The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Power Yoga [Paperback]

Geo Takoma (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: September 20, 1999

You're no idiot, of course. You know that nearly everyone in America is doing yoga--including Madonna and Oprah--and that it is said to reduce stress better than virtually any other activity. But when it comes to finding the time and energy for a yoga session and getting a much-needed aerobic workout, you'd rather meditate in front of the TV. Don't vegetate--invigorate! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Power Yoga, by master yogi Geo Takoma, combines the healing poses and stretches of traditional yoga with an exhilarating workout that requires as little as 20 minutes a day. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, Geo gives you:

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

You're no idiot, of course. You know that nearly everyone in America is doing yoga--including Madonna and Oprah--and that it is said to reduce stress better than virtually any other activity. But when it comes to finding the time and energy for a yoga session and getting a much-needed aerobic workout, you'd rather meditate in front of the TV. Don't vegetate--invigorate! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Power Yoga, by master yogi Geo Takoma, combines the healing poses and stretches of traditional yoga with an exhilarating workout that requires as little as 20 minutes a day. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, Geo gives you:

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1st edition (September 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028631889
• ISBN-13: 978-0028631882
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #660,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Inspirational!, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Power Yoga (Paperback)

This book is full of information benefitting the novice as well as the expert.Geo shares his 25 years of experience on all aspects of yoga including meditation and chakras. It will capture your interest from beginning to end!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!, January 2, 2003

By 

invictus (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Power Yoga (Paperback)

Power yoga is great for Americans, especially those who are used to more aerobic workouts and especially for those like me, who have bodies naturally inclined toward strength training and not toward flexibility. Don't get me wrong---you get plenty of flexibility poses with Power Yoga---there are still poses I can't do yet---but there's none of that head under the legs, kissing your back kind of flexibility in Power Yoga. Warrior poses to develop leg strength are essential to this style, as well as some challenging balancing poses. If this sound's like your kind of thing, Geo's book is excellent and provides more info than many other power yoga books. Good luck with your training and Namaste!

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Geo's Pseudo-Yoga, September 27, 2001

By 

Nathan (North Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Power Yoga (Paperback)

This is an appropriate manual for anyone looking to improve their physical and emotional well-being. However, for the serious Hatha Yoga practioner or beginning student, it is somewhat misleading. There's scant information here about the different types and contexts of the Yogas. Chakras are discussed in some detail. Yet here Geo uses his "personal system" to describe the different energy centers and substitutes there traditional names for those of colors e.g. "Red", "Orange" etc.

Likewise he needlessly renames some of the classic Yoga postures themselves. The "Corpse" pose is now the "Relaxation" pose and the "Plank" is rechristened as the "Board".

Yoga is primarily consists of static isometric forms of postures. In this way the muscles in the body are toned and strengthened gently, in contrast to Western type exercises such as press-ups or weight lifting, where the vigorous repetitions of the exercise break down the muscle fibers in order to achieve the supposedly desireable "sculpted" look. Such physical practice is diametrically opposed to the Yogic concept of non-violence which is applied to all aspects of ones life, which includes the abstienence of these types of exercise. For this reason I was quite bewildered to find such movements as "Eagle Crunches" in Chapter 19. For a better understanding of Yoga, it's practice and philosophy I highly recommend the exhaustive "Idiots Guide To Yoga" or the James Hewitts more erudite "The Complete Yoga Book", wherein the subject is explored in great deepth.

Still, this book contains a number of redeeming features which can't be ignored. The writing is clear and straight-forward throughout. At times it's almost like having your own fitness instructor at home with you- at only a fraction of the price!
Each posture is well explained and illustrated so there can be no confusion as to their execution. The exercises are also helpfuly ascribed an individual "Difficulty Level" rating between 1 and 5 ,so the reader knows exactly what their letting themselves in for. Also included are valuable Chapters on meditation and breathing.

"Geo's Power Fitness" might have been a better suited name for this books highly individualized health system. As it stands "Power Yoga" somehow doesn't suffice. The "Power" part I can understand, theres no doubt that Geo's techniques will revitalize and bring physical and mental strength to all those whom use them. Yet whether or not we can realistically term them
as "Yoga" is arguable.