The Art of Vinyasa

<b>A radical presentation of the most rigorous form of contemporary yoga as meditation in motion</b><br><br><i>The Art of Vinyasa</i> 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.<br> <br>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.<br><br>Unlike other books on Ashtanga, <i>The Art of Vinyasa</i> does not follow the linear pattern of the sequences of postures that are the hallmark of Ashtanga yoga. Instead, it interlinks the eight limbs: <i>yama</i> and <i>niyama</i> (ethical practices), <i>asana</i> (postures), <i>pranayama</i> (breathing), <i>pratyahara</i> (nongrasping of the senses), <i>dharana</i> (concentration), <i>dhyana</i> (meditation), <i>samadhi</i> (harmony, insight)—and shows how to establish an internally rooted yoga practice.