21 Things to Know Before Starting an Ashtanga Yoga Practice

The Amazing Mr Swenson

 Ashtanga yoga can seem like quite an intimidating practice (look to your left).
Most of the books and DVDs available illustrate the full primary series or even scarier the intermediate.

Ashtanga is my yoga of choice as I love the flowing dynamic sequencing.

 It is hard for me to get to a class though so I started to teach myself primary series through a Richard Freeman iphone app ( It say's intro on the marketing, not the word I would use for handstands Ritchie!) I used this along with David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga Practice manual.

Of course it was only a matter of weeks until I was injured! Yoga butt they call it (not the high, tight kind but the damaged ligament kind).

I realised I didn't really have a clue what I was doing. i.e. How often was I meant to practice and for how long?

I scoured the internet for advice and came across Claudia's blog, Earth Yogi. A diary of one woman's own ashtanga practice and personal experience. As well as reviews on the best books and DVDs available.

I remember thinking what a brilliant resource and inspiration it was for anybody wishing to start an ashtanga practice and that she should write a book.

Well she has and here it is.

For me Claudia's advice and own yoga journey turn ashtanga from an elusive practice obtainable only by the yoga gods that are Swenson and Freeman into an achievable, every person can do this and benefit from it immensely lifestyle choice.

It is written in the style of her blog as a conversation rather than a formal lecture and is packed full of insights and benefits. She writes from the perspective of a beginner (even though she has been practicing for several years- in ashtanga philosophy you are a beginner for years- yes even if you can do crow pose!)

Claudia demystifies ashtanga and makes the impossible seem possible. The book is a celebration of all things ashtanga and the myriad benefits a dedicated and meaningful practice can bring into your life.

The book is available through amazon (soon to be released on kindle- easier for us in the UK). However if you cant wait that long and really, really want a copy now go to Claudia's blog, go to the book page, send her an email and the Earth Yogi herself will send you a PDF copy for free.

What are you waiting for, in the word's of K Pattabhi Jois, 'Do your practice and all is coming'.

Read Claudia's book and you'll start to understand what that really means.