You will learn the background and applications of each of the three forms of yoga: Karma, Bhakti and Jnana.
by Gregor Maehle
In this much-anticipated follow-up to his first book, Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Maehle offers a detailed and multifaceted guide to Ashtanga Yoga’s Intermediate Series. An expert yogi and teacher, Maehle will guide you to your next level with an unprecedented depth of anatomical explanation and unparalleled attention to the philosophical and mythological heritage of the practice.
You will learn the background and applications of each of the three forms of yoga: Karma, Bhakti and Jnana; how to use Indian myth and cosmology to deepen your practice; the importance of the Sanskrit language to the yogic tradition; and the mythology behind the names of the 27 postures.
Also covered are the functions and limitations of body parts integral to the Intermediate Series, including the spine, the sacroiliac joint, the shoulder joint and the hip joint; and how to reap the full benefits of practicing the Intermediate Series.
Maehle meticulously explores all 27 postures of the series through photos, anatomical line drawings and practical, informative sidebars.
He also discusses the philosophical and spiritual background of Ashtanga Yoga and places the practice within the context of Indian cultural history. With passionate erudition, he will prepare you to reap physical, spiritual and mental fulfillment from your evolving practice.
$26.95 — New World Library, 14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 29, Number 1, February/March 2010.
April 15, 2012
Book review