga from an anatomical standpoint (a method which is very antithetical to Guruji Pattabhi Jois's method of 99% practice, 1% theory) with an equally lengthy interpretation of the Yoga Sutra.

If you are interested in a thoughtful approach to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga without all of this pseudo-philosophical, pseudo-anatomically-correct coverings, check out Matthew Sweeney's Ashtanga Yoga As It Is, or David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga: Practice Manual. If you want to read the Yoga Sutras, check out a good thorough translation (Bryant's is notable).

I think this author's book really only get so much good press and high rating because some of the reviews in the book are by the leading teachers of Ashtanga today.