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Where Ashtanaga yoga is usually practiced in a set sequence of postures, in this book those same movements and poses are broken down by their form: Standing Poses, Forward Bends, Backbends, Twists, Balancing Poses, and Finishing Poses. Alignment, anatomy, and imagination—these are the beads that string together the asana, which in turn reveals the direct experience of the nature of both the body and the mind. With warmth, humor, and wisdom, Freeman and Taylor provide the groundwork for establishing an internally rooted yoga practice that goes far beyond the mat and into the core of one’s life. -- from back cover
Table of Contents: Foundation: the roots and depth of yoga
Asana: movements and poses strung together like jewels on the thread of the breath
FY2019 /
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"A radical presentation of the most rigorous form of contemporary yoga as meditation in motion. The Art of Vinyasa takes a unique look at Ashtanga yoga as meditation in motion that produces profound inner change. Two of the most well-respected teachers of the Ashtanga style of yoga, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, explore this rigorous practice not as a gymnastic feat, but as a meditative form. They reveal that doing the practice--and particularly the vinyasa, or the breath-synchonized movements--in such a deep and focused way allows practitioners to experience a profound awakening of the body and mind. It also develops an adaptable, flexible practice that can last a lifetime. Freeman and Taylor give an in-depth explanation of form, alignment, and anatomy, and how they work together in the practice. They also present a holistic approach to asana practice that includes an awareness of the subtle breath, and seamlessly merges yoga philosophy with practical technique. Unlike other books on Ashtanga, The Art of Vinyasa does not follow the linear pattern of the sequences of postures that are the hallmark of Ashtanga yoga. Instead, it interlinks the eight limbs--yama and niyama (ethical practices); asana (postures); pranayama (breathing); pratyahara (nongrasping of the senses); dharana (concentration); dhyana (meditation); and samadhi (harmony, insight)--and shows how to establish an internally rooted yoga practice. The book will be fully illustrated with fifty halftones by esteemed photographer and cinematographer Robert Muratore, along with thirty illustrations"--… (more)