Product Description
With over 200 photographs and illustrations, 'Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit' sets forth the tenets of this gentle yet rigorous exercise as no other book has. Integrating the teachings of every tradition, internationally renowned yoga instructor Donna Farhi reveals how yoga enhances the connections between the mind, body, and spirit. She outlines the seven simple movement principles that underlie all human motion and provides exercises to help readers understand how they can achieve all yoga postures. She also discusses the ten ethical precepts that are the foundation of all yoga teachings and explains how to incorporate them into a spiritually and emotionally rewarding inner practice. At the heart of 'Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit' are more than seventy-five yoga asanas or postures. Each one is pictured and described in detail, and they are arranged into related groups -including standing postures, sitting postures, arm balances, and breathing practices - for easy reference. A huge resurgence of interest in yoga is sweeping the western world. With its broad scope and holistic approach, 'Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit' is the ideal book to meet this interest.Amazon.com Review
As the physical practice of yoga has become popular in theWest, many of the spiritual aspects have been lost. There is much moreto yoga than reducing stress, increasing flexibility, looking great,and remaining youthful. Yoga is an ancient, integrated system designedto educate and unite body, mind, and spirit and teach the practitionerhow to be present both on and off the mat.

In Yoga Mind, Body &Spirit: A Return to Wholeness, Donna Farhi, Yoga Journalcolumnist, author of The Breathing Book,and internationally recognized yoga teacher, shows yoga students ofall levels and traditions how to use yoga as spiritual practice and avehicle to connect body and mind.

Most of Yoga Mind, Body &Spirit is devoted to the asanas (yoga postures) and thepractices of breathing and meditation. More than 240 photographs andline drawings show how to do the various poses and exercises. Posturesare accompanied by benefits and effects, cautions, tips, and prenatalsuggestions. Numerous inquiries are spread through the text to helpthe reader explore the body-mind-spirit connection. Farhi alsoexplains what yoga is, summarizes the living principles (wisecharacteristics and codes for living soulfully), discusses the sevenmoving principles of yoga, and explores the body's organ systems. Ifyou are ready to take your yoga practice to the next level, YogaMind, Body & Spirit is an excellent guide to help you connect witheverything yoga has to offer. --Ellen Albertson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

A MUST READ
This work is GOOD, so for those that are looking at Donna Farhi's books, READ IT. it's for anyone that has missing the way to breath fully / anyone that stress has overtaken. I am greatfull to have foundt and read this book. (I will be re-read many times).

Great book, but...
Great book on yoga, especially the beginning section which offers a detailed description of the many elements of yoga.But...why so many pictures of poses with the yogi naked?Makes it not so great for family use.I wanted to share this with my kids, but clearly that won't happen.Full front nudity, of all kinds.These are drawings, not photographs, but nothing is left to the imagination.Let the buyer beware.

Opening into Yoga Practice or Teaching
This book by Donna Farhi is a beautifully illustrated introduction and explanation of a yogic practice. She uses drawings that really speak to the inner dynamics of self-discovery -- reducing the "I will never look like that" feelings, and giving the visual learner a quick and very expressive way to understand without reading everything. On the other hand her words are clear and descriptive, emotional yet not preachy. Her contraindications and suggestions about asana work are useful.The main thing, though, that I love about this book is that it is so generous and loving, so open and heartfelt, while it is totally instructional and accessible. Not hard to digest, not hard to integrate into any and all other yogic study.I teach yoga, and often refer my students and fellow teachers to this book to help refresh and invigorate their deep journey along with the physical practice.

A life changing book!
This is really a great book offering many insights into how to live your yoga practice on a daily basis. It is easy to read, insightful and inspirational.I have already recommended this to many friends.

This gal really knows her yoga.
This well written book talks about the alignment principles of yoga from the inside out.Then Ms. Fahri takes that information and applys it to the poses, explaining what should be happening in the body to maximize the benefit of the pose from a whole body perspective.Once you have read it you will never think of yoga the same again.I highly recommend this book for teachers and serious students.One of the best I've ever read!!! ... Read more

Product Description
What allows kids to use a lot of energy, make funny noises, relax, and learn to focus all at the same time? Yoga! While many yoga books present individual poses, this book explains how to create a flowing yoga practice that will holds kids’ interest while providing the benefits of yoga. Here is a handbook for anyone--including parents, teachers, and kids--who wants to develop a fun yoga practice. In addition, the book provides ideas for yoga games, yoga at a wall, more relaxation games, and five-minute classroom yoga. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Create a Yoga Practice for Kids
This book has great ideas for a fun and enjoyable kids' practice. I would recommend it to anyone as a way to supplement your kids' classes

Very helpful!
This is such a wonderful resource with so many great ideas for teaching a Kid's Yoga class.I have used just about every lesson plan from the book.Great buy!

Good Information
I enjoyed this book.It gave me some new ideas for my class and contained some good, different ways to express thoughts to children.I would recommend this book for other teachers and parents.

Excellent Guide to Kids Yoga
I am a hatha yoga teacher for adults, and reading this book prepared me very well to teach 5th graders. The class themes were a hit, and the kids loved learning about shapes and geometry while doing yoga. The visualization ideas are also very nice. I would highly recommend this book.

Easy to use and creative
Very easy to use to create lesson plans for children's yoga programs.Give a lot of good ideas for a start to finish class. ... Read more

Product Description
This short time is all it takes to master the 38  simple exercises in this book. You will quickly  grasp the ancient Yoga secrets of breathing,  concentration, nutrition and muscle control -- in just  minutes of your spare time and without any  discomfort. Day by day you will notice astonishing  results -- loss of weight, greater firmness, more  energy, relief from pain, freedom from stress and an  overall feeling of youthfulness and well-being. This  Yoga regimen will become a lifetime program to  keep your whole organism radiant with a natural  beauty and health.



This Yoga regimen  will become a lifetime program to keep your whole  organsim radiant with natural beauty and health! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

This Book Changed My Life
I bought this book in 1969 when it was first published and I was a teenager. It kindled a lifelong interest in yoga and I've been practicing since then. I've long since moved beyond this excellent introduction to yoga but the well-worn hardback remains on my bookshelf. I have recommended this book hundreds of times over the past 40 years. I probably would have been turned on to yoga without the book, but I can't know for sure. I do know the book makes yoga accessible to all, quickly producing tangible physical and psychological benefits. I now have a collection of more advanced yoga manuals but this modest, very western book is the one that truly changed my life by setting me on the path of yoga.

Complicated Yoga Made Simple For Everyone! You, too, can do it!
If you want to learn and practice yoga without getting frustrated, and giving it up, then this is the only yoga book in town.I bought this when it originally came out back in the "hippie" era.I loved it then and I love it now.I know people who have attempted to practice yoga but eventually gave it up because they found it was too hard, too complicated, too painful, trying to twist their bodies into pretzels.Richard Hittleman is, was and always will be the first, last and only word in introducing you to a whole new way to feel calm and beautiful!You, too, can learn to stand on your head!I kid you not.In 28 days you are an expert.Three to four simple movements a day that can and will ease you into the meditive state of hatha or physical yoga.The pictures are great.Nothing left to the to the imagination to have to figure out.I recommend this book enthusiastically! You are never too old. Seniors, which I am, are welcome in this world.

No Bells or Whistles, Just a Simple, Basic Plan That Anyone Can Follow
I use this book in conjunction with running and lifting weights; it's made me a better runner because it's increased my flexibility so much; stretching was something I always slacked on. I can't say enough good things about this program. I especially recommend it for people who "hate" to exercise. At the end of a long workday, it's hard even for me to motivate myself to lift weights or go running, but it's NOT difficult to motivate myself to pull out a mat and stretch for 20-30 minutes. In fact, I've come to look forward to my daily yoga sessions.

In addition, there's no need for a gym or expensive equipment; all you need are this cheap little book, comfortable clothes and an exercise mat or towel.

This plan will not make you a yoga master, but it will significantly improve your flexibility and overall health. When I started this program, I was having near-constant neck pain from frequent computer use. Within a week to 10 days of starting this program, the pain *vanished.*

Exercise Plan
I am very happy with the Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan.
I am also very happy with the prompt delivery from Amazon. The 3 books
arrived in perfect condition and was received well before the estimated
time of delivery.

Masterful Beginner Yoga Book
I first found this book working in a used book store.I weighed 200 lbs and couldn't stretch past my ankles; I now weigh 150 lbs and can put my feet on the top of my head when I bend backwards.Needless to say, this is an amazing book.It starts with very easy routines and builds you up to a set of 3 1-hour long routines that you cycle on a daily basis.It teaches you in a step by step, day by day, manner that is perfect for the beginner who may find it intimidating to go to a studio with practiced yogis.This book works all the classic poses like triangle, bow, the ever impressive HEADSTAND!!!, and many more.If you're looking to become more fit, get more energy in your daily life, or help center your inner forces this book will help you achieve all three!I cannot recommend this book enough.This is the fourth copy of the book I've bought; I keep giving them to friends so they can start up and get the same amazing results I've found! ... Read more

Product Description
Provides simple instruction and demonstrative illustrations to introduce a technique that combines hatha yoga and meditation in order to slow the aging process, decrease stress, promote creativity, and improve mental and physical health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (64)

A Beautiful Soul
I actually haven't read this book, but have been taking yoga classes from the man himself here in Santa Monica, and just realized this book exists.. All I want to add is that Erich is the most radiant happy being I think I've ever met. Such a beautiful soul, with such a gentle and beautiful practice. Erich is most definitely the real deal! I look forward to reading this. I know already that he has much to teach!

Great book
I had to purchase this book for a yoga class at school. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I really love the breathing and meditation techniques. Yoga is a life changing physical mental and spiritual process which I will continue to practice here on out... thanks!

Excellent of course
I as always got great service from amazon!Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into StillnessThis book is great for taking yoga out of the gym & into something meaningful & not just another sweaty activity.

Excellent Yoga Book
Erich has created an amazing text full of informative poses and concepts.He masterfully describes how to enter poses and keep your self aligned properly. Also the benefits of each pose are listed so you can determine what poses to use for certain issues.My favorite part of the book are chapters 7 and 8.In chapter 7he describes in my opinion the "real essence" of yoga by elaborating on how you get the energy to flow in the poses. This is the real aim in that you are trying to get a release. If you follow his lead here you will discover it for yourself. He follows in chapter 8 with the concepts of the edge and how to protect yourself once you have established the pose.

I highly recommend this book for any yoga teacher or student.

This is a classic text!

Great book on yoga!
My yoga instructor often referred to this book and I thought I would buy it. I'm glad I did! Erich Schiffman goes into great detail about the breath, meditation and especially the benefits of each asana. He explains in detail how to do the different poses and even has a sample home practice for an overall workout. I recommend this book for anyone, whether new to yoga or a seasoned practioner. ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga is well known for its power to create a healthy body, but few realize the emotional and spiritual benefits. In The Secret Power of Yoga, world-renowned Yoga expert Nischala Joy Devi interprets Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the principles at the basis of Yoga practice, from a heart-centered, intuitive, feminine perspective, resulting in the first translation intended for women.

Devi’s simple, elegant, and deeply personal interpretations capture the spirit of each sutra, and her suggested practices offer numerous ways to embrace the spirituality of Yoga throughout your day ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

open heart open mind
Every page is a new revelation.Highly worth reading.The yoga sutras translated by a woman is such a wonderful concept long overdue I imagine.

OMMMMMMM
what a serene, peaceful read this book is.so very complementary to yoga/meditation practice.one of my yoga instructors refers to specific areas in it before practicing and it enhances every movement.

Pleasantly surprised
I very much appreciate the female insight that this book is based on.What a great compliment to the library of male-written sutra books.We are currently doing a comparative study of the sutras, and The Secret Power of Yoga brings in an amazing element of femininity and light that could otherwise be overlooked.Don't let it be your only book of the sutras, but don't let it be missing from your collection either.

Sutras made easy!
This book made the yoga sutras easy to understand and helped relate them to women. The book is an easy but important read for all yoginis out there who want to deepen their understanding of the yoga sutras of Patanjali.

A daily guide for spiritual practice
This set of CD's lives in my car and accompanies me down the road -- both the physical road and the road of my life.As an avid student of Yoga, I am enamored not only with asana (poses) practice, but with the metaphysics and philosophical underpinning of this ancient and sometimes complex system of whole health.Nischala Devi guides me from a woman's perspective, simply and clearly through the maze of the Yoga Sutras with her own unique flavor and world view.And while this is not an accurate "translation" of these ancient texts, her interpretation and commentary is for today, for women, and uncomplicates and simplifies the teachings so I can cease struggling and just rest in the depth of how to live my life in the 21st century where I am and as I am. ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga is fun! Get kids bending, breathing, and stretching with The Kids’ Yoga Deck. Playful poses such as Cat, Flower, Airplane, and Gorilla—as well as partner poses that can be performed with friends—teach kids the basics of yoga. Easy enough for children to do on their own, The Kids’ Yoga Deck engages bodies and minds to help youngsters build strength, flexibility, balance, and mental focus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

I Love These Cards!
I love these cards! I am a Behavioral Health Professional and I work with children who sruggle with appropriate behavior. These cards have been the most wonderful activity I have discovered for relaxation, anger management and just plain fun. The kids I work with love to match the poses on the front of the cards, respond well to the instructions on the back of the cards and have engaged in the suggested activities with enthusiasm. Some children who were reluctant to engage in treatment now greet me with requests to do yoga. The Kids' Yoga Deck is great for all ages.

Great Basic Yoga Poses
I am an OT in a school for developmentally disabled children, and this is a good tool for me to use when students need some movement.I especially like the picture of each stretch or pose; I can show it to my group and they do a good job of imitating it.The cards are on heavy stock and come in a nice easy-to-transport box.I highly recommend this product.

Nicely Organized
I like how the deck is organized by color and the suggestions for extended discussion/use of the pose is nice. The illustrations could be a little more clear.

OK
The deck is just OK.My youngest grandchildren (4,4 & 6) lost interest rather quickly.

Good Buy
I bought these for my niece and nephew.The activities are great but I wish the pictures were of real children.My niece and nephew do, too. ... Read more

Product Description
In Teaching Yoga, Donna Farhi addresses the growing need within the Yoga community to establish professional standards of conduct and training for Yoga teachers. Drawing on decades of teaching experience, she explores with compassion and clarity the complex questions that lie at the heart of the teacher-student relationship:

• As a Yoga teacher, how do you respond to the many roles you are called upon to play--health care adviser; personal confidante; spiritual mentor; physical therapist?

• How can you create healthy boundaries for yourself and your students, and maintain a safe, supportive environment?

• How do you deal with a difficult student or a question of ethics?

Woven throughout Teaching Yoga are examples from Donna's personal experience that she calles "Ethical Inquiries." In the Teacher Workbook section, she presents additional Ethical Inquiries that are both practical and provocative, and invites you to discuss these issues with your friends and colleagues. This section alone makes the book ideal for teacher training!

Incudes a bonus CD: "Holding a Heart in Our Hands," which is a keynote address Donna gave a Yoga Spirit 2002, a Yoga conference held in Lake George, New York. (74:20 minutes) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

mean spirited gender bias
I am in my sixties, married, a retired professor and aspiring yoga instructor.This book is gender biased, portraying an inaccurate and unfair vision of heterosexual yoga instructors.Donna Farhi describes the yoga community as a sick and sad cauldron of sexual abuse where male instructors "infantilize" female students and abuse them without love or mercy.The book denigrates both sexes; male instructors are evil predators "usually married" and women are, not evil, just stupid and weak, offering themselves up in droves to evil manipulating low-down dirty fast talking yoga instructors.The author seems oddly fixated on the touching of genitalia, mentioning it at least three times, and also seems oddly focused on the wearing of "inappropriate", "tight" male attire.She uses the book to blatantly "out" an accused transgressor by telling us on pg 21 the exact words the man uses to describe himself in his advertising.Unethical?. Mean? Yes, and possibly slanderous. Farhi even suggest that yoga teachers who engage in romantic relationships with students, no matter how willing or adult, be imprisoned.I believe this author has deep personal issues that have sullied her attitude toward the world of yoga and the good human beings who practice it.This book is primarily an enunciation of the authors personal code of ethics and has little or nothing to do with "Teaching Yoga".

Great info re: ethics of teaching yoga
This book provided some wonderful insights and examples regarding things to consider when engaged in a student-teacher relationship while teaching yoga.Great food for thought!

Great for anyone
This book details the teacher-student relationship, and could be used by teachers of dance and many other activities in addition to yoga.It could also be interesting for students, to better understand the many and complex ways students and teachers interact.

A Teacher's Guidebook!
This book speaks directly to the heart and soul of the yoga teacher.Where else can you find such honest anecdotes about the ethics involved with teaching yoga? This is an invaluable addition to a well-rounded yoga library.

Rather disappointing.
I LOVED Donna Farhi's book "Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit" (which should be required reading for all yoga professionals) and was hoping for another book just like it -- only this time focusing on how to be a better yoga instructor.Unfortunately, I was really disappointed in this book.Since this book is called "Teaching Yoga", I thought that it would be about TEACHING YOGA, not 150 pages on ethics.Perhaps a better and more truthful title would have been "The Ethics of Teaching Yoga."If you are looking for a book on yoga and ethics, then this is the book for you.However, if you are looking for a book on the process or the act of teaching yoga or ways of improving yourself as a yoga instructor, this is absolutely not the right book for you. ... Read more

Product Description

Many of us face daily demands and overwhelming difficulties that cause seemingly uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear. When you feel this way, it's healing to calm yourself and to reclaim your sense of innate goodness and well-being. For centuries, yoga has offered a quiet retreat away from life's pressures and has enabled us to reconnect to our inner wisdom and peace.

Regular yoga practice has been proven to calm stress, enhance concentration, and reduce the symptoms of anxiety. This book offers meditations, mindfulness practices, self-inquiry exercises, and yoga poses that soothe anxious feelings and develop mental clarity. Before long, you'll free yourself from the anxiety and fears that hold you back and learn to live with a more open heart and resilient mind. Just as yoga helps you feel more at home in your body, the mental and physical practices in Yoga for Anxiety help you increase your sense of contentment in life.

Yoga for Anxiety is an excellent guide for anyone seeking greater serenity, peace, and fulfillment-and who isn't?
-Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions

Customer Reviews (15)

Very helpful book on anxiety!
I really enjoyed this book.The authors are knowledgable and easy to relate to, and the ideas they give are reasonable and attainable. Unlike other books on anxiety..with long, drawn out physiological explanations and complicated methods to overcome, this book uses a more simple set of techniques that everyone can do.Real life examples of other anxiety sufferers are also very helpful.I would recommend this to anyone who has a problem with anxiety- it really helped me!

A superb resource that seeks to address multiple root causes of anxiety
Psychotherapist/yoga teacher Mary NurrieStearns and meditation teacher Rick NurrieStearns present Yoga for Anxiety: Meditations and Practices for Calming the Body and Mind, a guide to using the practice of yoga to relieve stress, improve concentration, control the symptoms of anxiety, and more. Filled with suggested meditations, mindfulness passages, self-inquiry exercises, yoga poses and more, Yoga for Anxiety is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, regardless of personal skill and experience in yoga. Black-and-white photographs illustrating yoga poses enhance this gentle, well-thought-out, easy-to-follow guide. A superb resource that seeks to address multiple root causes of anxiety, in addition to proffering ways to tap into the power of yoga and physical activity as a positive counter-force, Yoga for Anxiety is highly recommended.

a handbook fpr stress reduction



Yoga For Anxiety is a warm, easy-to-read, and useful guide to help manage anxiety and live a more peace-filled life. It offers information, examples, and exercises to calm your mind and emotions day by day. The authors combine personal and professional experience, current scientific information, spiritual practices, and useful tools for anyone seeking to live with a greater sense of well-being.I've given it to friends and suggested it to colleagues and patients.I highly recommend it.

Lindsay Patterson, PhD., Clinical Psychologist, Tulsa, Oklahoma

a wonderful how to for calm and lowering anxiety
This book is more about anxiety than yoga, but a wonderful blend of the two. As an innovate book, it ranks at the top. It presents clinical information in a readable way, as well as stories about ordinary people using the techniques. Mary and Rick NurrieStearns are grounded in solid knowledge about life, yoga, and anxiety, with a graceful writing style that adds to the pleasure of the read. I would recommend it both for self-help, but also for clinicians working with the anxious client.

Jeanne Erikson, PhD, LCSW

Yoga for Anxiety
This book is not a how to do Yoga Book, per se. There are hunderds of books on different types of Yoga and how to do yoga. This book is a lovely source of knowledge for anyone who wishes to take care of their physical, mental and spiritual health. It is also for anyone who has experienced anxiety. It is written in a style of loving kindness and by Mary and Rick's examples it teaches you to have compassion and patience with yourself.This book teaches you valuable tools that anyone can use to put themselves in charge of anxiety forever. The idea is that you can take charge of anxiety without medication, or ingesting alcohol or other substances. If this appeals to you, then this is well worth your time and money. This book is for you.

Rick and Mary have done extensive research into the latest findings of Neuroscience. They have explained it in easy to understand language, so you do not need to have a degree in science or biology to understand what is written in their book. A foundation key that Rick and Mary explain is that scientists have found, that the action of repeated firings of neurons changes the wiring of the brain. This simply means you can change your mental wiring by what you think, and how often you think it. This is crucial in understanding what Mary and Rick are teaching in this book. They explain that through the repetition ofpractice of Yoga techniques, and verbal mantra, the brain has the capacity to incorporate these into a healthy response style for responding to stress and anxiety.

Inorder to deal with fear/anxiety, Rick and Mary's book catogorizes this process of becoming aware of what you are unaware of, into "the five capacities of the mind". This is in keeping with Yoga tradition. 1.) Memory which involves the storing and remembering of information. 2.) Imagination, which represents a creative side, eg. music, art, innovation, humor - but it can also scare you into thinking about "what might be - what could happen". 3.) Perception, your ability to process or take in color in your environment, sounds, flavors, smells and the ability to touch things. 4.) Sense of Identity, another function of our minds, which incorporates our experiences which make up our own story about who we are. Mary points out that these stories are not who you are but they can control how you feel about yourself and keep you stuck in both postive and negative perceptions about yourself and patterns of behavior. 5.) Intelligence, which in the western world refers to IQ, but is explained better by Rick and Mary as wisdom or inner knowing. Mary and Rick's book helps one to use Yoga to recognize the workings of your mind and to become aware of your minds patterns. This new kind of awareness helps you use detachment to gain more wisdom and freedom from past stories and experiences, both negative and postive ones, that have become part of your identity.

Mary and Rick explain how anxiety, phobia and trauma are related to irrational fears. They also help us look at the by product which can take control of our lives which are the needs for certainty and safety. They teach us to analyze our needs for safety. While taking steps to help us feel safer, they offers tools to build up a tolerance for uncertainty as we know life does not offer any of us absolutes.

Mary and Rick introduce meditation, breathe work, silent retreats and yoga practices that anyone can learn and perform in their own home. Mary and Rick's book demonstrates yoga poses that can be practiced for 10-15 minutes at home. Some poses can be utilized in your work environment to help you free your body from anxiety. This book is truly a gift of love to humanity.

I am a practicing psychologist who has been doing therapy with clients since 1988. While I have taught individuals self relaxation, I see thisbook offering a compulation of tools that are interconnected and that are self healing. This book offers aholistic approach of incorporating tools for a life style change that will result in a new approach to anxiety, as well as dealing with ones own identity and early programing. I am also a certified yoga instructor and find these poses safe and ones that can be self taught.

I would highly recommend this book to clients, students, family and friends. This is the best medicine yet and it does not require ingesting a pill or other substance. It requires a small amount of time and some self discipline, like brushing ones teeth. Pretty soon, you just do it, and you do not think about it. It just is.









... Read more

Product Description
By time she was in her early twenties, Sandy Blaine was facing multiple traumatic knee injuries that left her in constant pain. After enduring extensive physical therapy with limited results, Blaine was amazed when a six-month exploration of Iyengar yoga caused her knee pain to disappear completely. Spurred by curiosity and gratitude to find out how this was possible, Blaine made a thorough investigation into recovering from knee pain through the practice of yoga. Her discoveries are revealed in Yoga for Healthy Knees. The book features 17 unique yoga poses tuned specifically to knee health and a complete index and covers knee problems such as hyperextension and tightness, features an extensive section on the best yoga poses for knee pain prevention and rehabilitation, and outlines a daily knee maintenance plan. Blaine explains how to incorporate use of simple props like blankets and towels, and shares safety guidelines that encourage readers to establish good habits, making healthy knees a part of everyday life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

After Knee Replacement Surgery
I continue to do yoga after right knee replacement surgery. Does this book give you tips on how to protect your knee after surgery? Does it give suggestions on modifying poses?

The asanas in this book are helping my knees
I have been doing these exercises on a regular basis and my knees are feeling better every day.It is a great supplement to my beginning yoga practice and is helping me to not be discouraged when my knees ask me to stop trying. I just switch to some of the exercises in this book and they help me get back to it.

Highly Recommended
Great book, the exercises started improving a chronic knee and hip joint pain and weakness after just one session, I guess you could say that is some kind of minor miracle. What is really cool about this book is that there is a very limited number of exercises, so you are not overwhelmed and can easily get started and stay practicing. And, though this book is focused on the knees, I found it really good for limbering up my hip joints and back as well.

I didn't know this prior to purchasing, but the author uses the Iyengar method, which focuses on alignment and correct positioning. I studied with a teacher who used this method way back in the day before yoga went mainstream, and Iyengar still is, to me, in the spirit of true hatha yoga.

Good Information
I have been looking for information on how to keep my joints healthy, especially knees, since so many of my friend have been having problems.This book really provided some good information that I will be putting into practice.

Highly recommended for healing aging knees!
Yoga for Healthy Knees is at the top of the list of books I recommend for teaching yoga to people over 50. I always show this book to my students of any age with knee problems. The author is an expert who overcame her own knee pain using yoga. This is a clear, well organized book with a positive, uplifting attitude!

-- Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50, The New Yoga for Healthy Aging and other books for people at midlife and older. ... Read more

Product Description
Now beginners, experts, and teachers alike can make rejuvenating meditations part of daily life with this beautifully illustrated deck of fifty yoga poses and meditations. Each easy-to-use card gives detailed instructions, benefits, and an affirmation. If you're short on time, you can pick just a single card, or for a more guided experience, follow one of the sequences provided. Create an exercise routine that focuses on your specific needs. In the park or at the office, these portable cards are perfect for stress relief, promoting strength and energy, and relaxation--anytime, anywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Fun for Newbies.
I first purchased both The Yoga Deck and The Yoga Deck II about 8 years ago at a Crate & Barrel of all places.
It was my first introduction to Yoga, something that I could do at my own pace, on my own time and in my own space. It's great to be able to go through the cards, find the ones you like the most and create your very own specialised deck of Yoga stretches.

It can be a little clunky sometimes, trying to stretch, completing the stretch and then having to shuffle some cards around to get to the next move. If you have them lying on a carpet, sometimes they can get a little slip and slide-y. But this is only a problem until you've selected a routine that works for you and have it memorized, eliminating the cards altogether.

**I came to Amazon to try and replace my original Yoga Deck, as I had mistakenly loaned it to a friend; upon return 25 cards (half of the deck) was missing. -
I refuse to purchase the cards from either Amazon or any of the independent sellers, though. They're insanely overpriced. The cheapest listed is $11.07, and most of the "used" items are described as a books. I don't trust a seller who can't properly describe their item. The Yoga Decks are PRE-priced by their distributor for $14.95. So, in my opinion, anyone who is charging more than $14.95 is completely ripping you off for a deck of cards almost 10 years old.**

To be honest, I grew tired of these cards quickly. I find it to be more beneficial to find a good book or video instruction and follow along with that. It's easier to listen and stretch than it is to read and stretch... successfully. - But a fun deck to own regardless.

Slow going...
Pros: Nice box, looks neat, clean, easy to stack. Few exercise accessories needed.

Cons: Wordy, & it's in a tiny font size. Many/All strange-new exercises makes it difficult to follow along & get your exercise session done. I spent 5 minutes to learn and do each exercise, and you never really master each exercise. You try and try, but either your breathing isn't right, or you'll find something to make you stop & read each card each time you do that card's exercise. This is not the way to keep your body warm and your heart rate up during an exercise session.

Exactly what I expected
I purchased this deck for at home practice.I have yoga dvds and take occasional classes at my gym... but I wanted to begin to have a bit more control over my own practice and to learn to move without the dvd.The cards are beautiful.On one side they illustrate the pose and on the other they give a step-by-step how to.I think if someone has a basic (or better) familiarity with yoga they can use these.In addition to at home use I plan to take them with me when I travel.

Nice quality card stock.Helpful images.Good variety.A list of recommended sequences (e.g. for more energy, for increased flexibility).

The Perfect Stocking Stuffer For Busy People
I love fitting yoga into my day but with a demanding schedule, I can't always make it to classes and DVDs bore me to tears. But this deck is perfect for those exact reasons. You can fit 5-500 minutes of yoga wherever you want and exactly according ot your needs.

The best part is you to customize your practice based on your physical needs - each card states why the given position is beneficial. For examples 'promotes elimination' or 'helps neck stiffness' or 'tones lower body' or 'stimulates thyroid' or 'improves complexion' ... this way every night depending on my needs I can customize my chosen positions.

GREAT buy. I'm buying it as a stocking stuffer for family.

Great yoga set
I am a total novice at Yoga, but have been active all my life in various sports.My problem is that I am not flexible at all and have had back problems and issues with my hamstrings.Yoga has really helped me with this.I have strengthened my back musles and gained flexibility.Where this product comes in is that it can be an ever changing workout.I have never taken a yoga class but have several instructional dvd's that I do occasionally.For some reason I like these cards a lot better than my dvd's and I do them much more often than the dvd's.The little booklet that comes with the deck has a few suggestions for workouts and I use the back one the most.I love being able to change it up and try new things and do things in different order.You can't do this with a dvd and they seem to get monotonous after awhile in my opinion.These cards are durable and I place them right next to my mat while doing the yoga.I enjoy them immensely and feel that without them I would just have my yoga mat sitting in the closet.Your workout can be as long or as short as your time allows and that is a great part about it.The only thing I might like to have changed is that one side of the cards is so dark that it would be a little bit easier to read if the background wasn't so dark.I know that is a small thing and that is why I still give it 5 stars.Good addition to anyones workout!! ... Read more

Product Description

In Heart Yoga, renowned spiritual writer and Sacred Activist Andrew Harvey and longtime yoga teacher Karuna Erickson present a vision of hatha yoga practice that links ancient spiritual traditions to contemporary life. Including excerpts of poetic sacred writing from mystical sages through the ages, the book reminds readers that the purpose of yoga is not to improve one's physical health or even to achieve peace of mind (although these results may be achieved along the way), but to reach a state of unity with the divine, the goal of mystics from all traditions. With detailed descriptions and photographs of fifty yoga poses and their alchemical effects on the body and consciousness, Heart Yoga presents yoga as a simple meditative practice that enables the practitioner to dwell in the heart and experience the bliss of union with the sacred power underlying all of life. The book explains how to prepare for Heart Yoga and describes the “Five Great Joys” that are part of the path. Included are the authors' own compelling stories of their individual journeys along the path of yoga: stories of suffering, transcendence, and joy that both inspire and enlighten.

Customer Reviews (8)

A beautiful marriage of passion, peace and preservation
//Heart Yoga // challenges long-time yoga practitioners to "think outside the box," look further within to tap our own unique spirits, and invite a more intimate level of faith and belief. There are numerous books on yoga and teaching the basic poses and breathing techniques. What one does with it is an entirely personal choice. According to //Heart Yoga//, practice is a prayer, a personal expression of honoring your own life and also honoring life itself.

As in other yoga how-to books, //Heart Yoga// shows basic poses in black and white photos, along with well-written instructions for the poses and breathing exercises. Included throughout the book are well-timed, appropriate quotes and passages from many well-known authors and writers, many with a divine connection to the base energies of nature.

What I appreciated most about the directions for the poses and breathing was the imaginative correlation to connecting with our inner spirit and the energies of the earth, sky, and vast world around us. Each pose is explained, the intent, the goal clarified, the purpose personified. This book reads as much like prose and poem as it does invitation and instruction. It's most definitely a book one must experience to best appreciate it.

Reviewed by Laura Friedkin

A must for anyone wondering about the power of yoga in one's life
Yoga encourages serenity of body and spirit. "Heart Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism" discusses the power of yoga and how it can have a positive and powerful change on peoples lives, leaving them greater and more open to the many other avenues of life. Thoughtful and enticing reading that can be applied easily in one's life, "Heart Yoga" is a must for anyone wondering about the power of yoga in one's life.

good but a little basic
I like this book, but it mostly yoga routines, and most of the routines have a lot of the same asanas (postures) so you are just getting a lot of repetition in the book.But the idea and concept of the book is beautiful and I truly appreciate how it is getting back to the true roots of yoga.If you are a yoga teacher who teaches yoga that is ONLY for fitness, then you should buy this book, read it, and begin implementing it into your classes.As yoga teachers we need to be teaching yoga as it is intended, and not dumbing it down like we have been doing in the west.Enjoy the love!Namaste.

What yoga is truly about!
Heart Yoga is an inspirational and beautifully crafted book, filled with ancient wisdom and modern insights. The book is infused with moving poetry and simple elegant photos. The yoga practices are well-balanced and easy to follow.

The teachings contained within the book are widely accessible and touch on the vast depths of what yoga truly is. Erickson and Harvey share these practices in order to energize their readers to become spiritual activists, all the while doing so in a wholly sustainable and grounded way. This book is a practical guide on how to take yoga off the mat and into the world!

Erickson and Harvey are master teachers who are using their wisdom to ignite passion in their students.

Heart yoga is a powerful and inspiring guide - one that our world is in great need of!

Encourages readers to reach the heart of yoga through joy and compassion
This book has helped me delve deeper into my yoga practice.It interweaves beautiful mystical poetry with asana sequences to inspire readers to expand their yoga practice to embody joy and compassion. The main body of the book provides different asana series that are a meditation on five different aspects of joy: transcendence, creation, love for all beings, tantra, and service.

As a novice yoga teacher, Heart Yoga has inspired me to incorporate these sequences into both my practice and into my teaching.I especially enjoy seeing how individuals respond to and open up through the partner yoga series detailed in the chapter on the Joy of Tantra.The photos of asanas incorporated throughout the book also provide an essential guide to the reader.

This book will encourage any yoga practitioner, from novice to sage, to delve deeper into their practice and to further open their heart with joy and compassion.
... Read more

Product Description

THE ESSENTIAL COMPANION FOR BEGINNING AND EXPERIENCED YOGIS ALIKE

A highly regarded organization for yoga studies and practices, the Sivananda Yoga Center created the first edition of The Sivananda Companion to Yoga in 1983. Since its publication, it has sold more than 700,000 copies worldwide and has become a standard text for both yoga students and teachers.

Now with fresh, colorful pages throughout, The Sivananda Companion to Yoga remains the classic guide to yoga. With easy-to-follow instructions, inspirational teaching, and detailed illustrations, this authoritative guide covers every aspect of the yoga lifestyle, including relaxation, exercise, dietary guidelines, breathing, and meditation. Whether you're using it in conjunction with a class or on your own, The Sivananda Companion to Yoga can help you

* Develop a fit and beautiful body
* Boost your energy and vitality at any stage of life
* Reduce stress and experience greater peace of mind
* Eat nutritiously and responsibly
* Increase your powers of concentration and discipline

Yoga is a journey toward physical and spiritual wellness. With this beautiful, bestselling guide in hand, you will experience the health, energy, and vibrancy that yoga can bring into your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Good book for beginners.
Very good book for those interested in yoga. This book has plenty of yoga poses and has interesting spiritual and hostiric facts of yoga. Why not a five star? Because this book lacks poses variations for individuals in not so good health or for individuals without intermediate flexibility. Although, if you are a bit flexible you can work your way to being able to do certain poses.

Awesome yoga book, even for beginners!
This is my second copy of this book.The other one was loved by a house sitter and never returned.So I was very happy to find it on Amazon.It's a great book!It helps with daily practice, many modified postures, fasting, diet, and many other health related topics.I strongly recommend it!

great!
Very good starter book. Flexibility is a cornerstone of bodily health. This book will help get you there. Very good philosophy too. Recommended by a contortionist friend of mine.

A Beautiful Book
This is traditional hatha yoga i.e. yoga as a complete lifestyle and spiritual path.In other words, this isn't the yoga you'll find at your local gym.I love it. Beautiful pictures.

The only potential drawback I see is that even some of the basic poses are so difficult (like headstand) that beginners may be discouraged, unless they already know how to adapt poses to their own needs. Beginners should check out the sections for pregnancy and the elderly, and they'll find some good alternatives to the basic sequence.

This also isn't the first yoga product at Amazon where I find a review cautioning practicioners that yoga makes one "dangerously" flexible, and is an incomplete fitness program.Somebody appears to have made this their project.There are also studies which have found that weight-bearing yoga poses ward off osteoperosis as well as weight training. As for cardio -- pick up a heart monitor and check out what happens to your heart rate during Sun Salutations.Add that to the fact that were it not for yoga's gentle approach, there are people (like myself) who wouldn't be exercising at all.

In any case, there are at least a hundred conflicting theories when it comes to health, diet, and exercise.The best exercise is the one that you'll keep doing i.e. the one you don't hate.

I love yoga, and hate 'most everything else.And the Sivananda guide is a succinct yet complete textbook you can refer to again and again.It's also a good starting place if you want to get into the more spiritual side of yoga -- breathing, meditation, vegetarian diet, and philosophy.

seriously fantastic
this one has proven superbly useful to me throughout my practice thus far (when it wasn't serious, and when it turned serious).the illustrations and photos are incredibly handy; and coupled with all of the descriptions of how to progress through basic to advanced variations of poses, this book is an incredibly comprehensive approach to beginning a serious home yoga practice.

+there's a chapter on breathing with a variety of depictions ranging from basic to advanced.
+lays out basic poses into a beginner/maintenance routine on a chart. ... Read more

Product Description
This meditation is an authentic rendering of Yoga Nidra as taught in the Himalayas by the masters of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra. While it is an advanced meditation practice, anyone can start the practice while watching it deepen over time.

Yoga Nidra literally means "Yogic Sleep." In this deep meditation you train your attention to leave the chatter of the Waking state of mind, go past the fantasy of the Dreaming state, and consciously, intentionally enter the stillness of the Deep Sleep state, yet paradoxically remain awake and in deep meditation. For thousands of years the Yogis have used Yoga Nidra to master the art of sleep, to balance the subtle energies, and to experience greater depths of meditation.

The state of conscious Deep Sleep or Yoga Nidra is underneath, behind, or subtler than meditations at either the Waking or Dreaming levels. This subtle state is called "Prajna," which means "supreme knowing." "Pra" means "supreme," and "jna" means "knowing." The conscious experience of this state is a doorway to higher, formless knowing that has been called the infinite library of wisdom and the teacher within.

The depth of authentic Yoga Nidra comes from inner awareness of the levels of your own self, including your body, breath, and the subtler mind, rather than diverting attention through music or inner fantasies (as pleasant as these may be). This inner exploring through self-awareness is a more refined form of meditation that leads you deeper into the stillness and silence of your own being, while remaining fully awake and aware. The Yoga Nidra methods bring you to a place of awareness where you are able to completely let go of any words, thoughts, images, impressions, or pictures in the mind. You are guided to allow your mind to "empty, empty, empty" though you remain fully awake and clear of mind.

The practices on this CD will gently train your ability to direct your own attention, which is the primary skill in the art of meditation. You will find that you are gradually able to use these methods on your own, without the CD, and the benefits will be with you not only during your practice time, but also during the activities of daily life.

The voice will systematically guide you to explore your physical body, then move through 61 specific points within the body, and then practice ascending breath awareness along the body and spine. Your attention will be brought to the space between the eyebrows, then to the throat, and finally to the heart center, where you will go deep into stillness and silence, beyond the activities of the mind.

The Yoga Nidra CD has five tracks. The first track is an introduction (8:02 minutes), describing the state of Yoga Nidra and the practices on the CD. The next four tracks move through four sequential practices that are listened to together, so as to form a complete practice of 57:24 minutes (CD is 65:36 minutes in total). These four tracks can also be listened to individually, as complete practices unto themselves, which allows you to have the benefits of practice when less time is available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Very usefull meditation
I heard this CD several times. Some others critizice the author, either because they are falling asleep or the did not hear music. I have lsitened to serveral guided meditations. Most of them without music. I have some relaxation CDs, too. For me relaxation is not meditation.I agree that this is no meditation for beginners. Espacially not track 4. To me it seems that some people have unrealistic expectations to meditation CDs. Meditation needs training. And one should not start with the most complicated.To me it is an excellent CD, especially because it is without music, but pure meditation.

Not my cup o tea
I have been meditating for over 15 years. I did not particularly like this meditation. Way too much talk, difficult to follow, instructions too quick. . Definately not for the novice.Just my 2 cents

Not so good for insomniacs
I bought this CD in the hope it would help with severe, intractable insomnia I have had for the last 5 years. Several times during the session I found myself drifting off, but then the voice would startle me awake. I found it to be irritating because it kept waking me up. I don't know if this is how the CD/Yoga Nidra is supposed to be used but I would not recommend this particular recording if you are trying to relieve insomnia.

powerful & relaxing
This is great, but if you are looking for a simple progressive relaxation meditation with a healing backing track and a soothing british accent Isobel Aura's Heavenly Relaxation Meditation I would recommend highly.

Soooooooooo helpful
I switch back and forth between using this CD and Richard Miller's CD. Between the pair of them, I have gotten tremendous results. Because I use meditation to supplement treatments for illness, I can see how much it has effectively touched my entire life. My body heals faster and my treatment sessions have become much more effective and I am progressing so much faster. The more I practice meditating, the more effective it becomes and yoga nidra has become such a powerful tool on the road to recovery. ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga Nidra is a simple yet profound technique adapted by Swami Satyananda Saraswati from the traditional tantric practice of nyasa.The Text explains the theory of Yoga Nidra in both yogic and scientific terms and includes class transcriptions of the practice.It also presents the various applications of this versatile technique,which has been used for deep relaxation,in stress management and therapy,to enhance the learning process in education,to harmonize the deeper unconscious and awaken inner potential,and as a meditative technique.A research section is also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A way of reaching your own true essence
First of all, it takes time to record the sessions of the book. Anyway, when practising you totally capitalize your time by reaching high levels of concentration and deep relax. A true and unique jewel you mustn't obviate, just like others publications of Bihar School of Yoga!!!

great ideas
My students love yoga nidra. This book has great ideas that you can follow or modify to fit your student's needs.

Perfect!
When you want to understand what something is about you go to the source! Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati tells you everything you need to understand about this subject as HE was the one to bring it out to the public and HE designed it in a way that can achieve results. CD's are convenient but if they are missing the elements that he directed be included in the program you are not getting the intended benefits -- only a watered down version. That is what I have seen of the CD's so far. The choice is yours. Obviously if you get a book on the subject you will be required to record your own audio version (preferable) or try to rely on someone else to give it to you. He has quite a number of different yoga nidra programs that you can record--some basic and some more advanced (which you don't get in a CD) And he talks about the sankalpa--a most important aspect of this. So if you are looking just for some relaxation a CD might be an option, but if you want a spiritual benefit (regardless of your religious preferences), then get his book.

Other Reviewers Have Said It
Excellent, fascinating, scientifically-supported, well-written. One star off only because the practices (it may not be obvious at first) require a teacher, or a 'friend' or for you to record the scripts, or to spend a lot of time memorizing the sequences of rotation of consciousness. The practice seems sound, you just can't easily do it alone, so in the department of a 'How-To' book it falls short a little in that respect. Otherwise excellent.

EXCELEENT YOGA NIDRA
this is a great description of yoga nidra, which is why I sought it out and purchased it. ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga and Ayurveda together form a complete approach for optimal health, vitality and higher awareness.YOGA AND AYURVEDA reveals to us the secret powers of thebody, breath, senses, mind and chakras.More importantly, it unfoldstransformational methods to work on them through diet, herbs, asana, pranayamaand meditation.This is the first book published in the West on these twoextraordinary subjects and their interface.It has the power to change thelives of those who read and apply it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A little more advanced than I thought
The book starts off with a whole lot of information and not a whole lot of explanation.Not the best book to start with on your Ayurveda journey but definitely useful.

a guide for awakened souls..
words fall short when it comes to write a review on Dr. David Frawley's work. simply the best. No one has better understanding on the subject than him. I have been following ayurveda and yoga in bits and pieces. this whole book consolidated my knowledge and taught me the right sequence of things. for example, doing pranayama when your ojas is low, is killing yourself..

Great book for "seekers". You will want to know more!
Bought this book for my yoga TT and found it very interesting, informative and deep. Definitely can recommend it. Sharka

perfect for the intermediate-advanced practitioner
This book is perfect for those who already have some understanding of ayurveda/yoga/holistic health. It addresses the core principles and practices with a beautiful blend of spiritual lineage and academic rigor. This is definitely not an introductory-level book; it is a wonderful reference for those ready to move more deeply into these practices.

yoga and Ayurveda

The kind of books I like are the ones that are tagged, underlined,and worn. That indicates that it is not just another book for another books sake. This is one of those books.Teaching or practicing yoga without knowledge of ayurveda is like teaching with some knowledge of life missing. It links us to the macrocosm aswell as understanding our constitution beyond the physical body and is a must buy and study. It helps us to understand what we have to re-wire on an individual level to make progress on the spiritual path. Camella Nair - Author of Aqua Kriya Yoga ... Read more

Product Description
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a concise English rendering of the classical text on yoga and meditation.Patanjali is to Yoga what Buddha is to Buddhism.His sutras--defined literally as "the path to transcendence"--are a means to self-realization.

With over thirty years of spiritual yoga practice, Mukunda Stiles has written a translation and interpretation which is precise and insightful.He provides a clear understanding of Patanjali's works for students of yoga, Eastern philosophy, or psychology, who want to use the sutras for spiritual practice or further study.Also inlcuded is a complete Sanskrit/Englishe keyword section. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With Great Respect and Love
All respect for ones path and their own interpretation. Please people stop writing bastardized versions of the ancient texts. This book is just that. Most the meaning is lost and this is what is being taught. A very beautifully poetic version that has little value or meaning of the depth of the original text. If you want a real translation please check out Swami Hariharananda Aranya's translation. If you can understand the deep version keep reading it over and over and practice. It comes with practice not watering it down for the masses. The depth of info is only meant for those that can transcend and embody. Tapas, tapas, tapas.

Hari Om

best yoga sutras so far...
Pure and simple Truth, this book is not cluttered with the author's opinions.You get to decide for yourself.

A good translation
I was happy with this purchase. I appreciate Mukunda's explanations and style. A book to read over and over.

terrific book to find your inner yogi
This book was an assignment in my yoga teacher training at Prana Power Yoga studio.I'm so glad I read it because it'll be a book I'll bring with me to the grave. I love it!

Concise and readable
This is a concise reading of the yoga sutras that offers practitioners of all levels information, insight, and inspiration. Many thanks to Mukunda for his efforts. ... Read more

Product Description
The long-awaited, complete guide to the popular, vigorous American method of yoga that is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and scriptures

“In this day and age of health and fitness trends, it is assuring to know that Sharon and David encourage their students to draw inspiration from the classical texts of Yoga and timeless scriptural sources. What I appreciate so much about David and Sharon is how they help their Yoga students to understand and appreciate the wisdom of all the great saints and jivamuktas who have contributed to raising consciousness. Ultimately, it is Self-Realization, that is the true goal of Yoga.”
–SRI SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA

Creators of the extremely popular Jivamukti Yoga method and cofounders of the New York City studios where it is taught, Sharon Gannon and David Life present their unique style of yoga for the first time in book form. As they explain their intensely physical and spiritual system of flowing postures, they provide inspiring expert instruction to guide you in your practice.

Unlike many books about yoga, Jivamukti Yoga focuses not only on the physical postures but also on how they evolved–the origins of the practices in yoga’s ancient sacred texts and five-thousand-year-old traditions–the psychotherapeutic benefits that accrue with a steady practice, and the spiritual power that is set free when energy flows throughout the mind and body. Jivamukti Yoga, which means “soul liberation,” guides your body and soul into spiritual freedom, physical strength, peace of mind, better health, and Self-realization–the ultimate goal of any practice. Gannon and Life help you understand each of the practices that comprise the yoga path to enlightenment:
AHIMSA–The Way of Compassion: choosing nonviolence, respecting all life, practicing vegetarianism, living free of prejudice
ASANA–The Way of Connection to the Earth: postures and sequences, breathing, transforming energy, understanding the bandhas
KARMA–The Way of Action: creating good karma, giving thanks
NADAM–The Way of Sacred Music: appreciating the sacred sounds of yoga
MEDITATION–The Way of the Witness: how to sit still and move inward
BHAKTI–The Way of Devotion to God: living with love, grace, and peace

Whatever yoga you practice, Jivamukti Yoga will help you to strengthen and deepen that practice and lead you onto a path of spiritual clarity and self-discovery.

“If there is only one book you read about the practice of Yoga, this should be the one. Sharon and David are deeply dedicated students and teachers of Yoga who have the rare capacity to translate their profound understanding to the reader. This book is for anyone who wishes to find transformation through Yoga. I’m grateful for their work and teaching.”
–STEPHAN RECHTSCHAFFEN, MD
Co-founder & CEO, Omega Institute
... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Jivamukti Yoga: Serious book for serious aspirants...
If you have an issue with "brand name" yoga, then leave it at the door. Jivamukti Yoga is for those seriously seeking a book on yogic principles without feeling spoon-fed. Sharon and David offer a revolutionary approach to teaching that is rare and necessary in a time when yoga teachers and yoga teacher training comes at a dime a dozen; and most teachers are incapable of communicating to the Western yogi/yogini the reason why 8-limbed astanga yoga principles are so important without loosing the true essence of the ancient teaching. Excellent!

Must have yoga book!
I have practiced yoga for the past 8 years. I am also training to be a yoga teacher. I have read just about every piece of literature on yoga.This book is by far the best book that I have read on the practice, philosophy, and structure of yoga for me.I love Ashtanga and Hatha yoga, but was missing something from the two.Well, I found it with Jivamukti.I love the music, and freedom to be who I am in yoga, and not what the teacher wants me to become.I am a work in progress, and want the opportunity to find self-realization through my journey.This book gives you the tools to adjust and find your spirituality as you see fit.It may not be right for everyone, but lets face it, most of us live in the US and need to incorporate the way of a yogi or yogini to our lives.I am a westerner, and this is the yoga for me in my Karmic path.It fits my life for now.I just hope to have the opportunity to study under David and Sharron.Their wealth of knowledge and love for yoga is addictive.

Great book for the yogi looking to deepen his/her practice!
A good read for the aspiring yoga teacher in training. The yoga lifestyle presented by two masters.

Jivamukti laid out
This is an excellent book setting out the personal, spiritual, political, psychological, ethical, musical and physical aspects of Jivamukti yoga. It is highly readable, well laid out and accessible. But not simplistic. It is a solid, fascinating read that weaves yoga, philosophy, ancient terms, quotations and modern life issues seamlessly into a lovely whole. Kind of like the Jivamukti practice itself.

Now - when are they going to release a DVD of their full length Jivamukti class? Soon please - for those of us whose nearest Jivamukti accredited teachers are an hour and a half drive away.

Certain chapters such as the one on Karma and the one on vegetarianism stay in your mind and while confronting, work away at you. Mine chapters on these topics are covered in myriad margin notes. As a farm raised girl I thought some of the comments about not using milk from cows or eggs from chickens because of cruel animal practices reflected a very old view of choices about these options. For example, in Australia we have options of free range organic eggs certified as being from chickens who do run around outside in the sun, eat natural food only and walk voluntarily to their bird cages at night for food, shelter, fresh straw and to avoid being attacked by foxes. I of course agree totally with their comments about battery farming of hens as being cruel and unacceptable. Similarly their material on cow milk production did not cover cruelty organic free options now available. I read recently that the Dalai Lama had tried to be vegetarian but failed, so I guess he and I are struggling with the ethics of this. It would be terrific if in an updated version of the book they delved into such options so those of us not quite there yet have a pathway to get us there which is not the cold turkey route.
The authors are magnificent physical specimens so the arty black and white photography is not only aesthetically pleasing, it shadows the muscles starkly, so you can see the definitions appropriate for each pose. The break out boxes are useful for added detail but the font size is miniscule. I had to use a magnifying glass to be able to read them. The break out boxes break up the page in interesting ways, so look great, but the tiny font size means many readers could miss the detail contained within. It would be great to have the break out box contents reappear at the end of each chapter as Endnotes at the normal font size.

A incredible source of knowledge and inspiration
The Jivamukti Yoga bookisa constant source of knowledge and inspiration. Suitable for yoga students and teachers alike, the book outlines the Jivamukti Yoga method and philosophy while also, in an accessible way, describing yogic history, philosophy and physical postures.
The writing is straight forward and light and the authors, Jivamukti Yoga founders, Sharon Gannon and David Life, never compromise on the message: yoga as a way to be a kinder, more compassionate human being with an ultimate goal of personal enlightenment.
Every chapter also mixes facts and theory with anecdotes and personal stories of the authors' yogic endeavors.
I keep on returning to this book wheather I have questions regarding the practice, want tips on a new sequencing or need a topic for a class discussion. ... Read more

Product Description
Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy is the first book of its kind,presenting a comprehensive guide to all eight limbs of Ashtanga VinyasaYoga. Join author Gregor Maehle, a seasoned yogi and compassionateteacher, as he guides you through the history and lineage of yoga; thefundamentals of breath, bandhas (energy locks within the body), drishti(the focal point of the gaze), and vinyasa (sequential movement); adetailed breakdown of the asanas of the Ashtanga Primary Series,following the traditional vinyasa count; a lively and authenticrendering of the complete Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, yoga's ancient sacredtext; and a glossary of yoga terminology.

In the asana section, Maehle describes each posture with clear,meticulous instructions, photographs, anatomical illustrations, andpractical tips. Information on the mythological background and yogiccontext of specific postures brings further insight to the practice. Inthe philosophy section, Maehle illuminates the Yoga Sutra using themajor ancient commentaries as well as his own insights.

This volume makes the entire path of Ashtanga Yoga accessible to modernpractitioners. Both practical guide and spiritual treatise, AshtangaYoga is an excellent introduction to the eight limbs of yoga and aninvaluable resource for any yoga teacher or practitioner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Good Transaction
I bought this for a course. It is exactly what I needed. No problems. Thank you.

INTERESTING AND DYNAMIC
Hellow, I purchased ASHTANGA YOGA and I really loved the introduction and philosophy of the book!!! The pictures are also a great issue because they show you how the asanas really work out your body!!! This is a good detailed-book for everyone to practice yoga.

Comprehensive
Delivers as titled: a very comprehensive look at each of the movements and positions in ashtanga yoga with in-depth commentary on the yoga sutras. An outstanding book.

Superb introduction to ashtanga
There are many excellent books on Ashtanga, but this is the one I would recommend first.It is also the only book that gives the very best and clearest commentary on Patanjali's sutras -- which are the heart of ashtanga. While other books focus primarily on asanas (the sequence, sometimes with good pictures but relatively little explanation), Gregor gets into the essence of the series, with insightful instruction.I would strongly recommend this is a first and foremost reference, to be returned to again and again as your practice progresses.

Gem of a book
there are books that you read and other you treasure. This one is definitely in the latter category. Every time I read it, I get 100% of the "1% theory" aspect of my practice. This book has it all - the philosophy, the anatomy and of course, the practice. Thank you for a wonderful gift that will last a lifetime ... Read more

Product Description
Iyengar developed a form of yoga that focuses on developing strength, endurance, correct body alignment, as well as flexibility and relaxation. The Iyengar method integrates philosophy, spirituality, and the practice of yoga into everyday living. InThe Tree of Yoga, Iyengar offers his thoughts on many practical and philosophical subjects including family life, love and sexuality, health and the healing arts, meditation, death, and Patañjali'sYoga Sutras. This new edition features a foreword by Patricia Walden, a leading American teacher of the Iyengar style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

it's required for teacher training
Iyengar is a major yogi and it's nice to read his thoughts - but I only bought this as it is required reading for teacher training. I thought "The Heart of Yoga" explains the limbs of yoga in a way that is much more clear.

Thought Provoking
This book is great for those who want to learn more about the spiritual application of yoga.

clear thinking of the Iyengar path
Doing yoga is not just for the sake of doing the asanas, but a way of getting deeper in perfectioning the movement through being in a process of discovery your innerself soul and body. Who readsThe Tree of Yoga will be able to understand better what I am trying to share with you.

why I keep going back to this book
After more than 30 years of yoga practice and classes from expert teachers, I continue to look for the lessons that will take me beyond where I am today.I have read this book so many times and always find new lessons in it.The first time, I probably read it through in a couple of hours.Now, I keep it on top of a stack of frequently consulted works.Most mornings, here in Brooklyn (NY) in a winter that seems an object lesson in global warming, I turn to The Tree of Yoga in the first hour after wakening.This practice reminds me to consider the important lessons I might forget: my stage in life, the stages that came before, how short life is, what is happening today, the tendency of memory to distract the mind, the power of attention, the value of self-study, etc.And tomorrow, a new lesson, a new understanding, with the next passage read carefully in the pale light of a winter morning. This is a book that keeps on giving.

Great Iyengar book
This is a great book for the new and the familiar to yoga. This compilation of lectures is a more philosophical look at his yoga, unlike the more technical books Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama.Although these last two are indispensible, in this book, Iyengar's love of yoga shines through his words.He develops the analogy of the eight limbs of yoga as a tree skillfully and beautifully.Really excellent! ... Read more

Product Description
In this remarkable book, Paramahansa Yogananda reveals the hidden yoga of the Gospels and confirms that Jesus, like the ancient sages and masters of the East, not only knew yoga but taught this universal science of God-realization to his closest disciples. Compiled from the author's highly praised two-volume work, The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, this insightful and compact book transcends the centuries of dogma and misunderstanding that have obscured the original teachings of Jesus, showing that he taught a unifying path by which seekers of all faiths can enter the kingdom of God. Topics include:
•The lost years of Jesus in India
•The ancient science of meditation: how to become a Christ
•The true meaning of baptism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

the book all Christians should read
As a Chiristian enjoyed reading Yogananda's interpretation of Gospel Scriptures.
It offers a practical understanding of Jesus Messiah's teachings,away from arid dogma.I recommend that all Christians should take a look at this book to gain a unified perspective of God and religion and the teachings of our beloved Jeus.

..Seekinthis, towithin YoufindGLORY....
TheYogaofJesus....IsaGood book tofindeverythinginYouisaGreatGift, It'sGodsGlory toAll ofwhat, Godhascreated...

Amazingly Accurate
Paramahansa Yogananda was a God loving man, and had a deeper understanding of things related to Yeshua or Christ.
His revelations, or his take on what Jesus was really here for and the mysteries that he was trying to teach us hits the nail right on the head. As a student of all the worlds religions and (although not a Christian) a lover of the teachings of Christ, the thoughts in this book resonate with me as real truth. I love his explanation of why Jesus called himself the son of man and other times the son of God. It's refreshing to see a reasonable explanation and an enlightened one at that, on the inner mysteries that the man Jesus was trying to convey. It outshines the same old religious dogma and doctrine that is the main stay of organized religion. This book has a very liberating effect on the soul, and has a lot of oh yea, that's what he meant (Jesus sayings) moments. To put it mildly this book is profound and should be read by everyone who claims they are a follower of Christ. Read the book please and form your own opinion, but you can't go wrong with this one it's a keeper for the serious minded spiritual seeker.

spiritual understanding
YOGANANDA LAYS REST TO ALL THE MYTHS,PREJUDICES AND SUPERSTITIOUS NONSENSE CREATED BY LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF JESUS WORDS. HE SHOWS THE BRILLIANCE OF JESUS TEACHINGS FROM A SPIRITUAL REFERENCE AND HOW IT APPLYS TO ALL PEOPLE OF ALL RELIGIONS, NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO ARE OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF.

Very lnteresting book!
Being a practitioner of yoga as well as a Christian I found this book to be very enlightening. It delves into the deeper meaning of Biblical scriptures.It was written in an understandable style that was not difficult to follow. ... Read more