Sri T. Krishnamacharya (1888 – 1989) was the most influential figure in the last 100 years in the field of yoga. Many of today’s best-known yoga teachersincluding his brother-in-law B. K. S. Iyengar, his son T. K. V. Desikachar, and Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga yogastudied with him and modeled their own yoga styles after his practice and teaching. Yet, despite his renowned status, Krishnamacharya’s wisdom has never before been made completely available, just as he taught it. Now, in The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, Srivatsa RamaswamiKrishnamacharya’s longest-standing student outside his own familypresents his master’s teachings of yogasanas in unprecedented detail. Drawing upon his 33 years of direct study, beginning in 1955 and continuing nearly until his teacher’s death, Ramaswami presents more than nine hundred poses and variations in logically structured sequences, precisely describing Krishnamacharya’s complete Vinyasakrama system. Along with every movement of each yoga posture, he covers the proper breathing techniques for each posesomething no other book also derived from Krishnamacharya’s teaching does. Nearly 1,000 full-color photographs are featured in this authoritative landmark presentation of the study practiced by the “grandfather of modern yoga.”
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44 reviews for The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
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I am very satisfied with the seller: I bought the book used but it is practically like new. Many thanks.
This has got to be the most coherent, logical, concise and complete presentation of Yoga asana practice ever written. The very organization of this book itself is instructive. There are only 12 chapters, and they divide yoga movement and sequences into 12 categories, namely asanas that are standing, asymmetrical seated, seated posterior stretch, one legged, supine, bow, triangle, inverted, meditative, and lotus - all with their vinyasa sequences - plus visesha vinyasa kramas which include Sun Salutations and sequences stemming from Downward Facing Dog, and finally winding down sequences. The organization itself contains a philosophy and methodology of practice that is graduated, methodological, and SAFE. It can be adapted for any kind of person of any age or condition, and it can also help prepare the person to advance from simple to more advanced levels in a safe and methodological way.
Now, you won't find this kind of detail or teaching in any other book on Yoga. Take "Light on Yoga" by BKS Iyengar for example. That book is packed with photos of Iyengar in complicated final poses (i.e. without any vinyasas or variations). At the back of the book, he gave suggestions for week-by-week practice. Practices suggested for very first week included full head-stand. Now this is dangerous to say the least. I know, because I tried his suggestions when I was in my 20s. I suffered from an upper back injury from doing head-stand unprepared which has plagued me until now. I now know why this happened - because I did not do it on a firm surface and with proper back support, because I did not prepare the body with proper asanas that should precede head-stand, and because I have mild scoliosis of the spine. People who have scoliosis or any kind of spinal problem should not do inverted poses or should do them with the greatest caution and then only minimally.
Having sung the praises of this book, I must point to some areas that do detract from the completeness of this book. One thing which users of this book should be aware of is that they should adapt the suggestions to their own conditions. For example, the author gives the sequences with jumps and lunges which cannot be performed by most people, and which should not indeed be performed generally by people unless they are very fit or very young. Another important thing that is not covered is what poses should be avoided or adapted (and how) for body conditions including scoliosis, lordosis, leg length difference, knee pain, pelvic tilt, and so on, as well as for different ages and genders. This is very much a part of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya, as can be seen in the work of other longtime students such as Krishnamacharya's son and the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, and in the work of A.G. Mohan who studied with Krishnamacharya in the last 2 decades of his life. Those who want to understand the therapeutic and vini-yoga (systematic approach to teaching and adapting yoga for the individual) aspects of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya can refer to the works of A.G Mohan for greater insight.
To sum up, this book is an invaluable reference for yoga teachers and students who really want to practice good yoga and safe yoga, with the important caveat that sequences should be adapted accordingly to the user's bodily conditions. Ideally, this book should be studied alongside those of A.G. Mohan which covers the the adaptation of yoga for the individual in greater detail. Used rightly, this book is a wonderful resource. The knowledge imparted gives me confidence as a teacher and a student of yoga; I know that this is a book that will accompany my yoga practice for life.
Thx
This book is a great read as well as a continued reference book.I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Vinyasa Yoga.Newbie or seasoned practitioner alike.
Suggested to all yoga student that likes vinyasa practice.
The sequences are explained in a very detailed way.
I am going to keep this review short because if you are even toying with the idea of buying this book: just do it.
The book is more detailed and got more asanas (and pictures) than the famous "Light ofYyoga" of Iyengar, another student of Krishnamacharya for a few years. The author himself was a long time student of Krishnamacharya, in other words one can expect very profound and traditional approaches. But what close to always happens, when it comes to yoga- or other masters of esoteric arts: They provide a slightly dogmatic approach. That means no concept of the master or other choosen sources (in Ramaswamis case Krishnamacharya) would ever be questioned. Modern science will not be incorporated, although e.g. the so called Buteyko method - with tons of research confirming statements of yoga classics in respect of breathing - should be investigated by a wider range of authors.
Together with: "Yoga Benefits are in Breathing less" of Artour Rakhimov, this book will provide all informations one needs to start e.g. a autodidactic approach of yoga. Ramaswami is one of the very few, who incorporates detailed breathing concepts inside his asana guide. But to understand the theory behind it and to investigate the heart of yoga - breathing and non-breathing - the book of A.Rakhimov and the Buteyko method in general are a must. But I give Ramaswami 5 stars, because this book is far beyond 99% of the other books about yoga, although the tips about breathing - especially the integration of partly chest-breathing beside some other topics - are discussable or even wrong and without profound explanation of the theoretical background. Take this book as a asana guide and the book(s) of Dr.Rakhimov or Dr. Buteyko to understand the theorie of breathing aswell as how to breath 24/7 and inside your worthy praxis.
En revanche, ne vous attendez pas à une description et à un décorticage des asanas. La description textuelle se limites aux mouvements. Autre petit bémol, le texte manque parfois de concision. La lisibilité du livre (mise en page) ne permet pas une vue d'ensemble des krama. Il aurait fallut ajouter des planches récapitulatives.
Ramaswami had the advantage of being close to Krishnamacharya during his last years, when the master emphasized the necessity to adapt yoga teaching to the needs of each student. Ramaswami criticizes many of the current yoga styles as being "blatantly aggressive." In his previous book, Yoga for the Three Stages of Life (Rochester, VY: Inner Traditions, 2000) he planned to rescue many of Krishnamacharya's teachings but it included few representative asanas (`poses'). The new book proposes to revive a particular approach that he calls Vinyasa Krama (Vinyasa: `sequence' and Krama: `tool' or `method'). This approach consists of sequences and subroutines, focusing the mind on the breath and applying the proper bandhas (`locks').
Ramaswami's book on Vinyasa yoga is a treasure. The new book is a continuation of his previous one and has a comprehensive presentation of more than 900 asanas and their variations. The 12 chapters cover all the basic sequences, giving particular emphasis to how to come into each pose, how to stay in the pose, and how to come out. He also pays particular attention to the proper breathing for each pose. It is very didactic; each pose is ranked according to the level of difficulty (one to five diamonds), and is beautifully illustrated. It also includes an audio CD with some Sanskrit chants that could be used to accompany the performance of the asanas. The CD also has a complete recitation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (the author of the first book written about yoga).
Ramaswami has been teaching in India for more than 25 years and regularly visits the United States, where he has been directing a teaching training programme at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles). He has offered intense yoga training during his numerous visits to New York (Kripalu, the Himalayan Institute, and Integral Yoga) and gave a Master Class to the Yoga Club at the United Nations, in June 2007.
Buy it, read it. And I don't just mean flick through it and look at the pictures. If you do that, you'll pick up some great new ideas for vinyasa sequencing. All well and good. But you'll miss out on the really important bits of information in this book - the hidden gems scattered around within the text that surrounds the pictures.
I woud say that the book is for students who have practiced a little bit, especailly that the problem of sequencing the various vinyasas is tackled.
I would highly recommend the book.