Guest guest Posted December 12, 2000 Report Share Posted December 12, 2000 FROM SWENSON'S BOOK!<br><br>I am a beginner in Ashtanga Yoga and still struggling to build up my practice of the Primary Series.<br><br>I was using the "Short Forms" in David Swenson's "Practice Manual" as a starting point from which to proceed gradually to Full Flow. But my experience with Swenson's shorties is that they are confusing at best. There are surely better ways to shorten the sequence when time is limited.<br><br>Lu, if you want to learn how to do Primary Series properly in the correct way and from a truly great master, buy John Scott's wonderful new "Ashtanga Yoga" book. You can order it in Germany from Amazon.de (takes 2 weeks up to delivery). I am planning to review Scott's book in one of my posts this week.<br><br>BUT PLEASE DON'T TRY TO LEARN PRIMARY FROM DAVID SWENSON'S "PRACTICE MANUAL"! His book is a mess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2000 Report Share Posted December 12, 2000 <<Lu, if you want to learn how to do Primary Series properly in the correct way and from a truly great master, buy John Scott's wonderful new "Ashtanga Yoga" book. You can order it in Germany from Amazon.de (takes 2 weeks up to delivery). I am planning to review Scott's book in one of my posts this week.<br>BUT PLEASE DON'T TRY TO LEARN PRIMARY FROM DAVID SWENSON'S "PRACTICE MANUAL"! His book is a mess!>><br><br>i may have misinterpreted you here, but as i read it, the inferences i take from your post are:<br><br>1) that david swenson's book does not 'teach' the first series in the properly correct way (sic)<br>2) that david swenson is a false master<br>3) that you have some basis for which you feel capable to 'review' an instructional book on ashtanga yoga<br><br>as i am finding to be the case more and more often, i have to agree with the senior here: ashtanga yoga is not something in which you are going to be able to learn properly from any book, even yoga mala. nor will any video, in and of itself, be an adequate source of instruction. they are wonderful instructional aids, yes. i can't imagine trying to build asound practice based on those inputs alone, however.<br><br>as for his book being a mess, well i think that the preponderance of people who have posted on the topic of instructional books would heartily disagree with you. it is one of the most user friendly books out there. it can lay flat so that you can refer to it during a practice. it gives lots of options (with pictures of those variations) for people who can't yet fully get into a given posture. it provides a lot of discussion about each posture, vinyasas, and the non-asana based nuances of an ashtanga practice.<br><br>i don't know you at all, obviously. i know mr swenson only from a brief interaction at guruji's workshop tour and from his book. if i had to tender a guess on where the 'mess' actually exists, though, i would not pick mr swenson or his book.<br><br>as for an 'easier' way to do a shortened practice: determine at the start how much of the finishing postures you feel you want or need to do and see how much time it takes you to do them. then do as much of the standing postures, and if time permits, the first series as you have time remaining for. <br><br>from one beginner to another, i look forward to your expert review. there seems to be a run on that sort of thing here lately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2000 Report Share Posted December 12, 2000 I am surprised that anyone could find "the practice manual" confusing in any way, as it, like astanga, is so linear... and the additional main tenets (breath, vinyasa, drishti, bandhas) are clearly and eloquently explained.... So......<br>I may not have a ton of experience but I would love to do my best to help you understand anything you are not getting from the book.<br>1) What do you find confusing about the short forms?<br>2) What do you mean by "a mess"?<br>I have only been doing my best to practice astanga for 2 years, and have only had limited times with qualified teachers, but I am glad to share what I know...<br>email me if you wish: rwintski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2000 Report Share Posted December 12, 2000 Unca S says: all yoga books & manuals are pretty darn limited, compared to learning first hand from a good teacher. Tapes are better, but still very limited. <br><br>Still, something is better than nothing...unless you're an advaistist.<br><br>Sententiously yours...<br><br>US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2000 Report Share Posted December 12, 2000 Instead of flaming Swenson's book with "His book is a mess!", could you instead give some concrete examples of where you see his book falling short?<br>Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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