Description:
The postures, or asanas, of yoga are only the half of it, according to Alice Christensen, founder of the American Yoga Association. "Many practitioners begin to realize after some time there is 'something else' to be discovered in Yoga that speaks to our universal desire for meaning," she says. While the daily exercises are tuning the physical body into shape, mystical awareness begins to emerge." This awareness can be focused and honed by abiding by ethical tenets, explained in this book, that are intended to help the yoga practitioner attain personal growth, confidence, and a sense of well-being. In fact, Christensen writes, the movements of yoga were developed after the guidelines, in order to maintain the body's health while the practitioner worked toward a higher state of spiritual awareness. Christensen illustrates these tenets, including nonviolence, truthfulness, purity, tolerance, and remembrance, with colorful anecdotes. For example, she once spoke about yoga at a heavy-equipment manufacturing company in southern Ohio. She brought up the celibacy tenet, how it differs from abstinence, and how it's best to start to incorporate it into your life slowly. She advised those in the audience to try not to think about sex for five minutes at a time. One intrigued audience member said, "Geez, can you imagine how restful that would be--five minutes of not thinking about broads?" Even if you start out by making subtle changes, the guidelines for living suggested in this book are bound to bring about dramatic change. It's a sort of Power Yoga for the mind, crossed with a simple-living guide, and written by a true sage. For anyone looking to reach a state of self-actualization and empowerment, Christensen's forged a fine path. --Erica Jorgensen
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