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The Power of Ashtanga Yoga (2 book series)

A foremost Ashtanga Yoga teacher tells you “everything you ever wanted to know from a yogi” in this guide for beginners and experienced practitioners alike (Huffington Post)

Go inside the philosophy, history, and practices of a popular and athletic type of yoga—with step-by-step instructions and gems of wisdom for starting your own journey to self-realization

Ashtanga Yoga has become extremely popular in recent years. Here, Kino MacGregor—a disciple of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the great modern guru who developed Ashtanga Yoga—gives a comprehensive view of the practice, demonstrating how Ashtanga is fundamentally a path of spiritual transformation and personal development.

MacGregor delves into the history and tradition of Ashtanga Yoga and reveals how its philosophy manifests in contemporary lifestyle and dietary choices. She also explains the essential connection of breath, posture, and gaze that is the core of the practice. Her clear, step-by-step instruction of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series—including standing, seated, backbending, twisting, hip-opening, and closing postures—is a wonderful initiation for those who are new to the practice, and it will motivate experienced yogis toward perfection of the form. Throughout, MacGregor shares her own personal yoga journey and her devotion to yoga as a path of self-realization in a way that will inspire all practitioners.

112 reviews for The Power of Ashtanga Yoga (2 book series)

  1. JeffBezos
    February 28, 2023
    Big Thanks to Westerners
    West invented electricity in 1890 and whole world has access to electricity within 100 years. West invented internet in 1980 and the whole world has a...More
    West invented electricity in 1890 and whole world has access to electricity within 100 years. West invented internet in 1980 and the whole world has access to internet within 20-30 years......Indians invented Yoga 5000 years ago and for 4900 years the world Did NOT have a clue about it....even most Indians did not have access to this immensely powerful knowledge....it was hijacked by a few Indians.. It's only when the Westerners like Kino stumbled upon it in last 100 years or so, today the whole world, including most Indians have access to this incredible life changing thing called Yoga.

    Big thanks to Kino and many westerners like her (and a few exceptional Indians like Ramdev) whose big, golden hearts have uplifted millions from their sufferings. Even she may not realise what a great feat Kino has managed to pull off by her lifetime dedication to spreading the light of yoga to every human being. She won't admit or understand but her contribution to Yoga is far greater than even her Gurus.

    The book is phenomenal. Every page is filled with deep insights, helpful suggestions. It's a joy to immerse yourself in this book. A must have book for any regular yoga practitioner.
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    Alakadoum
    February 13, 2023
    One if not THE best book on Ashtanga Yoga
    The author was a student of the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, and she makes this complex discipline accessible for all. She adds in other information arou...More
    The author was a student of the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, and she makes this complex discipline accessible for all. She adds in other information around the discipline and her book could be followed to become an ashtanga yogui. It is the book I reference to to teach. 10/10
    Helpful? 0 0
    Drew Hartl
    August 1, 2022
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
    Great book for a beginning Ashtangi. Informative, accessible, doesn't read as a dry textbook but more as a conversation
    Helpful? 0 0
    Shanshan Yu
    May 31, 2022
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good Yoga textbook.
    I have bought both " the power of Ashtanga Yoga I &II", I think these books are good for studying Ashtanga Yoga like textbooks.
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    Katie Brooke
    March 13, 2021
    Fast delivery
    What an amazing book, so much detail. Each pose broken down with lots of explanation. Great narrative about Ashtanga at the front, contains full serie...More
    What an amazing book, so much detail. Each pose broken down with lots of explanation. Great narrative about Ashtanga at the front, contains full series. Kino is not only an amazing teacher but beautiful writer. Such good value for money and know I will get so much use out of it.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Turbo
    June 6, 2020
    5.0 out of 5 stars Foundation Builder
    Very detailed in clearly understandable language for novice or expert. Photo illustrations bring clarity to the text. This will definitely be a key re...More
    Very detailed in clearly understandable language for novice or expert. Photo illustrations bring clarity to the text. This will definitely be a key reference in my Yoga journey.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Joshua Love
    December 9, 2019
    Fast delivery
    Fast delivery. Exactly what I wanted.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Tadek
    November 22, 2019
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for advance and beginner yoga students.
    Excellent book for advance and beginner yoga students.
    Helpful? 0 0
    J. S.
    July 10, 2019
    Great!
    One of my fav books and instructor!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Alix27
    July 6, 2019
    Magnifique
    Très bon livre pour découvrir ou progresser dans la pratique de l'ashtanga.La partie théorie est une belle source d'inspiration et de motivation, les ...More
    Très bon livre pour découvrir ou progresser dans la pratique de l'ashtanga.
    La partie théorie est une belle source d'inspiration et de motivation, les photos sont impressionnantes et présentent un idéal à atteindre (dommage qu'elles soient en noir et blanc). On a parfois un peu de mal à se représenter la dynamique des postures tellement les indications sont détaillées mais en pratiquant une ou deux fois avec des videos disponibles sur youtube, ça devient vite clair.
    Kino McGregor nous fait partager sa passion et nous livre tout un tas de conseils et d'explications pour vivre le yoga au quotidien et découvrir la part de divin en nous!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Morela Aldona
    April 28, 2019
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!
    Not only does this book have a ton of great photos and asana descriptions, but it also contains wonderful explanations of Ashtanga. This really helped...More
    Not only does this book have a ton of great photos and asana descriptions, but it also contains wonderful explanations of Ashtanga. This really helped me in my yoga studies!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Katarina_denee
    January 28, 2019
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Great
    Helpful? 0 0
    spiritbeast
    June 16, 2018
    5.0 out of 5 stars All You Need Is A Mat (and this book).
    My daily practice is not complete without this book beside my mat. I have found it to be an amazing tool to learn lore of yoga, but also to keep my me...More
    My daily practice is not complete without this book beside my mat. I have found it to be an amazing tool to learn lore of yoga, but also to keep my memory in check, and make sure my practice goes smoothly each time. For me, I tend to have difficulty memorizing song lyrics and so on, and this has helped me a great deal with the opening prayer. It serves as an excellent companion to an Omstars.com subscription. If you're interested in Ashtanga Yoga, this is the perfect tool to get you started!
    Helpful? 0 0
    cnh
    June 8, 2018
    Excellent educational tool for Ashtanga Yoga
    Clear, explanatory and very happy with this purchase - a must for not only the experienced practitioner but for wanting to understand how to take your...More
    Clear, explanatory and very happy with this purchase - a must for not only the experienced practitioner but for wanting to understand how to take your practice further🧘‍♂️
    Helpful? 0 0
    Bellavi
    April 21, 2018
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s not just about poses...
    I finally have this book on my own, (and not from the library anymore) I found it very helpful, the philosophy behind the Yoga practice is often take ...More
    I finally have this book on my own, (and not from the library anymore) I found it very helpful, the philosophy behind the Yoga practice is often take for granted, and the asanas become a mayor goal, when I think should be the opposite, the primary series is a difficult practice, but there’s always an option for us the beginners, and this book has both, ( philosophy and beg version) plus the author has a lot of free videos on her youtube channel where you can always go for any further assistance... I simply loved it.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Elizabeth Miller
    April 7, 2018
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I've been looking for!
    This book is great for anyone interested in the history and total concept of ashtanga yoga. She also breaks down all of the poses, which really helps ...More
    This book is great for anyone interested in the history and total concept of ashtanga yoga. She also breaks down all of the poses, which really helps for at home use. It was exactly what i have been looking for!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Rosalind Richards
    January 25, 2018
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Well written and very informative
    Helpful? 0 0
    Olkashtuchka
    December 10, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just perfect! Everything you ever eanted to know about ashtanga
    Just perfect! Everything you ever wanted to know about ashtanga, written in a very down to earth yet convincing language. Great read for a beginner to...More
    Just perfect! Everything you ever wanted to know about ashtanga, written in a very down to earth yet convincing language. Great read for a beginner to understand the fundamentals of the phylosophy and asana. Highly recommend.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Tutu
    December 5, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    I love Kino's books, always very detailed and easy to read for the aspiring ashtangie
    Helpful? 0 0
    mel
    October 17, 2017
    Pienamente soddisfatta!
    Ottimo libro, molto dettagliato e ben fatto, è un degno successore del precedente libro. Sono davvero soddisfatta di averlo acquistato! Inoltre è arri...More
    Ottimo libro, molto dettagliato e ben fatto, è un degno successore del precedente libro. Sono davvero soddisfatta di averlo acquistato! Inoltre è arrivato in tempi brevissimi!!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Windnmore
    October 14, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Excellent book.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Mary Pury
    September 28, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars this is a perfect complement to the videos
    I follow Kino on Instagram, I am suscribed in her OmStars website for yoga practices, and I have to say, this is a perfect complement to the videos. ...More
    I follow Kino on Instagram, I am suscribed in her OmStars website for yoga practices, and I have to say, this is a perfect complement to the videos. It has pictures of the asanas, an explanation of them, what you should do through every step of the asana, and in the end of each you will find the benefit of the pose (i.e. improving balance, builds mental concentration) etc. Benefits I have not seen before in any of her videos, so for me, it was an excellent complement to the practice
    Helpful? 0 0
    Jaclyn DeVore
    September 14, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible and soulful book on Ashtanga
    Kino MacGregor is one of my yoga (s)heroes. She goes beyond the popular trend of promoting impressive feats of flexibility and discusses the philosoph...More
    Kino MacGregor is one of my yoga (s)heroes. She goes beyond the popular trend of promoting impressive feats of flexibility and discusses the philosophical and spiritual aspects of a yoga practice. If you're interested in yoga but feel intimidated by the pictures you see of seemingly impossible contortions, or if you're a yoga practitioner who is looking to move beyond the aerobics and into a more devotional practice, check out Kino's book! Her writing is refreshingly accessible, though it's always a challenge to write descriptions of physical postures. Kino has a number of YouTube videos, though, for further instruction
    Helpful? 0 0
    Mrs T YY
    August 12, 2017
    Essential guide for the Intermediate series
    Fantastic book for Intermediate Ashtanga practicioners.
    Helpful? 0 0
    namastephanie
    June 29, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great information by a knowledgeable author!
    Kino walks you through the basics of Ashtanga in a way that can be approached by all. This is a great resource for getting started with an Ashtanga p...More
    Kino walks you through the basics of Ashtanga in a way that can be approached by all. This is a great resource for getting started with an Ashtanga practice.
    Helpful? 0 0
    JADE
    June 22, 2017
    Still working on getting the more extreme backbends like Kapotasana. Great book
    Kino Macgregor is wodnerful as usual. I have her 2 tutorial bopoks - primary series and the intermediate. I am taking slowly integrating parts of the ...More
    Kino Macgregor is wodnerful as usual. I have her 2 tutorial bopoks - primary series and the intermediate. I am taking slowly integrating parts of the intermediate series into my practice so not using it fully yet. Still working on getting the more extreme backbends like Kapotasana. Great book!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Bham Yogi
    June 19, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful addition to my collection.
    Fantastic approach. A great resource for all yogis!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Jen
    April 9, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book was much bigger than I excpected. I'm loving ...
    Book was much bigger than I excpected. I'm loving it. She's so sincere. There's so many details on not only each posture but the lifestyle as well.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Zora
    February 14, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Great book as always from Kino.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Stouffer
    January 15, 2017
    Great beginner book - try not to be put off by some of the postures
    I've been a fan of Kino McGregor for a while after finding her on YouTube one day and I have to say she's my inspiration for starting yoga and for lov...More
    I've been a fan of Kino McGregor for a while after finding her on YouTube one day and I have to say she's my inspiration for starting yoga and for loving it as much as I do. I've always held such respect and admiration for her and know that she must be so dedicated to her craft being as flexible as she is.

    I'm so disappointed reading the few negative reviews I've seen about this book. They are essentially correct though and it's very easy to get daunted by the images of Kino putting her legs behind her head. Of course no-one is going to be able to do this without substantial daily practice! The book does state to skip out a large chunk of the more difficult postures if you're a beginner and to practice daily in order gain enough flexibility in the hips and hamstrings to be able to perform the more difficult postures.

    I have always been a fan of ashtanga yoga and it was a privilege to own a book from the woman who introduced me to it. I really liked this book and I found the layout of the book useful. It is split into sections, the first being about breath and the importance of the breath in conjunction with the postures. The second section of postures is comprised of standing, seated, backbends and warm down postures. Each posture has it's sanskrit name, its english name, a picture of Kino performing the posture and an explanation of the posture and how to enter and exit it and whether or not it needs to be entered from an asana. The last section is just images of all of the postures so I just use this now as a guide to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

    Although I've been practising yoga for a number of years I'm still not flexible enough to perform some of the harder postures. That's not down to the book, that's down to the fact I'm still not at the stage where I can practice daily. But I do recognise some of the benefits I've got from ashtanga yoga so I will continue practising this for the foreseeable future. This book is a fantastic guide for the beginner but please just try not to be put off.
    Helpful? 0 0
    lily
    January 6, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    A gift for my daughter and she loves it.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Zsolt Benkő
    November 21, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
    Comprehensive and easy to understand, from a really experienced practitioner and teacher who learned it straight from the source.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Zimina Larisa
    October 11, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love Kino, she inspires me to practice Ashtanga Yoga
    I love Kino, she inspires me to practice Ashtanga Yoga. I am reading her book now and I am very excited! Every time I watch her videos on youtube, I g...More
    I love Kino, she inspires me to practice Ashtanga Yoga. I am reading her book now and I am very excited! Every time I watch her videos on youtube, I get lots of inspiration to stand on my mat and do my practice. All is coming! Shanti is coming! Thank you Kino, I really love your work!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Jen Squires
    September 30, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars As I read this informative book I am reminded of ...
    As I read this informative book I am reminded of being in one of Kino's workshops; it's written as eloquently as she speaks. This book, intended for t...More
    As I read this informative book I am reminded of being in one of Kino's workshops; it's written as eloquently as she speaks. This book, intended for the experienced Ashtangie practitioner, is detailed with such specific and pertinent information, I find it incredibly helpful. She also helps us to understand some of Gurugi's sutra's. A must have if you're a seasoned primary (or intermediate) series student looking for more.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Gabriel
    July 27, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent aid on the ashtanga path
    Very clear and detailed, an excellent aid on the ashtanga path.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Karen L
    July 12, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Very thorough explanation of all the theory and asanas. Really accessible to a beginner. I really enjoyed how uplifting it was too.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Saunak Palit
    July 7, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book is written in great depth. The author's mastery of the subject of ...
    The book is written in great depth. The author's mastery of the subject of Ashtanga Yoga, is evident as one reads the pages of this book. Part One dea...More
    The book is written in great depth. The author's mastery of the subject of Ashtanga Yoga, is evident as one reads the pages of this book. Part One deals with Theory and Part Two with the Practice. There is sound advice given at each stage. There is a sequence of photos for the Surya Namskara A and B, given on pages 59 & 60, which helps the beginner. Many photos of various asanas are given throughout. Appendix B is also useful. It lists all the poses with summary for each.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Super Girl
    June 16, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Amazing book!
    Helpful? 0 0
    A. Prontaut
    May 29, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book.
    Great book. I have been practicing on and off for 15 years with Vinyasa Flow. She is so approachable and I don't feel judged or like I'm not prepared.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Monica del Pilar Rangel
    May 25, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book.
    Kino always sharing her knowledge. Awesome book.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Sally Bacon Reynolds
    May 18, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Kino and Ashtanga are life changers and life savers. I am never going back! #practiceyogachangeyourworld
    Helpful? 0 0
    Sally Bacon Reynolds
    May 18, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read it, then practice yoga every day. Your ...
    Read it, then practice yoga every day. Your experience of life will be different. You will see the world in a different way. Start now. It is a lo...More
    Read it, then practice yoga every day. Your experience of life will be different. You will see the world in a different way. Start now. It is a lot of work, but the payoff is worth it a million times over. #practiceyogachangeyourworld
    Helpful? 0 0
    Lorena Matos
    May 15, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars It a good guide to ashtanga
    It a good guide to ashtanga, and how Kino made her journey, breaks down the full primary series with images so its helpful for those seeking to furthe...More
    It a good guide to ashtanga, and how Kino made her journey, breaks down the full primary series with images so its helpful for those seeking to further the ashtanga practice.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Michael
    March 5, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Received in perfect condition.....thank you.
    Helpful? 0 0
    amanda martin
    February 6, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars I am a yoga instructor and I also host teacher ...
    I am a yoga instructor and I also host teacher training's. I use this book as a teacher/training tool for my students and myself! Its very descriptive...More
    I am a yoga instructor and I also host teacher training's. I use this book as a teacher/training tool for my students and myself! Its very descriptive and informative.
    Helpful? 0 0
    JP
    January 11, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars so i do recommend to take yoga classes at a studio first to ...
    I've been a fan of Kino forever! I've even gone to her studio in Miami everytime I'm there on vacation. This series is not really for beginners, so i ...More
    I've been a fan of Kino forever! I've even gone to her studio in Miami everytime I'm there on vacation. This series is not really for beginners, so i do recommend to take yoga classes at a studio first to make sure you master poses and speecially alignment. This DVD does not cover modifications for beginners. Otherwise, is an excellent source and investment for self practice without speding money in a yoga studio!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Daniel + Jennifer Waghorne
    December 27, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars My wife loves it.
    My wife was starting to get into Yoga and was looking for a book to point her in the right direction. Almost everything in this book goes hand in hand...More
    My wife was starting to get into Yoga and was looking for a book to point her in the right direction. Almost everything in this book goes hand in hand with what she is currently learning in class, and I've seen her studying from it multiple times. It's extremely informative, and filled with loads of great information. If you're looking for an informative read on Ashtanga Yoga to help you learn, this is the book for you.
    Helpful? 0 0
    omar batista
    October 22, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Very good a lot great and helpful info.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Mónica Utrilla de Neira
    October 17, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Namaste beautiful Kino!
    Kino's The Power of Ashtanga Yoga has been illuminating for me. From now on, I will work on this whole series knowing that I'm working with the fundam...More
    Kino's The Power of Ashtanga Yoga has been illuminating for me. From now on, I will work on this whole series knowing that I'm working with the fundamentals of the Practice. Namaste beautiful Kino!!
    Helpful? 0 0
    bianca fulkerson
    October 6, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars So far so good: ) Thank you Kino
    Still reading! So far so good :) Thank you Kino!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Nicolle Srisongkham
    September 30, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    a must read for those who love Yoga
    Helpful? 0 0
    Sheila S.
    September 27, 2015
    Gutes Buch
    Informativ, sehr gut geschrieben - viele neue Ansätze und sehr interessant. Hatte schon den ersten Teil - absolut zu empfehlen.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Kristofer Ryan
    September 27, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!
    I cannot practice the intermediate series but this book recharged my primary series practice immediately. The beginning chapters on yoga philosophy ar...More
    I cannot practice the intermediate series but this book recharged my primary series practice immediately. The beginning chapters on yoga philosophy are excellent and I find myself quoting from them all the time. I can't wait to begin the intermediate series and until then.... thank you Kino for reminding me of what I want to achieve in life. This was the third Kino book I have purchased and she has improved in her book creating. You won't be disappointed with this one.

    Kristofer Ryan, Author of "Power Yoga For Prisoners and Others Desiring Change"
    Interview - http://kristofer108.wix.com/yoti
    Helpful? 0 0
    Flavio Calabria
    September 26, 2015
    un testo molto interessante,da avere nella propria biblioteca di libri sullo yoga
    Pratico hatha yoga e ashtanga yoga da qualche anno e nel corso del tempo ho acquistato diversi libri sullo yoga.In particolare,sull ashtanga yoga poss...More
    Pratico hatha yoga e ashtanga yoga da qualche anno e nel corso del tempo ho acquistato diversi libri sullo yoga.
    In particolare,sull ashtanga yoga possiedo questo libro di Kino e quello di David Swenson: due testi a mio avviso estremamente validi per un praticante. Certo, come tutti i libri sullo yoga,non possono e non devono sostituirsi al proprio maestro: sarebbe un errore pretendere di essere "autodidatti" perchè questo testo come quello di Swenson non dicono "tutto" e danno oltretutto la loro visione che può non essere perfettamente coincidente con quella del proprio maestro.
    Ad ogni modo il testo di Kino è a mio avviso molto bello: inizialmente lo avevo sottovalutato, ma poi ho letto meglio alcuni capitoli e l'ho trovato molto utile.
    Certo, nessuno pensi di poter praticare subito alcune asana descritte nel libro,come le fai lei! Qui entra in gioco il ruolo del maestro: perchè poi quella della yoga è una strada lunga da percorrere e non si deve commettere l'errore di voler bruciare le tappe.
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    Aramate
    September 24, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kino does it again!
    As a student of Ashtanga Yoga, I find Kino's books to be necessary companion guides for the devoted, and passionate practitioner. Kino not only is a m...More
    As a student of Ashtanga Yoga, I find Kino's books to be necessary companion guides for the devoted, and passionate practitioner. Kino not only is a master teacher whose knowledge of the Ashtanga Yoga method is thorough and gained through the wisdom of her own journey under the guidance of her teachers, but she is an intelligent woman who can communicate her knowledge in a simple, understandable way that leaves you feeling inspired, and w/the light bulb on!

    This book is meant to be read and used after its predecessor which focuses on the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga. Not for beginners, and she says as much. The Intermediate, or Second Series, builds on the foundation of the first series, and if undertaken without that foundation, many things will be missed or disregarded. There is a logic to this living tradition which should be acknowledged and respected.

    I highly recommend for all who are serious about their journey with Ashtanga Yoga! Kino is it!
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    Sarah
    September 15, 2015
    A must have for yogis looking to advance their practice
    Yet another beautifully written book by the wonderful Kino MacGregor. This one takes you on the journey on the intermediate series of Ashtanga. I boug...More
    Yet another beautifully written book by the wonderful Kino MacGregor. This one takes you on the journey on the intermediate series of Ashtanga. I bought it to read on the beach and was not disappointed. Its inspiring and insightful, provides clear instructions on how to perform these challenging asanas. It was like watching her YouTube tutorials in book form.

    Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to begin their intermediate journey or for practitioners already on the journey.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Audrey
    September 15, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must have...
    I love this book. As a serious yogi I feel like it's my responsibility to my practice and future students to learn from people with true depth of know...More
    I love this book. As a serious yogi I feel like it's my responsibility to my practice and future students to learn from people with true depth of knowledge, lineage, and experience. Kino is a priceless teacher to both students and teachers because she is highly qualified and knowledgeable. I would consider it a disservice to my own practice to pass on this book, which is why I have it! :) And love it. Thank you Kino for sharing your treasure with us. This book is a gift.
    Helpful? 0 0
    SCB
    September 15, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for asana junkies!
    I love this book! As someone beginning to transition from first series to second, this book compliments the many wonderful ones out there because of t...More
    I love this book! As someone beginning to transition from first series to second, this book compliments the many wonderful ones out there because of the quality and depth of the information it provides. Backing asana practice with knowledge is one of the most important ways a person can begin to improve and this book is a stepping stone to a deeper and more fulfilling practice for anyone - whether they've been practicing for ten minutes or ten years.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Mikaela Farrell
    September 15, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars These books have been my guides...
    I have been following Kino for over a year now. She has been my motivator, my teacher, and the person I go to if I am not quite sure where to go next ...More
    I have been following Kino for over a year now. She has been my motivator, my teacher, and the person I go to if I am not quite sure where to go next in life. And all of that is without even meeting her! These books have been my guides. Her explanations of every breath, drishti, asana... Are more than you could ever ask for from a book. There are no Ashtanga Yoga classes around me, so I'm teaching myself, with these books they make it ten times easier! Kino I am so grateful for these amazing books that you have written for us! Keep them coming!! BUY THIS BOOK YOU WONT REGRET IT!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Anton
    August 15, 2015
    Ottimo
    Beh... Kino e Kino! Ottimo manuale di riferimento per davvero. Per chi fa Ashtanga Yoga è diventato velocemente un must, da avere. In inglese. Peccato...More
    Beh... Kino e Kino! Ottimo manuale di riferimento per davvero. Per chi fa Ashtanga Yoga è diventato velocemente un must, da avere. In inglese. Peccato che non ci sia, come nello Swenson (manuale "classico" per davvero), una sezione dedicata alla pratica quotidiana con le asana consigliate ai neofiti o in base al tempo a disposizione. Rimane un testo prezioso! Kino MacGregor arricchisce il testo con i suoi commenti, genuini e sinceri. Lo sto trovando gradevolissimo e davvero utile nella pratica quotidiana per consigli e confronti con quanto mi spiega l'insegnante a lezione. Consigliato.
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    Ana D
    August 6, 2015
    Un libro necesario si quieres mejorar tu práctica
    UN 10.Este libro es un material complementario excelente para aquellos que quieren profundizar más en la primera serie de Asthanga Yoga.El libro tiene...More
    UN 10.

    Este libro es un material complementario excelente para aquellos que quieren profundizar más en la primera serie de Asthanga Yoga.

    El libro tiene varios capítulos: primero te explica un poco de la historia de Asthanga Yoga, haciendo un especial énfasis en lo que es la respiración, la postura y adonde deberías dirigir la mirada.

    La segunda parte del libro te explica en detalle todas las series de posturas de la primera serie de Asthanga Yoga: Sun Salutations, Standing Poses, Seated Poses, Backbends, Finishing Poses y un especial capitulo dedicado a como mejorar tu fuerza.

    También estoy contenta con el servicio de transporte. Muy rápido y el producto llego en perfecto estado.
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    Kathy
    August 5, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love the video
    Love the video.... it's Kino! The only issue I have is that there are no closed captioned. For those who are hearing impaired it's problematic becau...More
    Love the video.... it's Kino! The only issue I have is that there are no closed captioned. For those who are hearing impaired it's problematic because you want to be able to hear Kino guide you the sequences.
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    Melinda Pruitt
    May 8, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love it, I use it all the time
    I love it, I use it all the time. I ordered the next book up from this since I liked this one so much. That book has been back ordered for over a mo...More
    I love it, I use it all the time. I ordered the next book up from this since I liked this one so much. That book has been back ordered for over a month and I still have not gotten it, so I'm not sure about that one yet! This one I know is a great one though!
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    L. Vega
    March 1, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoy practicing my ashtanga yoga poses
    I adore Kino and you can practically feel her charismatic personality through the pages. I enjoy practicing my ashtanga yoga poses. One day, I will be...More
    I adore Kino and you can practically feel her charismatic personality through the pages. I enjoy practicing my ashtanga yoga poses. One day, I will be able to move past the primary series and continue with my journey.
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    lavasong
    February 24, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... presented with humility from a place of experience and love. Thanks Kino
    Yoga presented with humility from a place of experience and love. Thanks Kino!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Angie
    February 5, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Great book. I love that she goes into detail with each asana and spiritual aspects of yoga.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Brenda Miyatake
    January 12, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Met expectations
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    Louiie25
    January 5, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is everything! When I first started Ashtanga ...
    This book is everything! When I first started Ashtanga, I would have this book open by my side. She goes into thorough details about each asana and so...More
    This book is everything! When I first started Ashtanga, I would have this book open by my side. She goes into thorough details about each asana and so forth. I still refer back to this book.
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    Diane I.
    January 3, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about ...
    Kino is incredibly knowledgeable. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about yoga.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Susan B.
    December 14, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars but still this works great as a reference manual
    I found this book to be very helpful when I began my Ashtanga practice, and I read it from cover to cover. I also refer back to it now sometimes to ch...More
    I found this book to be very helpful when I began my Ashtanga practice, and I read it from cover to cover. I also refer back to it now sometimes to check on small details of the movements as Kino has described the techniques in minute detail. She does things slightly differently from my Ashtanga teacher, but still this works great as a reference manual.
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    choi jung in
    November 24, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Good!!
    Helpful? 0 0
    snakemonkey
    October 25, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Excellent book, clear and precise. explains asanas well, have bought a second copy as a gift for a friend
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    Phillip Cresswell
    October 23, 2014
    A must for any Ashtangi !
    I'm a big fan of Kino, so when I came across this book my expectations were high! I was not disappointed, she writes clearly with an easy to follow na...More
    I'm a big fan of Kino, so when I came across this book my expectations were high! I was not disappointed, she writes clearly with an easy to follow narrative. Her instructions are detailed & offer modifications & suggestions for both beginner & more seasoned practitioners. The photographs are beautifully taken, the book also provides historical information as well as a detailed overview of Ashtanga yoga & yogic living! A must for any Ashtangi!
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    Kathleen Hernandez
    August 28, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    A must Yogi book.
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    Agnès
    July 16, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
    Very good explanation of each posture - almost too detailed (which is not a critic), Kino is really a great teacher and has very pedagogic (excuse my ...More
    Very good explanation of each posture - almost too detailed (which is not a critic), Kino is really a great teacher and has very pedagogic (excuse my English) way of sharing her knowlege. She is really a devoted practioner and this book really demonstrate it, I recomend it to anyone interested in ashtanga.
    The only think I could critisise is that I think the blakc and white pictues and rather corse paper does not do it justice as this is a book I will want to keep.
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    Norma
    June 25, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love it!
    I am a yoga practitioner , but when I read this book , I have found a new and wonderful view about yoga spiritualty and physically. I strongly recomme...More
    I am a yoga practitioner , but when I read this book , I have found a new and wonderful view about yoga spiritualty and physically. I strongly recommend it to everyone interested in yoga. Thanks Kino.
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    bcal
    May 26, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Ashtanga
    Enjoyed this more than I originally thought I would. Kino's presentation of each pose was direct and to the point. modifications were offered for mu...More
    Enjoyed this more than I originally thought I would. Kino's presentation of each pose was direct and to the point. modifications were offered for multiple poses. I've already used this one as a resource multiple times since I finished reading it. Good buy!
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    Robin Crump
    May 24, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Excellent book for home practice and those trying to get a feel for ashtanga. Wonderful descriptions of the pose and how to get into them
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    Lynsey Shearer
    March 27, 2014
    Excellent resource for those looking to explore the Primary Series in greater depth
    This book has been so useful for me in developing my own self practice. It provides detailed description and photographs of each of the asanas in the ...More
    This book has been so useful for me in developing my own self practice. It provides detailed description and photographs of each of the asanas in the Primary Series which ensure you're able to progress safely and at your own pace. The introductory chapters provide an excellent overview of the practice of Ashtanga Yoga as a whole, which I think is particularly useful for beginners such as myself. Cannot recommend this book enough!
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    Crista M Baker
    March 26, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
    My favorite part about this book is that it has the opening and closing mantras. I love the detail of all the asanas!
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    Iso
    March 13, 2014
    Ashtanga Yoga (Primary Series) gut & detailliert erklärt
    Dieses Buch war zwar mein erstes zum Thema "Ashtanga Yoga", aber es wird auch (wahrscheinlich) mein einziges bleiben, was nicht direkt von den indisch...More
    Dieses Buch war zwar mein erstes zum Thema "Ashtanga Yoga", aber es wird auch (wahrscheinlich) mein einziges bleiben, was nicht direkt von den indischen Lehrmeistern kommt. Dafür gibt es einen ganz einfachen Grund: Es ist alles darin enthalten, was man braucht!

    Es fängt mit dem theoretischen Part an, der dem Leser die Geschichte des Ashtanga Yoga nahebringt, aber auch andere Bestandteile, die einem Anfänger vielleicht auf den ersten Blick entweder noch gar nicht bewusst waren oder nicht so wichtig erschienen (Konzentration auf Atmung und Blick, die Ernährung und auch die psychischen/spirituellen Auswirkungen der Praxis). Blutige Anfänger, denen diese Informationen insgesamt etwas zu viel sind, können diesen Teil auch erstmal etwas überfliegen und später noch einmal darauf zurückkommen.

    Der praktische Teil des Buchs führt in der Reihenfolge, in der die Übungen auch in der Primary Series anzutreffen sind, durch die verschiedenen Asanas. Hierbei muss man wirklich den Hut vor Kino ziehen, die die Übungen wirklich von Anfang bis Ende bis ins kleinste Detail beschreibt. Einige Yogabücher (die ich letztendlich auch nicht gekauft habe) formulierten so unsauber, dass man entweder gar nicht mehr wusste, was man eigentlich gerade machen sollte oder nach dem Motto "Dann kommt der Fuß jetzt da hin und wenn du das nicht schaffst, dein Problem". In Kinos Buch gibt es beides nicht. Man weiß jederzeit, in welchem Schritt was genau gemacht werden muss und welche Alternativen es gibt, wenn man etwas Schwereres noch nicht schafft. Kino weiß genau, wovon sie spricht und gibt auch realistische Hinweise für die schwereren Asanas, jedoch ohne einem Angst vor der Übung zu machen.

    Im Appendix findet man noch das Eröffnungs- und Schluss-Mantra des Ashtanga Yoga sowie die Vinyasa-Zählweise in Sanskrit. Sehr hilfreich ist auch der Bildband im Appendix C, der anhand der Fotos aus dem Buch die Reihenfolge der Asanas der Primary Series zeigt. Gerade Anfänger können sich diesen Bildband hinlegen und so lange während der Praxis zur Hilfe nehmen, bis sie die Reihenfolge der Asanas auswendig können.

    Ist dieses Buch auch für Fortgeschrittene hilfreich? Ich würde sagen, ja. Gerade die detailgetreue Beschreibung der Asanas ist es noch einmal wert, durchgegangen zu werden. Über die Zeit schleichen sich bei jedem Ashtangi kleine Unachtsamkeiten/Macken ein und wenn man noch einmal konzentriert anhand des Buchs in bestimmte Asanas geht, merkt man teilweise schon einen Unterschied an der eigenen Ausrichtung oder vom Gefühl in der Pose her. Auch der theoretische Teil ist es wert, noch einmal gelesen zu werden, um sein Wissen zu überprüfen, aber auch um sich selbst die Frage zu stellen, ob man das Gelesene auch wirklich beherzigt.

    Gibt es auch etwas Negatives zu sagen? Nur etwas Persönliches: Die Fotos hätte ich gerne farbig gehabt. Ich weiß nicht, welchen Hintergrundgedanken es hatte, sie schwarz-weiß zu gestalten, aber farbig wären gerade sehr "zusammengeknotete" Asanas etwas klarer zu erkennen.
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    Denia Hood
    February 27, 2014
    A great handbook and guide.
    I love Kino!...thats the simple fact.I have met kino and participated in her classes and a teacher training emmersion. I have also read yoga mala and ...More
    I love Kino!...thats the simple fact.
    I have met kino and participated in her classes and a teacher training emmersion. I have also read yoga mala and watched many of Kinos online videos as well as those about her teachers.
    The Ashtanga methods awsome healing potential continues to amaze me and this book I use alongside Kinos Dvd to enrich my practice.
    This book helps to unlock the secrets of Astanga yoga. The book inspires a more confident and informed practice because of the wealth of information Kino shares.
    I like the way Kino explains the techique with language that expresses her direct experience.This is a great manual to use to enrich the daily practice which is so carefully broken down within this book.
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    Ksculp
    January 16, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love Kino, love her book
    This book is detailed without being verbose. I enjoy the reading as well as the pictures to demonstrate the correct pose. Kino is a phenomenal ashtang...More
    This book is detailed without being verbose. I enjoy the reading as well as the pictures to demonstrate the correct pose. Kino is a phenomenal ashtanga teacher and this book is extremely helpful to my personal practice and as a yoga teacher.
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    rose
    January 10, 2014
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very organized, clear, & full of knowledge
    I return to it all the time. She inserts pictures and talks about the purpose and benefits. Well worth the purchase. Go Kino!
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    Pebo
    December 4, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Breathe
    Kino is quite unique. She has traken something very ancient and complicated and presented in a very acessible and non academic fashion. Quite an achie...More
    Kino is quite unique. She has traken something very ancient and complicated and presented in a very acessible and non academic fashion. Quite an achievement.
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    mjh
    November 29, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars very good
    I have practiced yoga for many years and recently wanted a dvd with the Ashtanga sequence. Kino MacGrego is known around the world and this DVD is ex...More
    I have practiced yoga for many years and recently wanted a dvd with the Ashtanga sequence. Kino MacGrego is known around the world and this DVD is excellent for your home practice. It is not a "teaching" dvd, but more of a video where you practice with her as she calls out the postures. There are alternatives given to some of more difficult asanas. If you are completely knew to yoga, this might not be the best for you, but if you have had good instruction at a studio and are looking for a home practice this video might be just what you are looking for.
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    Luis Leon
    November 27, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars good
    the product was fit as expected, good deal, nice option, full recomended, have a good day, thank you verry much.
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    buster prater
    November 8, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should be doing it
    Everyone that is looking for a exercise program should look no further that ashtanga yoga. This is a complete program without a gym membership
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    Jen Wilkins
    November 2, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
    Long time Ashtanga & Kino fan. This book is a must have for anyone new to the practice! Clear descriptions, easy to understand, full of helpful ti...More
    Long time Ashtanga & Kino fan. This book is a must have for anyone new to the practice! Clear descriptions, easy to understand, full of helpful tips, and full of theory. A++
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    Jade
    October 28, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Good book. Good for a beginner. Explains each pose in detail and proper technique. I recommend for someone looking for information on yoga in general ...More
    Good book. Good for a beginner. Explains each pose in detail and proper technique. I recommend for someone looking for information on yoga in general not just for poses
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    California Mom
    October 21, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sooooo wonderful!
    I found this book to be very helpful and have already recommended it to several of my yoga students. She goes into great detail about the specific as...More
    I found this book to be very helpful and have already recommended it to several of my yoga students. She goes into great detail about the specific ashtanga poses/sequences. I will reference this for years to come.
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    Scott Chehock
    October 5, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Ashtanga Yoga is a must!!
    Beautifully written! Having done ashtanga yogo in the past, and desiring a guide which helps me to understand the history to a greater degree, Kino ha...More
    Beautifully written! Having done ashtanga yogo in the past, and desiring a guide which helps me to understand the history to a greater degree, Kino has provided both a historical context to this amazing endeavor, as well as a clearly illustrated sequence of moves for the beginning and expereienced yoga student- This one well researched guide will be a capstone of all others!!
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    Robert Garcia
    August 31, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!!! You can get unload several yoga books and have this one accompany your best.
    Just go ahead and purchase don't even think about it. I have read lots of yoga books this one rate extremely high she just gives it up not saving it f...More
    Just go ahead and purchase don't even think about it. I have read lots of yoga books this one rate extremely high she just gives it up not saving it for part two. Did I mention she is generous with the information it is worth repeating again and again. Thanks Kino.
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    Pat Loughery
    August 30, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, practical advice even for a beginning practitioner
    When I stumbled onto Kino MacGregor's YouTube channel, I watched a lot of her content. She's bright, communicates well and teaches clearly both simpl...More
    When I stumbled onto Kino MacGregor's YouTube channel, I watched a lot of her content. She's bright, communicates well and teaches clearly both simple and complex concepts and poses. I read more about her and found this book, and thought it would be helpful to me as a new yoga practitioner, even though I don't practice Ashtanga style. It has certainly been helpful.

    The book contains two parts. The first is theory and story, and I was immediately impressed with how well it is written. From the history of yoga through Kino's personal discovery of it, discussion on diet and spirituality, her work is encouraging and respectful both of her reader and the tradition.

    The second is practice, with photos and descriptions that illustrate the Primary Series of Ashtanga. It is certainly helpful to a beginner, and I believe it would be helpful to more advanced practitioners as well.

    This book is by far the best on the subject on my small but growing yoga shelf.
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    Andy H
    August 26, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Down to earth
    This is a great introduction to Ashtanga and explains the poses well. I enjoyed hearing Kino's personal experiences. It helps those of us new to Ashta...More
    This is a great introduction to Ashtanga and explains the poses well. I enjoyed hearing Kino's personal experiences. It helps those of us new to Ashtanga find our way.
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    Krista G.
    August 17, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, detailed explanations
    This is a great book and I agree with all the past positive comments. The only thing is.. I cannot imagine for the life of me why the cover was design...More
    This is a great book and I agree with all the past positive comments. The only thing is.. I cannot imagine for the life of me why the cover was designed to look like some kind of rich-people-pilates-workout ad. For the amount of great work Kino put into this, I'm surprised she didn't put more thought into a beautiful cover to represent this spiritual practice (and perhaps India...) a little better. Of course that is just my opinion, and does not take away from the quality of the content of this book. Happy practicing!
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    Martha
    August 10, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kino is the best
    This Ashtanga Primary Series book is as good as David Swenson's and that's saying a lot. Kino's explanations are excellent. The photographs illustrate...More
    This Ashtanga Primary Series book is as good as David Swenson's and that's saying a lot. Kino's explanations are excellent. The photographs illustrate the poses well. I love it and refer to it almost every day to help me work through the poses of the primary series.
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    Sarah
    July 25, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for Ashtanga Yogi from absolute beginner to advanced
    To date the most thorough and well written modern book on Ashtanga Yoga. Caters for all levels and includes not just physical but the important spiri...More
    To date the most thorough and well written modern book on Ashtanga Yoga. Caters for all levels and includes not just physical but the important spiritual side of Ashtanga Yoga in simple to understand language. Has helped light my Ashtanga Yoga fire. Thank you.
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    Amanda
    July 25, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome book for people who love and are curious about the practice
    What I really appreciate about this book is that Kino's humanity and presence as a lifelong student as well as a teacher comes through in the pages, a...More
    What I really appreciate about this book is that Kino's humanity and presence as a lifelong student as well as a teacher comes through in the pages, and it makes Ashtanga that much more accessible. There is absolutely the highly precise, technically sound instruction that you would hope for, but what makes it that much better is that it's so clear it's coming from someone who has been on the journey, made the mistakes and had the frustrations, and learned how to overcome them.
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    JV
    July 12, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kino delivers
    Kino is on the best Ashtanga yoga teachers outside of India and this volume has tons of useful information and insights. I have plenty of primary seri...More
    Kino is on the best Ashtanga yoga teachers outside of India and this volume has tons of useful information and insights. I have plenty of primary series books of Ashtanga, but her commentary and insight is extremely helpful. Thanks Kino
    Helpful? 0 0
    crystal
    July 11, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    This book is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in Ashtanga yoga. Kino MacGregor breaks things down in an easy to follow way.
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    TheMadIndian
    July 3, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful book
    This is my first review so bare with me and I still consider myself a beginner to Ashtanga yoga, Ashtanga seems to be coming to me in its own time and...More
    This is my first review so bare with me and I still consider myself a beginner to Ashtanga yoga, Ashtanga seems to be coming to me in its own time and this book was a perfect example of that. I was going on leave for a medical issue and this book was gifted to me prior to my leave and its release and I had no idea until I saw Kino tweeting about it's yet to come release date. So I had the fortune of reading this much earlier than most and in fact finishing before its release :)

    This book has filled in many gaps and strengthened different understandings for me, most notably the explanation of bandhas, the description of weight on your foot for balance and how to find that balance. The descriptions of the asanas are superb, it allows me to read and try to achieve some of the finer points you may lose in a mysore style class as a beginner. I also truly enjoy the explanation of what each one does for you.

    Chapters 2 & 4 in the theory section, outside of the practice section, I found for me to be the most useful in rounding out my understanding of the benefits of the practice, breath and focus.

    In closing I also found the 3 versions of the closing and opening prayer to be quite nice in aiding in my understanding of sanskrit
    Helpful? 0 0
    Thought for Your Penny<span class="a-icon a-profile-verified-badge"><span class="a-profile-verified-text"></span></span>
    June 27, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Yoga Book on the Market
    Many yoga teachers seem to be afraid of imparting all of their knowledge. They hold back because they view their books, videos, etc. simply as marketi...More
    Many yoga teachers seem to be afraid of imparting all of their knowledge. They hold back because they view their books, videos, etc. simply as marketing tools to get you into their classes. It's just merchandise, and you're just a consumer. This train of thought leads to these yogis holding back important information. Kino does the opposite, proving both her teaching ability and business savvy by explaining everything in as much detail as possible. Between her books and videos, she easily imparts more than 200 hours' worth of yogic wisdom for anyone willing to put in the effort. Instead of only giving you a sample in hopes that you'll come to her and give her your money like many other teachers, she gives every ounce of information she can fit into each situation she's teaching.

    Because of her deep well of knowledge, The Power of Ashtanga Yoga works on its own as a teacher. In it, Kino manages to incorporate everything you ever wanted to know from a yogi. She seamlessly incorporates personal experiences, useful gems of wisdom, and detailed technical knowledge of the practice. Rather than bombarding you with an overload of technical information or droning on and on about generic information as most yoga books tend to do, Kino stops quite often to relate the information on a personal level. She manages this quite well because she doesn't hold back. Sometimes it feels like she knows the objections you have to a concept before even you do.
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    Lucy
    June 26, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars MMust have
    This book inspires me and makes me want to know more about ashtanga yoga and author as well. It is not only another yoga manual,but author provides us...More
    This book inspires me and makes me want to know more about ashtanga yoga and author as well. It is not only another yoga manual,but author provides us with spiritual ground of yoga(in the way easy to consume even if you are spiritual septic) . I highly appreciated her point of view and personal recommendation and all the lines about health benefits. There is enough room for every asana not just few lines,difficult to understand for beginner. Beautiful pictures,I like graphical side-easy orientation.
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    Sat Inder S. Khalsa
    June 25, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Deep Take on this Ancient Practice from a Young, Yet Experienced Practitioner
    I've practiced Ashtanga since 2000, took a small break in 2008 and came back full swing in 2012. The first thing I did after I'd been practicing for ...More
    I've practiced Ashtanga since 2000, took a small break in 2008 and came back full swing in 2012. The first thing I did after I'd been practicing for a few months again was to drive to Chicago to study with Kino at Moksha Yoga.

    I was always someone who poo pooed anyone younger than me and thought how could they possibly know more than I do, and was amazed at myself that I was actually learning from this being who is almost a decade younger than I am and who had started practicing around the exact same time as me. But of course, she was approaching it differently than I was and from her own perspective. I'm still not sure what angle I was approaching it from lol.

    Just a couple weeks ago I received my book in the mail and the following weekend drove to Chicago again to study with this lovely young lady and this time she blew me away, moreso than last time.

    Its amazing to me how she juxtaposes the spiritual side of this particular asana practice with the extreme physicality of this practice and inspires and delights you into doing more, and more. The book and its narrative are no exception.

    From her insight into what each section of the practice is about to her insight on diet and even the elusive bandhas, that no one has ever given instruction on to my liking, until now that is, she takes you on a journey deep inside yourself so that you are ready to take a look at why you do this practice and to keep questioning yourself along the way, as we are ever evolving creatures, who are hopefully using this practice to navigate our way through life with as few chinks in our armor as possible.

    Beginners should buy this because it will show them there is so much more than just the extreme physicality, but how to use the marriage of the breath and the movement (along with the bandhas) to deepen their experience and take themselves to new realms.

    But also experienced practitioners like myself will benefit just as much because her take on Ashtanga is unique and completely inspired from the fact that she's dived deep into herself through this practice. It shows the vulnerability and the strength that one can achieve through the sustained practice of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

    We should all applaud this effort, and of course, purchase it!
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    ADLM
    June 24, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Every yoga practitioner should have this one on thier night table
    I'd like to start my review by saying that I am not a begginer and have read many Ashtanga Yoga manuals written by extraordinary teachers like David S...More
    I'd like to start my review by saying that I am not a begginer and have read many Ashtanga Yoga manuals written by extraordinary teachers like David Swenson, Gregor Maehle and Lino Miele to name just a few. When Kino MacGregors book was released I was curious to see how she would present the practice and more importantly if the content of her book would provide any new insights to this transformative practice. After reading the book I am impressed by the composition of the information. I really enjoyed how she presented the history and philosophy of the lineage before presenting the asana's. Although some eager practitioners will skip ahead and bypass these fundamental sections, I found her delivery of often dogmatic and confusing philosophical content to be easy to understand and to the point. These sections build up the foundation of the practice, especially for new students, in an easy to digest format allowing for interest to build organically for individuals. The portion on practice is beautifully presented with visual cues along with the written explanation for each posture in the Primary Series. MacGregor also took the time to give the distinct health benefits for each asana as well as "krama's" or short/modified versions so begginers can slowly and safely work up to the full version of each position.

    The last sections after the practice portion focus on the development of "flying" by giving tips and techniques to develop strength and ability for jump back's/throughs. I especially like the final section which gives the opening/closing chant (with its respective translation) and the correct vinyasa count, in sanskrit, for each asana which is what's I believe is what truly completes this guide. In my opinion, Kino MacGregor did an exceptional job. She packages the information that took her years of study to assimilate and wrappes it up nicely making it easy and enjoyable for all who have the opportunity to read this book. Every Ashtanga Yoga practitioner should have this one on thier night stand. Along with a qualified teacher, this book will enrich the yoga experience for anyone on the path to life transformation.
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    Vyasa
    June 18, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely rich, deep introduction to yoga
    Kino provides a balanced, deep introduction to yoga. Her book is a quality supplement to practice with a teacher, even if you are not currently an Ash...More
    Kino provides a balanced, deep introduction to yoga. Her book is a quality supplement to practice with a teacher, even if you are not currently an Ashtanga student. I've seen immediate improvement during guided Baptiste classes, simply from following the guidelines on breathing and drishti, covered in the first few chapters of the book.

    From my first read through, it is evident the book will have a permanent place in my library. I'll probably wear it out. Poses are presented with large, clear pictures. Descriptions are detailed, often filling several pages.

    A few things really stand out compared to other yoga books:

    1. Instructions are finely nuanced, without being repetitive or overwhelming. They include the drishti for each pose, as well as how to coordinate movement into the pose with your inhale and exhale.

    2. Careful attention has been paid to aligning written descriptions with the pictures, including left/right sides of the body.

    3. The book offers extensive discussion of modifications, along with steps required to build into the full expressions of poses.

    4. The spiritual side of yoga is presented in a very objective, factual manner. No corny catch phrases or hokey promises.

    Kino has done an incredible job capturing her years of experience teaching others.

    As a relative novice to Ashtanga, I did find piecing the book together into a home practice a little challenging. Questions come up like:

    1. How many times do I repeat Sun A / Sun B at the start of the practice? I've opted for 5 each.

    2. How far into the standing series do I go on day 1? I've opted to just try the whole thing.

    3. When is the closing series introduced into my practice? For now I've chosen to skip the seated series, do back bending, and then go for the full closing series.

    4. When do vinyasas fit in between the postures? This can be figured out on a per pose basis, by reading the detailed text descriptions, but it's difficult to refer to during a practice session.

    This is minor stuff. I'll resolve it when I get to work with an Ashtanga teacher later this month. I think annotation of the primary series pictorial at the end of the book with stuff like "repeat 5x", do vinysasa, hold for X breaths, use thumbs as drishti, "gateway posture", etc. would resolve this. I'll probably do that in my own copy of the book as I learn more.

    Two more points:

    1. The book has highlighted some glaring shortcomings in my existing practice. I was blissfully ignorant, now I have so much work ahead of me.

    2. The pictures are really well done. They deserve to be in full color, and even bigger - like a hard cover coffee table book. I'd get it for sure.

    Overall, one of the few must-buy yoga books.
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    H.M.Tilva
    June 17, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars Find out your true joy by kino ashtanga yoga book
    This is an excellent ashtanga yoga book by kino MacGregar.kino explains every pose how to do it very simple way and how to go way to the spiritual Jou...More
    This is an excellent ashtanga yoga book by kino MacGregar.kino explains every pose how to do it very simple way and how to go way to the spiritual Journey through ashtanga yoga. After reading this book I decided Kono as my guru.
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    Sebastian W.
    June 7, 2013
    Ashtanga Yoga für jeden!
    Obwohl ich ein sehr großer Fan von Kino MacGregor bin, habe ich mich dennoch gefragt: braucht die Welt noch ein neues Buch über die Ashtang Primary Se...More
    Obwohl ich ein sehr großer Fan von Kino MacGregor bin, habe ich mich dennoch gefragt: braucht die Welt noch ein neues Buch über die Ashtang Primary Series? Letztendlich sind es ja schließlich immer die gleichen Asanas und es gibt viele gute Bücher von David Swenson, Gregor Maehle, Tara Fraser oder John Scott. Die Antwort ist jedoch ein eindeutiges "Ja" - ich bin wirklich selbst davon überrascht, wie gut Kinos Buch letztendlich geworden ist.

    Wer Kino Macgregor von ihren Youtube Videos, Workshops, Podcasts oder Blogs kennt, weiß dass sie eine absoluter Profi auf dem Gebiet des Ashtanga Yoga ist und damit meine ich nicht nur ihre beeindruckenden körperlichen Leistungen innerhalb der vierten Ashtanga Serie. Kino steht für Wissen und praktische Tips und an beiden hat sie zum Glück auch nicht in ihrem Buch gespart.

    Los geht es mit "Getting Started with Ashtanga Yoga History and Tradition", ein Kapitel welches über die Herkünfte von Yoga generell, Ashtanga Yoga und Pattabhi Jois spricht. Ebenso erklärt werden grundlegende Begriffe der Yoga Philosophie wie Samskaras, Tappas, etc.

    Da darauf folgende Kapitel "Heart of the method: Breath, Pose and Gaze" erklärt eben die drei fundamentalen Begriffe des Ashtanga Yoga. Es wird erklärt warum man auf bestimmte Punkte schaut, welchen Effekt das Starren während den Asanas hat, warum der Ujjayi Breath so viel Hitze aufbaut, warum wir Vinyasas machen und warum alle drei zusammen Veränderungen auf körperlicher, emotionaler und spiritueller Ebene hervor rufen könnten.

    Das dritte Kapitel beschäftigt sich eingehend mit der "Ashtanga Yoga Diet", sprich einer einfachen vegetarischen Ernährungsweise mit ayurvedischen Einflüssen. Wen das abschreckt, dem sei versichert: es ist kein bloßes Bekehrungskapitel, vielmehr geht es auf grundlegende ayurvedische und yogische Prinzipien ein soll einen nur dazu anregen nachzudenken. Nichts Dramatisches also ;-)

    Das letzte Einführungskapitel "The Spiritual Journey Of Asana" beschäftigt sich noch einmal mit der tieferliegenden Dimension der Yoga Asanas und diskutiert was Yoga von normalem "Sport" unterscheidet.

    Der Hauptteil des Buches bildet natürlich der Praxisteil, der sich mit jeder einzelnen Stellung der Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series befasst. Wer Kino MacGregors Videos oder DVDs oder Workshops kennt weiß, dass sie wirklich praktische Tips liefern kann, die einen tiefer in die Asanas führen. So auch hier: zu jedem Asana gibt es mindestens ein Foto, oft sind es aber mehrere, welche entweder Modifikationen oder das Hinein und Hinauskommen aus dem Asana darstellen. Geschrieben daneben sind detailierte Schritt für Schritt Erklärungen, wie man sich die Asanas am Besten vornimmt. Ebenso aufgelistet wird die Wirkung jeder einzelnen Stellen auf körperlicher, energetischer und spiritueller Ebene. Ich kann wirklich sagen, dass in diesen Teil so viel Wissen hineingepackt wurde, dass es unmöglich ist, alles auf einmal zu erfassen. Ich werde auf jeden Fall öfters Kinos Anleitungen durchlesen, um meine Asana Praxis zu verbessern und zu verfeinern.

    Letztes Kapitel des Buches ist "Strength: The True Power of Yoga" - dieses befasst sich mit den wichtigsten Komponenten, die Stärke erfordern. Die Bandhas werden beispielsweise erklärt und es gibt hilfreiche Anleitungen und Tipps für die Jump Backs und Jump Throughs, sowie Chakrasana.

    Im sog. "Appendix" werden dann noch aufgelistet: Die Ashtanga Yoga Mantras, der genaue Sanskrit Vinyasa Count für die Asanas, sowie die komplette Primary Series in Bildern in einer Übersicht.

    Fazit: Für mich persönlich ein perfektes Ashtanga Yoga Buch. Ich liebe David Swensons Manuel und auch Tara Frasers Ashtanga Buch, aber Kino gibt hier wirklich alles - ihre Einführungskapitel umfassen (auf grundlegender Ebene natürlich) alles, was man über Ashtanga Yoga wissen muss, und der Praxisteil ist ein fantastisches Sammelsurium an Tipps, Kniffen und Hilfen, um auch noch das Letzte aus Ashtanga heraus zu holen. Nachteile gibt es eigentlich keine - ich hätte vllt noch eine Short Form wie in David Swensons Buch oder farbige Fotos gut gefunden, aber das ist wirklich Meckern auf hohem Niveau. Wer also ein wirklich fantastisches Ashtanga Buch für Neueinsteiger (die aber natürlich einen Lehrer suchen sollten) oder auch erfahrene Yogis sucht, sollte unbedingt zugreifen!
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    Fatima P.
    June 6, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Star Book
    I totally recommend this book to anyone wanting to start in the ashtanga vinyasa method, Kino has such great love and devotion for the practice that s...More
    I totally recommend this book to anyone wanting to start in the ashtanga vinyasa method, Kino has such great love and devotion for the practice that she knows how to transmit this to others. It is totally a great resource for new students, old students and for yoga teachers. Thank You Kino for sharing your journey with all the ashtanga community...
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    Liana
    June 5, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars A true gem!
    I'd been waiting for this book to come out since I heard about it months ago. It's wonderfully written for anyone wanting to begin a yoga practice--to...More
    I'd been waiting for this book to come out since I heard about it months ago. It's wonderfully written for anyone wanting to begin a yoga practice--to someone who already has a well established one. It's overall clarity and readability make this an appropriate and fantastic book for anyone looking to dig a little deeper into the realm of yoga!
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    Lu
    June 5, 2013
    5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptionally well-written and organized Ashtanga primer
    Like many Ashtanga practitioners, June 4th, 2013 was a special day. Kino MacGregor's book, "The Power of Ashtanga Yoga" was released and for many of u...More
    Like many Ashtanga practitioners, June 4th, 2013 was a special day. Kino MacGregor's book, "The Power of Ashtanga Yoga" was released and for many of us, delivered to our doorstep that afternoon.

    There are many books on Ashtanga available to the public, notably by David Swenson, Gregor Maehle, and the recently released Astanga Yoga Anusthana by Boss-Man himself, Sharath Jois. Kino's detailed primer on the practice will certainly be praised and heralded with the group mentioned above. Quite frankly, the level of depth and detail blew me away. If you were expecting a thin, casual walk-through of the practice, you will be thrilled that it is the exact opposite and similar in richness and depth as Maehle's book.

    Guruji always taught his teachers, "to teach the way I have taught you." And although books will never replace the authenticity of parampara (lineage) of an authorized teacher, they play a valuable role for both the shala and home-practioner, filling in gaps in both practice and theory. Each book is a representation of how they have learned the practice from Guruji. I find this aspect fascinating.

    The first few chapters are rich in theory: the background of tristhana, the Ashtanga yogic diet and the spiritual journey of the asana. The middle portion focuses on the practice by breaking down each section from sun salutations to standing, sitting, back-bending (including drop backs) and finishing poses with modifications explained when appropriate. The final section focuses on mantras and a pictorial of the entire primary series.

    This book is highly recommended. You can feel the enthusiasm and passion she has for the practice throughout each page. Many thanks, Kino!
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