The Yoga Bible: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Postures

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: a very helpful book for beginners
The Author obviously knows what she is involved with and each photo is a careful taken explaination
Great for beginners and experts alike
Really enjoyed it

Rating:
Summary: It is absolutely great!
Review: Strongly recommend.
You will love it for the comprehensive information in a clear layout, beautiful photographs along with simple but accurate explainations. The book is just worth its name, but in a cute easy-to-go size.

Rating:
Summary: The SMALL Yoga Bible from Down Under!
Review: The Yoga Bible: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Postures by Christina Brown is a nice little yoga book that fits snuggly into your bag and can be a source of inspiration for all yoga students but some of the poses would challenge the most advance yogi's.

Physically, this book has a small foot print but has over 400 pages of information and covers 170 Yoga Positions. The construction seems average at best. I doubt if this book would stand up to much wear and tear since the binding looks brittle. It is tough to keep open on the mat with out the pages closing quickly on you. It should be bigger!

The content of the books starts with Part One: Introductions (8 Yoga Limbs, Breathing, and Practice Suggestions), Part Two: The Practice (Postures, Pranayama, Mudras, Bandhas, and Kriyas), Part Three: Yoga with a Special Focus (Ailments, Meditation), Part Four: Finding Your Yoga (9 Branches of Yoga).

Part One: Introductions - Starts with the History of Yoga, Rewards, The Eight Limbs of Yoga, and Practice Guidelines. This section is clear, short, and concise. The guideline for practicing offers some very good suggestions for approaching your time on the mat.

Part Two: The Practice - The color photos are great and the detailed Information Box is extremely helpful with the following headings: Gaze, Build-Up Poses, Counter Poses, Lighten, and Effect. It would have been even better if they would have included Warnings and included page numbers next to the Build-Up and Counter Poses for quick reference. The models are exceptionally yogis with many years of practice so use some caution when trying these poses. It would have been an added benefit to show modifications with props. The sections on Pranayama, Mudras, Bandhas, and Kriyas are presented and explained very well allowing the student to enrich their practice.

Part Three: Yoga with a Special Focus - Deals with suggestion posture for specific ailments. This chapter would have been better to have included some Yoga Sessions or Practices designed for beginners and then some more advanced students. The Meditation discussion is nice but could have done better by exploring it some more.

Part Four: Finding Your Yoga - Explores the different forms of yoga presenting a brief explanation of each style. This is helpful in understanding the differences between the different schools of yoga.

Bottom line, The Yoga Bible would make a nice addition to your yoga library.

Rating:
Summary: Best Yoga Book I Have Seen.
Review: Whether expert or novice, this book belongs on your shelf if you want to improve yourself. It shows how to safely improve your balance, flexibility and strength through various postures or stretches. I wish I had a book like this when I was a teenager. I have been practicing yoga for four years through Rodney Yee tapes and DVDs because there was nowhere close by to take classes. I have gotten several books on yoga and thumbed through many more to try to improve my weak back, but they all came up short until the 'Yoga Bible'. This book has answered many questions I have had that the video tapes didn't address.

Don't stop your curiosity. Get this book if you are the least bit interested and you will be glad. It doesn't matter how stiff you are in body or spirit. The book will pleasantly surprise you with its no nonsense approach to practical well being and bettering each breath you take. As Ms. Brown says "the essense of yoga lies in the breath", so if you are breathing you should consider yoga to enhance your life.

I may have to get another copy soon because my first is becoming dog-eared from constant use. If I ever make it to Sydney I will sign up for classes at the Yoga Source.