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David Swenson – The Practice Ashtanga Yoga The Advanced A and B Series DVDProduct details: An historic presentation of the original Advanced A & B series never before documented. On this DVD you will find the original Advanced A and B Series of Ashtanga Yoga as demonstrated by some of it’s first Western practitioners. The postures flow with grace and poise from one to the next in an exquisite symphony of movement. This historic DVD is filmed on the island of Maui and set to music. It is a visual feast of natures beauty and a sincere portrayal of an advanced level of yoga practice rarely seen.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-Advanced-B-DVD/dp/18912…Reviews:1. Informative, inspiring, and totally amazing!I am a huge fan of David Swenson, so it is no surprise that this DVD gets me gushing. The settings are stunning. The participants are truly inspiring. I loved the informal discussion among them prior to the actual practice section.2. Incredibly awe inspiringThis video with David Swenson and four other fellow yogis is just incredible! While it is not meant as a practice tape it is a demonstration of the ashtanga system at it’s highest level.These asanas and the performance by these very advanced practitioners are truly a sight to behold, poetry in motion.I find it is a wonderful tape to watch just before doing my actual practice because it is so inspiring.It is beautifully filmed (both in terms of the location and camera quality) which makes it a pleasure to watch from a visual perspective. It also has beautiful yet subtle background music which adds to the overall viewing experience.One little note, there are two out-takes at the end of the credits where you get to see these amazing yogis struggle with and fall out of some poses. It shows not only that they are only human (which after watching them perform the asanas in this series may be hard to believe, but that there is a sense of humor underlying their practice along with their obvious dedication.3. Beauty in motionThis is not an instructional dvd by any means. It shows you what a few dedicated Ashtanga yoga practitioners can accomplish with dedication, discipline, and the love of practicing this yoga method. I think everyone on this dvd is in their 50’s. They all look amazing and show you that age doesn’t mean a thing if you stay active and healthy. The dvd just shows you the possibilities of what you can accomplish with a regular practice.Totally awsome!4. Excellent as an entertainment not for learningI loved this DVD… I didn’t know really how was it, but also I had no expectations… i just wanted to see how an advance practice look like and I got that in a very relaxing way, everything happens at the beach, a beautiful natural space. David and his friends share some things about their yoga journey and I loked that a lot. As I say, if you are expecting an instructional video, you should not buy it, I mean, you can see the vinyasas and everything… but is more to know and appreciate the advance practice and entertain yourserlf.5. Not written on leavesDavid Swenson, David Williams, Helena Berg, Lucy Martorella and Robert Boustany perform the Advanced “A” and “B” series of Ashtanga Yoga. This may be the only record of these series available to the general Yoga audience; advanced “A” and “B” are no longer taught; they have been broken down into series 3 through 6. In all probability, within a generation the details of these series would have been lost. As a record alone this video is invaluable. The production values are very high, image and sound excellent. Mr. Swenson narrates the video giving the names and historical details of the postures. If you are interested in Ashtange Yoga this video is worth ten times the price.6. With Love and Respect For My Fellow YoginThis video is a must-have for any yoga practitioner, especially those students of Ashtanga Yoga. I know all of the participants very well, and have practiced extensively with them all — except Robert Boustany. I am in the closing credits as “Location Manager” having made arrangements for the segments shot at a private estate on North Shore Maui. This video distills thousands of hours of practice and teaching by some very advanced long-tme Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners, and it is a pleasure to behold what folks were able to do who were all at least in their ’50s (at the time this video was shot in the late ’90s). Awesome.7. The PinnacleThis is the pinnacle of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system, as taught by PK Jois of Mysore,India.The asanas are very advanced and impressive.This is strictly a demonstration video,filmed in beautiful outside locations, it’s not a video to practice with.The practitioners are not all equal in their yoga prowess, but they are all advanced teachers, with tens of years of experience each.You get to see how the student has become better than the teacher but you also get to hear that yoga is more than impressive asanas.As usual, David Swenson, is floating on a thick cushion of air throughout this video, doing handstands and aerodynamic landings with apparent ease and grace.People who think their asanas are good, might be humbled by the experience. A very inspiring video.Studio: Ashtanga Yoga ProductionsRun Time: 90 minutesPrice: $24.95