Product Description
See inside every yoga pose! With clear, expert instruction and full-color, detailed anatomical drawings, Yoga Anatomy depicts the most common asanas to provide a deeper understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself.

From breathing to standing poses, see how each muscle is used, how slight alterations of a pose can enhance or reduce effectiveness, and how the spine, breathing, and body position are all fundamentally linked.

Whether you are just beginning your journey or have been practicing yoga for years, Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable resource—one that allows you to see each movement in an entirely new light.

Author Leslie Kaminoff is a recognized expert and teacher in anatomy, breathing, and bodywork. He is the founder of The Breathing Project, New York City’s premiere yoga studio dedicated to the teaching of individualized, breath-centered yoga practice and therapy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

Yoga Book
In great condition and am still working on the actual content but worth it thus far!

Kindle edition is B&W only
I love the kIndle editions but i get the impression occasionally they are hastily done. This book looks very good. I will buy it when it is redone in the color of the book.

However, I think a good idea for kindle would be to offer a free upgrade to people who purchase the book when a new copy is released for kindle. Just like with software. Then i could buy it now and know I will get the color when you rescan it. (if i knew you would do updates... And that is not for new editions of the book, that is for updates to the kindle rendering of a book which is a software upgrade issue. It would give you more credibility and customer loyalty.

Thanks.

Ps i will add more stars if i can when you add in the color and i buy it.

Don't buy the kindle edition
When downloaded, the color in the Kindle edition is lost. It's impossible to understand the illustrations.

One Glaring Flaw
I haven't read this book through, just examined the treatments of a few poses. That was enough to see that the book wasn't what I was looking for -- a quick visual reference to the muscular activity involved in a pose a la Delavier's Strength Training Anatomy. Trouble is that the illustrations highlight all involved muscles in red. I then have to go to the text to see which muscles are working and which are stretching. The stretching muscles should have been in blue so that the reader could see at a glance what's happening in the pose. I'm sure it's well done for what it is but ultimately not very helpful.

Yoga Anatomy
this is an interesting book, for any Yogis to under stand more on how the body moves ... Read more

Product Description
The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by A. P. Mukerji is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of A. P. Mukerji then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga--the ancient healing discipline for body and mind--by its greatest living teacher. Light on Yoga provides complete descriptions and illustrations of all the positions and breathing exercises. Features a foreword by Yehudi Menuhin. Illustrations throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (115)

like it so far
Lots of words, lots of pictures, lots of new poses to incorporate. Haven't had much time to read it though. Am planning on reading some passages to my classes, and use some new poses in my flow sequences!

Vast aesthetic improvement
This new edition of Light on Yoga goes deeply into Iyengar's method. The improved design, with more attractive typeface, is a vast improvement over previous editions. Detailed analysis of each asana and philosophy on every pose. An essential for serious Iyengar practice.

Good but heavy-handed
Good photos and clear instructions. However, it's more appropriate for someone familiar with yoga philosophy and terminology. It's too much like a text book for an intermediate or an advanced student.

Awesome, nothing left out
This book is a very comprehensive take on hatha yoga. Complete with illustrations of postures, steps to achieve them, benevolent effects and even philosophical context, nothing is left out in this book. I am writing two years after purchase, and I am still loving it!

An essential book for Yoga
This book is a virtual must for all those interested in Yoga practice.

The book has everything that one needs to start or continue Yoga. The first part deals with the basic principles behind Yoga, the ethical and moral laws that one must follow and also has several very practical and important tips for practice.

The next section covers the Asanas themselves. Each of the Asanas is accompanied by one or several pictures and is graded for difficulty. Iyengar is also careful to detail how far the Yoga practitioner can go right at the beginning and how he or she can progress.

The third part is on Pranayama, the breathing exercises. This also provides very detailed directions on the most important Pranayamas.

Lastly, there is a section devoted to exercise routines, introducing easy to follow routines of different Asanas for the beginner, intermediate and advanced practitioners.

All this is explained in simple and lucid language, yet there is always the sense of the profound behind the simplicity. One cannot help appreciating immediately that this a book from a master, someone who has actually realized all that he teaches, and a bond of trust and confidence is built up in his words. This is an essential book for all, whether you are thinking about starting your practice or of ways to enhance it.

.....P.J.Mazumdar, author of The Circle of Fire: The Metaphysics of Yoga ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Reference / General; Body, Mind ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Poor kindle edition
This is not an in depth review of the book, but I need to point out for any potential kindle edition buyer that the book has not been well scanned and the page numbers are interspersed within the text, sometimes popping up in the middle of the page, which I find highly distracting. Therefore the kindle edition is not recommended.

A Most Useful Book of Lessons!
briefly, the teachings found in this book are intended to assist you in taking back the power over your own mind.most of us are controlled by the various factors of our minds (our fears, passions, affinities, etc.) and have forgotten who is REALLY driving this vehicle that we identify as "Me."these teachings are like road signs on the road back home.

this book, Raja Yoga, is rich with value.like all things, the teachings found in this book cannot be objectively valued; the Candidate (one who would seek teachings such as these) must find the value for him/herself.for me, these teachings cannot be compared to anything else that i've been taught.i'm getting to know myself on a much larger level.i am sooo thankful for these teachings.the value is in the fruits of doing the work.

i highly recommend this book for anyone who feels drawn to read it.follow your instinct...your first inclination is often the most sincere one.also, take your time with it...Rome wasn't built in one day.

Masterful!
Well defined lessons on separating self from ego and opening up to higher levels of spiritual consciousness.Excellent!

Great tools for the development of mind
I found this book years ago by an accident, in an antiquity store in Zagreb. More than just worthy of the five stars- I found the lessons extremely useful. However, I would advise any beginner to be careful with the "trap door" and similar techniques, since they can easily lead one to putting too many things into the subconscious realm, instead of the opposite. Things like noticing the details on things, instead of the whole - for instance, counting each scale on a fish - are extremely precious and can help you build concentration and focus. Even the apparently simple things, like focusing your eyes and mind on a dot on the wall, or visualizing your pen, or matching footsteps with imagined music, will strengthen the mind enormously, even with very little practice. Seeing it as a manual for strengthening the mind, it is an excellent book and I recommend it to everybody. However, I would advise a beginner to start with something more general, such as Yogananda's 'Autobiography' or my 'Approach' - even if it means advertising myself :), before getting into specific exercises, because it's important to have a wide spiritual perspective before starting to bother with details.

good book on raja yoga THE BEST
Easy to understand,covers the subject wel ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Slim Calm Sexy Yoga
Great book! Loved how it had illustrations along with descriptions of all the yoga poses. I also liked the success stories of how yoga has helped people with various conditions.

Excellent yoga book with great photos of poses
I've been practicing yoga for nearly a year and still very new to yoga. This book has large colorful photos showing each of the yoga poses along with instructions. The photos are especially helpful to understand the poses. Too many books have too many words and lack photos to show you how to properly perform a pose.

The design of the book is beautiful with large easy to read typeface and great photos to accompany each pose. If you are a visual learner, then this is the yoga book for you.

The book also has program designs if you want to:

improve flexibility
build stamina
improve strength
deal with back problems
allergy problems
headaches


CONS: Book design: What I don't like about the book is that it is a bit too glossy and light reflects off the pages. Also there is not enough space between the text and the spine of the book. I have to fold down the pages to see the text closer to the book spine.

Slim Calm Sexy Yoga
My company provides a full gym to all employees so several of us recently joined a yoga class during our lunch hour for stress relief.I love the low impact workout during mid day.When I'm not able to go to class I can still work out at home with the same basic routine.SCS Yoga offers a detailed explanation of all the positions that we practice in class. Even for a beginner it's easy to follow and work out on my own.It also provides extra info to help with your weight loss or other self improvement goals.A must have!

Not really for beginners
I suppose if I had more yoga experience, this would be a great book. There are very few suggestions for yoga novices. I was expecting photos of how to use blocks and straps since I'm not quite as flexible as Tara. If you're looking for a starting base of yoga knowledge, don't get this book ... yet.

Inspiring Yoga Book! Excellent for Beginners & Advanced students too!
This is a GREAT book! I've done quite a bit of yoga in the past but this book has inspired me to practice much more often and gives me the courage to try new and difficult poses. I LOVE that Tara gives instructions that prep you for more difficult poses so that they are not so intimidating. I have noticed a huge improvement in my flexibility and more tone/definition in my body. Yoga also works wonders with your energy and posture, and my boyfriend has noticed that I have been standing differently-- He's an acupuncturist and bone setter, so I value his opinion as he works on bodies all day ;)It is a great book if you are brand new to yoga and for those who are more experienced, you will learn terrific routines to help manage all sorts of ailments you may have- insomnia, depression, slow metabolism, headaches even a hangover! Great book, I highly recommend. I will no doubt purchase copies for my mother and sister for Christmas this year! ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers a scientific approach to understanding the practice of hatha yoga. Through four-color, three-dimensional illustrations of major muscles, tendons, and ligaments, Ray Long describes the practice and benefits of hatha yoga. Specific anatomical and physiological descriptions highlight the agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles that come into play with each pose. Volume I of the series describes the key muscles of hatha yoga and how they are utilized. From beginners to experts, this book will become a constant companion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

mixed feelings about this book
I use this book often to teach other teachers about yoga anatomy. The book has sort of made its way into the mainstream and is the often the book used by teacher training schools.Pretty pictures are appealing, aren't they?The pictures are a great learning tool, the quality of the images is supreme.However, the content of the book and the arrangement for that matter leave me perplexed.If using the book to learn specific areas of the body, you find yourself flipping around A LOT.Furthermore, some important information is lacking, at odds with what's common among anatomists (without an explanation), or hard to find.But....pretty pictures are appealing, aren't they?So I use the book as a supplement.Hope that helps.

fascinating look under the skin
I've often wondered what is happening inside my body as I move through yoga poses. This book provides a fascinating glimpse of what's going on with the muscles in each pose. It also reminds me to take care of my joints.

Fantastic Reference
This book brings a fantastic connection between the all the mind benefits of yoga and the kinesthetic awareness. It is fantastic to have a way to connect people to yoga in a Club setting if they are not comfortable with the traditional theories, cakras, etc.

page issues
This book is great content wise - but there were some issues with the way the book was put together.The pages weren't cut very well, and several had to be hand cut to separate.Other than the time it took to do this without tearing the whole page it's a very nice book.

great book!
I find this book to be very informative and a great help in my teaching og yoga and pilates. ... Read more

Product Description
This valuable book provides a complete manual for the studyand practice of Raja Yoga, the path of concentration and meditation.This new deluxe printing of these timeless teachings is a treasure tobe read and referred to again and again by seekers treading thespiritual path.The classic Sutras (thought-threads), at least 4,000years old, cover the yogic teachings on ethics, meditation, andphysical postures, and provide directions for dealing with situationsin daily life. The Sutras are presented here in the purest form, withthe original Sanskrit and with translation, transliteration, andcommentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda, one of the most respected andrevered contemporary Yoga masters. In this classic context, SriSwamiji offers practical advice based on his own experience formastering the mind and achieving physical, mental and emotionalharmony. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

A spiritual masterpiece translated by a spiritual master.
After I had completed reading the Yoga Sutra's, I thought I would read it another time through. There's a section in the book where Sri Swami Satchidananda says that instead of reading a book and tossing it aside, we should have just a few books to study, especially if one is on a spiritual quest. Not only did that stick with me but I have also chosen this book to help guide me through my spiritual quest. The knowledge in this book is timeless and anyone who is open to its wisdom will receive it's benefits.

Yoga Sutras
While the book itself is in good shape, it had writing in it in several places...would have liked to know that

Get This Book!
It was part of my required reading for my Yoga Teachers Training course, and I find the commentary about each sutra to be easy to understand and applicable to daily life. A must-have for any Yoga practitioner.

great
The book was exactly what I expected, wonderfully enlightening.It arrived timely and in great condition.

Enligtening
I am still in the process of reading the book, but so far I am very happy with it. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching Yoga is an essential resource for new and experienced teachers as well as a guide for all yoga students interested in refining their skills and knowledge. Addressing 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance, the world's leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools, Teaching Yoga is also ideal for use as a core textbook in yoga teacher training programs.

Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives, and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, the book covers fundamental topics of yoga philosophy and history, including a historical presentation of classical yoga literature: the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Pataljali, and the main historical sources on tantra and early hatha yoga. Each of the eleven major styles of contemporary yoga is described, with a brief history of its development and the distinguishing elements of its teachings. Exploring traditional and modern aspects of anatomy and physiology, the book provides extensive support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation. Teaching Yoga offers practical advice for classroom setup, planning and sequencing classes, as well as the process involved in becoming a teacher and sustaining oneself in the profession. The book has over 200 bibliographic sources, a comprehensive index, and a useful appendix that lists associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources for yoga teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great Yoga Teacher Resource!
This is a great resource of yoga teachers and students. The book covers a good deal of information thoroughly. I really appreciate the authors efforts to provide unbiased book about yoga the history, philosophy, energies, etc. You can check out the table of contents for a list of subjects this book encompasses. As a Christian who practices yoga I really appreciate that this book does such a good job of remaining objective and not trying to "convert" the reader's to "yoga as a religion." I am currently enrolled in a Yoga Alliance certified 200 hour teachers training out of 11 required books so far I like this one best.

Teaching Yoga A Good Start
This is a good book if you are looking for a general orientation.Nothing will teach you how to teach yoga but an experienced teacher, time, and effort.That said- if you are new to learning about yoga or starting your 200 hour CYT, this book will provide structure and some insight.

The ultimate textbook on yoga
Excellent book on every aspect of instructing yoga! Somewhat like a textbook, giving much information on every aspect of yoga without being exhaustive or boring. Ties information together in a way that makes it understandable, enjoyable and useful to instructors and practitioners alike. My go-to book for teaching yoga! Would recommend it especially for anyone who is considering becoming an instructor. Loved the pose index in the back (page references back to where poses were fully described would have been helpful -- next edition, maybe).

Remarkable approachability and depth!
The companion to deepening your personal practice or to really understand the intricacies of teaching, this book provides it all.Easy to understand and chock full of useful information, you will not be disappointed.I continually come back to sections time and time again.For those potential teachers of yoga, this should be a requirement as a tool to continue to raise the bar and train excellence in teachers!!!!Thank you Mark Stephens for your wisdom!

Required reading for a yoga teacher
With the increasing number of training programs for yoga teachers and the proliferation of yoga studios, many people, and especially yoga students, are demanding higher standards from their yoga teachers. There have been many debates as to whether or not it is advisable to have the yoga profession, and particularly the training of teachers, regulated.In 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that in the previous three years, around 13,000 Americans suffered yoga-related injuries as reported by doctors' offices and emergency rooms.Many injuries are the result of teaching practices from incompetent teachers. Many teachers have not received proper training or do not have any certification; it is estimated that among the 70,000 yoga teachers in the United States, only three quarters have any sort of certification. Furthermore, while there are strict training programs that demand a minimum of 200 hours of training, others provide a diploma after a few days of exposure, or just by e-mail.

In the middle of such a situation, the arrival of Mark Stephens' book is more than a blessing. The author has trained more than 700 yoga teachers and is the Director of the Teacher Training Program at Santa Cruz Yoga (CA). He has studied various yoga styles (Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa, yoga therapy, and Vinyasa Flow) and is well versed in yoga history and philosophy. The book includes various practical tables for easy consultation, numerous photographs, a rich bibliography, a very helpful list of yoga teaching resources (yoga websites, yoga associations, and institutes and research centers), a comprehensive list of yoga poses, and a summary of the yoga sequences followed by six major yoga schools.

The first four chapters present the roots of modern yoga and the physiological and mental components of yoga practices. Other chapters deal with teaching yoga poses, breathing techniques and meditation.Three excellent chapters (5, 6 and 10) give useful guidelines and tips for yoga teaching, such as options in conducting a class, the teacher's language and voice, the relationship between teacher and student (including how to deal with feelings of attraction), the use of props and music, how to organize the sequencing of a class, and many other critical subjects. In these chapters, Stephens shares with the readers the lessons he learned as a seasoned teacher. He properly illustrates his instructions with the philosophical foundations of yoga, based mainly on Patanjali's almost two-thousand year old Yoga Sutras.

Inspired by the idea that in yoga, like in travelling, what is important is the journey, not the destination, Stephens affirms, "Yoga is not a practice of attainment; it is an unending process of self-discovery and self-transformation," and teachers are just facilitators and guides. Through the entire book, he is guided by the idea that the role of the yoga teacher is to assist in the discovery of the inner teacher that all of us have inside ourselves; this is indeed the Socratic approach to teach. He also insists on the beneficial powers of adaptation and innovation in teaching yoga to better respond to the needs of every student. The last chapter is dedicated to the yoga profession; here, Stephens mentions some difficult topics such as regulations, teachers' fees, liability insurance, teacher's training and certification, how to start teaching as an apprentice, and other interesting subjects. Although he does not provide his personal views on many of these points, he raises them and alerts us to give proper consideration to them.

This is an excellent book, full of wisdom and information for anyone interested in yoga practice or in teaching. Nevertheless, the book could be improved by taking care of some caveats. It is desirable that in a revised edition the index would incorporate all the authors, as well as the yoga poses mentioned in the text. The name of the poses should appear with both the Sanskrit and English names.
... Read more

Product Description
The first yoga text to outline a step-by-step sequence for developing a complete practice according to viniyoga--yoga adapted to the needs of the individual.

A contemporary classic by a world-renowned teacher.

This new edition adds thirty-two poems by Krishnamacharya that capture the essence of his teachings.

Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who lived to be over 100 years old, was one of the greatest yogis of the modern era. Elements of Krishnamacharya's teaching have become well known around the world through the work of B. K. S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and Indra Devi, who all studied with Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya's son T. K. V. Desikachar lived and studied with his father all his life and now teaches the full spectrum of Krishnamacharya's yoga. Desikachar has based his method on Krishnamacharya's fundamental concept of viniyoga, which maintains that practices must be continually adapted to the individual's changing needs to achieve the maximum therapeutic value.

In The Heart of Yoga Desikachar offers a distillation of his father's system as well as his own practical approach, which he describes as "a program for the spine at every level--physical, mental, and spiritual." This is the first yoga text to outline a step-by-step sequence for developing a complete practice according to the age-old principles of yoga. Desikachar discusses all the elements of yoga--poses and counterposes, conscious breathing, meditation, and philosophy--and shows how the yoga student may develop a practice tailored to his or her current state of health, age, occupation, and lifestyle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Every student should read this.
The book is a must for all interested in yoga, meditation and pranayama.

It teaches beautifully, many techniques that are invaluable for our growth in the world of yoga and in the search for inner calm and awareness.

I would recommend and require reading this book to all my potential students along with The Mystery of the Golden Blossom, and The Gnostic Magic of the Runes.

Lot of big concepts explained very nicely
Usually whenever people think of yoga its the asans that comes to their minds. Asans are only one part of yoga and this book does a very good job of explaining that. This book does a good job of explaining yoga philosophy and spiritual principles by providing the translation of Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali. This book provides you valuable tools to define yoga practice for yourself. But i expected this book to be a self help book which will help me implement and practice yoga lifestyle. If you are looking for a yoga lifestyle book check out Mylife Framework: A Model For A Successful Life Based On The Yoga Principles, but this one does also provides a good guidance on introduction, specifically explanation of some of technicalities of yoga concepts.

personal practice
Dense with wisdom. some oddities to the sutra translations, should not be your only reference for them

Wonderful Resource
This book is truly a complete and comprehensive resource for anyone looking to enter into a teaching program or anyone simply looking to deepen or develop their own personal practice.

History on Yoga
Nice, easy book to understand yoga and where it came from. Good book to have to refer to every once in a while on history of teachers spreading yogic practices, on Pranayam and some basic yoga posture. Useful to me as a teacher. Reference book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers a scientific approach to understanding the practice of hatha yoga. Through four-color, three-dimensional illustrations of major muscles, tendons, and ligaments, Ray Long describes the practice and benefits of hatha yoga. Specific anatomical and physiological descriptions highlight the agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles that come into play with each pose. Volume II of the series illustrates the correct muscle use during key poses of hatha yoga. From beginners to experts, this book will become a constant companion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Excellent book!
I'm a hatha yoga instructor and already own volume I, which I love. This is a great companion piece! The color coding clearly shows which muscles are contracting and stretching in every pose.

Excellent Resource
I am training as a yoga teacher. This book was recommended by one of my tutors. I have found it to be as excellent as she said it would be. Fantastic graphics. In my opinion, a must have for any yoga professional. Easy to understand illustrations, all colour. I love it.

AMAZING
It's very complete! It has been very very very usefull to get more conscious about every joint and muscle when I practice, and also that have help me a lot to improve my asanas.Really recommend it!

Key Poses of Yoga
This book is fantastic! Have both Vol I & II, and they are invaluable for anyone wanting to learn about yoga, being healthier, or any nursing or med, or physical therapy student.
The book shows which muscles are involved in each yoga move - the ones working, being stretched, or supporting the body weight. For anyone in medicine, this also breaks down movements into steps and illustrates why the patient is in pain with that movement. For anyone in physical therapy, is illustrates why you need to do that excerise & shows how it will help you.
As a student in a yoga teacher training class, this helps me learn how to do the poses correctly and which muscles are working with each pose and how to avoid stressing injuried body parts. Fantastic reading and a great resource!

My body bible!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in yoga or getting to know their body better. My body is all messed up from misuse/under use of muscles. This is a great book to guide you and let you know what should be working in a pose and what should be stretching.It's improves your yoga practice as it instructs you on details a yoga instructor wouldn't normally be able to tell you in a class. I also highly recommend Vol I. ... Read more

Product Description
Experience the physical benefits and body awareness from hatha yoga—the most popular form of yoga today. Hatha Yoga Illustrated presents nearly 650 full-color photos to visually demonstrate 77 standard poses from hatha yoga that apply to all major hatha styles including Iyengar, Astanga, Anusara, and Bikram.

Individual poses are presented from start to finish, showing you how to achieve proper alignment and breathing to ensure challenging yet safe execution. The result is an increase in the effectiveness, both physically and mentally, you’ll experience with each pose. Several pose variations based on your personal preference, ability, and fitness level are also included.

Eleven sample yoga routines show how to assemble the poses into workouts that meet your specific time, difficulty, and intensity parameters. Colorful and comprehensive, Hatha Yoga Illustrated is organized for your ultimate convenience and use. Use it to guide your muscles, as well as your mind, and increase strength and stamina, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce blood pressure, and increase flexibility. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Very fast shipping!
I got my book way before the delivery date and it was in great condition, as it was discribed. I recommend this seller!

Great resource
I love this book and use it all the time in my home practice and in my teaching. The organization of the book is fantastic, the information all easily accessible. Two thumbs way up.

Great Layout
After looking through several yoga books, I liked this one the best because of its excellent pictures, layout, and simplicity. It's a good book for beginners and I've learned a lot of new postures from it.

Excellent book for the price!
The illustrations and descriptions were easy to follow although not always easy to do. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn yoga for the first time.

"Hatha Yoga Illustrated", is a great book!
"Hatha Yoga Illustrated" is a great book because it has a great variety of yoga poses that you can select.If you have a medical condtion that may limit you from doing a certain pose the authors warns you in advance about trying to do that yoga pose.The pictures are beautiful. It has beginner and advanced yoga poses. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive book of yoga therapy, this groundbreaking work comes to you from the medical editor of the country’s premier yoga magazine, who is both a practicing yogi and a Western-trained physician.

Beginning with an overview of the history and science of yoga, Dr. McCall describes the many different techniques in the yoga tool kit; explains what yoga does and who can benefit from it (virtually everyone!); and provides lavishly illustrated and minutely detailed instructions on starting a yoga practice geared to your fitness level and your health status. Yoga as Medicine offers a wealth of practical information, including how to:

•Utilize yogic tools, including postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, for both prevention and healing of illness

•Master the art of becoming more in tune with your body

•Communicate more effectively with your doctor

•Adopt therapeutic yoga practices as either an alternative or a complement to surgery and to expensive, sometimes dangerous medications

•Practice safely

Find an instructor and a style of yoga that are right for you. With twenty chapters devoted to the work of individual master teachers, including such well-known figures as Patricia Walden, John Friend, and Rodney Yee, Yoga as Medicine shows how these experts have applied the wisdom of this ancient holistic practice to twenty different conditions, ranging from arthritis to chronic fatigue, depression, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, infertility, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, and obesity. Defining yoga as “a systematic technology to improve the body, understand the mind, and free the spirit,“ Dr. McCall shows the way to a path that can truly alter your life.

An indispensable guide for the millions who now practice yoga or would like to begin, as well as for yoga teachers, body workers, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Yoga for Healing
This is a great book that has the prescriptions of a number of yoga teachers as well as the author.It shows a variety of ways to look at health conditions and gives case examples.Explanations and photographs of poses are clear, and they relate to regular people. There are modifications given.This book has helped me a great deal in managing some physical,stress related symptoms.I borrowed it from the library several times before I bought it.I felt I needed a personal copy as a reference.Highly recommended.

Great book!
I had to buy this book for a yoga class I'm taking, and it turns out that I never mind doing the reading homework!This book is interesting, easy to read, comprehensive and it has definitely helped me to get more out of my yoga practice.

After a year of learning
A very good book to increase the understanding of the different types and postures of yoga for medical purposes and even just for physical and mental well being, and understanding our body and mind better. We will need not only to continuously practice, but also reviewing the practice to see if it is the right way and also what's right for our individual body. What helps more, as a health practitioner, is seeing when the modern medicine has its limitation in treating chronic conditions and mental health issues, some people may find a way out in Yoga.

Disappointed
This book really focuses on yoga for diseases not conditions. I was disappointed as I prefer to know what poses are good for more common ailments like the flu or cramps? I didn't like the book style where he talks to a bunch of experts. Lastly all the pose recommendations are at a beginner level and I have been doing yoga for years so most information applies to the beginner. Sorry I wasted my money - will resell.

Proof Any Body Can Do Yoga
Different from the standard yoga books that instruct on basic or common poses and sequences, this book allows everyone to do yoga.There are poses to aid people who suffer from various health issues, from headaches to AIDS; the diversity of ages, body sizes and ethnic backgrounds reinforces the assurance that yoga can be for everybody.

Although the poses may be basic or known to those whom practice, understanding which poses assist for what health issue and the particular sequence is important to helping the problem being addressed. There is much written information, but the layout of the book makes it easy to go directly to the ailment you wish to deal with; by following the pictures one can quickly asses the poses that can help.

A great reference for yoga instructors, personal trainers, physical therapists and those that have practiced yoga.It may be a bit confusing and overwhelming for those that are beginners or have previously not tried yoga. ... Read more

Product Description
Practice bending, twisting, breathing, relaxing and more with Yoga Pretzels, a vibrant and colorful set of illustrated cards that provide a healthy dose of fun and education while teaching all the basics of yoga to help your head and heart.

Founded by Tara Guber and directed by Leah Kalish, Yoga Ed. develops health and wellness courses and materials that educate children, teachers and parents about the benefits of yoga! Our friends Tara and Leah co-wrote our Yoga Pretzels Deck, an exciting, educational addition to our Yoga Pretzels collection! Please visit the Yoga Ed. website to find out more about how to bring Yoga Ed. to your school or community! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

great for therapy
i'm a therapist workign wtih adolescents and kids. these cards are amazing and just wanted I wanted. Abosolutely brilliant! highly recommend

Fun tool to own for a pediatric therapist
I have the wonderful opportunity to work as a pediatric occupational therapist. I use these cards with my clients to help promote motor planning, balance, body awareness and the list goes on. I recommend these cards to any therapists (or parents) looking for activities for their clients. It's a creative way to encourage new skills that the kids truly enjoy!

Teaching tool
This deck has great ideas for a few children or many for a specific age or multi-age. It can be used in a classroom setting, indoor recess, a daycare or your own family. The deck is over sized making the illustrations of the poses very clear. It is also multicultural. I taught a yoga and music class for 2 weeks to children 4-10 years old and this was my main resource. This was worth every penny.

Not what I expected
I am a yoga teacher and mother and was looking for cards my daughter could use to
introduce her to yoga. I thought the poses would be more classical.
On the plus side, she can play the games when she gets older.

THE BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am 8. I have occupational therapy,and I work with someone. She lays half of the cards on the ground and I throw a beanbag at the cards. Whichever card I hit,I do. Try it!!!!! I also like the pictures. It is cheap. If you like animals, try Yoga Pretzels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga is so prevalent in the modern world--practiced by pop stars, taught in schools, and offered in yoga centers, health clubs, and even shopping malls--that we take its presence, and its meaning, for granted. But how did the current yoga boom happen? And is it really rooted in ancient Indian practices, as many of its adherents claim?

In this groundbreaking book, Mark Singleton calls into question many commonly held beliefs about the nature and origins of postural yoga (?sana) and suggests a radically new way of understanding the meaning of yoga as it is practiced by millions of people across the world today. Singleton shows that, contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence in the Indian tradition for the kind of health and fitness-oriented ?sana practice that dominates the global yoga scene of the twenty-first century. Singleton's surprising--and surely controversial--thesis is that yoga as it is popularly practiced today owes a greater debt to modern Indian nationalism and, even more surprisingly, to the spiritual aspirations of European bodybuilding and early 20th-century women's gymnastic movements of Europe and America, than it does to any ancient Indian yoga tradition. This discovery enables Singleton to explain, as no one has done before, how the most prevalent forms of postural yoga, like Ashtanga, Bikram and "Hatha" yoga, came to be the hugely popular phenomena they are today.

Drawing on a wealth of rare documents from archives in India, the UK and the USA, as well as interviews with the few remaining, now very elderly figures in the 1930s Mysore ?sana revival, Yoga Body turns the conventional wisdom about yoga on its head. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Fresh and thought provoking
This is a really great book. I found it to be well-researched, intelligent and it makes a great case for the arguments it presents re:the origins of yoga. Highly recommend especially for those teaching yoga as it presents many fresh, thought provoking points.I really enjoyed reading it.

Incisive and Brilliant
Mark Singleton's book has succeeded in laying bare the origins of modern yoga culture in his scholarly endeavor. Yoga is a wide reaching term which has long been used in India to describe practices that bear minimal resemblance (if any) to those promoted by many of the contemporary "schools" of hatha yoga. Apart from his thorough and exhaustive research, and his personal capacity as a highly trained scholar with years of field experience in India and elsewhere around the globe, Dr. Singleton is an accomplished practitioner of yoga in a variety of styles and forms; as such, his is an authoritative and refreshingly authentic voice to expound upon the ever expanding and changing body of yoga, worldwide. An excellent and engaging read!

Wonderful As Far As It Goes!
Nice Book! After reading Mark Singleton's book, Yoga Body, I agree that what is presented as an un-interrupted lineage of asana practice, is in reality, far more of a hybrid practice the current form of which is less than a hundred years old, or so. And also, that the supposed source texts for current Asana practice are either non-existent or have but scant references to poses currently in extant. That being said however.... I have no doubt that some forms of Asana ARE going back thousands of years.

After all, what about the physical practice of the mendicant/warrior/mercenary yogis referenced, who were outlawed by the British, and whose traditions then morphed into exhibitionist beggarism, which spawned the revulsion that led to the nineteenth century swing against hatha and towards raja yoga, by the educated Hindu? What of the legends of the Indian founder of the Chinese Shaolin Temple who taught physical poses and exercises to Chinese monks as prefaces for meditation a thousand years ago? What of the Sun Salutation series incorporated into current Asana practice that is tied to a different tradition than Raja Yoga, (that of Ancient Sun Worship) but is nevertheless known to be stretch back far further than the Mysore Palace years. Or the similar histories of other physical practices that have also experienced rises, falls and mutations, but nonetheless always had a narrative thread running through them that was never quite severed? Such as japanese jiu-jitsu through to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu... Ancient greek wrestling, boxing, and pankration, now all reborn today in their current sport formats.

I refuse to believe there isn't a strong, native Indian element stretching back for a very long time, within Asana practice, and I would be interested in a deeper delving, well-researched book that neither oversimplifies the connection to tradition to give some sense of mystical authentication, nor swings too far in the other direction, pointing out only the inconsistencies in the previous argument while not speaking from a place of true authority and knowledge. (Difficult to do, doubtless, without the texts to back it up, but perhaps, somewhat possible...) jack

A highly recommended scholarly book
Yoga Body is an important tool for every yoga scholar, well written and well documented. It is the author's PhD dissertation at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, where he worked as Research Assistant to Elizabeth De Michelis. Mark Singleton teaches at St. John's College, Santa Fe (NM), and was one of the main contributors to the recent Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Routledge, 2007).Singleton is a fervent yoga practitioner and has yoga teaching diplomas in the Iyengar and Satyananda traditions. He concentrates on the transition from the classical conception of yoga as a philosophical system to the version we know today as postural yoga. Without denying that some Asanas were mentioned in classical texts (around 450 AD, Vyasa's comments on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra named 12 poses, and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, around 1350, included 84), Singleton examines in detail why Asanas did not initially receive the same attention that they have in modern times.

This book goes further in the analysis of modern yoga than three previously published outstanding scholarly books: Joseph S. Alter, Yoga in Modern India (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2004), Silvia Ceccomori, Cent ans de yoga en France (Paris: Edidit, 2001), and Elizabeth De Michelis, A History of Modern Yoga (London: Continuum, 2004).

After presenting a brief summary of the development of yoga since its origins to the first contact with Europeans, Singleton explains that postural yoga is a recent development with many sources, particularly from the physical education taught in the British Army. He traces many of the European roots of British gymnastics, including the German "physical revivalism" of J. F. C. Gutsmuth (1793), the "British Manly Exercises" of Donald Walker (1834), "Muscular Christianity" (1857), the Swedish gymnastics of P. H.Ling (1766-1839), and "bodybuilding" of Eugene Sandow (1867-1925). He then examines how physical education began to flourish in India as `drill mastering' with Manick Rao and K. Ramamurthy (early 20th century), Captain P. K. Gupta (Mysore in the 1920s), and H. C. Buck (the American who was YMCA director in India in the 1930s). Further developments were done by K.V. Iyer (1897-1980), and the Rajah of Aundh (aka Pratinidhi Pant, the creator of the modern sequence Suryanamaskar -`Sun salutation' in the 1930s) and many others.Singleton pays particular attention to Shri Yogendra and T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), including his students B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi, and T. K. V. Desikachar. The author gives particular attention to the role played by the expansion of print technology and the availability of photography in the rapid dissemination of postural yoga.

Because of its iconoclastic approach, this book has generateda large variety of opinions. Singleton studied in detail the European and American reception of yoga, examined rare documents from Indian, European and American archives, reviewed numerousyoga manuals written before 1940, and interviewed many of the major figures in yoga today.One of his major conclusions is that "to a large extent, popular postural yoga came into being in the first half of the twentieth century as a hybridized product of colonial India's dialogical encounter with the worldwide physical culture movement."

Many yoga aficionados have found his analyses unexpected and irreverent. Many readers will be surprised and upset by Singleton's findings as he puts into question many of the commonly held beliefs about the origins of modern yoga. While Pattabhi Jois, for example, had many discussions with the author, B. K. S. Iyengar refused to be interviewed on these topics but allowed the author to make use of his library in Pune. For a happy ending, Singleton concludes his survey by emphasizing that many of the yoga masters were innovators and always tried to adapt their "teaching to the cultural temper of the times while remaining within the bounds of orthodoxy."

Fascinating!!
This is NOT just another yoga history book that focuses on the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita and "classical" yoga texts. This is an incredibly documented history of *modern* yoga practice - the practice you get at yoga studios and the JCC ~ or wherever the heck you practice in whatever city you live. Whatever the lineage you practice! Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Jivamukti, Anusara, Iyengar, they ALL owe their historical dues to ... well, to a history that you might not expect!

How much DID the ancient yoga texts discuss physical practice? Why IS it that when most people think of yoga today, they only think of pretzel poses?

I don't want to give much away, because the book is so fascinating to read. ALTHOUGH! CAVEAT: it's very academic and assumes at least some knowledge and understanding of what's been given to us as "yoga history" - e.g., the Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and who the heck Patanjali, Pattabhi Jois, and Krishnamacharya are. So... not for beginners.

That said, I believe EVERY YOGA TEACHER should read this, and I'm not kidding. WHATEVER your lineage (or whatever you *think* your lineage is - ha!), it's super-important to understand this history and how modern postural yoga as we know it came to be.

Think: combine every incredible combination of physical training, postural training, **military** training, bodybuilding, gymnastics, plus Protestant New Thought, New Age, and mystical "women's" stretching... and you've pretty much reached a modern lululemon advertisement for yoga pants. NOT that there's anything wrong with modern physical yoga asana practice! Heck, it's how I make my living. But to really understand WHY we do the poses we do and HOW this all came to be... this understandably controversial book opened my eyes to modern yoga practice in ways that MY teachers probably never even knew or understood themselves.

My review, in essence: Wow. WOW. WowowowowOWWWWW!!!

Bonus: incredible, awesome old photos

Yes, extreme-yoga-geekism. Yes, fascinating historical stuff. ... Read more

Product Description

Remarkable computer-generated illustrations of the muscles used during the most popular yoga poses.

Yoga teachers and students can use this book as a visual reference to the muscles that are engaged by specific yoga poses. Each pose is shown in a full-color photograph opposite a detailed and annotated anatomical drawing that identifies the active and stabilizing muscles being used. By identifying affected muscles, practitioners can maximize the benefits of each pose and even design a personalized yoga routine that focuses on their specific problem areas.

Anatomy of Yoga explains the basics of yoga, breathing and the spine, concentrating on the body's core musculature. It covers:

• Yoga warm-up
  
• Standing poses
  
• Forward bends
  
• Back bends
  
• Seated and twisted poses
  
• Poses that balance arms
  
• Inversions
  
• Restorative poses
  
• Sequences, such as sun salutation

There are numerous asides, including "best for" information boxes that describe the muscles that work the most during each pose. Tip boxes give hints on safety and form and outline the target muscles for and benefits of each pose. The author also suggests creative ways to modify the intensity of an exercise.

Anatomy of Yoga is an expert guide that is extremely useful for anyone interested in enhancing a personal yoga fitness routine. It will also interest yoga instructors who want a visual aid that clearly illustrates the benefits of each exercise.

Product Description
A comprehensive, practical, and authoritative guide to the method developed by Iyengar. 100 key postures with detailed step-by-step instructions and photographs. This is our most recently published yoga book and has quickly become a backlist bestseller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Super Book
The best Yoga book available, great pictures with many variations so that everyone can participate and no one gets pulled muscles or left out.

yoga novice
I am very pleased with the wide variety of positions in this book. Im enjoying trying them. The book was delivered in a timely manner and is in good condition.
it is a wonderful supplement to the classes i take at the gym

Must-have book for yogis
I bought this book for my Yoga Teacher Training course.It is a must-have for all yogis, beginner to advanced.The pictures and explanations on how to practice each asana are very helpful and easy to follow.

The Iyengar Way
This is a great book to help you see and understand Iyengar yoga poses. The description said "good condition-used" but it was brand new. I am very pleased.

Yoga: The Iyengar Way
Good service.Love this book.I moved to an area that has no Iyengar teachers, and this is the next best thing.Someone took my other book, and had to replace it. ... Read more

Product Description
All yoga students, beginners or advanced, will benefit from this accessible book. It studies each of the 26 movements, breathing exercises and rest poses that form the basis of every Bikram yoga class. Regular practise will completely transform your health by reversing and preventing illness. This is the only guide available on Bikram Yoga.'It's never too late, it's never too bad, you're never too old, you're never too sick to start from scratch once again.' Bikram ChoudhuryBikram yoga began when Bikram, a former yoga champion, made a full recovery from a crippling accident thanks to yoga, heat and his guru, Bishnu Ghosh. His guru then sent Bikram to Bombay to heal the sick with yoga. Finding that he did not have enough time to help everybody individually, Bikram began to develop an accessible sequence of postures that everyone could follow and benefit from. Today, every class follows the same sequence of 26 postures and exercises in a studio heated to 100 degrees F.This reader-friendly guide studies each of the 26 movements in detail, showing and describing the 'ideal' position as well as what the beginner is more likely to be able to achieve initially and the problems they are likely to encounter. Each move is also accompanied by details of its specific health benefit and a student's personal experience of the posture.Amazon.com Review
Bikram Choudhury, author of the newly revised Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class and yoga guru to the stars, is on a mission to heal America through yoga. Bikram claims that faithfully doing his yoga routine, which consists of 26 hatha yoga asanas (postures) set down by Patanjali over 4,000 years ago, can fix everything from chronic diseases (like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis) to obesity and depression. According to Bikram, his beginning yoga class exercises 100 percent of the body, increases energy, and leaves you looking and feeling fantastic.

The book contains nearly 200 photographs illustrating each of the poses. Each asana is also accompanied by detailed directions on how to do it the right way. Can't quite twist your leg around your head or touch your nose to your knee? Bikram will tell you how to modify poses so one day you, too, can resemble a pretzel.

This is not an easy workout. Even intermediate students will find Bikram's yoga routine, which requires about an hour to complete, challenging. Need encouragement? Beginning Yoga contains suggestions for maintaining proper yoga practice, a section on the medical benefits of yoga, notes from Bikram's students, and a good dose of Bikram humor and philosophy. If you can't get to one of Bikram's 100 yoga centers and want to give his style of "hot yoga" a try, open up Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class and let Bikram work his magic on your body, mind, and spirit. --Ellen Albertson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Bikram Yoga
Great book, easy to follow.Pictures are most helpful for a new person like me !

Great supplement to the class
I just started going to Bikram classes, and this book is starting to become invaluable.I must stress that this book is not a stand-alone; it is supplemental to the class.Listening to the dialogue in the classes is imperative, they tell you how to stand, how to breathe, and so on, all to help you attain the proper poses.But this book has been really helpful in that Bikram shows you the ideal poses vs. how the poses often look in reality.

The tips in this book have already helped me to attain better poses; suggestions for relaxing certain parts of the body for corresponding asanas, tensing other parts, all to become a better-functioning body.

I highly recommend this book if you are a beginner or even a limber intermediate Bikram student; it is not an easy class and I think this is one of the things where there is always room for improvement.

Bikram Yoga
If you're a Bikram yoga lover, you'll love this book.Once I'm home, showered and full of the energy I receive from the class, I love to sit down with my book to see how I'm improved upon my postures; or where I know I need more improvement.
Bikram's writing is fun and energizing as well.It's not just an instructional writing; it's fun to read because the book is written as though this person were speaking to you, one on one, just like the class.
I encourage anyone who was fortunate enough to be dragged into a Bikram class, kicking and screaming, as I was, years ago, to purchase this book for the love of the Bikram yoga.

Boastful and arrogant book
Buy something else by someone else. The man is full of himself and proud as a peacock and it shines through in the text. Sit down to this one if you want an ego-fest

Very helpful!
This is the second time I've bought this book.First I bought it for myself and fell in love with it.Bikram is crazy, yes, but the book is so freaking helpful for explaining how to do the poses the way you're *supposed* to do them.Why even bother with miserable hot yoga unless you're going to do it exactly right and get all the benefits from it?I want to do exactly what Bikram prescribes and this book is SUPER HELPFUL for learning exactly the right way to do the poses.Plus, it's nice to see photos of people who aren't 100 pound noodles doing the poses.I ended up giving the book to my best friend when she got excited about bikram yoga.Now I have bought the book for myself a second time.It's that good. ... Read more

Product Description
Anatomy of Hatha Yoga now revised and in full four color reproduction, remains the most authoritative source correlating the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology.The hardcover sold over 100,000 copies and was a Benjamin Franklin winner for Health Wellness & Nutrition.It spent six years as a retail top 50 selling health hardcover backlist book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (86)

An Essential Text For any Teacher or Advanced Yoga Student
I am a yoga teacher, an engineer and the author of "Elements and Methods of Hatha Yoga Class Design". I am very focused on application when I read and I found Dr. Coulter's book to be exceptional in that capacity. I have teased out over 40 effective mechanisms that can be directly applied to the design of a yoga class. It helps to to take detailed notes when you find a gold nugget to retain the application mechanism. For example in chapter 1 he describes the myotatic reflex. Here you learn how to move in such a way to not create tension in the body. Also one of my favorite is the mechanism of blood flow in the legs and head that he describes in the chapter on headstand. I found this book to be an invaluable resource which I am constantly reviewing. It is also written so that you do not have to be a medical professional to read it.

A must have for all yoga teachers and serious students.

Essential Manual for Yoga Instructors
I noticed an add for this book in the recent edition of the Himalayan Institute's yoga magazine (formerly Yoga International). That is a good enough plug for me! The text takes the student through a variety of sequences, not only as practice, but as a mode to explain the benefits and contraindications for anatomical differences. All aspects of asana (I mean backbends, inversions, forward bends--not every actual posture) are covered. I have no idea why it isn't a mandatory text for all yoga teacher trainings, particularly for the 500 hour ones, as there is nothing introductory to understanding how yoga conciselyrelates to the physical body. For most students who begin yoga, that is where the journey begins.

perfect for the analytical beginner...
So I am no yogi; but, I am a serial sport hobbyist with a need for an analytical understanding of what is going on.Imitation, in a sport like yoga, is almost the worst thing in the sport.Perhaps it is only second to the illusion that you are actually doing it right when you are not.Coulter explains all the little stuff that makes yoga serious discipline and provides its reader with a lot to think about.He also helps the super novice (a group with which I am a part) know what he should be thinking and focusing on.This is utterly invaluable.I don't have the money to support a local studio and receive 1 on 1 instruction although I know how invaluable that is as well.I have recommended this text to many people; one buddy of mine is a martial artist and has found this text to be amazingly useful even in his own discpline.

Excellent book
I found the book to be very well written and very informative.It describes what parts of the anatomy are involved in different yoga asanas, and describes how poses should be performed to get the maximum physical benefit from the exercise.Some may find it a little too technical, but that was its intent--to be, as its title states, "a manual for students, teachers, and practitioners".It contains a lot of information (622 pages); it's hard to imagine how any yoga practitioner could not find something in the book to both improve their practice and to understand how the body is executing the poses.I have been practicing yoga for nearly a decade and a half with some excellent teachers, but everytime I open Coulter's book I find something to consider or an adjustment to make in my next practice.

Excellent resource, a must for the bookshelf
As a Myofascial Therapist and Yoga practitioner, I appreciate David Coulter's excellent blend of technical knowledge and his practical insights from years of being a yoga practitioner.If you are a yoga instructor, this book is a must for the book shelf.It is not a text that you read straight through, but yet an excellent reference for your practice and teaching career.You owe it to yourself and the safety of your students to read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
How to balance Yoga practice. As Yoga matures in the U.S., this is anew approach to balance physical and mental health, for seriousstudents and beginners.All yoga forms emphasizing either muscle(Yang) or connective (Yin) tissue. Today, all popular Yoga forms areYang--muscular. Yin Yoga is unknown, but vital, as a balanced Yogapractice has many benefits, including better preparation formeditation. Yin Yoga focuses upon connective tissue, which does notstretch or respond to brief stresses as muscle will, so Yin posturesare held a long time, with the muscles relaxed. Acupuncture meridiansare also in connective tissues and Yin Yoga is specifically designedto stimulate them.

Divided into two sections, the second part ofthe book deals with chakras, breathing exercises and meditation, andis • fully illustrated • with clear, concise descriptions ofYoga postures ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

A different kind of yoga
I am enjoying this book because so much of all we do in the gym is "yang" or muscular exercise . Paul's book describes how athletes can stretch and therefore protect the body by learning to stretch the joints and connective tissue . I am using this book as a reference in my teaching and personal practice . I am a runner, cyclist and fitness instructor who does not need Power yoga . This type of yoga is for me !

Excellent resource,buy the DVD as well
I can remember sitting in Paul Grilleys seminar on Yin Yoga.For the first time I found a great yogi with an anatomists heart who kept hitting the nail on the head.If you have ever wondered why some poses are easy for some and impossible for others, read the book, get the DVD's and by all means go to his seminars.Pauls insights and teaching moved me from a curious yoga practitioner to working on my RYT with the Yoga Alliance.Great stuff.

The Best DIY Yoga Book Around
This book totally cured me of "Not Doing Any Exercise Ever." I have always been drawn to Yoga but I have never wanted to do it in a big room with other people and little mats.
While most "Yoga Guide" type books I looked at seemed to make some big assumptions as to my religious alignment or my knowledge of the practice,this book has easy to interpret descriptions of a bunch of positions as well as some fairly "non-hippie-dippy" interpretations of what they can do for you. Several pages of coherent "sample routines" put the positions into a sequence that I could easily put into effect.

Now I can do a little work on flexibility and strength any time I find a shady place in the grass or a space on my own floor. Best of all, I can do it myself.

Very Helpful Book
Yin yoga has been a wonderful addition to my practice. Our western lives are so yang-based and it feels so good to give your body permission to hold these poses for 3-5 minutes each...like a series of mini-meditations. This book is very helpful, including instructions on how to get into the poses as well as suggested sequences. I would highly recommend this book to anyone beginning a yin practice.

This book includes a large number of poses (plenty for anyone beginning their yin practice), however, it does not include all yin posees I have seen described in other sources. It hits all of the main ones and then some, though.

Yin Yoga
Great information in this book.Having not been familiar previously with this style of yoga, I was very happy this book was recommended to me.The more I access the information, the more I realize how much can be gained by consistent use.I wish the book was available with a spiral binding for ease of use during routines.A double DVD is also available.. ... Read more

Product Description
Everyone knows that The Yoga Sutra is the ultimate source of all yoga.What you may not realize is that this ancient book also contains all the secrets you need to know in order to heal both your body and your heart; to overcome any kind of illness or unhappiness, and reach a place of splendid health, strength, and peace.

The secrets of how yoga really works to make us truly whole are revealed here in a delightful story based on how these precious teachings reached Tibet from their home in India, over a thousand years ago.The authors have spent many years in Tibetan monasteries, trained by some of the last great Lamas of Old Tibet, to read and practice the original ancient manuscripts about how yoga works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Creative Explanation of the Yoga Sutras
A nice change from the typical commentary versions of ancient texts. How Yoga Works gives a good explanation of Patanjali's yoga sutras through the vehicle of
a cute story about a young woman and the several practitioners who become her students.At times, it seems to be a bit too much of the same thing, as the arc of the story, when looked at purely as a novel, suffers somewhat from the job it set out to do.However, overall, it is still a good read in addition to being
a useful way to get across inspiring material.

not as the title reflects
From the title one may expect another "how to" book on yoga.....defining postures etc. Instead you are taken back in time to a wonderfully woven life experience. This book had me hooked by the first few pages. And while enjoying the plot, many different difficult Buddhist/Hindu concepts are explained effortlessly as integral life experiences of the characters.This is a winner!

Great read for yoga students
Lovely book that teaches you insights into the practice of yoga.Once you start reading, you won't want to put the book down.

A must read
This is a MUST READ for all who are interested in yoga as a practice and a lifestyle.It is an easy read with a very important message to all our lives.

Everyone should read
A friend recommended this book as "the best book he had ever read". It was definitely worth the read. Very thought provoking. Now I've just got to find a yoga class. ... Read more