Sri T. Krishnamacharya (1888–1989) was the most influential figure in the last 100 years in the field of yoga. Many of today's best-known yoga teachers—including his brother-in-law B. K. S. Iyengar, his son T. K. V. Desikachar, and Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga yoga—studied with him and modeled their own yoga styles after his practice and teaching. Yet, despite his renowned status, Krishnamacharya's wisdom has never before been made completely available, just as he taught it. Now, in The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, Srivatsa Ramaswami—Krishnamacharya's longest-standing student outside his own family—presents his master's teachings of yogasanas in unprecedented detail. Drawing upon his 33 years of direct study, beginning in 1955 and continuing nearly until his teacher's death, Ramaswami presents more than nine hundred poses and variations in logically structured sequences, precisely describing Krishnamacharya's complete Vinyasakrama system. Along with every movement of each yoga posture, he covers the proper breathing techniques for each pose—something no other book also derived from Krishnamacharya's teaching does. Nearly 1,000 full-color photographs are featured in this authoritative landmark presentation of the study practiced by the "grandfather of modern yoga."
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Having studied for more than three decades with renowned yoga master T. Krishnamacharya, and taught for more than two decades, Ramaswami attempts to offer a more complete picture of the practices developed ages ago to heal the body, train the mind and cultivate inner peace. He calls much of Western yoga practice "blatantly aggressive" and altered to appeal to Western tastes, omitting such essential aspects as yoga philosophy, breathing techniques, correct sequencing, chanting and meditation. In his descriptions of more than 900 poses and variations, he guides students on ways to integrate these aspects. While Ramaswami says his book can be used by students of every level (the sequences are rated according to difficulty), some may feel intimidated by the photographs, which show highly advanced yogis in many positions that are rarely taught in the average group class. The author's approach is somewhat didactic, emphasizing the "correct" way to do the poses, without acknowledging differences in body type and structure. The book's format makes it more of a practice manual, and most likely readers without much background will need to read Ramaswami's Yoga for the Three Stages of Life to put the instruction into a larger context.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
Despite resemblence to a reference book, it reads as a comprhensive, subtle dance score. -- LAYOGA Sep 2005
For committed yogis, this is as good as it gets. -- Yoga Journal Nov 2005
Ramaswami's New Book is nothing less than a treasure..there is no other source available..will prove a must read -- Yoga International, Sep 2005
This may be the most comprehensive and challenging asana guide to be published in decades-perhaps ever. -- Yoga Journal, Nov 2005
To practice this way is holistic and meditative-even reading about brings a feeling of centerdness. -- Yoga Chicago, July/Aug 2005
with each pose Ramaswami explains the proper breathing techinique to help the practitioner become steady and release inrenally. -- Library Journal
with this guide you are assured a better understanding of asanas and tools with which to study on your own. -- Time Out New York
For committed yogis, this is as good as it gets. -- Yoga Journal Nov 2005
Ramaswami's New Book is nothing less than a treasure..there is no other source available..will prove a must read -- Yoga International, Sep 2005
This may be the most comprehensive and challenging asana guide to be published in decades-perhaps ever. -- Yoga Journal, Nov 2005
To practice this way is holistic and meditative-even reading about brings a feeling of centerdness. -- Yoga Chicago, July/Aug 2005
with each pose Ramaswami explains the proper breathing techinique to help the practitioner become steady and release inrenally. -- Library Journal
with this guide you are assured a better understanding of asanas and tools with which to study on your own. -- Time Out New York
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book on yoga,
By
This review is from: The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga: The Authoritative Presentation-Based on 30 Years of Direct Study Under the Legendary Yoga Teacher Krishnamacha (Paperback)
This is one of the most useful books on yoga asana I have read in a while. Srivatsa Ramaswami present a multitude of vinyasas, i.e. flowing asana sequences. There are virtually hundreds of variations for students depending on their level. I thin kthe book really tries to make the reader undersatnd that in yoga achievement is not the thing we are looking for.
I woud say that the book is for students who have practiced a little bit, especailly that the problem of sequencing the various vinyasas is tackled. I would highly recommend the book.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easily one of the best books on vinyasa yoga,
By Serious Yoga Practioner (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga: The Authoritative Presentation-Based on 30 Years of Direct Study Under the Legendary Yoga Teacher Krishnamacha (Paperback)
Thousands of Yogis follow different systems of Yoga emanating from the lineage of the great Yogi Sri T Krishnamacharya. Everyone of them will find that this book by Ramaswami offers new dimensions to their practice. In twelve chapters, all the core sequences are clearly described along with the correct breathing techniques and attention to the breath that are essential ingredients of Krishnamacharya's method. Over one thousand color pictures of exquisite yoga vinyasas landscape the book. It is a very welcome and unique contribution to the world of Yoga.
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ramaswami is the missing link,
This review is from: The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga: The Authoritative Presentation-Based on 30 Years of Direct Study Under the Legendary Yoga Teacher Krishnamacha (Paperback)
Srivatsa Ramaswami has enacted the life that his guru the legendary T.Krisnamcharya promised to his guru Ramanamohan: that of yoking real life with dedication to the study of yoga and its attendant spiritual cultivation. From his decades of ongoing study with T. Krishnamacharya he has built a highly skilled command of the full spectrum of yogic practices as well as that of the texts that inform them. The Complete Vinyasa Yoga bristles with the intelligence and charm of its author. Here he presents the many movement and breath sequences that he learned throughout the years exactly as he learned them so that the informed teacher or practitioner can select what is the most relevant vinyasa to acheive the desired effect. He presents them now as a testament to his dedication to T. Krisnamacharya. Within a lifetime of learning and teaching yoga he presents the subject of Vinyasa in its context of the full spectrum of yoga including lines of association to the more subtle and internal practise . Adding his own modern, scientific, and mature insight he gives us us precise and usable instructions illuminating the very essence of yogic tools: cultivating and placing attention; stabilized in the body, freed in the breath. The overall picture presents a logical progression from movement to stillness. We see each pose photographed, with clear instructions, never before so clearly explicated in terms of the underlying breath work. While the number of vinyasas may seem dizzying to some and not as Herculean to others, it is the method of calm progression that is most firmly encouraged. Vinyasa krama leads us step by step to the attainment of our most steady vibrancy. It is a practical and spiritual map to a territory few have the capacity to teach so generously.
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