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Summary: Introduction to the Iyengar method
Review: How to Use Yoga is the quintessential book for beginning yoga students. One of today's leading exponents of the Iyengar method of yoga, senior teacher Mira Mehta presents a practical philosophy that unites body, mind, and spirit for health and fulfillment. She makes this powerful antidote to the stresses of modern life accessible to those who want to practice at home -- safely and effectively. With more than 450 color photographs, How to Use Yoga guides the reader in achieving a flexible body through the practice of postures and breathing techniques. The practice of yoga works on all body systems, toning the muscles, stimulating circulation, and improving overall health. Aside from its physical benefits, yoga can calm the mind, increase concentration, and relieve tension. How to Use Yoga is divided into four parts: -- Towards Physical Well-Being-forty-one postures and variations suitable for beginners -- Towards Mental Peace simple breathing awareness techniques -- Ten-Week Course -- a stretch-and-relax program for beginners designed by the author -- Postures for Common Problems -- poses helpful for headaches, neck, and shoulder pain, backache, stiffness in the hips, and a special program for menstruating women How to Use Yoga also includes information on home practice, safety guidelines, and yoga resources, and a suggested reading list.
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Summary: At last: a yoga book that teaches sequencing!
Review: I often had questions that arose during my home yoga practice, particularly about how to sequence the poses. I am so happy to have found Mira Mehta's "How to Use Yoga." This book is packed with information in a balanced blend of text instruction and pictorial guidance for each pose. Best of all, the author includes a ten-week practice course in an easy-to-follow format, along with sequences for common problems and special times, such as back pain, headaches, and menstruation. Get this book: It's like having a yoga teacher at home!
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Summary: Good for beginners and teachers
Review: The book is very similar in presentation to the book Mira Mehta published previously, Yoga the Iyengar Way, in that it has colorful, large photos. However, it is more geared toward a beginner and written more clearly. Only 41 asanas (poses) are presented, all of them basic poses. However, several variations of each asana are given, with clear instructions on the benefits of each variation. There are two wonderful features of the book poses for common pains. The 10-week yoga course is structured with a two page spread for each week. On the left-hand page is a list of asanas to practice on each day of the week. At the bottom of that page and the next are little photographs of people doing the poses recommended for that week. So, a beginner could follow the course just by opening to the appropriate page -- no flipping around through the book trying to figure out what the heck "Downward Facing Dog pose" is. The courses are also useful for teachers trying to develop sequences for beginning classes. The section on using yoga to relieve headaches, backaches, menstrual pain, and other common aches includes not only descriptions of the variations of the poses, but large photographs of the asana variations as well. This is the best presentation of this material I've seen. I also liked that she uses an older model in some of her photographs to show how poses can be modified for less flexible people. I am finding the book valuable for developing my beginner course in Iyengar yoga and plan to recommend it to my students.
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Summary: Excellent for folks new to yoga practice!
Review: This book is amazingly descriptive. Anyone can do yoga with this book. I have bought 6 copies thus far. The added bonus with this book is that it gives you week by week, day by day positions you should do. A great book!
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Summary: This is great!
Review: This book will take you through a relaxing, powerful and healthy 10-week Yoga program. In the first half of the book, all of the asanas (postures) are described in step-by-step detail, and illustrated with large color photos. In the second half of the book is the 10-week program, one week at a time. There are smaller photos illustrating each step of the daily workout in this section. To make it easy to switch from the program pages back to the asana description pages, this crafty author and Yoga teacher has included sturdy, cardboard flaps on the front and back covers so you can mark the pages you are using most frequently during your daily exercise. The book is large, and doesn't slam shut if you lay it in the floor in front of you. It is one of the best books I have seen!
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Summary: a truly useful book
Review: Yoga is a practical philosophy & exercise regime that requires little equipment & less fanfare than almost any form of exercise other than walking or jogging. & with yoga you don't have to cope with traffic, people hurtling in opposite directions, pavements, potholes & pooches. The one thing to remember about yoga is it's not a form of exercise that's in a hurry. The whole point is to slow down, extend & flex yourself slowly, deliberately, carefully. A ten week course of Asanas is clearly illustrated as well as the Asanas for headaches, menstruation, stiff necks & shoulders & so on. There are cautions given - about having a teacher first help you with the inverted postures, & people with chronic ailments. HOW TO USE YOGA is elegant & truly useful - a pleasure to own. It has really helped me unwind, unstaple & uncrinkle my body & soul from the hectic workaday world I insist they lead, especially as I live far away from any yoga teacher.
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