Kakaku：478 saved$4.78
Rodmell Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Basically a yoga workbook for beginning students of the Eight Limbed Path) 『I am not clear who the audience for this book is intended to be. This is not an instructional book on asanas, not a memoir, nor a how-to for enlightenment.
My sense is the book is intended to gently introduce deeper yogic philosophies - the Eight Limbs, the idea of mindfulness, the establishment of your own practice. In this sense, the book succeeds.
Starting off each chapter with Charlotte Bell's personal experiences provides an accessible access point for jumping into, say, the Fourth Limb of Pranayama. Sutras are quoted, which Bell supports with her own insights. She breaks down complex concepts in a supportive, understandable manner.
Each chapter then closes with a small series of reflective questions for the reader's personal growth.
The book strikes me, most usefully, as a philosophy course textbook for beginning yoga students.
It's not a relaxing bedside read or a gripping story. It's the kind of book you want to read one chapter from after each yoga class, with a notebook to journal your reflective responses to questions asked.
I could readily see highlighting nuggets of wisdom to help better learn/understand the Eightfold Path, using the text as a reference book. I might pull out a chapter later, and then meditate on that theme in Savasana.
One could also possibly use this as focus for a book club, where readers discuss their own insights and anecdotes, relating them to Bell's experience.
Basically, although I at first thought this was to be a sit-down story, memoir-type book, I quickly realized this a workbook in disguise. Not that there is anything wrong with that! :-) It's just not what I was expecting from the Amazon book blurb.
』
(An Open Invitation to Bring Yoga into your Life) 『Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life is an open invitation to bring yoga into your life. Drawing on many years of yoga study,the author presents its core teachings, artfully weaving in personal stories from her own journey. Part memoir,part instruction,the result is a warm and accessible guidebook to be sampled, savored, and shared. Receive the book as a gift, whether you are just beginning yoga or have been on the path for years. Yael Calhoun, coauthor of Create a Yoga Practice for Kids Executive Director of GreenTREE Yoga』 『
A longtime yoga teacher and Buddhist meditation practitioner, Charlotte Bell describes in passionate detail how she applied the eightfold path of the Yoga Sutras and the Buddha’s heed for mindfulness to her hectic Western life. The path is often rough; she writes of self-doubt and struggles, of trying too hard and discouragement, of learning to accept the life she has, imperfections and all. But with grace and guts, she navigates the eight limbs of yoga, using the YogaSutras and insight meditation as her compass. She shows each limb at work in her relationships, music, asana, meditation, and even in writing this book. Her discussion of each limb includes practical ways that readers can bring mindfulness into asana itself, and in a section called “Reflections,”Bell encourages readers to experience even the most ordinary activity as extraordinary, whether it’s washing dishes, making tea, or rolling out their yoga mat.
IPhone 3G used's review (Think on these...) 『What an amazing reflection on the sturas! Bouanchaud does an exceptional job breaking down the sutras into managable chunks, with leading questions to help you personalize and internalize the ancient text. Giving the sanskrit words and pronunciation along side the english is also helpful. The "table of contents" listing of each sutra at the beginning of the book is a wonderful way to find the sutra you seek, though they are all such phenominal concepts to think on. The questions for each sutra are wonderful to start a yoga class, a conversation, or just a way to start your thought process rolling. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, it will change the way you see things!』
(Next best thing to studying w/ an exceptional teacher) 『I have actively studied this book for over 2 years. It is the next best thing to studying with a learned scholar&practitioner. While studying w/ two such teachers, I have used several translations. While they all have their merits, none are as good as this for conveying an understanding of the work as a whole and it's relevance to perennial human concerns. The literal translation of each sutra is the least vauable part of the book and here I can see room for some debate on a few individual sutras. More valuable, however, is the commentary and discussion. Here the book excels, like a good teacher. I found the occasional scholarly tangential discussion of Samkhya and Ayurveda quite useful and relevant to better understand the overall content. If I had to recommend just one sutra book, this would be it.』
(A decent book on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras) 『I ordered this book from Amazon and was amazed by the structure and content of this presentation. The only factor that may distract the careful reader is that it is a translation from French and by no means it is perfect. Some misspelling remained and there are some sentences that leave the reader clueless (not necessarily because of the cosmic info transmitted). The original work must be a decent piece, it is a pity that its translation is less accurate.
If really interested in the Yoga Sutras, by I.K. Taimni's 'The Science of Yoga', which is exactly about the same topic, discussing the Yoga Sutras, but really in-depth.』
『
Go straight to the heart of yogic teachings! Too often, Westerners perform the yoga positions without considering the form's underlying philosophy and spiritual dimension. For the first time, in this new and elegant translation from the Sanskrit, all the sutras appear in an accessible question-and-answer format, along with special queries that encourage self-reflection. The result is a treasure trove of insight. 275 pages, 1 b/w illus., 6 x 9.
Kakaku：576 saved$5.76
Healing Arts Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (From the Author of Outstanding You) 『Outstanding You: Discover, Design and Achieve Ultimate Fitness
A good book that has various poses. The poses in this book run from basic to challenging. While there are going to be health benefits, in trying many of these poses, I found them most beneficial for stretching and relaxing the muscles. Take your time, focus on the muscles and positions as described and you'll gain much form this book. Make sure you use a Gymnic exercise ball...they're fantastic, high quality exercise balls.』
(Decent introduction to adapting yoga postures to the ball) 『I have practiced yoga for several years now but just recently purchased a stability ball, so I wanted a book that would teach me how to adapt yoga postures to ball work. Author Carol Mitchell takes awhile to actually get into the exercises, as she goes into quite a bit of detail about yoga tradition, yogic breathing, and posture work. While this information might be helpful to someone totally new to yoga, I found it to be overly long-winded and was eager to get started.
Mitchell begins the practice section with yoga sun salutations modified for the ball. Although the sun salutation series is traditionally performed in a relatively brisk flow to warm up the body for more challending asana work, I found the ball version to be rather awkward, making it much more difficult to move smoothly through the series. Mitchell then moves on to several chapters of postures on the ball; I found these sections to be much more relevant. It was interesting to learn how the ball could be used to enhance the classic poses, sometimes making the poses easier and at other times making them more difficult. For every exercise, Mitchell presents at least two and often three different levels of difficulty, which allows you to customize your practice. Each chapter focuses on a particular practice goal: flexibility and strength, balance, advanced work, and relaxation. At times, the ball seems to be used only for the sake of incorporating it somehow--eg, holding the ball over your head--rather than as an integral part of the yoga posture.
A final chapter, "Putting It All Together," explains how to combine the various asanas presented to create a practice customized to your particular level and goals. Although each speciality practice is illustrated, I found the diagrams somewhat hard to follow, both here and elsewhere in the book. A nice bonus at the end of the book is an appendix which reviews all of the major muscle groups and their functions; this was perhaps the most clear and concise summary of this topic which I have ever seen. Overall, this book provided a decent introduction to mostly beginner's level yoga work on the stability ball, and it is probably best suited to those new to both yoga and ball work. Rating: 3 1/2 stars.』
(Over sixty postures from introductory to advanced) 『In Yoga On The Ball, medical exercise specialist Carol Mitchell offers an interesting new form of yoga workout combination which blends yoga with the exercise ball concept. Chapters survey how the exercise ball allows the yoga practitioner to build different muscle groups: over sixty postures from introductory to advanced are detailed with step-by-step instructions and photos.』 『Blends the ancient science of yoga with the unique training possibilities of the exercise ball to create an innovative and effective workout.
• A unique combination of Hatha Yoga asanas and ball work that builds lean muscles while providing natural stress relief.
• Includes a comprehensive workout adaptable to the needs of the beginner and those with a more advanced practice.
Written by Certified Medical Exercise Specialist Carol Mitchell,Yoga on the Ballcombines the science of yoga with the technology of the exercise ball to create a workout that can be tailored to all fitness levels. Moving through yoga postures while using the exercise ball is meditation in motion. It allows you to engage several muscle groups simultaneously to create a total body workout and to lose weight naturally as your metabolism increases with special breathing techniques. The exercise ball provides a soft and cushioning base for the strong stretches and graceful movements of the yoga exercises, and with only a slight roll of the ball, the deep stretches can be altered to target different areas of the muscles.
The complete workout lets you choose between sculpting your muscles with cardiovascular and muscle-toning exercises or relaxing your body and mind with stretching and breathing exercises.Yoga on the Ballpairs breathing and movement to create a rejuvenating flow of energy that will realign your mind and body, leaving you feeling calm, strong, and centered.
IPhone 3G used's review (Delightful Book.) 『If you've ever done yoga and you have a great appreciation for the zen of dogginess, you will enjoy this book. Even if you just like dogs, it should give you a laugh, but you'll probably appreciate it more if you're familiar with the ways of yoga.
It is definitely for people with a sense of humor--if you are looking for the definitive book on yoga positions and expect to teach yourself how to get into the perfect positions, well, go take a class from a human who can make sure you are properly aligned.
This book is fun, relaxing, and may inspire you to do yoga...but the most therapeutic thing about it is the laughter.』
(Doggie Yoga not for real) 『This is a silly book and not worth the paper it is printed on. Not funny enough to be a joke and not real enough to be a useful tool of any sort.』
(Doggie Yoga) 『This was a relatively cute book, but please beware that it is not truly instructional and is not meant to teach one how to facilitate a Doggie Yoga class. This book would make a good gift for the yoga aficionado who also loves dogs and might be entertaining for a few minutes. I would have preferred to see a greater variety of dogs as well. However, I understand the author's vision in spotlighting only four in order to develop character. I would not pay full price for this book.』
(Witty book for hip dog owners) 『Quite witty book of photos of young dogs in poses which look like familar yoga poses. It has imaginary commentary from the dogs.
Dog owners who do yoga will bark with delight.』
(Interesting viewpoint) 『Dogs actually do breath correctly, humans don't unless taught. Dogs stretch when they sense the need, humans don't unless taught. Dogs are amazing to watch, there are many things innate to dogs (and most animals), that humans don't do, but probably should.
Breathing - Humans breath shallow inadequate, terse breaths. Why? Because we've forgotten how to breath correctly.
How do we learn to breath correctly? Well, at birth. Once born the baby should be placed on the mother's chest, before the cord is severed and taught to breath. There, feeling the breath come in and out of the mother, feeling the heart beat, the baby learns to breath. Most mothers will have to ensure THEY are breathing correctly to pass this Vital Information onto the babe.
Since dogs breath naturally, pups are brought close to the mother, umbilical chord usually intact and feel the breathing and the heartbeat and become one with the mother.
Okay... think about it. And that's precisely what this book does, it gets one thinking about things, that perhaps we normally wouldn't take the time nor have the inclination to discover.
I enjoyed the read, it was cute, informative and being a dog owner I could relate. 』 『Dogs have always been natural yogis, and their tranquility of mind, ability to be in the moment, and contented outlook are widely considered to be the result of their long and devoted practice of doga. Dogis Benny, Buster, and Cricket practiced in obscurity for years, perfecting their dogic principles. Now at last they reveal the powerful secrets of doga. Many of the movements and positions of doga can inspire and assist humans in their own yoga practice. Doga presents the major asanas or postures, from the Downward-Facing Dog to the relaxing Happy Puppy and restorative Pup's Pose. Each stretch is demonstrated by one of the dogis, with accompanying text to help people adapt positions to their own practice. Also included are breathing techniques such as the hot breath, or pant, and tips on practicing with your own dogi. Anyone who does yoga or owns a dog is sure to find inspiration in these pages. On the path to health and inner harmony, Doga shows the way.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Family motion) 『I find this book to be extremely useful for all students even though it is marketed to younger females. The information inside is concise, accurate, helpful and well guided. Perhaps parents would find it a useful tool on how to connect movement with their families.』 『Following a short description of yoga’s origins, the author instructs on poses, or asanas, and shows how each pose imitates nature. She then instructs on using each asana as a way of relaxation and a posture for meditation. Illustrations show how to achieve each asana, what not to do, and how to know the asana is being performed correctly.Ener-Chi Books,written especially for teens, present ideas and exercises that both energize a girl’s body and soothe her spirit. The books take inspiration from a variety of Asian practices and exercises—thus, the suffix chi, a Chinese term that denotes internal physical and spiritual bodily energy.Ener-Chi Booksfeature clear, easy-to-follow directions and illustrations that are both clever and instructive, all presented in full color.』
Kakaku：239 saved$2.39
AYP Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (ties up all the books of the 'Enlightenment Series') 『 This book rounds up and ties together all the books of Yogani's 'Enlightenement Series', a small set of short books which are possibly the best general treatment of yoga around.
The 'Enlightenment Series' are written largely for the purpose of self-directed spiritual practice, and can be incorporated into any spiritual discipline.
If you are a beginner in Yoga, these books are a great introduction, if you are experienced, they are a great review, and they would be helpful and clarifying also for those approaching yoga from a Religious Studies perspective.
'Eight Limbs of Yoga' ties all the other books together, and shows how all the practices of yoga belong to one whole. It also elaborates on 'self-pacing', which is important for the individual practicioner, practicing without a guru.
You can buy 'Eight Limbs of Yoga' alone and get a lot out of it. The best thing to do though is, I'd say, is to buy the whole set. They're great value! If you want to read my own recommendations on them individually, click on 'see all my reviews'.
』
(A wonderful book) 『This book by Yogani clearly describes all the Eight Limbs of Yoga and goes a step further and explains the significance and connectedness of all the limbs on the path towards enlightenment.
To all those people who had trouble with many other systems this book is the answer. There are many systems of spiritual practices, especially the old traditional ones that say you have to start with asanas, yamas, niyamas before you can do your meditation -- the thing that you love most. But in actuality basing on the connectedness of yoga as this book clearly explains, you can start with any limb of yoga and the others will flow automatically.
Yogani's spiritual approach called AYP, or advanced yoga practices has been a revolution in the field of spiritual practices and there are lakhs of practitioners worldwide that follow his approach and are benifitting everyday. I would also highly recommend AYP's bible "Advanced Yoga Practices" also written by Yogani and is considered a very very valuable book. Below is the link for that one
Advanced Yoga Practices: Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living』
(Eight Limbs of Yoga The Structure and Pacing of Self-Directed Spiritual Practice) 『The Eight Limbs of Yoga by Yogani masterfully ties in the ancient Yoga Sutras of Patanjali into a precise road map for the modern day spiritual traveler. Yogani clearly shows the reader the process of opening the nervous system which he describes as the "Gateway to the Divine." If you want to start your personal journey to enlightenment, I strongly recommend The Eight Limbs of Yoga, and in fact all of Yogani books in the Enlightenment Series, starting with Deep Meditation Pathway to Personal Freedom.』
(Concise, easy to understand) 『This final book in the Enlightenment series from Yogani describes the overall framework of practices that comprise Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP). This framework originally described by Patanjali is made accessible and usable to the modern reader and more importantly the modern practitioner who desires an up-to-date optimized and streamlined route to the ultimate state of expanded consciousness.
Highly recommended, especially in conjunction with the rest of the series. Also be sure to check out the online support forum for AYP.』 『"Eight Limbs of Yoga - The Structure and Pacing of Self-Directed Spiritual Practice" provides an efficient integration of a wide range of yoga practices for use in a daily routine that is compatible with an active lifestyle, while staying in tune with the centuries-old "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." Here, these ancient innovations are brought up-to-date and optimized for modern self-directed practitioners. The center of all spiritual progress is found within each human nervous system. When these time-tested methods for stimulating human spiritual transformation are applied in an integrated way, spiritual unfoldment can occur within any cultural or religious setting. Detailed instructions on the many individual practices discussed here are provided throughout the AYP writings. This volume ties them all together in a systematic way to facilitate long term self-paced cultivation of abiding inner silence, ecstatic bliss, outpouring divine love, and the rise of unity in Self-realization. Yogani is the author of two landmark books on the world's most effective spiritual practices: "Advanced Yoga Practices - Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living," a comprehensive user-friendly textbook, and "The Secrets of Wilder," a powerful spiritual novel. The "AYP Enlightenment Series" makes these profound practices available for the first time in a series of concise instruction books. "Eight Limbs of Yoga" is the ninth book in the series, preceded by "Bhakti and Karma Yoga," "Self-Inquiry," "Diet, Shatkarmas and Amaroli," "Samyama," "Asanas, Mudras and Bandhas," "Tantra," "Spinal Breathing Pranayama," and "Deep Meditation."』
Kakaku：459 saved$4.59
Storey Publishing, LLC
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (inspiring and honest stories that reinforce the yoga journey) 『If you enjoy hearing others share honest details about their personal journeys, this is a wonderful book. I train yoga teachers, and give it to new yoga teachers to remind them that this is a path, and the practice itself creates the healing and learning.
A similar wonderful book is the less widely known Yogi Bare, a collection of interviews with yoga teachers.』
(Wonderful Book) 『UPDATED REVIEW - I loved this book. It is just stories about yoga instructors and meditation instructors. I say 'just' but many of the stories are very inspirational and motivational.
Many of the people included here are not the most popular teachers that one always hears about and reads about. There was an essay included about Ester Myers. She was a breast cancer survivor and taught specialized yoga to breast cancer survivors. I had ordered a video from here shortly before her death several years ago. I was glad to see that she was included because she is not what would be considered mainstream yoga.
The essays are wonderful. Full of the passion, angst, and change that goes into the moulding of all of us. Steven Cope did a wonderful job with this as he says in the introduction, "Each of the teachers and practitioners represented here had to struggle with practice in the context of husbands, wives, children, aging parents, financial demands, illness and injury, grief, depressions, and neuroses of every imaginable kind." Having already lived through most of these things and knowing that we all exist on different levels simultaneously I also realize that a practice can also be forged without these things.
This is a wonderful book to place many things in perspective and be inspired with the achievements of others. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in meditation or yoga or someone who would just like to read some inspirational stories about people to give some oomph to your intent for the new year. 』
(Nice collection of essays by well-known figures in the world of yoga, meditation, and Buddhism) 『The editor of this book, Stephen Cope--himself a well-known yoga teacher and practitioner of meditation--asked 25 distinguished instructors in the fields of yoga, meditation, and Buddhism how yoga and meditation had changed their lives. The result is this collection of short (averaging about 12-16 pages) essays and interviews which provide a wealth of insights and reflections. For many, the theme seemed to be acceptance--of themselves, of their lack of control, of their inability to change, etc. What was most apparent, however, was that these ancient practices have clearly brought much peace and joy to those who follow them. As a casual practitioner of yoga, I found these stories to be interesting and engaging; someone who also practices meditation and Buddhism is likely to derive even more value from this collection than I did.』
(Wonderful And Inspiring Collection Of Spiritual Insights) 『I really enjoy books like this, where you get to hear personal reflections from seekers deeply on their path.
I think it's helpful to be able to see how others have been affected by their practice and how they integrate it into their lives.
I am a practicing "Suburban Yogi" who has been on a spiritual path for as long as I can remember, but being a person who is very much a householder with a family, job, mortgage and other responsibilities it can be very difficult to stay grounded on the path. I don't live in solitude in a cave in the himalayas but in Suburban Tennessee (originally from Suburban New York) so I'm very much in the "real world".
I found this book is very helpful because the chapters which feature various spiritual seekers are short enough to be able to read in a short sitting and yet deep enough to help give me inspiration in my own life.
I feel that those folks who are featured in the book really opened themselves up honestly and shared from their hearts their own struggles and growth as they have lived and continue to live their practice the best that they can.
If you like this sort of book then I think you'll love this one by Stephen Cope.
Another book of Interviews that I would also recommend is "Yogi Bare" by Philip Self which contains interviews with many well known Yoga Teachers in the west.
Still other books that are different in format but are still wonderful books that deal with living your yoga and not just the asana/pranayama part (but still related to those things as well) , are: "Meditations from the Mat" by Rolf Gates."Yoga and the Quest for the True Self" by Stephen Cope (the author of the above book), "Yoga and The Path of The Urban Mystic" by Darren John Main (see also his "Spritual Journeys Along The Yellow Brick Road"), "Bringing Yoga To Life" by Donna Farhi, "The Tree Of Yoga" by BKS Iyengar to name other books that I found excellent.
Namaste』
(It�s already OK) 『There is incredible value in hearing other people's stories. I find it easy to worry if I'm good enough. And sometimes I see where other people are and know it isn't what I want.
Besides the value in other's stories, I just find them interesting! These are stories from names I recognize as stars in the yoga and Buddhist world. It's good to see them as human. I get a feeling I know them better, which changes my relationship to them when I see them walking around at a Yoga Journal conference or catch their name in print.
The question the book poses is "Will yoga and meditation really change my life?" In my own life, I've already answered this question (it will), but what this book does is help me not worry so much about needing to think my life needs changing.』
『As one of the largest and most successful yoga-based retreat and education centers in the world, Kripalu Center for Yoga&Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, attracts many of the leading teachers of yoga and Buddhist meditation to its annual retreat, East meets East: Yoga&Buddhism. In Will Yoga&Meditation Really Change My Life? Stephen Cope brings to the printed page the fascinating dialogue that he has fostered in these retreats.
Cope asks participating teachers to share their ?Tales from the Path,? stories of how the long-term practice of these ancient traditions has changed their lives. The result is an inspirational volume featuring 26 distinct voices telling their stories ? how they became interested in these traditions, the teachers who inspired them, and how the practice of yoga and meditation has shaped their lives and perspectives.
The contributors, many of whom are authors of well-known books on these topics, speak of their experiences as real people living in our complex world, complete with spouses, children, aging parents, financial demands, illnesses, injuries, and all of the ordinary aggravations of everyday life. Many of these teachers have studied and explored the practice of yoga or meditation over the course of 30 years and have been pivotal in creating retreat centers, styles of yoga, and teaching techniques that have contributed to the widespread popularity of these practices in mainstream culture.
The stories of these teachers ask the questions, ?What is possible for me, in my life, right now? How can my practice of yoga and meditation help me lead a more satisfying life?? These are questions on which every spiritual seeker and practitioner of yoga and meditation inevitably must reflect.』
Kakaku：638 saved$6.38
Lotus Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (One of the most important texts on Yoga) 『Yoga and the Sacred Fire is one of the most important texts on Yoga ever written. Frawley's text is filled with inspired teachings which will awaken the inner flame of the Heart and reveal the Inner Guru that resides within all of us. If you are seeking true Yogic teachings, look no further. Yoga and the Sacred Fire reveals the myriad ways in which the Divine Fire of our souls can inspire and heal. In this age of ecological crisis, Frawleys poignant message is truly transformational. Yoga and the Sacred Fire reveals how Yoga and Ayurveda can become beacons of light to our confused and materialistic age. If you are seeking to truly deepen your understanding of Yoga and Ayurveda, Yoga and the Sacred Fire can be the spark that ignites the Flame of the Spiritual Heart!』 『Yoga and the Sacred Fire explores the evolution of life and consciousness according to the cosmology and psychology of Fire, viewing Fire not only as a material but also as a spiritual principle. It shows how Yoga's deeper fire wisdom can help us move forward to an enlightened planetary age, where humanity and nature can again be one in a higher awareness.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Not what I expected) 『I was so excited to get this and when I received it I thought that they must have sent me the wrong thing - it is just like a calendar! It has some very good practical information and visually documents all of the series in the ashtanga practice. However, there are some serious drawbacks including the fact that the pictures are the size of postage stamps, there are no descriptions of how to get into and out of the postures and no information on alignment. Unless you are very familiar with all of the poses in the primary, intermediate, and advanced a and b this book is seriously lacking in this area. The written information is directed toward the beginner/intermediate practitioner and the visual information is for someone well advanced. His practice is lovely but the "book" is not worth the price.』
(A really useful learning tool) 『If you're practicing Astanga regularly and learning a lot of new poses, this book is a great resource. I've just started 3rd series, and when being given the poses, most of my attention is on doing rather than remembering. This book allows me to review and study the vinyasas at home.
Matthew's got an amazing practice. I was lucky enough to see some of it during my first of two (thus far) trips to Mysore, India. He knows what he's talking about.』
(Great aid to practice, highly recommended) 『A friend recommended this book to me because it has photos of all the postures in all the series of Ashatanga Yoga, laid out in an easy to use format. It also has 35 pages of sound advice and information about the practice. It is a great yoga book and a great ashtanga book.』 『Astanga Yoga As It Is by Matthew Sweeney is much in demand, since it is the only resource that fully details the primary, intermediate and advanced A&B series of Astanga Yoga. In the text portion of the book the type is small and the information dense. In Matthew's clear, precise and matter of fact style he covers important aspects of pranayama, the role of warming up, details on core postures and traditional and novel ways to approach the practice. There are nearly 2000 photographs in the posture sequences of traditional Astanga Vinyasa Yoga on durable heavy weight stock for years of reference and enjoyment. It is sized to fit at the head of your mat in a coiled binding so the pages open flat for easy visibility and reference. Matthew's description follows:Astanga Yoga As It Is - A comprehensive guide to the first four sequences of Ashtanga Yoga: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A and Advanced B as taught by Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois. The book details relevant techniques on breathing, asana, bandha and drishti.
It offers insight into the practical application of Yoga philosophy with information on the chakra, granthi, nadi and the Yoga sutras of Patanjali. The photographic section includes the asana for each sequence plus all of the variations for the movements and breaths between each posture. This is a one of a kind map to the traditional vinyasa method.Astanga Yoga As It Is provides an exploration of both the physical and mental aspects of the practice. It aims to shed light on some core yoga concepts and relevant self development principles. However, this book is not a "how to do it" manual. It does cover the main points of the tradition including many of the unspoken conditions that dominate the Mysore-method. As It Is aims to promote a questioning attitude to the practice, to examine and integrate its many qualities. As the physical practice evolves there should be a natural and healthy interest in the mental and emotional processes that go with it.』
Kakaku：48 saved$0.48
HarperOne
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A must-have book for your collection) 『Yoga's a big subject. One book cannot cover everything in detail. Vanda's book focuses on how the spine is key to all your stretching in Yoga. She explains in detail how to use gravity as your friend and healer. This book covers VITAL information for anyone practicing Yoga. There are plenty of videos and books out there with detail about a Yoga routine. This is not one of them. Sandra Sabatini's book on Breathing is another vital key book about the importance of focus on Breathing. Just one subject. Vanda's book is an easy read, that makes you want to try out her guiding words in your Yoga poses as soon as you can roll out your mat.』
(Awakening not only my spine but also my mind) 『The most wonderful yoga book I have ever read. Always inspiring, insightful and eye-opening. Definitely a must-have for yoga practitioners of any level.』
(more helpful than you might think.) 『One reviewer noted that reviews fall into two catergories, loved it or hated it. I read it with the advantage of having practiced with Vanda's students People who hate this book wanted clearer descriptions. But, Vanda's genius was this- she applied Krishnamurti's idea of the "pathless path" to the physical discipline of hatha yoga.
I had a firm background in traditional forms of hatha yoga and had been teaching for several years. The first weekend workshop I took completely decontructed my yoga practice because I practiced yoga, like most of us, from the outside in. Vanda taught an intuitive approach, from the inside out. Attention and resting in the body are key elements of this practice.
The effects are wonderous. I'm pushing 60 and my body feels better than it has since my mid-20's. Even without the opportunity of working with one of Vanda's students, there is much to be learned from this book.』
(Not much substance but beautiful illustrations) 『I was hoping for more yoga philosophy or atleast technique but this is mostly a coffee table book. Still inspiring and pretty!』
