Rating: 
Summary: Great for beginners, and a bit beyond
Review: This book is easily the best beginning book on yoga I've ever seen.One of the difficulties of finding a good yoga book is that there are so many levels of difficulty at which yoga can be practiced - how do you get one at exactly your level? Plus, you will find some positions easier than others, and be at different levels on different types of positions. And, besides, if a book's good enough to get you to practice a position the right way, then you quickly improve to the point that you need something more. The appeal of this book is that it can span several levels. It explains things thoroughly, and starts with positionsthat are simple enough for beginners. But it also gives several more advanced variations on each position. This lets you take each position according to your present ability, and gives you somewhere to go as you get better.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful book, but not for beginners
Review: This book is more a reference book for the advanced yoga student, or students who learn yoga with instructors. Although it explains poses from easy to difficult, it is too confusing for a beginner who would need a more structured approach. It's a nice book to have in your library, but for learning yoga from scratch you need others. For beginners I recommend Richard Hittleman's "Yoga - 28-day exercise plan".
Although I like the book and its beautiful (hundreds of) pictures that show individual poses, most asanas are too extreme for adult beginners, or anyone who started yoga as an adult. To achieve those poses you need to start as a child, or be an adult with a gymnastics or ballet background. But for those who are already flexible, the poses are well explained, and the authors also show and explain common problems.
What distinguishes this book from other yoga books is its benefit list: For each pose, the authors describe in detail its physical, mental, and pranic benefits. They also provide excellent breathing and purification exercises.
I did not care too much for their dietary advice. None of the recipes I tried tasted good, and a purely sattvic lifestyle is out of reach for the average working person. I see no purpose in following a lifestyle that suits a professional yogi in a hot Indian country when I live through snowy winters and a highly enjoyable but stressful job.
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