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Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice
 
 
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Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice [Spiral-bound]

David Swenson (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)

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Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice + Yoga Mala + Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is the most user-friendly yoga book available! It contins the entire Primary and Intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga with three options for every asana. It is spiral bound to easily remain open while practicing. It contains over 650 photos with clear instructions and commentary. It is a great book for all levels of practitioners to enjoy and teachers will find it to be an invaluable tool for teaching their students.

From the Publisher

"The Most User-Friendly Yoga Book Ever Produced"

Product Details

  • Spiral-bound: 263 pages
  • Publisher: Ashtanga Yoga Productions; 2nd edition (August 20, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1891252089
  • ISBN-13: 978-1891252082
  • Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #19,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #43 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Yoga

More About the Author

David Swenson
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice
83% buy the item featured on this page:
Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice 4.7 out of 5 stars (101)
$19.77
Yoga Mala
6% buy
Yoga Mala 4.9 out of 5 stars (10)
$11.56
Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy
4% buy
Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy 4.9 out of 5 stars (14)
$16.47
Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika
4% buy
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Customer Reviews

101 Reviews
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 (84)
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 (10)
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (101 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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126 of 127 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It is a extremely user-friendly book for all!, March 10, 2000
This review is from: Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice (Spiral-bound)
This book is an extremely user-friendly book for beginner and advanced persons doing Ashtanga yoga. I am a beginner and found this an invaluable tool in my personal practice. It has choices of practices; full practice of Primary and Second Series or the short forms of 15min., 30 min. and 45 min. practices, for those of us on the go. Unlike Power Yoga by Beryl Berder, I found this book clear and precise, with wonderful anecdotes from the author. Other books on Ashtanga yoga are often confusing, not clear about asanas and many other aspects of the practice. I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in yoga and particularly Ashtanga yoga.
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65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference manual, but you can't learn from a book, May 11, 2000
By Alan Little (Munich Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice (Spiral-bound)
This is an excellent reference manual for continuing practice - as far as I am aware it is the only book with comprehensive documentation of the first two astanga yoga series, with explanations and modifications for both. A book isn't a substitute for lessons but it can be useful.

I agree with several of the other reviews here that Beryl Bender Birch's "Power Yoga" might still be a better buy for beginners as it has more detailed basic explanations. But readers should be aware - and aren't told anywhere in the book - that "Power Yoga" doesn't present the full astanga series. There are a few omissions for first series, and a lot from second series, whereas David Swenson's book is comprehensive.

If you get the chance to go to one of David's workshops, do. If you've bought and studied this book you may not pick up much new technical information, but you'll get to experience somebody who is a really funny guy and a great storyteller as well as an exemplary yoga practitioner.

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88 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT AND ESSENTIAL, December 3, 2002
By adam david (new york) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice (Spiral-bound)
Worth the cover price alone for the photo of Doug Swenson practicing along the mountain ridges of Lake Tahoe on page 242. Were his life insurance provider aware of this shot, I guarantee his policy would be dropped immediately.

The other pages prove to be possibly the only book you really need on the physical exercise of yoga. While David Life and Sharon Gannen's excellent Jivamukti Yoga emphasizes the origins and much of the spiritual aspects for today's practitioner in clear, modern language (The Yoga Sutras are, after all, pretty dense stuff), Swenson's focus is the asanas, and the primary and intermediate series of the ashtanga yoga system.

The asanas are presented in clear, concise detail, along with photos.

The book does not intimidate by bogging the reader down in overly long details in either words or pictures. When explaining the translation of an asana's sanskrit name, instead of getting "This very interesting posture has an equally interesting history to its' names origin. In 436 BC, the first king of scotland travelled to india, etc. etc.", Swenson simply writes "Pada=Foot" (But if it is gorgeous, unbelievably crisp photos of asana practice you're looking for, the book to get is Linda Sparrowe's Yoga).

One does not need to practice ashtanga for this book to prove useful and inspirational: virtually every asana is displayed, so even if you prefer a vinyasa practice, you can always pick up some new - or remind yourself of many - poses within. (The wisely included index also proves mega-useful in this regard)

The book is also practical: not only does it display abrdged versions of the the series for the time-tied, but also because it has a unique spiral hardcover binding and displays one asana per page, making it easy to keep the book beside your mat for reference without it flipping shut every two seconds as you practice.

(Anyone who's ever had that experience knows it feels something akin to what Doug Swenson on the aforementioned page 242 is doing, with potentially far more fatal results)(Try transcending THAT!).

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect for creating a home practice
I have been practicing yoga for 10 years and have always loved ashtanga. I have been wanting to practice outside of classes and this book is perfect. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Prefer to be anonymous

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for the Ashtanga Student
This book is an excellent companion to any Ashtanga practice. Clearly defines the poses, easy to follow and very informative. Read more
Published 1 month ago by IG Mom

5.0 out of 5 stars The only yoga book you need
I have a few yoga books, but I never look at them any more since I got this one - this one is the best! Read more
Published 2 months ago by havalina

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Ashtanga Yoga book ever
This is the book took me to the path of Ashtanga Yoga, after reading the first few chapters I ordered every DVD and Book from David S and Richard Freeman etc.. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ashtanga Yogi

5.0 out of 5 stars Yoga Beginner - Love it!
I've taken yoga off and on for years. But in the recent months I had been very focused on the practice. When my yogi decided to move away I freaked out. Read more
Published 5 months ago by R. Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars really excellent resource!
I wouldn't learn Ashtanga from this book, but I wouldn't want to practice it without this book. It contains modifications and advice on the primary and intermediate series, as... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Georgia C.

5.0 out of 5 stars ashtanga yoga the practice manual : An illustrated guide to personal pracitce
The thing I like most about this book is the photos of primary and especially second series as it allows me to practice second series sequence on my own at home. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ahimsa yogi

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent supplement to yoga classes
I just started taking Ashtanga classes at a local studio. I asked my instructor for a recommendation to help me practice the asanas at home and this was what she directed me to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. Erdmann

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book
I have been practicing "Power Yoga" for some time, but I found that I really wasn't a big fan of that book. I wanted a different take on Ashtanga Yoga so I bought this. Read more
Published 10 months ago by R. Freund

5.0 out of 5 stars This is THE reference book for Ashtanga Yoga
Of the many Ashtanga yoga teachers I have had the good fortune to study with, David Swenson is the best. Read more
Published 11 months ago by SRD

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