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

Aradicalpresentationofthemostrigorousformofcontemporaryyogaasmeditationinmotion.TheArtofVinyasatakesauniquelookatAshtangayogaasmeditationinmotionthatproducesprofoundinnerchange.Twoofthemostwell-respectedteachersoftheAshtangastyleofyoga,RichardFreemanandMaryTaylor,explorethisrigorouspracticenotasagymnasticfeat,butasameditativeform.Theyrevealthatdoingthepractice--andparticularlythevinyasa,orthebreath-synchonizedmovements--insuchadeepandfocusedwayallowspractitionerstoexperienceaprofoundawakeningofthebodyandmind.Italsodevelopsanadaptable,flexiblepracticethatcanlastalifetime.FreemanandTaylorgiveanin-depthexplanationofform,alignment,andanatomy,andhowtheyworktogetherinthepractice.Theyalsopresentaholisticapproachtoasanapracticethatincludesanawarenessofthesubtlebreath,andseamlesslymergesyogaphilosophywithpracticaltechnique.UnlikeotherbooksonAshtanga,TheArtofVinyasadoesnotfollowthelinearpatternofthesequencesofposturesthatarethehallmarkofAshtangayoga.Instead,itinterlinkstheeightlimbs--yamaandniyama(ethicalpractices);asana(postures);pranayama(breathing);pratyahara(nongraspingofthesenses);dharana(concentration);dhyana(meditation);andsamadhi(harmony,insight)--andshowshowtoestablishaninternallyrootedyogapractice.ThebookwillbefullyillustratedwithfiftyhalftonesbyesteemedphotographerandcinematographerRobertMuratore,alongwiththirtyillustrations.