Yoga: The Path To Holistic Health 
asked by dignified1 on November 8, 2006 5:58 AM
Around the world, increasing numbers of people are turning to yoga as a means of keeping fit and reducing stress. In this comprehensive and highly illustrated guide B.K.S. Iyengar, the world's leading teacher of yoga, shares his unique, holistic approach. For Iyengar, yoga is more than just a form of exercise; it is a holistic experience that benefits the body, mind, and spirit. He outlines the philosophy and ideals behind this ancient practice and explains how yoga can help to counter the stresses of modern living. Designed for every level of ability, age, and physical condition, there are detailed instructions for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Clearly illustrated, step-by-step instructions explain how to perform each yoga asana, or posture, correctly, while a unique 360-degree view of the final pose shows exactly how to position each part of the body. A special section introduces B.K.S. Iyengar's innovative use of props, enabling beginners or the less flexible to practice the classic yoga asanas more easily and effectively. A further section illustrates sequences of asanas to treat or prevent a wide range of ailments. In addition, there is a 20-week yoga course, personally formulated by B.K.S. Iyengar, which progresses from simple to more challenging postures. Without a doubt, Yoga: The Iyengar Way is the definitive guide to the practice of yoga by the master.
Reviews
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B.K.S. Iyengar stands as the greatest modern innovator and popularizer of hatha yoga.
But I hope that this review will help prevent the admiration which he certainly deserves from spilling over into unthinking adulation.
Why? Well, this book offers plentiful, good advice on asana practice, but in its advice on nutrition, among several other topics, this book just doesn't stand up. Iyengar makes no reference to protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, food allergies -- he instead only provides a very brief gloss on ancient Hindu concepts of sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic foods. (I suggest a Web search on those words to get a detailed understanding of them, and their cultural context.)
Iyengar's advice on application of yoga to certain physical ailments is just as far off the mark, as Dr. Mohamed F. El-Hewie indicates in his Amazon review of this book.
Iyengar has traveled the world and been exposed to educated people from many cultures, so his reliance on discredited concepts is all the more perplexing. Yoga certainly isn't *the* one path to holistic health, it doesn't address all aspects of that topic, and less so when it doesn't embrace modern knowledge.
To summarize, this book is useful for its advice on yoga practice, but Iyengar has overstepped his limits on other topics. He also has suffered from the work of editors who would not help shape the book to reflect its title properly, or else select a title to reflect the content. Want to compare, contrast, be led onward? This book doesn't even have a bibliography!
Well, enough, I need to have time for my asana practice today.
But I hope that this review will help prevent the admiration which he certainly deserves from spilling over into unthinking adulation.
Why? Well, this book offers plentiful, good advice on asana practice, but in its advice on nutrition, among several other topics, this book just doesn't stand up. Iyengar makes no reference to protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, food allergies -- he instead only provides a very brief gloss on ancient Hindu concepts of sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic foods. (I suggest a Web search on those words to get a detailed understanding of them, and their cultural context.)
Iyengar's advice on application of yoga to certain physical ailments is just as far off the mark, as Dr. Mohamed F. El-Hewie indicates in his Amazon review of this book.
Iyengar has traveled the world and been exposed to educated people from many cultures, so his reliance on discredited concepts is all the more perplexing. Yoga certainly isn't *the* one path to holistic health, it doesn't address all aspects of that topic, and less so when it doesn't embrace modern knowledge.
To summarize, this book is useful for its advice on yoga practice, but Iyengar has overstepped his limits on other topics. He also has suffered from the work of editors who would not help shape the book to reflect its title properly, or else select a title to reflect the content. Want to compare, contrast, be led onward? This book doesn't even have a bibliography!
Well, enough, I need to have time for my asana practice today.
reviewed by jan1975 on November 17, 2006 3:19 PM
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I am a complete beginner to yoga...less than 6 months of practice and I'm 64 years old... Even with an excellent yoga teacher and a once a week class, I felt I needed some type of guide so I could do yoga at home. Videos went too fast for me and often I'd be unable to see the TV from the floor.. This book was absolutely perfect....as yoga requires a lot of practice in order to become more limber and competent. After taking many different yoga books out of the library and this being one of them, I felt I had to own it because this was the only book where I could find a specific pose, read exactly what to do (and what not to do), see beautiful photographs of someone doing the pose and adapt any of the poses to my own level by adding my own props.
In no way are all the poses easy and many are advanced, but with props like blankets, blocks and belts, most are adaptable to a person's age and fitness level. Also, I like the fact that many variations are shown for each pose so I have easier
options if I need it. I would honestly say this book is as appropriate for a beginner as it might be for an advanced student.
This book is quite large, actually more of a coffee table book, and if I had to say one negative thing about it, it would be that it's a little cumbersome, having to prop it up somewhere in order to see the photograph while practicing. The advantage
of the book being large is that I am seeing a large detailed photo of a person doing each pose, step by step.
This book has so much information about each pose that I find myself reading it just to learn what health issues a pose might help. For example for better digestion, a whole group of poses are categorized together and then broken down into specific ailments, specifically if someone had an ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome there are specific poses on different pages for each. There is a guide for those who want to do an individual yoga practice, suggesting 20 weeks of asanas (poses) to do if someone wanted to completely learn yoga without a teacher at all.
There is always a list of cautions with each pose and always a list of benefits. Very few yoga books I've read explained this much and often I just do poses for women's health or mind and emotions. There are wonderful uplifting quotes interspersed
throughout the book, like, "Yoga is the golden key which unlocks the door to peace, tranquility and joy".
I like looking at the photos of the skeletal system and muscular system which are
located in the back of the book and there is an extensive glossary that translates sanskrit terms. Every pose is listed in sanskrit and has an English translation.
Important information like how to come out of the pose is rarely included in other
yoga books but I found it immensely important for a beginner. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to own a really complete, well written, and definitively illustrated yoga guide, written by a wonderful master teacher, B.K.S. Iygengar.
In no way are all the poses easy and many are advanced, but with props like blankets, blocks and belts, most are adaptable to a person's age and fitness level. Also, I like the fact that many variations are shown for each pose so I have easier
options if I need it. I would honestly say this book is as appropriate for a beginner as it might be for an advanced student.
This book is quite large, actually more of a coffee table book, and if I had to say one negative thing about it, it would be that it's a little cumbersome, having to prop it up somewhere in order to see the photograph while practicing. The advantage
of the book being large is that I am seeing a large detailed photo of a person doing each pose, step by step.
This book has so much information about each pose that I find myself reading it just to learn what health issues a pose might help. For example for better digestion, a whole group of poses are categorized together and then broken down into specific ailments, specifically if someone had an ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome there are specific poses on different pages for each. There is a guide for those who want to do an individual yoga practice, suggesting 20 weeks of asanas (poses) to do if someone wanted to completely learn yoga without a teacher at all.
There is always a list of cautions with each pose and always a list of benefits. Very few yoga books I've read explained this much and often I just do poses for women's health or mind and emotions. There are wonderful uplifting quotes interspersed
throughout the book, like, "Yoga is the golden key which unlocks the door to peace, tranquility and joy".
I like looking at the photos of the skeletal system and muscular system which are
located in the back of the book and there is an extensive glossary that translates sanskrit terms. Every pose is listed in sanskrit and has an English translation.
Important information like how to come out of the pose is rarely included in other
yoga books but I found it immensely important for a beginner. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to own a really complete, well written, and definitively illustrated yoga guide, written by a wonderful master teacher, B.K.S. Iygengar.
reviewed by webster on November 21, 2006 4:07 PM
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The book is full of illustrations. So its very easy to follow. Best of all it works. I've saved more than $300 on visits to the physician by following this book. Believe me its worth the investment.
reviewed by 78704 on November 22, 2006 6:57 PM