10 years ago or so I had a book and I can almost picture the cover but not quite. I believe it was a book on power yoga or Ashtanga, pardon my ignorance. Anyways, you started this version of yoga with the Sun Salutation but after that it was mostly sitting on the floor, legs out, working each area starting with the toes, then ankles up through the body. It talked about the power of doing each exercise 8 times, the exercises consisting of stretching the toes, and then rotating the ankles and so on through the body stretching the fingers and then rotating the wrists, 8 times for example and it caused a great sweat. Is this a form of yoga, traditional or western? I really want to find this book again or know what style of yoga this is if any so I can start it again. It was pretty simple and I can almost remember how to work each part of the body but I have forgot a few areas. Other than the Sun Salutation it was mostly a stretch, I don’t remember there being poses. It was an amazing workout and stretch. Thank you for reading.
I dont know the book ,but you it sounds like the postures you are talking about are the joint freeing exercises or pawnmukhatasana series. I beleive there is a link to them on this website and they can be found in Mukunda stiles book structual yoga therapy. They are also in asana pranayama mudra bandha a Bihar school of yoga book and no doubt other books.
I may be wrong but I think this is what you are talking about,its part of hatha yoga asana practice.Im sure someone will come along with more info or even the book you refer to.
With Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga you tend to hold postures for 5 breaths, not 8, but it would depend on ones personal practice I guess.