Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics The Essential Beginner's Guide to Yoga For a Lifetime of Health and Fitness

by Carrico, Mara; Editors of Yoga Journal

• ISBN13: 9780805045710
• ISBN10: 0805045716
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-09-15
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Welcome to the world of yoga. Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics offers the first truly comprehensive introduction to the practice of this popular ancient healing art. Produced by a teacher of yoga for over 25 years and the editors of Yoga Journal , it offers all the inspiration and instruction you'll need to develop your own at-home yoga practice. Beginning with an exploration of the roots of yoga, the book goes on to describe a variety of hatha yoga styles-- Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and others-- so you can choose the method that's appropriate for you. Featuring easy-to-follow instructions and 140 black-and-white photographs to illustrate the postures, Yoga Basics provides a thorough understanding not only of the mechanics of technique but of all the important elements that make yoga so much more than a fitness regime. In this unique book you'll find: * Tips on the use of the breath in yoga practice and breath awareness exercises * Guidelines for regular practice, including health and safety considerations * Dozens of illustrated postures-- standing, seated, supine, and prone-- with their benefits described * Sample Yoga routines that can be done in as little as 15 minutes per day * Instruction on the practice and power of meditation

Author Biography

The world-renowned, award-winning Yoga Journal is the premier yoga publication in this country and has produced a number of best-selling videos on yoga practice. Mara Carrico has more than a quarter century of experience teaching dance, movement therapy, and yoga and is the choreographer of Jane Fonda's Yoga Exercise Workout video. She writes frequently on the subject of yoga and Eastern disciplines and conducts workshops around the world.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi	(2)
Introduction: Welcome to the World of Yoga	xiii
PART 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF YOGA	3	(40)
1: Yoga: The Tree of Life	3	(15)
The Roots of Yoga	3	(1)
The Branches of Yoga	4	(3)
The Limbs of Yoga	7	(3)
Yoga Comes to America	10	(8)
2: Hatha Yoga--More than Just a Stretch	18	(13)
The Union of Opposites	19	(2)
The Structure of a Yoga Class	21	(6)
The Mechanics of Yoga Practice	27	(4)
3: Styles of Hatha Yoga--A Method for Every Body	31	(12)
Iyengar Yoga/B. K. S. Iyengar	32	(1)
Ashtanga Yoga/K. Pattabhi Jois	33	(1)
Viniyoga/T. K. V. Desikachar	33	(1)
Kundalini Yoga/Yogi Bhajan	34	(1)
Kripalu Yoga/Yogi Amrit Desai	35	(1)
Ananda Yoga/Swami Kriyananda	36	(1)
Yoga College of India-Choudhury Yoga/Bikram Choudhury	36	(1)
Integral Yoga/Swami Satchidananda	37	(1)
Sivananda Yoga/Swami Vishnu-devananda	38	(1)
How to Find a Yoga Teacher (and Style) That's Right for You	38	(5)
PART 2: THE PRACTICE OF YOGA	43	(122)
4: Breath: The Key to Health and Well-Being	43	(18)
Spiritual Physiology	44	(1)
Mechanics of the Breath	45	(1)
Using the Breath in Yoga Practice	46	(2)
Breath Awareness Techniques	48	(13)
5: Guidelines for Practice	61	(9)
Observe, Accept, Be Patient	62	(1)
Being Safe: Considerations and Contraindications	63	(2)
The Use of Props	65	(2)
Preparing for Practice	67	(3)
6: Supine Poses	70	(12)
7: Prone Poses	82	(11)
8: Standing Poses	93	(20)
9: Balancing Poses	113	(5)
10: Seated Poses	118	(14)
11: Abdominals	132	(7)
12: Inversions	139	(3)
13: Surya Namaskar--The Sun Salutation	142	(13)
14: Relaxation	155	(3)
15: Sample Yoga Practices	158	(7)
PART 3: COMPLETION	165	(14)
16: Let's Meditate	165	(9)
17: Starting Your Own Meditation Practice	174	(5)
Resources	179	(2)
Index	181