A new Ashtanga yoga book is on the market since last year and it's a very good one:
It's '1% theory' by Thomas Still.
I couldn't put down the book. Thomas did profound research in books. He also asked Manju Jois and David Williams to get answer to questions of the early years.
Thomas inquires the history of Ashtanga yoga. This chapter was very interesting. There is so much rumor. Did these leaves on which the system was 'written' exist? What was the role of Krichnamacharya? Which influence had the Indian philosophy in general? The answers in that book that were the result of profound inquiries are convincing.
I also learned more about the life of Krichnamacharya, the father of yoga. It expanded my knowledge why the teaching of Ashtanga yoga has changed over the decades.
There is also a chapter about the 8 limbs in that book. This is also so important not to forget, that Ashtanga yoga is not only about the asanas.
His chapter on 'healing' are mainly his own thoughts. I so agree what he has written. It becomes clear that yoga it's not gymnastics, acrobatic. One goal of the practice is to stay healthy, to become healthy.
Also the chapter about the 'Teaching style' brought me new information.
I highly recommend this book. It has the potential to change even how you practice.
I want to finish with a quote, '1% theory' by Thomas Still, page 143. It's a quote by Saraswathi:
"Perhaps this is just what Saraswathi, the daughter of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, sister of Manju, and mother of Sharath meant when she said: "A stiff body has a good potential for learning Yoga. A flexible body is usually more caught up in Bhoga (pleasure)."
Yoga is more than the physical realm...... if you are interested in history, background, goals of yoga, I recommend this book.