Ashtanga Yoga Instruction
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Ashtanga Yoga “The Practice Manual”, by David Swenson, www.ashtanga.net, an
excellent practice companion for the beginning and intermediate student. This book
covers primary and second series, with multiple options for each posture. David also
has excellent instructional DVDs.
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Yoga Mala, The Seminal Treatise and Guide from the Living Master of Ashtanga Yoga, by
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, ISBN 0-86547-662-4. The first part includes an introduction to yoga
and a discussion of the 8 limbs. The remainder of the book describes the sun
salutations and the primary series. Each posture is described by its method (including
Vinyasas) and benefits. There are photos of Pattabhi Jois or Sarath for each posture.
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Ashtanga Yoga As It Is, Primary-Intermediate-Advanced A & B, by Matthew Sweeney,
The Yoga Temple, Third edition (2005). A superb source for the serious Ashtanga
practitioner. Matthew shows the exact vinyasa sequences for all 4 series. Matthew’s
depiction of the asana is second to none. He’s also added valuable background
information and his insight from years of practice and teaching. May the force be with
you, Matthew!
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Richard Freeman’s practice DVDs provide insight and refinement. More suitable for
ongoing practitioners.
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Essential Yoga Texts
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The Bhagavad Gita – the most beautiful and beloved of yoga texts. I personally love the
Prabhavananda & Isherwood translation. Read it over and over again until the words
become engraved in your mind and the concepts become yours.
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – There are numerous translations & analyses. I like the
translation by Swami Vivekananda
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The Hatha Yoga Pradipika – A concise enumeration of the yoga principles you’ll see
frequently described in secondary sources.
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Other Exceptional Yoga Books and Media
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An exceptional book about yoga that is honest, insightful, brave, and readable. The book is full of
useful insight to enrich your practice and understanding of yoga philosophy. Authentic, non-pandering,
and certainly non-orthodox. Bravo!
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Bringing Yoga to Life, The Everyday Practice of Enlightened Living by Donna Farhi. An
intelligent and graceful expose on how yoga can enrich your life, how to bring meaning
in your practice, and how to bring esoteric principles of yoga philosophy into your daily
life.
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The Inner Tradition of Yoga, A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for the Contemporary
Practitioner, by Michael Stone.
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The Mirror of Yoga, Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind by Richard Freeman.
With the precision of a skilled surgeon, a vivid imagination, and fine prose, RF weaves
the web of yoga in a way that can change your practice and your life. It's the kind of
book you may come back to time and time again for new insight and reflection. A true
treasure.
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The Subtle Body, The Story of Yoga in America by Stefanie Syman. Beautifully written,
well researched, and hard to put down.
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Enlighten Up, A skeptic's Journey into the World of Yoga, a movie by Kate Churchill. An
exceptionally honest look at yoga today, with all its styles, attitudes, and hype. There
are priceless extended interviews with Pattabhii Jois, Norman Allen, and BKS Iyengar. A
must see! Available for viewing on Netflix.
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