This video of Lino practicing Primary is giving me pause this week, just as his Full Vinyasa DVD did six years ago ( see below, my old review post from 2009).
It reminds me a little of Sharath's Primary DVD actually, the practice stripped back, a bare studio, black shorts, black mat, nothing fancy about it. Come to think of it he's even toned down his jump back and through, just Primary series asana as practiced for twenty-five years.
I'm not sure how Lino will feel about this video being posted on Youtube so this post is also a heads up, perhaps somebody can whisper in Lino's ear and he can decide whether he wishes to take the Youtube channel to task, several others may wish to do the same unless perhaps they have asked permission.
The video is 48 minutes but he's only demonstrating the one Sury A and B so you would want to add on another ten minutes and then perhaps take off a few if you don't flip over at the end or take a savasana before your shoulderstand.
I've been reflecting on this for some time, I practice slow, long inhalations and exhalations around eight seconds each, and often with kumbhaka in between, my half primary takes twice as long as this video....
And I love my practice, love exploring the kumbhaka in asana as I'm sure Krishnamacharya did back in Mysore in the 30s but there is that little voice in the head that says "...why don't you just practice like Lino here and give yourself much more time for pranayama and a longer sit each morning".
But then of course there is the other voice that has me shaking my head....
And of course the old classic, Lino's Full Vinyasa Primary series DVD.
I thought I would reproduce my old review of Lino's DVD from sept 2009, what's that, six years ago.
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...... and a follow up review from Dec 2011
Full Vinyasa with the Lino Miele DVD plus first flip back up from Viparita dandasana and Minestrone
It reminds me a little of Sharath's Primary DVD actually, the practice stripped back, a bare studio, black shorts, black mat, nothing fancy about it. Come to think of it he's even toned down his jump back and through, just Primary series asana as practiced for twenty-five years.
I'm not sure how Lino will feel about this video being posted on Youtube so this post is also a heads up, perhaps somebody can whisper in Lino's ear and he can decide whether he wishes to take the Youtube channel to task, several others may wish to do the same unless perhaps they have asked permission.
The video is 48 minutes but he's only demonstrating the one Sury A and B so you would want to add on another ten minutes and then perhaps take off a few if you don't flip over at the end or take a savasana before your shoulderstand.
I've been reflecting on this for some time, I practice slow, long inhalations and exhalations around eight seconds each, and often with kumbhaka in between, my half primary takes twice as long as this video....
And I love my practice, love exploring the kumbhaka in asana as I'm sure Krishnamacharya did back in Mysore in the 30s but there is that little voice in the head that says "...why don't you just practice like Lino here and give yourself much more time for pranayama and a longer sit each morning".
But then of course there is the other voice that has me shaking my head....
The video seems to be the Primary series element from Lino's new DVD.
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| Lino's website http://www.linomiele.com/?pagina=booksdvds.php |
And of course the old classic, Lino's Full Vinyasa Primary series DVD.
I thought I would reproduce my old review of Lino's DVD from sept 2009, what's that, six years ago.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Lino Miele Primary Full Vinyasa DVD - Updated
Lino Miele Primary Full Vinyasa DVD - Updated
So in the end I decided to go with Lino's Full Vinyasa DVD and practice along with that for the first time.
Unlike the other DVD's this is not a teaching tool. Kino, Swenson, Freeman, Scott they all talk you through the practice. This really is more of a demonstration, as it says on the jacket. Lino doesn't say anything he just performs, a sanskrit count is added latter . Did I say JUST performs? Lino is remarkable, if I could get just one of those straight leg lift ups to jump back.... actually I can get one now, but with slightly bent shaky trembling legs that rub along the mat as Itry to cross them to bring them back through. Lino is like a gymnast, beautiful controlled lifts without a tremble and he does it again and againand again and...
I said yesterday that I'd never practiced with it before, but thought that now I had a few of the moves, I wouldn't feel so bad. And it's true I didn't, I have a few handstands for my Sury's and from Navasana. I can jump back in half lotus and used to be able to do it in full lotus too, though I've let that slip. I can pretty much jump into asan
as, though it's a bit scrappy, Oh and I can even lift up from my legs spread and jump back, didn't know that 'till yesterday. I have some moves but, Lino... here was a master class in jumping back. I changed my blog title from Ashtanga Jump back, but had I not you'd be seeing post after post of Lino jump back variations and my lame attempts to copy them.
There's one I have to mention though, Janu C, he lifts up with his right foot still pressed in against his thigh and Chakrosana's back, kind of as if he had one leg behind his head in 2ND. Very cool, bravo Lino. I'm glad I moved on from my jump Back obsession or I'd be dropping my mat in the Thames like the guy who dropped his Sax in the Hudson after hearing Charlie Parker play.
So how was the full Vinyasa I hear you ask. Well let me tell you dear reader.....don't you hate it when that Austin woman does that, stay out of the narrative lady!
Full Vinyasa..... interesting, I found it strangely comforting. It's as if after every asana your starting again from scratch. It makes you focus on each asana more, which as we know can tend to run into each other. He even Sury's back up to standing in between the variations EG. between Janu A, B and C. He does do half Vinyasa between legs though. so it would be...
Full Vinyasa
Janu A Right leg
Half Vinyasa
Janu A left leg
Full Vinyasa
Janu B Right leg
Half Vinyasa
Janu B Left leg
Full Vinyasa
etc.
I didn't find it any more tiring than my usual practice nor was there any loss of flow. The DVD has some weird music in the background but also amplified breathing so you get carried away with the breath and Guruji's count.
Though the Full Vinyasa in seated was fine, through Finishing it was ruddy irritating. That I didn't get, full Vinyasa between Baddha Padmasana and yoga Mudra, Padmasana and Utpluthi. Full Vinyasa between Halasana and Karna Pidasana. Why would you do that? oh and the little Gymnast jumps to Trikonasana etc throughout Standing, made a mess of all those.
Breathing was a little fast for me now and I would have liked an extra breath or two, someone said it was eight back in the day, think that would suit full Vinyasa. He only stayed in head and shoulder stand for 10 breathes instead of 25 this was all probably to keep the running time down.
I think I'd like to have a go at a full Vinyasa practice on my own, minus the gymnast jumps and vinyasering through Finishing, would make a nice change once a week, a shift of focus.
Here's lino doing one of his mind blowing jump backs from the DVD
And here's Lino doing Nauli Kriya while in Kukkutasana, a good example too of how he does a full vinyasa between poses, in this case after Garbha Pindasana
...... and a follow up review from Dec 2011
Full Vinyasa with the Lino Miele DVD plus first flip back up from Viparita dandasana and Minestrone