Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: The book is even more helpful than videos as you can take it with you, put it on the floor and imitate the exact postures which is extremely important to obtain full benefit. Highly recommended over all other yogas and books.i
Rating:
Summary: The Final piece in the trio of Iyengar method books
Review: This book completes a set for any dedicated yoga practitioner, the other two being Light on Yoga and Gem for Women. There is nothing beyond this; just devoted practice. Just looking at the clear pictures will be an important reference point one can return to time and again. The brief explanations of Yoga, the postures and tips dotted here and there are free from esoteria and go to the heart of the matter. I would stronly recommend that beginners look at the poses in this book for fifteen minutes each day. For those a little more advanced, return to this book with humility and reconsider the basics. For the really advanced, you shouldn't be reading this anyway!
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Summary: User-Friendly Guide to Iyengar Yoga
Review: This book has full-color, easy to see photographs of all the basic asanas. I have been following its lesson plan for the past several months as a suppliment to my regular yoga class -- very smooth flowing and ability specific! Note: It is not nearly as comprehensive as LIGHT ON YOGA, but excellent as an introduction to Iyengar Yoga.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite yoga books
Review: This book is great for anyone who is interested in learning yoga. I have been doing yoga for a couple of years now, and this was the first yoga book that I bought. The book is well illustrated and contains more poses than any other yoga book that I have seen. Each illustration shows the correct form for each pose and also gives modifications for those who are not quite as flexible as the people in the illustrations. The book also contains a section with over 60 different yoga routines from begining levels to advanced, so you don't have to try to plan out which poses to do in what order. For those of you who are more interested in a "Power Yoga" routine, I have also found that adding a sun salutation as a transition between the standing poses in the routines adds a little more spice to the practice.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough introduction to yoga poses at various levels
Review: This book provides excellent information on a wide variety of yoga poses, or asanas. Each asana is clearly illustrated and accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to complete the pose; the information provided is detailed and straight-forward. The asasas are broken up into groups--standing poses, seated poses, etc.--and each individual pose is clearly labelled for level of difficulty, from one star (beginners) to four stars (advanced). At the end of the book, suggestions for various yoga practices are provided based on the the four levels of difficulty. Although the information contained in this book is exemplary, there are several reasons why I do not feel it would be appropriate for beginners. First of all, I found the tone to be somewhat snobbish at times, such as when it suggested that if you have difficulties in a pose, you might need to go to a yoga teacher for "correction." Secondly, I have been practicing yoga for two years, and many of the poses labeled as either appropriate for "beginners" or "general practice" are still quite challenging to me. Third, throughout the book, poses are referred to by their traditional Indian names rather than the common names which are used today--ie, Tadasena rather than Mountain Pose. This is not a problem when you're looking at the actual pose, but the practices at the end of the book refer to the Indian name only and without photographs, which necessitates flipping back and forth through the book in order to attempt a practice. Finally, although modifications are suggested for each pose, many of these are not illustrated, which would make it difficult for beginners to follow along. I think this book would probably be most appropriate for intermediates looking to further their practice. For beginners, I would recommend Rodney Yee's "Yoga: The Poetry of the Body" as an alternate yoga book, or Patrica Walden's video "Yoga Practice for Beginners," which also closely follows the Iyengar method.
Rating:
Summary: Thorough introduction to yoga poses at various levels
Review: This book provides excellent information on a wide variety of yoga poses, or asanas. Each asana is clearly illustrated and accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to complete the pose; the information provided is detailed and straight-forward. The asasas are broken up into groups--standing poses, seated poses, etc.--and each individual pose is clearly labelled for level of difficulty, from one star (beginners) to four stars (advanced). At the end of the book, suggestions for various yoga practices are provided based on the the four levels of difficulty. Although the information contained in this book is exemplary, there are several reasons why I do not feel it would be appropriate for beginners. First of all, I found the tone to be somewhat snobbish at times, such as when it suggested that if you have difficulties in a pose, you might need to go to a yoga teacher for "correction." Secondly, I have been practicing yoga for two years, and many of the poses labeled as either appropriate for "beginners" or "general practice" are still quite challenging to me. Third, throughout the book, poses are referred to by their traditional Indian names rather than the common names which are used today--ie, Tadasena rather than Mountain Pose. This is not a problem when you're looking at the actual pose, but the practices at the end of the book refer to the Indian name only and without photographs, which necessitates flipping back and forth through the book in order to attempt a practice. Finally, although modifications are suggested for each pose, many of these are not illustrated, which would make it difficult for beginners to follow along. I think this book would probably be most appropriate for intermediates looking to further their practice. For beginners, I would recommend Rodney Yee's "Yoga: The Poetry of the Body" as an alternate yoga book, or Patrica Walden's video "Yoga Practice for Beginners," which also closely follows the Iyengar method.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! The Second Best Book On Hatha Yoga!
Review: This is a wonderful book based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar. The poses are explained in an easy-to-understand way, with large, color pictures. Highly recommended, especially for beginners who may be intimidated by Mr. Iyengar's more comprehensive book "Light On Yoga." Buy both books. Study them daily, do the poses, and in every way your life will begin changing for the better.
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Summary: Yoga Has Helped Me Release my Hidden Reserves of Energy
Review: Upon my retirement in 1978, I found that the years had not been kind to my body, partly because I had neglected it. Now I travel around the globe, getting into all sorts of misadventures, and I am more active and lively now than when I was a young man. Yoga is one of the reasons that I have access to the inner strength needed for my travels. I was given this book by a fellow globetrotter, Ms. Claudia Davenport, and it was most generous and thoughtful gift indeed. This book is invaluable for anyone interested in practicing Yoga, whether beginning or experienced. It features over 100 key postures, each with clear photographs of the steps involved. They are graded according to difficulty, and has advice for beginners and the less flexible student--a feature which was most useful for me when I began. Each posture includes an English translation of its Hindu name, an indication of what pain it might help relieve or how it might otherwise better the practitioner's life, and suggestions for perfecting the practice of the posture. I have used this text since its publication, and it has immensely increased my enjoyment of this art. I practice the art on a daily basis, beginning with the sun salute, and continuing with one of the courses of practice outlined in the back of the book. This art are one of the things that keep me going throughout my day: it helps the parts of my body work together rather than against each other, and thus releases hidden reserves of mental and physical energy. It is one of the reasons that the latter years of my life have been so much more fruitful and enjoyable than those of my youth. This book has helped me immensely in the pursuit of this art, and in providing me with energy for my pursuits.
Rating:
Summary: Yoga Has Helped Me Release my Hidden Reserves of Energy
Review: Upon my retirement in 1978, I found that the years had not been kind to my body, partly because I had neglected it. Now I travel around the globe, getting into all sorts of misadventures, and I am more active and lively now than when I was a young man. Yoga is one of the reasons that I have access to the inner strength needed for my travels. I was given this book by a fellow globetrotter, Ms. Claudia Davenport, and it was most generous and thoughtful gift indeed. This book is invaluable for anyone interested in practicing Yoga, whether beginning or experienced. It features over 100 key postures, each with clear photographs of the steps involved. They are graded according to difficulty, and has advice for beginners and the less flexible student--a feature which was most useful for me when I began. Each posture includes an English translation of its Hindu name, an indication of what pain it might help relieve or how it might otherwise better the practitioner's life, and suggestions for perfecting the practice of the posture. I have used this text since its publication, and it has immensely increased my enjoyment of this art. I practice the art on a daily basis, beginning with the sun salute, and continuing with one of the courses of practice outlined in the back of the book. This art are one of the things that keep me going throughout my day: it helps the parts of my body work together rather than against each other, and thus releases hidden reserves of mental and physical energy. It is one of the reasons that the latter years of my life have been so much more fruitful and enjoyable than those of my youth. This book has helped me immensely in the pursuit of this art, and in providing me with energy for my pursuits.
Rating:
Summary: No Fluff, Just the Goods
Review: Want to learn how to do a large number of asanas safely and without having to struggle through a lot new agey jargon? This book is brilliant, it's sober and analytical, clearly written and illustrated (meaning no guessing, no chance for injury), philosophically rooted without being polemic. I've had mine for years, it doesn't get old or dated. Use in good health.
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