If you are curious about what yoga means, buy this book NOW
927228
Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic tells an amazing story: the story of yoga. Darren Main illuminates the history, science, and practicality of yoga to both 21st century yogis and non-yogis alike in this easy-to-read text. You will not want to miss this captivating book!
766130
I was confused about many different yoga out there and this book helping me to understand what is yoga and the sequence of yoga poses. I am excited to find this book and looking forward to follow the guidance step by step. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
289266
This book is simply great. I have practiced various types of yoga off and on since I was in high school in the 1970s. I have practice many forms of Hatha. I started with Kundilini Yoga. What always troubled me was the I couldn't really define "yoga" as it varied from style to style and teacher to teacher. I am also a physical therapist, licensed in 1986 and my practice is primarily made up of people with chronic pain. I will list my observations about yoga and how this book cleared up all my concerns. First off, let me say that obviously, many people note huge benefits from yoga (me included) and yet..1. many (and I mean many) people I treat have been injured in yoga classes either as their primary injury or in trying to treat themselves with yoga have made themselves worse, 2. many people continue to practice yoga even though it causes them pain/discomfort either because their are told they will eventually feel better OR they feel better on some level but not necessarily on all levels, 3. many people go to one yoga class with one instructor, don't get anything out of it or hurt themselves and never go back, 4. without an understanding of what yoga does that is good, what might be happening that is bad, that some things might be good on some days whereas some parts of yoga might be terrible or injurious depending on a particular pathology, yoga becomes IMPOSSIBLE to discuss. Yoga isn't "one thing." Mr. Broad's book is significant because it helps to clarify the situation. What might help is to better  "operationally define" yoga. An "operational" definition defines something in a research study so that the reader knows what you mean by a term. Yoga could be operationally defined as only certain breathing exercises, or certain postures, certain combinations of postures, etc. The list goes on and on. When someone says "yoga is good" or "yoga is bad" you have to know what they are talking about. At least in the Science of Yoga, Mr. Broad does an acceptable job at breaking down some of the parts of yoga and what those parts might be doing that are helpful. Going forward, it will be helpful for researchers to analyze what the different parts of yoga are doing and be better able to measure the effects. When I see a research article that concludes "yoga is good" I am always disappointed because the popular press and many in the yoga community will not realize that the manner in which they were doing yoga in the research study or the particular type of yoga they practice has nothing to do with the style of practice that someone is doing. This is where I find this book most helpful--clarifying that there are many parts to yoga practice and that some of the parts might be particularly helpful and some may be harmful depending on the style and the person.
3635815
Yoga, from the word itself that's why I have purchased this book. Yes, I chose this book because of its title and subtitles. But when I read the whole content ant tried the training by my own, I find it more than I have. The effect of doing the Yoga is very relaxing and meditating. The book expands its capacities beyond the human mind. This is the book that everyone should read when they need to sit and stay as passive as they want. This book is a total package for my own understanding. I will recommend this book.
3972754
While the yoga instructions seem clear and the directions to honor the demands of one's body are reassuring, I'm in love with this book for its insistence on "beginner's mind" which will serve you whatever your passion or practice. And it ends with a clear, traditional, and in-depth chapter on meditation that again would be useful for anyone pursuing this practice that is now being promoted everywhere as essential for a healthy mind and body. Lovely, thoughtful, professional work.
1438767
I've always considered yoga a metaphor for life, and nowhere is this metaphor more resonant than when it comes to body image and our sense of self. Both take practice, strength, flexibility, patience, balance, stillness, movement and always breath. This amazing book doesn't just provide us with inspiration it provokes it, and encourages us to find stillness, and embrace the diversity in ourselves and each other - all in the midst of a popular-culture practically insisting we don't. I'm so grateful to the authors and contributors for this gift.
4074540
I really do have a love-hate relationship with Yoga so was instantly drawn to this book.  I practice yoga sporadically and like how it makes me feel but there's just something about the crowd that oftentimes feels forced.  I love how Paul McQuillan approaches this subject and puts into words so many of my thoughts and feelings about this valuable and precious practice that I believe should be a part of each person's spiritual journey.  Related with feeling and humor, I have a new-found love and respect for yoga thanks to this book.
2588910
If you're looking for a book on yoga that will plant you firmly at the feet of a guru and introduce you to all the Hindu theosophical accretions that have built up around the asanas over the last two or three millennia, start with Iyengar's _Light on Yoga_. This book isn't it.

But if you're interested in yoga as a form of physical exercise that will help you to inhabit your body (and this planet) comfortably and perhaps occasionally even with a modicum of grace, and you want a no-nonsense book that will show you how to do it without requiring you to do obeisance to a guru full of Profound Insights, look no further. This book _is_ it.

The latter paragraph describes me. In traditional Hindu terms, I'm most definitely a jnana kind of guy (and a pretty iconoclastic one at that). Intellectually, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's _An Idealist View of Life_ comes close to capturing my philosophical outlook (which in my case owes as much to Royce and Bradley as to Shankara). I can muster up some reverence when it's absolutely necessary, but in general I'm about as inclined toward bhakti as your cat.

And I certainly don't have much patience for the sort of stuff Frank Zappa memorably described as "Cosmik Debris"; the little reverence I _do_ have, I reserve exclusively for the Absolute, not for His/Her/Its self-appointed earthly representatives.

Nevertheless, for the reasons to which I briefly alluded above, I've been practicing yoga, at least on and off, for something over twenty years. And I like this book.

Now, I'm not knocking gurus; if you want one, go get one. (Just please, for your own sake, check them out carefully and stick to the real ones, like Sri Ramana Maharshi. And Iyengar's books are very good if you want that sort of thing.) I'm just saying that if you're like me, this is the yoga book you want. It sets out the asanas in anatomical detail, with photos of not only the right way but also several common _wrong_ ways of doing them. The descriptions are very good and very clear. And if you don't think you can do the "hard" ones right away, don't worry; simpler variants are included.

This is not, in short, a yoga book that will make you feel like a spiritual quitter or a fraud or something if you're just doing it for exercise. You can do as much or as little as you want, and this book will be right there to help you. (There's helpful information on diet and such too, but here again, you can take the parts you can use and leave the rest.)

Andre van Lysebeth wasn't looking for devoted chelas when he wrote this helpful guide. It was first published in the 1970s and it's stood the test of the intervening decades. I'm delighted to find that it's back in print so that I can get a replacement copy.
2578094
Simliar to the first book I read by Donna Farhi (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Yoga-Mind-Body-Spirit-A-Return-to-Wholeness/dp/0805059709/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness</a>), this book was nothing like I expected, yet still exceptionally wonderful.

I was expecting an overview of the basic ethical principles of yoga. Instead, I was greeted with an intriguing introduction to all the possibilities yoga has to offer, unique angles on the eight-limbed path of true Yoga, and (last but not least) the various "roadbloacks & distractions" that could slow, stop, or reverse your progress.

Like many wonderful teachers and writers, Donna includes personal anecdotes from her own life & her students (without being too specific or identifiable). This makes all of the precepts she covers much more realistic, attainable, and most importantly, worth making the effort for.

Another thing to be adored about Donna (and this book in particular): Donna doesn't sugar-coat anything. This is life, we all make mistakes, we are all imperfect - BUT - we are all also divine and capable. The potential is within us all (it always has been) and the author herself stands at a testament to the life-changing abilities of a genuine Yoga practice.

Simply put, I can easily see why this is must-read book #2 for the Yoga Teacher Training course I am taking ("Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness" being the first). This is another book that, in my opinion, each & every yoga practitioner should read - and re-read over the course of their journey
2009257
Aside from the fundamental knowledge that I've received from the yoga asanas out of this book, the Introduction (Part 1) was such an enjoyable read! Part One touched on everything in the stages of yoga (from the niyamas and yamas to samadhi) and how to obtain enlightenment. I felt B.K.S Iyengar was very compassionate and loving in his words to the reader.  Light on Yoga is definitely a comprehensive read for the yogi and provided the photographs of each posture (along with the reasoning behind each asana (dedication), and how to safely get into the posture and the effects each posture has on the body. There is also an entire section dedicated to pranayama and the technique. Highly recommended read for those on the spiritual path of yoga.
3978187
Andrea's passion, knowledge, humor and grace dance across pages throughout this book. I love that you can be a seasoned yogi or brand new and feel like your right where you need to be with enjoying it. She threads the perfect amount of philosophy and creates an opportunity for you to jump on your mat with clarity. If you are even the slightest bit curious about yoga and how you can apply the practice to your life you would love this book. Her shared life experiences and stories invites us all in to be exactly who we are and appreciate how a consistent yoga practice can deeply connect you to a deeper sense of self... her wit will keep you laughing and humble.
4029903
This eBook is absolutely perfect for ANYONE who wants to learn the basics of yoga, but doesn't want the fluff and spirituality that is so prevalent in yoga these days. Dean's expertise regarding the human body, its moving parts and how they interact with one another, and his years as an athlete permeates throughout this eBook. Dean gets to the point, cuts out the bull, and makes yoga extremely accessible for anyone trying to improve their health through yoga. His down-to-earth approach in teaching yoga makes anyone and everyone feel as though they can reap all of the benefits that yoga provides - because they CAN and they WILL. A must-read for dudes and dudettes!
4757255
Do you need to hone your yoga routine to advance your personal goals, or are you looking for inspiration for your students? Either way, this might be the book for you.

Candace Moore helps you tap into your greatness with heart, humor and a series of more than 100 yoga poses, beautifully photographed in this 400+ page book. It opens with an introduction to the authors life, where years were stolen from her after a horrific dog bite that took away her power of mobility. After too long a period of feeling sorry for herself, she determined to conquer the negativity in her soul and change. She developed a series of commandments, one of which includes everything from getting comfortable with getting uncomfortable to being a hell yeah person. In the beginning chapters you will read everything you need to know about meditation as well as everything you need to know about pranayama. The next four chapters are devoted to Beginner, intermediate, advanced and restorative practices.

Included in each chapter are photos and detailed explanations of each pose with a section of sequences for the advanced student. The warm-up poses are highly instructional as is the 30 day program to de-stress. Key alignment points are shown for each pose to make the process more visual for the student wishing to move up to the next level. Go ahead and do it. Be a hell yeah person using Candace Moores wonderful instructional, motivational book.
163346
This is absolutely the best book I've read in years. While I am rarely moved to read any book from cover-to-cover, I could not put this book down. How rare to find a story that captures a glimpse of the pure tradition of yoga along with a deeper connection to the guru. With all the modern star-studded power yoga programs and body-focused asana classes, this book was a welcome and refreshing find, and it shares a story that deserves to become a best-seller in the world of yoga. Few books have inspired me to go even deeper into my own personal yoga practice, and this was one of them. May it catch the world on fire with love for the tradition of raja yoga.
4905821
I bought this book for my wife, a certified fanatic of all things yoga, and she can NOT stop talking about it. She was going on and on so I decided to give it a read myself. I am absolutely impressed. I thought it was just a picture book with poses that she could practice, but thats not the case at all. It gives a detailed description of why doing yoga is beneficial, the state of mind that is needed to perform, and the best breathing methods among other useful info. I haven't admitted it to anyone yet, but this book is the reason I secretly meditate in the car now
2242820
This book is a godsend for anyone who studies or teaches yoga. It reflects so much care and work and attentiveness to detail.  It really is anatomy for yogis.  I've been studying yoga for close to 40 years and have been exposed to a variety of corrective allignment forms of body work.  So when I'm having trouble in a posture I often refer to standard anatomy books but they can be overwhelming and aren't geared towards helping me understand what is going on in a given posture.  Despite taking several anatomy classes including a wondrous anatomy dissection class, I still don't have enough knowledge to translate what I  read or see in an antomy text into what I'm doing and not doing in a given yoga posture.  There are books that aim to be more inclusive, like Mel Robin's book on the physiology of yoga--but I just get overwhelmed by that much information.  This book helps me see the main muscles working in a given posture and the main reasons I might be having difficulty with that posture.  Of course I would like even more--how can I strengthen or lengthen the muscles that I'm needing to employ in a given posture.  But that is asking for too much and I think really requires work with a well trained teacher.  This  book is just the right size, user friendly and chocked full of information.  The illustrations are remarkable, showing postures from different angles and reflecting the author's extensive study of both anatomy and yoga.  I highly recommend it.
65448
This is the 1st book i've read about yoga and its deeper purpose. As an atheist, I am intrinsically weary of self-help and spiritual books but I am also deeply in love with yoga so I thought I'd give this book a go since I've heard great things about it. There was a lot of amazing insight in it for me, and I really like how he talks about the fact that scientists have studied what happens in our brains when we meditate and practice yogic physical and mental movements. That part of it speaks to me. Though I've done yoga on and off for probably 15 years, it never really did much for me until I needed it and in the last 2 years it really changed the way I think and live. Cope talks a lot about some of the initial changes that occur when you start practicing yoga and I can relate. I didn't connect with the latter half of the book because the whole idea of living in a yoga retreat for months on end just screams of a certain type of privilege that again, I am just intrinsically weary of. How does that apply to real peoples' lives when the insights in the book from its characters come from months (and sometimes years) of living in a cabin out in the woods? Who can really do that? Maybe some day in the future I will relate with those sections of the book as well but now, not so much