As I mentioned in the previous post, I've decided to go with the old, I hesitate to say original, Advanced A series.
I just feel it balances up the series better and makes it feel less arm balance heavy. It's also a little sad to think that hardly anyone practices it this way anymore, and seeing as I'm unlikely to ever practice it in a Shala, why not.
I like the extra poses, Sayanasana is in it, one of my favourites. Looks great in pictures, less so on video I think I managed to hold this one for about an inhale, no more.
There's also the one legged Kapo, Eka pada Kapotasana which is harder than it looks (got myself a mat burn on my foot trying to untangle) the absurd twirling around Parivritthasana I used to do in Vinyasa krama and a very cool lowering down Uttana Shalabhasana. Mulabhandhasana is in it from 4th series as is Kandapidasana from 5th (?), luckily right at the end. best of all as I mentioned earlier my least favourite asana, Hanumanasana is the last pose.
Down below is the list of asanas. This comes from David Swenson's Advanced A and B series DVD and is filmed in Hawaii. This is how it's described on Ashtanga.com
Originally, Ashtanga yoga was taught in four levels: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced "A" and "B." Today it
is taught as six series with Advanced "A" and "B" being series 3-6. This DVD is an historic presentation and artistic documentation of the original Advanced Series offered with love and respect for this beautiful system of yoga and to its teacher, K. Pattabhi Jois. The video features David Swenson, Helena Berg, Robert Boustany, Lucy Martorella and David Williams.
Advanced B is interesting too. Tic Tocks turn up there along with the headstands from Intermediate series(without vinyasas in between)
Anyone know when it changed and what the thinking was. If I remember correctly in the Encinitas DVD and the youtube video from the same period (1987?) It was pretty much 3rd as it's practiced now but with some 4th series asana added on the end.
Old (original?) Advanced A Ashtanga series list
Vishvamitrasana (Names of the first three asanas are switched, this is how Swenson has them)
urdhava Kukutasana A (Swenson enters this from handstand, now the 5th series version)
Astavakrasana A (Swenson enters from handstand again)
Viranchyasana A ( This is were it begins to differ from the current 3rd series)
bakasana hatha Yoga (Like the Bakasana in the link except that both legs are balanced on one arm)
Ekapada Dhanurasana (half way down page on link)
Vrishchikasana (like the asana above this is lowered into from handstand as above, then the legs brought over)
Sayanasana (my picture above)
Parivritthasana ( In the link it's called madalasana A)
Advanced B list to come.
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5 comments:
I love this DVD - it's beautiful to watch.
Is the listing of series on the absolutely ashtanga website the current 6-series list? I'd heard (don't remember where) that it was a bit mixed up in places. I'll never be doing past second, but am just curious.
Hi Lew, Re. your never going passed second, remember the first part of Second is more LBH which you get pretty good at in intermediate and then your on into hefting up your lotus and karandavasana will prep your for that. Bakasana preps you for the first couple of Arm balances. The first half of 3rd is well preped in intermediate, it's not like coming out of Primary and then being hit with Kapo and Karanda.
I think your right, sounds like it is all mixed up, I wonder if Sharath will keep it as it is now or tweak it some more. They say this on Absolute Ashtanga
'The ashtanga fifth series (also known as
advanced C) and sixth series (also called
advanced D series) have morphed a lot from
the days when the poses were part of one
huge "advanced series", later known as
"advanced A&B". Variations come and go and the order of the poses change depending on when it was taught.
But Ashtanga Diary might be the site you were thinking of, they have lists too, here's the link
'http://www.ashtangadiary.com/advanced-c-and-d-asana-list/
They preface the list with this;
'The Advanced C and Advanced D series in Ashtanga yoga was initially part of the Advanced series. The Advanced series was later renamed the Advanced A & B series. To make the Advanced series more accessible, it was further broken down into the four Advanced series.
The order of the asanas in Advanced C and D has been known to change depending on when it was taught.
I’ve done my best to list the Advanced C and Advanced D series, but there may be errors and omissions. Please feel free to use the contact form to let me know of any corrections.
Sources:
Based mostly on the list and photos from Absolutely Ashtanga. With some added poses from Yoga Chola (German Site). It should be noted that these two sites probably got their list from David Swenson’s Advanced Series DVD (thanks to Y for pointing that out!). It should also be noted that the series as seen in David’s DVD (and therefore this list) is not the same as what is being taught now by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.'
One change I appreciate is the addition of Ganda Bherundasana to 3rd. I think it's really helpful for anyone not preternaturally flexy.
One of your favourites no? I'm just glad hanuman is at the end.
I don't know that I LOVE ganda, but I think it is helping me open my upper back.
I still loathe Kapotasana. It's one of those back bends I have to "get around my shoulders" to get into.
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