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David Swenson – The Practice Ashtanga Yoga The Second and Third Series DVDProduct details: This DVD contains the complete Second and Third Series of Ashtanga Yoga. It is designed for those already proficient at First Series. Ashtanga Yoga should be learned under the guidance and supervision of a qualified instructor and then this program may be utilzed as a tool to enhance personal practice rather than the sole avenue of learning. Ashtanga is a set series of poses (ie the same poses every time). It is an active, moving type of yoga. You get very hot and sweaty as you simultaniously build strength and flexiblity.You should learn yoga under the guidance of a competent teacher. Ashtanga is a daily practice but if you can’t make it to class every day this DVD is an excellent way to practice at home.This DVD is not for Novices and Beginners and for Advanced users. If you are new to yoga there is no substitute for a live teacher. Either take a class or better yet a few private lessons so you develop a strong foundation from the beginning.It is an excellent DVD for those with previous Ashtanga experience who want to do a led practice. Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Ashtanga-Yoga-Practice-2nd-3rd/dp/189…Reviews:1. A True Master presenting Ashtanga Yoga Practice Far beyond novice or common YogaThe Second and Third Series of Ashtanga Yoga as presented here by David Swenson is obviously a work of love between David Swenson and Ashtanga Yoga. David is an accomplished practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga, even presenting on another dvd even more advanced postures than on this dvd. Throughout the dvd, David keeps up a running commentary on the postures and some alternate postures – most demonstrated on the dvd – that is excellent, non invasive, helpful and informative.David Swenson, according to the dvd box, started Ashtanga Yoga at age 13. Judging from his appearance, I am going to guess he is near 60. He studied in India with K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India, learning the entire system of Ashtanga Yoga.The Yoga practitioner needs to realize, and the box so states, that this is very advanced Yoga. In fact the common individual doing Yoga in the usual gym or YMCA will recognize only two or three of the many postures David demonstrates. This level of Yoga requires competency in several foot behind the head postures, at least seven different headstand postures, and the ability to stand on one’s hands and swing either or both legs into many difficult and challenging positions moving from one to the other posture without dropping off the hands. Just doing gymnastic tiger bends is barely scratching the surface of this practice. The ability to jump the legs through under the body into different positions is taken as basic and integral. The only other practitioners I have seen make their practice at this level public is Rodney Yee on his “Advanced” dvd and also friends of David Swenson with David, all direct students of K. Pattabhi Jois, who put on examples of the Ashtanga Yoga Advanced Series on another one of David Swenson’s Ashtanga Yoga dvds.David also states emphatically that this is not an instructional dvd, but a practice meme. And that any person desiring to practice at this level needs to find a qualified instructor before even beginning. Very few individuals claim to be doing this level of Yoga.So that all being said, the dvd is well done, well shot, well formatted, informative, entertaining for those who are curious about advanced Yoga. The only way to improve it that I can imagine is putting the English names of the postures in subscripts.2. Great video from an awesome teacher and practitioner of ashtanga yogaI had the amazing opportunity to practice and learn under the humble guidance of David Swenson. It stuck with me and both my practice and wisdom were well compensated after the weekend workshop i attended with him. Very inspiring person, a teacher of true yoga. Even though the practices on the dvd are advanced ashtanga practices there is great inspiration in both the movement and word of this well rounded teacher.Studio: Ashtanga Yoga ProductionsRun Time: 139 minutesPrice: $24.95