Kino's had a 6 day a week practice for 12 years and therefore impressively talks through her YouTube demos with great control. Further, when she uses models there is a an understatedness about it - almost as though the model isn't really there. Kino's alignment cues in her vids range from the gross body to the subtle spiritual - a delicate line that she crosses every time with finesse. Finally, her attire. My acquisition phase for yoga clothes is waning; however, when I returned from a visit to the Miami Life Center in February I purchased 2 pair of SpaceCat shorts for home practice, and yes, they are worry free. But enough about why I like Kino, here's what I got from her book.
It's broken into two parts, Theory and Practice. The second part of the book is an asana guide for Primary Series (Yoga Chikista) followed by appendices on mantras, the vinyasa count and a complete picture guide on Primary.
The fabulous thing about yoga is the infinite amount of time you can spend studying it's varied aspects. Kino is able to extract majorly complex subject matter points and finely articulates them. In her Acknowledgements she pays homage to her teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Jois) and shares that the first yoga classes she took were at the gym at the bendy age of 19. Her journey in the beginning was no different from the rest of ours in that it was replete with a racing mind, fashion obsession (yoga gear), asana grasping and my personal favorite, injury.
Here are some of the parts of the Theory chapters I noted. This section is a short, digestable 56 pages; I'll outline my favorite parts. Again, yoga is a vast subject and Kino underscores that fact well in the section called "The Ancient Origins of Yoga Poses" where she states:
"While asana developed within the context of the larger philosophy and theory of yoga, it would be incorrect to say that they are the same. Asana is a subset of yoga and one - perhaps foundational - step in the full eight-limbed path of Ashtanga Yoga." p 5
"The eight-limbed path outlined in Patanjali's yoga Sutras describes the ultimate goal of yoga as final liberation through the steady cultivation of practice and nonattachment, and asana plays a vital role." p6
On Ashtanga as a Spiritual Practice, Kino talks about the 6 poisons (desire, anger, delusion, greed, envy and sloth) and that Jois taught that in order to remove them "...you have to pactice with strong determination and change layers of deeply rooted negative behavioural patters (samskaras) that can be eradicated through yogic purification." p9 I agree that the decision to do a daily practice is in and of itself a transformative one. In the quest to study with master teachers, some new Ashtangis I've talked to have come to Mysore because they wanted to attend a master class intensive and were told they needed to begin a regular Mysore practice. I hadn't run across that requirement in my studies but had felt a subtle internal rumbling for about a year that bubbled over when Lent approached in March. For starters, I'm burning through sloth. Asanas aside, this phenomenon makes bujapidasana and kurmasana look like a walk in the park.
Which leads into, Ashtanga Physical Practice on page 9. Kino describes the 6 groups of poses that consist of Primary Series, also known as Yoga Chikista aka gross level detox - and the concept of its progression. Second or Intermediate also known as Nadi Shodhana or nerve cleansing consists of deeper backbends. Finally, the Advanced Practice (Third through Sixth Series) are briefly explained if at all; Kino practices Third and Fourth.
Practicing as much as one can is recommended; 6 days a week minus full and new moon days, Saturdays and ladies holidays. I've been following this schedule as much as possible. When an off day rolls around, it's actually hard to not get up early (although not as early as weekday Mysore hours) and practice another form of sadhana, so that's what I do. There's no TV, phone or iPod at this time of course.
Chapter 2 entitled: Heart of the Method; Breath, Pose and Gaze (Tristanta Method) is where Kino breaks down these three components. Again, vast subjects which she exceptionally captures in about 15 pages. Chapter 3 on The Ashtanga Yoga Diet covers vegetarianism and the practice of ahisma or non-harming which forms the first limb of the Ashtanga Yoga eight-limbed path. She discusses how food rooted to the earth and food reaching closest to the sun impact your internal cleansing, environmental consciousness and physical constitution.
I've chosen a pescatarian diet over the years and haven't had a bite of meat in the past 3 years except when someone slips me a mickey. Meat began to make me feel sluggish when I began my yoga practice in 2004 but at the time I couldn't put a finger on the cause of my fatigue and bloat. I just figured that my body was working better! And that my body was tired because I was taking a lot of hot yoga classes. Gradually I cut out all meats and noticed positive results in my energy levels and gut comfort but held on to chicken and fish. Then one day Russell Simmons posted a video on chicken processing that I could only watch halfway; therefore beginning the end of my love affair with the bird.
Theory ends with Chapter 4 on The Spiritual Journey of Asana: Yoga Beyond Bending and in classic Kino fashion she hones in on the ultimate; unlocking your potential through your practice so that you can witness the divine and your own transformation. "...the physical tansformation you attain through yoga is not the result of targeted toning techniques; instead it occurs when you dissolve and surpass deeply entrenched physcological and emotional patterns; your body changes as your mind evolves." p46 It takes courage on your part as well as a good teacher who "...inspires the student to greatness beyond the boundaries of anything they know to be true." p47
Part 2 on the practice is wonderful pictured asana guide which gives appropriate attention to the alignment cues for each. Kino's book is truly a handy guide for any yoga teacher and a must have for students in my opinion.
