Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga: 18 Postures of Relaxation & Rejuvenation [Paperback]

Marshall Govindan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

This guide is designed as a handbook, wherein each stage in each posture is individually illustrated, and explained with easy-to-follow instructions. The numerous benefits of each posture in the healing and prevention of various disorders are also indicated. This title helps you to rejuvenate yourself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the author: Marshall Govindan has practised Kriya Yoga intensively as a disciple of Babaji since 1969. He studied and practised Kriya Yoga in India for nearly four years with Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah, a direct disciple of Babaji, assisting him in the establishment and development of 23 Kriya Yoga centers around the world over two decades. He practised Babaji's Kriya yoga an average of 8 hours per day for 18 years. After fulfilling certain rigorous conditions, he was asked by Babaji on Christmas day, 1988, to go and teach Kriya yoga to others under his guidance and inspiration. In 1990 he was married for the first time, to Gaetane Annai Ouellet of Quebec in a traditional ceremony at the Chidambaram Shiva temple in South India. In 1991 he authored the bestselling book "Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition". In 1992, he and his wife, Annai founded "Babaji's Kriya Yoga Ashram on a beautiful mountain top, 40 acre estate. It is located at 196 Mountain Road, St E! tienne de Bolton, Quebec, Canada J0E 1P0., near Montreal. They organize initiations and retreats here year round as well as summer camps which host a variety of teachers. In 1993 he edited and published the first english translation of "Thirumandiram: A Classic of Yoga and Tantra" by Siddha Thirumoolar. At the end of 1994 he retired after 25 years of work in some of North America's largest corporations, where he integrated the practise of Kriya Yoga with a life of dedicated service as an economist and later as a leading professional and author in the field of computer systems control and auditing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 30 pages
• Publisher: Kriya Yoga Pubns (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189538303X
• ISBN-13: 978-1895383034
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Health

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Standard Hatha Yoga Exercises with Movement, January 17, 2005

By 

Laura De Giorgio "hypnotherapist" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga: 18 Postures of Relaxation & Rejuvenation (Paperback)

This small book contains 18 yoga postures which are illustrated and described together with the benefits and contraditions of each. The main difference between these hatha yoga exercises and those available in other yoga books - is not in postures, but rather in the way that they are intended to be performed. While a standard yoga book may suggest that you hold a posture for a specific period of time, here the recommendation is to move within each specific posture (in a way it's like a rocking motion) - as the term "kriya" relates to "action".

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A basic guide to hatha yoga...., June 25, 2005

By 

Siva Balan "Cosmic Consciousness" (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga: 18 Postures of Relaxation & Rejuvenation (Paperback)

This book serves as an introduction to hatha yoga. This work is highly recommended to those who are interested in hatha yoga. When one follows ALL the instructions in this booklet with faith and reverence, one would progress very far spiritually as well as physically. However, for those who are already well versed in hatha yoga, there is nothing new to learn in this book.

This booklet describes the benefits for each of the poses and the counter-benefits for those not physically perfect in health. Thus, one must follow the instructions carefully and with discrimination.

I would also like to recommend the book The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness: Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda" by Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) for those who are interested in going deeper into yoga and the philosophy behind the poses.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thin Book with Thick Messages, June 21, 2009

By 

kikombo (Global Nomad, Earth) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Babaji's Kriya Hatha Yoga: 18 Postures of Relaxation & Rejuvenation (Paperback)

This book is THIN, not the superbulky yoga posture books with fancy pictures and long step by step details. Yet the sequence of postures contain, what I believe, very traditional and perhaps ancient routines for forming a yoga sequence. The hand illustrated pictures can sometimes be difficult to decipher (for example I don't really know whether to move my body in circles or from side to side), but if you've taken yoga classes already, you can combine what you've learned with the instructions in the book.

I got this book because I love The Autobiography of a Yogi and I respect Yogananda's reverence for his guru's guru's guru Babaji. I do believe the simplicity of this book enhances its authenticity. Because it is thin and light, it is also an easy travel companion. And I believe this book is a good source for those who want to explore different yoga sequences and the meaning of each sequence, to enhance what they learn from their respective yoga teachers. I don't recommend using this book as a sole source of yoga teaching, you still need a good teacher to make sure you are doing the postures correctly. But it is an nice accompaniment.