Customer Reviews

Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan

5 star:		(103)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

About a month ago, I found this book in our bookcase at home. My mom had bought it years ago, after her doctor recommended it to her. It is the old version with beautiful photographs. Just yesterday, I finished the program after following it for the past 28 days. I'm a dancer, and so am pretty flexible, but I was amazed to find that I've become more flexible, and that my back, with which I've had trouble in the past, has become stronger, more flexible, and does not bother me any longer (I used to go to bed almost every night with an ache in my lower back). This book is amazing. The instructions are clear, concise, and easy to follow, as they are accompanied by photographs illustrating each part of the asanas. Richard has created a Yoga system which enables anyone to incorporate yoga in their lives. Each day, new asanas are learned, and more advanced positions of previous ones are suggested, allowing anyone to progress at their own pace. Each day's practice is followed by the "Thoughts for the Day," which discuss different aspects of everyday life, such as eating, sleep, stress, etc... and how yoga and yoga philosophy can help one better their lifestyle. This book has trully changed my life and the way I see it. I have become more in touch with my body and my mind. This book is exceptional. I cannot thank Richard Hittleman enough. Since I've started the program, I've been researching yoga, and reading everything on it I can get my hands on. If any of you out there have any recommendations for books, videos, equipment, web sites, anything having to do with yoga, and advice, I would love to hear from you. Thanks-

If you keep at this program there are amazing results! Youlearn alot very quickly. I never seem to get all the way through theprogram, however. You have to be dedicated and do the postures every single day...

The only problems I have with the book are that there is not alot of emphasis on how to prevent injuries and exactly how to position yourself. I think some people who push themselves too hard could end up injuring themselves.

All that aside, there is alot packed into this little book, and if followed carefully, the program has absolutely amazing results.

This last bit has nothing to do with the book itself, but I include it because other reviewers wanted the information.

Where is Richard Hittleman these days? Sadly, Mr. Hittleman died of prostate cancer in 1991. The Yoga Universal Organization/Church that he founded continues on, however... In conclusion, I would enthousiasticly (sic?) recommend this book to anyone wishing to get into Yoga. Instead of the slick overproduced nature many contemporary exercise books have, Richard Hittleman's Yoga has an earthy honesty that you rarely see these days. (quite characteristic of early seventies hippyish non-fiction books!)

Good luck!

I discovered this book in the early 80's. I had just started working in NYC and was stressed-out to the max. I soon developed blinding headaches as a result of rigid neck muscles. Then Hittleman came to the rescue. Within 2 weeks of faithfully follwing the exercise plan, the headaches were gone, and as long as I do these exercises, they stay away!

I have since tried other "brands" of hatha yoga, but I always come back to Hittleman. While other forms of yoga have flashier style (including Iyengar and "power" yoga) as well as celebrity endorsement, they always leave me worn out and frustrated. With the gentle Hittleman plan, I feel relaxed, stretched, and soothed.

This is the best yoga book for beginners I have ever seen. It is written for anyone who wants to learn yoga at home without a teacher's instruction. In more than 600 photographs Hittleman teaches the asanas step by step. He starts with simple poses, explains and shows clearly how they can be achieved and builds up until you reach more advanced poses.

At the end of each practice day, the author discusses subjects such as diet, breathing, meditation, weight control, etc. Although the exercises are equally useful to women and men, some of the discussions focus on women.

With this book you can learn yoga at home. Once you have finished the well structured 28-day program, you can continue yoga for the rest of your life with the three practice sessions provided at the end of the book. I have been practicing yoga for years and have built up my own routine from the book. I have looked at other books, but I have never found a better one.

This version is identical to Richard Hittleman's same-title paperback that's smaller is size. When I picked up this book at a used book store, I was jogging/running 4x per week, 3 miles each run. I had experienced a great relief of physical and emotional stress in the running, but I was interested in increasing my flexibility and grace. I did "my yoga" after running, and I was shocked to find, as I faithfully followed the program, how much tension had remained in my joints, muscles, etc., even after running. My mental, physical and emotional states all improved dramatically with this yoga program -- so much so that I thought I had found the fountain of youth, that I had discovered my true being. I did injure my knees with the "bow" -- the book's single inadequacy is its lack of precautionary advice and remedies for injuries. I have looked at other yoga books and this is by far the best in terms of succinct information, very good instruction, and a progressive program.

This is book is one of the most valuable I have ever read. The simple, easy to follow instructions, culminating in a logical three day cycle of exercises has been the basis of a daily morning ritual I have followed for more than a decade. The gentle exercises taught in this book have been the foundation for whatever other physical activity strikes my fancy--kayaking, golf, weight training, triathlon, mountain biking,etc. For anyone wanting literally to stretch themselves physically, this little book is worth its weight in gold.

I've had this book for many, many years and it is one of my favorite books on yoga. Whenever I stop exercising for a while and start to feel stiff all over - I fondly remember this book. And each time anew I am amazed how much more in only 28 days my body becomes flexible. There were times I wished Richard wrote a 365 day exercise plan, because often when I get to the end of the book, instead of continuing the practice, I stop doing the exercises. Then, later on, I return to it and start again from the beginning. In any event, if you want to become more flexible and like to have a wonderful exercise plan to follow, get this book. It's excellent! You, too will be amazed with results.

Like many other reviewers, I've used this book since the 70s. It's like a magic key to health and well being - and that's not hype, I say it sincerely from the heart. You can do this yoga in 25 minutes, first thing in the morning in your pajamas, and feel great all day. I've given this book to countless friends who were feeling stiff and achey. My 80-year-old mother does the routines in this book every day and is still spry and lively, which she credits unequivocally to the yoga. Twenty years ago she had trouble getting out of a chair, now she hops out like someone half her age. She has also given the book to friends and relatives. I can't say enough about this gem. Richard Hittleman's book was there before the yoga fad and will still be around long after.

I began doing Yoga with Richard Hittleman when he had a TV show in the early 60's. I bought his little pamphlet to use also. It was a simple little book with drawings. In 1969 I bought his hardbound edition---the 28-day plan, and used it when he went off the air. I've been using it ever since. I may have missed a few sessions now and then, but for the most part I stuck with it over the years, and I'm happy to say that his promise of "flexible for life" has paid off. For a woman of 80, I'm very flexible and have good balance. I practice three times a week without fail, and will keep it up forever. I loved that man, for his gentle philosophy as well as his advice on health. Lately I wanted to let him know how well he's kept me over the years, which is why I decided to look him up on the internet today, only to learn that he's been gone since 1991. I've been missing him, and now I know why. Doris Hirigoyen

In addition to the wealth of great info provided by the other reviewers (I highly recommend that you read them, too!), I would like to add the following:

I can attest to the value of the practice by saying that I never felt better in my life than when I made this a daily practice. The benefits are holistic: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.

Do follow his direction and stretch ONLY to your extreme. This extreme will increase in due time, trust him.

Do consult with a doctor if you are having a problem with any particular area or areas of your body. You can very well cause more damage if you are not careful. You may need to omit something or approach it with a physician-recommended modification.

There are different approaches to or styles of yoga. This one is gentle and slow moving, causing the least amount of trauma to joints and other areas of your body. (See caution in above paragraph, however.)

Although I originally picked up the book after following the televised program, the book does document each of the asanas (exercises) very well by including a vast number of photos.

To facilitate following the three-day cycle of asanas-for-life that is printed at the end of the book, I copied them into a spiral notebook, using two lines per letter. This allows me to stand it up within my field of vision and read the now "large print version."

I did locate videos of the television series but decided that they were cost-prohibitive. Do an internet search on Richard Hittelman or Yoga for Life and you should find them.

I do recommend that you read the short essays after each day's practice. These are informative about the practice, lifestyle, philosophy and nutrition and serve to reinforce that the practice extends to benefit one's entire being.

Note: Cheryl, the "model" in the book, was also his student and the person to demonstrate the asanas on television. Joining her was another woman who was not as advanced. This served to encourage us neophytes who could follow along while watching one who was not too far advanced from us while aspiring to achieve the extremes that the other could assume.

Enjoy!