Great first yoga book

Very clear directions, good pictures, good section on how to use yoga to stretch out even when you're at the office. As with all yoga books and videos, however, I recommend this in addition to some instruction, at least when you first start.

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Delivers as promised after a learning curve

This book is great for the busy person who really wants to include a full yoga experience in their daily life. The author breaks the 20 minute workout into a 2 minute breath section, 3 minute warmup section, 8 minute yoga posture section, and an 8 minute relaxation/meditation section. It offers a basic workout, a challenging one, plus specialized workouts for during pregnancy, for athletes, for people with low back pain, and more.

I learned the basic workout in parts, since learning it takes much longer than the time to do it once you learn it. Take the time to read the instructions carefully and check your body's position while learning the postures because this is critical to a successful and satisfying practice. Remember to only stretch as far as you can comfortably go. Don't push... patience is rewarded with flexibility, impatience with possible injury.

If possible, schedule this workout for a time when you can extend it if you feel like it. I guarantee you will want to, because it makes you feel so good! Really helps with how your body feels (more flexible and stronger and energetic) and how your mind feels (calmer, more focused, more motivated). Since I did want to extend my practice sometimes, I added postures from another great book, Yoga for 50+.

It is so worth it to add yoga and breathwork and meditation to your life; the rewards are great and many. This book can help you.

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yoga in denial

What do I say about someone who indulges in denail of yoga's greatness and tries to popularise it. The author has no understanding of yoga's roots, its philosophy and spirituality. Here are a list of things she might advocate:
Dont breathe because breathing in yoga is about prana and there is whole theory associated with prana and pagan Gods.
Dont say Om because it is representation of Brahma, Vishnu and Iswara-the trinity of Hindu Gods.
Dont practise yoga because the primary purpose of yoga is to achieve Iswara - the Hindu God.

But then again, the author's yoga has nothing to do with philosophy and spirituality and Hinduism. In fact, it is plain simple exercises which man has know for ever and the west has always been practising.

Then what the heck is the word yoga doing there? - it's anybody's guess.
Peace.

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