The Power of Ashtanga Yoga: Developing a Practice That Will Bring You Strength, Flexibility, and Inner Peace--Includes the complete Primary Series Paperback – June 4, 2013

I have been exploring a yoga practice since I was 17 and stumbled across my mom's VHS copy of Raquel Welch doing what I later learned is the Bikram series (sans heat, which I strongly recommend). Almost 30 years later, I am still exploring and yoga never ceases to amaze me. My fascination with the practice, and desire to experience many different "forms" led me to take Kundalini yoga teacher training and to this day I rotate between that, Ashtanga (and the wonderful variation on that theme which is presented by Bryan Kest) and Bikram (practiced at home). Part of me admires people who can choose one path and walk it with utter devotion without meandering off to explore other areas because I am not that gal. My body loves to experience so many different things and each type of yoga I have embraced has brought with it some unique and beautiful lessons and healing.Like most yoga-nuts, I am familiar with Kino and have watched her videos on Youtube, which offer quick and powerful tips on various postures, many of which changed my entire approach and experience of something I had been doing for decades, so I already know what a remarkable teacher she is. What surprises and delights me in this book is what a lovely writer she is as well. Her deep love and abiding passion for the practice comes through loud and clear, dripping from every well-chosen word.This book is a gorgeous companion to ANY yoga practice, regardless of sequence or form. It is inspiring, informative and offers physical modifications and perspective which will benefit any style of practice. She offers up her own story, which gives us a glimpse into her connection to yoga and what it means, as well as invaluable information for even an advanced beginner or intermediate yogi (like breathing cues and drishtis).While the sneak peek inside of the book on amazon doesn't show this, there are tons of beautiful photos as well, making it very clear and helpful for someone exploring the Primary Series for the first time (or maybe someone who's rusty, ahem, or just loves the insight you receive when you open to a lot of teachers instead of just one or two). The book is so beautiful I wish they offered a hardcover edition with color photos inside, but even as-is I honestly feel that this book stands alongside "Light on Yoga", "Yoga Mala" and David Swenson's indispensable book in terms of content. Yes, it is that good.And I can tell you this...my practice has been FAR from consistent lately but reading this reminds me of just what my life and body are missing by skipping mat time and has compelled me to reconnect. I don't know of higher praise than that for a book about yoga.

I've practiced Ashtanga since 2000, took a small break in 2008 and came back full swing in 2012. The first thing I did after I'd been practicing for a few months again was to drive to Chicago to study with Kino at Moksha Yoga.I was always someone who poo pooed anyone younger than me and thought how could they possibly know more than I do, and was amazed at myself that I was actually learning from this being who is almost a decade younger than I am and who had started practicing around the exact same time as me. But of course, she was approaching it differently than I was and from her own perspective. I'm still not sure what angle I was approaching it from lol.Just a couple weeks ago I received my book in the mail and the following weekend drove to Chicago again to study with this lovely young lady and this time she blew me away, moreso than last time.Its amazing to me how she juxtaposes the spiritual side of this particular asana practice with the extreme physicality of this practice and inspires and delights you into doing more, and more. The book and its narrative are no exception.From her insight into what each section of the practice is about to her insight on diet and even the elusive bandhas, that no one has ever given instruction on to my liking, until now that is, she takes you on a journey deep inside yourself so that you are ready to take a look at why you do this practice and to keep questioning yourself along the way, as we are ever evolving creatures, who are hopefully using this practice to navigate our way through life with as few chinks in our armor as possible.Beginners should buy this because it will show them there is so much more than just the extreme physicality, but how to use the marriage of the breath and the movement (along with the bandhas) to deepen their experience and take themselves to new realms.But also experienced practitioners like myself will benefit just as much because her take on Ashtanga is unique and completely inspired from the fact that she's dived deep into herself through this practice. It shows the vulnerability and the strength that one can achieve through the sustained practice of the Ashtanga Yoga method.We should all applaud this effort, and of course, purchase it!