Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5532 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Synopsis
Contents: Introduction to Yoga; Asana: Beginners Group -- Pawanmuktasana Series; Part 1: Anti-rheumatic Group; Part 2: Digestive/Abdominal Group; Part 3: Shakti Bandha Asanas; Yoga Exercises for the Eyes; Relaxation Asanas; Meditation Asanas; Vajrasana Group of Asanas; Standing Asanas; Surya Namaskara; Chandra Namaskara. Asana: Intermediate Group -- Padmasana Group of Asanas; Backward Bending Asanas; Forward Bending Asanas; Spinal Twisting Asanas; Inverted Asanas; Balancing Asanas. Asana: Advanced Group. Pranayama; Bandha; Mudra; Shatkarma; Psychic Physiology of Yoga; Therapeutic Index; Index of Practices.

Customer Reviews

A very inspiring yoga manual
This book is simply superb. I have been practising yoga for a couple of years, and this book is a pleasure to dip in to for home practice.

It is a delight to work through different asanas, and to compose your own personal practice. Each asana has a list of benefits which is usually a list of physical / spiritual benefits. This helps you work out which asanas might benefit you most at the current time.

There is even a bit in the back listing asanas which help relieve common ailments.

I have bought books before on Tai Chi, martial arts and yoga, and it is usually impossible to do the moves at home from a book, but this is the first book that has made this possible, this is down to clear diagrams and excellent written descriptions. Of course it is recommended to practice alongside a qualified yoga teacher, but this book is excellent for home practice.

It is suitable for beginners to advanced.

A teaching "Bible"
As BWY teacher, this was one of the main course books we referred to during training and is therefore something of a bible. It is very easy to follow and gives both the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga techniques which are easy to follow.

An easy-to-follow manual for both health and sprituality
Published by the Bihar School of Yoga in India, this book aspires to be a university-level academic and practical studfy book, acknowledging both Western and Indian health traditions. It is very comprehensive with easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions as to how to perform the exercises, along with clear illustrations. It covers Asana – the stretching exercises (which many people confuse as the be-all and end-all of yoga) – basice, intermediate and advanced, Pranayama – the breathing exercises, Bandha – holding exercises to control the flow of “prana” energy in the body, Mudra – gestures and positions to promote the flow of psychic energise in the body, Shatkarma – methods of physical cleansing of the body (some rather grim) so as to better perform the exercises, and an introduction to Yogic physiological theory – chakras, prana and the like.
I like this book because it does not reinforce the Western body-mind separation inherent in our habitual distinction between Yoga (more correctly Asana) and Meditation, but treats both as part and parcel of the pursuit of holistic health and spirituality. However the book is versatile enough for one to pick and choose exercises as one likes. There is also a very handy therapeutic index at the back which advises which exercises are most appropriate to which ailments.
This is the only book that I refer to on an almost daily basis. I have to admit that I haven’t got an adonis body or achieved oneness with Godhead yet, nor have I even attempted any of the intermediate or advanved asanas, but these things can take time – and I’m feeling better all the time.