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Ashtanga Yoga - An Active Practice, Introductory Poses

Ashtanga Yoga - An Active Practice, Introductory Poses

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $15.98
Product Info Reviews

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Description:

Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga: An Active Practice, Introductory Poses offers another take on the gamut (or glut) of yoga videos out there. Instead of picking the "time crunched yoga workout" or "weight-loss/relaxation/back/stomach" workout theme, Yoga Journal's Ashtanga Yoga presents a straightforward, old-fashioned set of beginner asanas (poses) in the rigorous Ashtanga method. Ashtanga yoga places emphasis on focusing inward, using "breath-synchonized movement" to flow from pose to pose in a precise order. This is not a "yoga's greatest hits" composite stretching video, but rather an introduction to a very specific method of practice. The video begins with some chanting in the hero pose, and instructor Nicki Doane invites viewers to repeat along after her. While standing on a scenic ledge in Hawaii, Doane slowly demonstrates the two beginning series, Sun Salutation A and B, which include familiar poses such as warrior, plank, and downward dog. Her instruction style and voice is markedly different from the dreamy and almost soporific likes of Patricia Waldon or Susanne Deason. Doane keeps the viewer "active" by punctuating the silences with her strong, almost stern voice and demonstrating each pose with her incredibly strong body. This viewer lost count as to how many "pushups" she does from plank to upward dog positions. The 60-minute tape covers ujjayi breathing and a few cursory poses outside of the familiar Sun Salutation, and could serve as either a basic wake-up sort of video, or merely an introduction to very basic poses. Viewers with this solid base introduction to the flow of Ashtanga yoga practice will be well-prepared for the next step. --Gilia Angell
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