About David Swenson
About The Author of Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow
David Swenson’s Yoga Journey
David Swenson began practicing yoga in 1969 with his brother Doug in Houston, Texas. In 1973, he was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga and later studied directly with the legendary teacher K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. As one of the first Westerners to learn the complete Ashtanga system, David has become a pioneer and global ambassador for yoga. For decades, he has led workshops, trainings, and retreats around the world, admired for his supportive, accessible, and lighthearted teaching style.
Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow
The Inspiration Behind Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow
For years, students and friends encouraged David to write a book about his extraordinary life in yoga. The opportunity finally arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he had the time to sit down and write. Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow grew from those sessions at the keyboard — stories from his heart that capture both the hilarious and the heartbreaking moments of his journey.
Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow
What Readers Can Expect from the Book
Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow is part autobiography, part collection of absurd adventures, and all heart. Readers will find laugh-out-loud stories, touching reflections, and vivid memories of David’s path — from his humble Texas beginnings as the son of Swedish immigrants, to his exploration of yoga in the 1970s, to his transformation into a leading voice of Ashtanga worldwide.
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Why Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow Matters
More than just a yoga memoir,Only Dead Fish Go With The Flowis about resilience, curiosity, and finding deeper meaning in a bewildering world. Whether you’re a longtime yoga practitioner or simply love inspiring true stories, David’s book offers humor, humanity, and wisdom on every page.
David Swenson’s Other books
David Swenson’s Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual
In addition to Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow, David Swenson is also the author of the internationally acclaimed book Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual. First published in 1999, this book has become one of the most trusted and widely used guides to Ashtanga Yoga around the world. With clear step-by-step instructions, over 650 photos, and accessible explanations, David created a resource that practitioners of all levels — from beginners to advanced students — continue to rely on today.
What sets Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual apart is David’s ability to make a challenging system approachable. The book offers modifications, alternatives, and practical tips while staying true to the essence of the Ashtanga tradition he learned from K. Pattabhi Jois. For over two decades, yoga teachers and students alike have called it a “must-have” reference on their yoga journey.
Together, David Swenson’s two books highlight both sides of his extraordinary journey with yoga. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual remains one of the most essential resources for learning and deepening an Ashtanga practice, offering clear guidance, modifications, and inspiration for practitioners at every level. It has become a global reference point for students and teachers alike.
On the other hand, Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow reveals the personal stories behind the practice — the adventures, struggles, and insights that shaped David’s life both on and off the mat. Where one book provides the practical tools for yoga, the other opens the door to the human experiences that inform it. Read together, they offer a complete picture of David Swenson: a teacher, storyteller, and pioneer whose influence on the world of yoga continues to inspire.