KISS Guide to Yoga

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gem!
Review: I happen to be the husband of the author of this book so I've got the inside scoop. And what a scoop it is!

This book was written by going to all kinds of yoga classes. Classes of every tradition. My wife has been practicing and teaching yoga for almost 30 years. So it was really a treat to go and experience all kinds of classes, all kinds of teachers. I even went along to a few. Shakta Kaur wanted the book to be experiential, she wanted a reader to be able to look up any yoga tradition and be able to experience one of its classes right from the book. So if you want to get an idea what ashtanga or hatha is like, just turn to the section, read about it, then clear some space and you can give yourself a class. What better way to check out the different schools of yoga.

The other thing about this book is that it is so consciously written. The editor of Yoga International recognized that right away. Soon after she got her review copy she called to talk about the breadth and depth of the book. It's format, its package, is a part of the DK KISS Guide Series, but this book could totally stand on its own as a comprehensive and informative guide to yoga. And it's written from a somewhat personal and quite a warm,lighthearted point of view.

Because DK is doing the book, (you may be familiar with the way they handle color pictures) there are hundreds of color illustrations and many original cartoonish characters to charm you.

I hope you enjoy it even half as much as I enjoy having it in my family.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book!
Review: If you want a liberal arts education in yoga, this is the book for you! It gives a brief overview of just about everything related to yoga from the different styles of yoga to meditation, health tips, and even eating. For the person who knows nothing about yoga or the person who has practiced yoga without learning the background, this book fills the knowledge gap.

The serious yoga practitioner will probably want to go into more detail and will want to purchase a second book, but this is a great way to become yoga-literate.

Rating:
Summary: Keep it simple, but not stupid.
Review: Like many people, I started experimenting with yoga tapes and DVDs but really didn't look at it as being anything other than a form of exercise. This book introduced me to the rest of of it. It is clear, concise and a wonderful introduction to yoga, yogic philosophy and meditation. If you are just starting, this will help to guide you to the type of yoga you wish to explore further. In addition to the philosophy, it also shows you examples of the different forms of yoga, teaches you types of mantras and suggests ways of meditating. It has an extensive resource list at the end of the book which I also found helpful.

Rating:
Summary: In Addition to your Workout Videos
Review: Since the world often moves too fast and we become stressed just trying to keep up with what we expect from ourselves, it is nice to sometimes give yourself a break and do a yoga routine that allows you to escape the normal and enter the spiritual.

Yoga seeks to harmonize the body, mind and spirit. You can choose just to enhance your life with the exercises and stretching and I have found that is enough for me. However, this book does give you some insight into the roots of Yoga and gives you a more complete picture of why exercise is important for your health.

Yoga can give you relief from pain and stress. It can enhance your emotional well-being and give you clarity. You seem to observe life slightly differently and have a calm sense of peace.

"Yoga is an elegant, time-honored system for engendering a sense of vitality, well-being, and peace. Whatever your age, state of health, state of mind, or lifestyle, you will find insights and techniques in these pages that will help you lead a healthier, more fulfilling, and more joyful life." -Deborah Willoughby

In the first section, the author explores the ancient beginnings of yoga. In the second section, she explains the traditional to contemporary forms. Then, she explains the meditation side of yoga which I have not tried. Part four delves into recipes and healing foods. The last section explores how yoga changes perceptions of the world.

Throughout this book there are exercises, however I would recommend purchasing a video if you are really going to try them.

Alimacgraw Yoga Mind & Body is the best Yoga video I have found so far. It is filled with gorgeous scenery and helps to create a sense of peace. Karen Voight has a workout video called: YogaSculpt. I can also recommend her Body Reform series that combines the teachings of Joseph Pilates, yoga and body-sculpting techniques. If you travel with your laptop, you can take along Living Yoga DVDs (Rodney Yee, Patricia Walden and Suzanne Deason) and a few props. Suddenly your computer turns into a traveling workout station when you are on the road. Look for ASIN: B00004I9Z1 and ASIN: B00002EPXL.

Once you read this book, you will easily be able to recognize the yoga poses and you might even find that if you tend to shy away from abrupt exercise, these new smooth flowing sequences give you a whole new feeling of peace while giving your body
a full workout.

Yoga looks easy, but in fact, some of the yoga poses require great flexibility and a sense of calm endurance. You have to work your way into the poses, however once you master something like "Bow pose (Dhanurasana) pg. 124, you can't help but feel you have accomplished something.

This book is more of an overview and is not necessarily a book you would use daily to exercise with. You would want a book with more details and more poses. Try the "workout video" option and refer to this book for extra information as needed.

Some great ideas on how to make yourself feel calm in stressful situations. There is a page of pointers for a healthy work day and a section on dealing with repetitive stress.

Yoga Practice is really a gift to yourself. Of all the exercises I've tried, Yoga is the most fulfilling and leaves me in a more relaxed state, ready to face the next challenge.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book!
Review: This is a great book! Well put together and easy to understand. Colorful and entertaining. The book contains a lot of information, even covering some nutrition issues. However, I wish it had carried more info on poses for specific pain or health problems. Otherwise I think this book is a great buy!