The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga: An Authoritative Presentation, Based on 30 Years of Direct Study under the Legendary Yoga Teacher Krishnamacharya Book

This is a fantastic book, and a precious one. If I could only own one book on Yoga, it would probably be this. As the title proclaims, it is quite complete. The "Vinyasa" that this book deals with has to do first of all with proper SEQUENCING - sequencing within a movement as in how to move in and out of a movement, sequencing within a session as in how to arrange the various components of a session and also how to organize a session so that it is appropriate for particular circumstances of practice, and finally how to sequence one's progress so that the body is gradually prepared to take on more advanced asanas or more challenging variations within an asana. This brings us to the second, related, aspect of Vinyasa, which is VARIATIONS within a pose. Variations are hardly ever taught or practiced in the contemporary, popular styles of Yoga today, but as the author said, his guru Sri T. Krishnamacharya, the "grandfather" of modern Hatha Yoga, never taught yoga without teaching the variations within a pose. Having studied for 30 years with Sri. Krishnamacharya (unlike other students including BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois who studied for only a few years), the author has a good understanding of the philosophy that underlaid yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya. In this book, he attempts to share it with us.

This has got to be the most coherent, logical, concise and complete presentation of Yoga asana practice ever written. The very organization of this book itself is instructive. There are only 12 chapters, and they divide yoga movement and sequences into 12 categories, namely asanas that are standing, asymmetrical seated, seated posterior stretch, one legged, supine, bow, triangle, inverted, meditative, and lotus - all with their vinyasa sequences - plus visesha vinyasa kramas which include Sun Salutations and sequences stemming from Downward Facing Dog, and finally winding down sequences. The organization itself contains a philosophy and methodology of practice that is graduated, methodological, and SAFE. It can be adapted for any kind of person of any age or condition, and it can also help prepare the person to advance from simple to more advanced levels in a safe and methodological way.

Now, you won't find this kind of detail or teaching in any other book on Yoga. Take "Light on Yoga" by BKS Iyengar for example. That book is packed with photos of Iyengar in complicated final poses (i.e. without any vinyasas or variations). At the back of the book, he gave suggestions for week-by-week practice. Practices suggested for very first week included full head-stand. Now this is dangerous to say the least. I know, because I tried his suggestions when I was in my 20s. I suffered from an upper back injury from doing head-stand unprepared which has plagued me until now. I now know why this happened - because I did not do it on a firm surface and with proper back support, because I did not prepare the body with proper asanas that should precede head-stand, and because I have mild scoliosis of the spine. People who have scoliosis or any kind of spinal problem should not do inverted poses or should do them with the greatest caution and then only minimally.

Having sung the praises of this book, I must point to some areas that do detract from the completeness of this book. One thing which users of this book should be aware of is that they should adapt the suggestions to their own conditions. For example, the author gives the sequences with jumps and lunges which cannot be performed by most people, and which should not indeed be performed generally by people unless they are very fit or very young. Another important thing that is not covered is what poses should be avoided or adapted (and how) for body conditions including scoliosis, lordosis, leg length difference, knee pain, pelvic tilt, and so on, as well as for different ages and genders. This is very much a part of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya, as can be seen in the work of other longtime students such as Krishnamacharya's son and the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, and in the work of A.G. Mohan who studied with Krishnamacharya in the last 2 decades of his life. Those who want to understand the therapeutic and vini-yoga (systematic approach to teaching and adapting yoga for the individual) aspects of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya can refer to the works of A.G Mohan for greater insight.

To sum up, this book is an invaluable reference for yoga teachers and students who really want to practice good yoga and safe yoga, with the important caveat that sequences should be adapted accordingly to the user's bodily conditions. Ideally, this book should be studied alongside those of A.G. Mohan which covers the the adaptation of yoga for the individual in greater detail. Used rightly, this book is a wonderful resource. The knowledge imparted gives me confidence as a teacher and a student of yoga; I know that this is a book that will accompany my yoga practice for life.