The Art of Vinyasa: Awakening Body and Mind Through the Practice of Ashtanga Yoga

Art of Vinyasa is a slow and ponderous exploration of the Mysore Ashtangha Yoga system of exercises. Mr. Freeman learned these exercises from the Jois family in India. Richard spends a lot of words distinguishing his approach, or art of vinyasa (yogic choreography) from some of the masochistic and militaristic imagery that haunted yoga for several decades. He uses metaphors of "deity embodiment" and assumes that western Buddhism and its merits are foregone conclusions. This book is most valuable for an intermediate practitioner who is looking to refine her or his yoga practice within the Mysore method. It is a good book but mostly relies on the context of Mr. Freeman's advanced practice. Beginners will still need a "step by step" reference to start a yoga practice as well as some of the advanced ideas in this book.

The "theoretical" part is definitely what makes this special book even more special and uinique. The "asana" part is also amazing, though the vinyasa count for some poses is quite unorthodox. Great book overall, and a must have for keen Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practitioners.

if your purpose is to learn astanga asana practice, or merely find out about it: stay away from this book and find a different one, almost any will do. If you’d like to read about kidneywings on the other hand, or, yes, angels pulling your butt skywards, by all means, go for it.

so unlike most ashtanga books that take you through a series this one places a philosophical tone to the asanas and mixes up the sequences and highlights asanas individually....

Love this book. I have practiced Ashtanga for 22 years and I am enjoying reading more on the small nuances rather than on the asana's themselves. There is so much unseen in a yoga practice and this book brings that to the forefront.

Richard Freeman is a wonderful teacher and this book didn't disappoint me. I have a lot of yoga books and this will fit nicely into my library.

the best there is. Richard Freeman!

One of the best Classical and Traditional Yoga Books written;

This is really not great. Structure and language is not clear enough to enable someone to start practicing vinyasa. Basic concepts such as the full vinyasa and the half vinyasa, or ocean breath, are described in an overly aesthetic and esoteric manner as if there is no intention to actually teach someone how to physically engage in their practice.

This is possibly the best blend of theory and practice I have read . A deep but very practical analysis .

Aún lo estoy leyendo, pero aparte de que me parece una edición muy cuidada en cuanto a fotografía y maquetación, me parece un contenido muy bueno para profundizar en la práctica y no quedarnos sólo con cómo hacer mejor las asanas.A careful layout and a very interesting content which helps to deep in the roots of the practice in a friendly and very understandable way, and not just a "how to best perform your asana" book

Es gibt viele Bücher über Ashtanga Yoga, das zählt sicher zu einem der schönsten. Es ist liebevoll gestaltet, gibt viele Tipps auch für Unterrichtende, und vor allem lässt es den geistigen Aspekt des Yoga nicht ausser acht, was in anderen Ashtanga Büchern in Anbetracht der Komplexität der Übungen gerne mal geschieht.

This is a advanced and authoritative book on Vinyasa Yoga. I have been practising yoga for 10 years and actively learnt it in last 3 years. The book goes beyond the technique and takes deeper look at yogic practices. Many of the practices may seem esoteric to beginners. If you wonder what is is different between a exercise and yoga , this is the book to read. Richard seems to have open his heart and shared all he knows. I suspect he was an Indian in his previous births. :-) Highly recommended.