Sri K. Pattabhi Jois brought Ashtanga yoga from Mysore, India, to the United States in 1975. Considered the most challenging yoga style, Ashtanga contains six increasingly difficult practice levels. The popular primary series focuses on matching breath to movement as one flows through a specific sequence of poses meant to purify the body and calm the mind. The teachers in these DVDs all studied with Jois, who died in 2009 at age 93 and are advanced practitioners. Because the sequences are demanding--even in the primary series--beginners should take it slowly.
Ashtanga Yoga: The Primary Series With Richard Freeman
Richard Freeman, who teaches in Colorado and around the world, offers the standard two-hour primary series practice as he learned it from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. His instruction shows how to connect with your body and breath and maintain good alignment as you flow through a strenuous sequence of postures.
Yoga Short Forms: The Practice With David Swenson
Ashtanga yogis on the go will appreciate these three shortened practices, timed at 15, 30 and 45 minutes, and a 10-minute relaxation. David Swenson, who began practicing Ashtanga in his teens, also stars in the second and third series DVD, which is more of a demonstration on how difficult these postures really are than a practice for the average yogi.
Ashtanga Yoga: Introductory Poses, Master the Essentials With Nicki Doane
Against a scenic background in Hawaii, Nicki Doane leads a basic Ashtanga practice with emphasis on sun salutations A and B, the beginning sequences of the primary series. Doane, who began studying with Jois in the early 1990s, also stresses the importance of ujjayi breathing, a technique that deepens and enhances your practice. The optional feature that explains each pose in depth is helpful for both beginners and those who want to refine their practice.
Ashtanga Yoga: Primary Series With Kino MacGregor
Based in Miami, Kino MacGregor studied Ashtanga with K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, Sharath Rangaswamy. Her high-energy DVD includes step-by-step instructions for beginners and advanced options for those who want more difficulty. Says MacGregor, "The practice of physical yoga is meant as a door, which you will walk through on the journey towards a deeper relationship with yourself." MacGregor also has an intermediate series DVD, which is a demanding sequence of back bends, twists and hip openers.
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