Ashtanga Yoga : The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to Dynamic Yoga

Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to practicing Ashtanga Yoga at home
Review: After a long search (I looked at dozens of books) for practicing Ashtanga Yoga at home, I found this book which I think is the best of them all. I use this book as a supplement to my yoga classes. It is clearly written with very detailed photos showing the poses and the entire sequence of movement. Extremely easy to follow and therefore very encouraging! I highly recommend this book. It has helped me practice yoga at home.

Rating:
Summary: Really!
Review: Complete and admirable presentation of Ashtanga Yoga foundamentals and the whole first series.More so than the David Swenson book,stays true to the way PK Jois teaches the first series.John Scott is an amazing practitioner and a great teacher in his own right, and that shows clearly in this book.Highly recommended for all Ashtanga practitioners and for beginners that have a teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to follow
Review: I just bought this book about a week ago and so far am really enjoying it. I had taken an Ashtanga Yoga class 3 years ago and really enjoyed it, but then quit my practice. I've been looking for a good book/manual that shows the sequences, and this is the best one I've found. It's easy to read, and the photographs are very helpful. It also is very good in that it tells you the proper breathing techniques, i.e. when to inhale/exhale for each transition move. Great book for both the beginner and someone looking for a nice review of Ashtanga Yoga.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to follow
Review: I just bought this book about a week ago and so far am really enjoying it. I had taken an Ashtanga Yoga class 3 years ago and really enjoyed it, but then quit my practice. I've been looking for a good book/manual that shows the sequences, and this is the best one I've found. It's easy to read, and the photographs are very helpful. It also is very good in that it tells you the proper breathing techniques, i.e. when to inhale/exhale for each transition move. Great book for both the beginner and someone looking for a nice review of Ashtanga Yoga.

Rating:
Summary: Great book on Ashtanga practice and philosophy
Review: I like to think of this book as a cross between David Swenson's Ashtanga Practice Manual and Yoga Mala. Scott's book only cover's the primary series, while Swenson's book covers both the Primary and Intermediate Series. The big difference is the level of detail Scott offers with getting into and out of each pose. Swenson offers three to four variations of every posture displayed, while Scott only displays the "correct" version of each posture. While Swenson gives a great break down of each pose in the Sun Salutation A & B, Standing, Primary, Intermediate, and Finishing series, Scott gives explicit detail of how to get into and out of every pose. Swenson gives pictures (and pictures of modifications) of each pose in the Sun Salutation A & B, Standing, Primary, and Finishing series. Scott offers some philisophy and opening and closing prayers (similar but not as detailed as Yoga Mala). Scott also offers tremendous detail on sychronizing the breath with each movement. It is a more visual representation (but not quite as detailed version) of what a person would get reading Yoga Mala. In addition, Scott gives the Sanskrit count of each movement of the two Sun Salutation series.

Overall, Scott offers a tremendous break down of the Primary Series, each pose is explained in enough detail to allow an advanced practioner to appreciate the subtleties of linking breath and movement, while being easy enough for a beginner (along with attending regular classes with an instrutor) to read and gain a deeper understanding of the Primary Series. The opening and closing prayers are good too (and not found in Swenson's book). I would suggest using Swenson's book to see each pose and find a modified version (if necessary) that suites your skill level, while using Scott's book after you feel confident in your practice to go deeper into the Primary Series. Again, this book is a great way to gain further understanding of the Primary Series and would probably make a great teacher's aid.

Rating:
Summary: a book worth having
Review: If you like yoga to be more strenuous, this book may be for you. It shows a series of ashtanga exercises in words and pictures. The poses are so well explained that you won't need an instructor. Unfortunately, many are out of my reach, although I have been practicing yoga for two years. I simply pick out the ones I like and leave the rest for contortionists. But if you either start young or you have a background of gymnastics or ballet, this book will teach you ashtanga yoga at its best.

Unlike other forms of yoga, ashtanga includes flowing poses, a series of individual poses that are stringed together so that you flow from one into the other. Those are great exercises for developing balance, rhythm and strength.

The author places great emphasis on breathing and explains clearly how to breathe at each step. This is very useful and can be transferred to other yoga exercises as well. Another plus: The book focuses on physical exercise and does not go into nutrition or lifestyle.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book on Ashtanga Yoga I have come across.
Review: John Scott goes into great detail to talk about yoga theory, especially the Ahstanga breath, and the internal locks used through the practice. It is the first book I have seen which explains the difficult vinyasa transitions is such a lucid manner, using full color photographs to illustrate each subtlety. Another outstanding feature is that John takes you through how to enter and exit each posture step by step, breath by breath. I have been doing Ashtanga yoga for five years, and this book has helped me greatly in my own practice and as a teacher. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to students of all levels. Thank you for this beautiful work John Scott!

Rating:
Summary: Not suitable for beginners
Review: This is a really good book. I really mean it. It's obvious that the author's knowledge about yoga is truly wide. Despite this, I find the instructions a little hard to understand and the excercises are a little bit too tough for me. These days I'm having a first contact with yoga and I believe that starting out with a little hatha yoga practise for a couple of months will prepare you for what's inside this book but, I don't think you should try it as your first workout ever. I would give it 5 stars if it the book made a progression from first-time yoguis to advanced practisioners - I think the book fails in this beacuse a little previous knowledge and practise are needing (from my point of view).

Rating:
Summary: Ashtanga Yoga: The Definitive step by step guide
Review: What a wonderful book. John tells us right off to seek lessons from a qualified teacher. The pictures and writing come together after one lesson. The clarity of the photographs demystifies the movements. John's book allows me to work at home at my own pace.
In class the instructor was amazed how quickly I caught onto the movements. I am able now to concentrate on the positive aspects of my class instruction.
Thank you John Scott!