Ashtanga Yoga: 2nd & 3rd Series

Review Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson The Second and Third SeriesThe 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.Note this dvd is copyright 2008. I have another dvd of David Swenson also doing the 2d and 3d series of Ashtanga Yoga, copyright 2002. While I did not compare the 2 dvd's in detail, they appear to be the same session as the setting and clothes are identical.

I got this thinking it would be a good intermediate yoga work out. Instead it turns out it's a series of contortionist stunts and frozen poses you've seen in men's olympic gymnastics on uneven parallel bars. If you can put your foot behind your head is the prerequisite to this DVD. From there, you extend the other leg, lift youreslf up like a pushup on 2 hands and hop around. Also jumping into handstands from a seated position, and various other contortions while doing handstands.The production quality is POOR, a dark interior background with clay pots sitting around. The video is grainy, like it was videotaped back in the 70s and more recently unearthed and dubbed to DVD.The photo and intro sequence shows a pastoral scene by a lake - but that ends there. The rest of the DVD is just ugly. I actually felt sick after watching it and trying to follow along and I've practiced yoga for 20 years. It's like watching a master contortinist with no expression or joy. Finally i said why am I doing this. THis is terrible. I can't believe I paid for this DVD.

I 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.

David Swenson is the man!

If you're looking for a "yoga workout", look elsewhere. This is not a workout but a demonstration of Ashtanga second and third series. David Swenson is inspiring to watch, to say the least. He demonstrates exlempary form and calm that is the result of years of dedicated practice. If you are an aspiring ashtangi, this DVD will show you that yoga is a life long practice - not a workout. I highly recommend this for your library.

This yoga video is for the advanced yet David gives you enough instructions to go into modified positions. Just attempting to do this workout for a occassional change has really enhanced my overall practise. I have found the postures demostrated in this video really open up body to a greater degree. Just going through it doing your best making an attempt at some of the postures as given me greater flexibility. I strongly recommend this video for the decidated practisioners.

The full 2nd and 3rd series of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by PK Jois of Mysore,India,presented with flair,talent and clarity by David Swenson, who has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since... well forever.This is a videotape intended for Ashtanga practitioners mainly who wish to advance their practice, although anyone can watch and admire, it might daunt the beginner level student.