In January of 2008 during one of the many electricity cuts in Mysore, Martina and I looked at Mathew's book by candle-light sitted on the floor.
We would look at, say, Marichasana F (yes there is an F) and then we would look at each other while lit up just by the horrifying shadows of a moving flame and go: "no!, impossible!", then break up laughing. We did this for hours. No electricity!
The book is spiral binded which makes it easy to turn pages and even display in poster style, should you want to, which you may.
He has a great introduction in which he talks about Jois, Krishnamacharya, the practice, the ujjaji breath, alignment, core postures of the first and second series, bandhas and more. He spared no details and it is a pleasure to read.
But the most important and great addition in my eyes is all the pictures that come afterwards, it is like having a huge poster on all the series.
Not only does he have picture after picture of all the asanas in each of primary, intermediate, advanced A and B, which could be used from the perspective of a student learning the series -in the beginning of the book-, but also, at the end of the book he has a description of the vinyasas together with counts, pictures, and number of breaths which could be very useful from the point of view of a new teacher.
On the second set of photographs you can learn where you inhale, where you exhale, for how long, and how you move from one asana to the other (vinyasas). Great resource.
I was particularly inspired by the backbending asana and vinyasa page. It was good to finally reconcile how it is supposed to be done exactly -at least the way he learned it-
Somehow, looking at the picture made me realize that perhaps attempting to come back up from the back bend and into standing instead of dropping back might be a way to get started.
We would look at, say, Marichasana F (yes there is an F) and then we would look at each other while lit up just by the horrifying shadows of a moving flame and go: "no!, impossible!", then break up laughing. We did this for hours. No electricity!
The book is spiral binded which makes it easy to turn pages and even display in poster style, should you want to, which you may.
He has a great introduction in which he talks about Jois, Krishnamacharya, the practice, the ujjaji breath, alignment, core postures of the first and second series, bandhas and more. He spared no details and it is a pleasure to read.
But the most important and great addition in my eyes is all the pictures that come afterwards, it is like having a huge poster on all the series.
Not only does he have picture after picture of all the asanas in each of primary, intermediate, advanced A and B, which could be used from the perspective of a student learning the series -in the beginning of the book-, but also, at the end of the book he has a description of the vinyasas together with counts, pictures, and number of breaths which could be very useful from the point of view of a new teacher.
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| From the second set of photographs where he includes all vinyasas |
I was particularly inspired by the backbending asana and vinyasa page. It was good to finally reconcile how it is supposed to be done exactly -at least the way he learned it-
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| Urdhva Dhanurasana - first line Vinyasa for Primary (drop backs) second line and Vinyasa for Intermediate (tick tacks) third line |
So, for those of you with visual preferences, this is the book to have! The price is a bit high but definitely worth it.
I bought it in Mysore on the last trip and use it often for reference and inspiration.
I bought it in Mysore on the last trip and use it often for reference and inspiration.
actually i walk more, practise less, may be it is to travel
ReplyDeleteam contemplating getting this one, too. only thing is i read from amazon.com that someone said the pictures are like stamps, too small. are they?
ReplyDeleteThe essential tool for Ashtanga blogging. Funny enough I've just been using it for the last hour adding titles to the poses in my flikr album.
ReplyDeleteI've used it for the last couple of years Cory, in practice, propped up against the wall near my mat. Switching back and forth between Vinyasa krama as I have every now and then, I'd sometimes forget what comes next or where i am.
I learned 2nd series, Advanced A and ventured into Advanced B with this as a guide. So not only essential for the Ashtanga blogger but for the home Ashtangi too.
But even apart from the pictures it has an excellent into to the practice, the low down on splitting, bandhas, how to integrate your practice and much more besides.
His 2nd book, Vinyasa krama is interesting too with an asana library that would be sure to give you another night of giggles Claudia
you can never have enough of books ;-) looks great Claudia - thanks - i am intrigued and will try and invest in it.
ReplyDeleteIvana
Claudia
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review .I hope to get this book in due course .Matthew Sweeney is one of the world's best Ashtanga teachers who keeps a very low profile . Except for one audio interview of his , I have not seen him much of his interviews on net .I hope to get to know more about him and his unique style of Ashtanga Vinyasa Teaching .
I'm waiting inpatiently for the vinyasa krama book to come to me :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lila, not sure what you mean hope you are well...
ReplyDeleteCory, yes the pix are small, but excellent to follow the flow or to have as a practice aid. It is a different kind of book, there is no individual descriptions but I love how ghe vinyasas are described, it is one of a kind ... I see you also commented on the vinyasa karma one and how you are waiting on it, I probably will too
Grimly, yeah I noticed te second book and would like too see it too, I agree with you on the first part of the book too, it is a great read...
Krishna, that is true. It is not easy to find Matthew teaching around the world... And I ink I have heard thAt interview you speak of...
Hope this comment goes up, I had one all written and it dissappeared in the iPad void...
he seemed to put himself about a bit more a couple of years ago. Actually i think he might be in the UK pretty soon or just left.
ReplyDeleteThe second book is made up of his own sequences, moon and lion are the better known ones. Interestingly he also has one called Pancha Krama (fifth series :) which he says is 'similar to Advanced c of Fifth series'. There's also a big treatment of jump back and through broken down into picture sequences like in the rest of the book but several different versions. Also dropback and tictak. there;s a breathing and meditation section and some guidelines on teaching.
The asana library is a excellent but the whole thing is A3. Cory will like the bigger pictures but It's a little awkward.
Put it on the christmas present list, you wouldn't use it in your Ashtanga practice perhaps but it's a joy to have
Nice review, Claudia. I should check out this book now. He's coming to Minneapolis for a week in late July. Am still thinking about whether to go to that.
ReplyDeleteHm, so the UK and Mineapolis, guess he might be starting to get around again, I would like to meet him, maybe he'll come to the NY area at some point...
ReplyDeleteBook sounds really interesting Grimmly, not sure will be able to wait for christmas especially on the part of the jump through and jump backs... hmmm, wonder if I still have a gift certificate from things that got sold from the blog... might have an idea there...
Thanks Nobel... taugh choice there, I would be tempted too!
Claudia, thanks for the timely review and post. I live in Rochester, Minnesota and have my eyes on the July Sweeney workshop in Minneapolis too. (Nobel, maybe I'll see you there!)
ReplyDeleteSo funny to me how small the world can be...
Ha, that is kind of interesting Mike! yes very small ashtanga world... :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, great review. I love both his books. He is very concise and mentions details about the tradition that have been left out of other books. Like you I love the section where he breaks down the vinyasa. His book is often off my shelf.
ReplyDeleteI studied with him about three years ago. He was an excellent teacher, very knowledgable and great at communicating what he knows. He did a workshop in Manchester which is near me, last weekend and some of my students went, they loved it.
Hi Helen, yes I guess that is a good way to put it, it is also "off my shelf" right by me now, I like looking at it... so, he was in Manchester too last weekend... wow, suddenly it seems we are covering his tracks ;-) I think he has a website, wonder if he may be coming to the north east now... Good to read from you :-)
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE this book! Agree that it's a little pricey compared to other Ashtanga books out there, but it's so worth it, especially to have the entire Primary Series laid out in 1 page for easy reference. My favorite part though, is the first half of the book where he shares his views on the lineage, bandhas, diet, sex, etc etc. Very illuminating.
ReplyDeleteHi savasanaaddict, that is interesting that you use it for reference, guess the size of the pictures do not much matter then... I like it quite a bit myself :-)
ReplyDeletei looked through his website after i read your post and listened through his interview. he does seem a humble man and i love he laughs a lot
ReplyDeletehere is where the interview can be found http://yogapeeps.com/main/2007/episode-41-matthew-sweeney-australia-2/271
ivana
Excellent, thanks Ivana for the link :-)
ReplyDelete