The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit (Paperback)

by Deepak Chopra (Author), David Simon (Author) "The proliferation of yoga classes and yoga centers throughout the Western world is a tribute to yoga's indisputable power to enliven physical well-being..." (more)
Key Phrases: sky reaching pose, salutation pose, equestrian pose, Law of Least Effort, Law of Dharma, Law of Detachment (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
"Just as no one would argue that gravity applies only to England because Sir Isaac Newton was British or that Einstein's theory of relativity was relevant only in Germany... the principles of yoga are not limited by time or space," say Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and Simon, medical director for the Chopra Center. Their guide is written in such a clear, sensible way that those new to yoga will wonder why they've not tried it before. Seasoned practitioners will find themselves reinvigorated and may learn a new breathing technique or meditation. Starting with descriptions of the two most popular frameworks, Shankara and Patanjali, the authors then list the seven laws of spirituality that neatly correspond to the seven days of the week. Extensive explanations of several types of meditation—chakra, so hum breath technique, awareness, attention/intention—are followed by the most common breathing exercises and thorough instructions for a variety of asanas (poses). Photographs complete the instructional portion of the book, making it especially useful for beginners. The final pages bring the program together with a suggested routine that combines all of the above into a perfect blend of theory and practice.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
While most current guides focus on yoga's asana (physical practice), this concise book emphasizes its spiritual aspects. Chopra (Ageless Body, Timeless Mind) and Simon (medical director, Chopra Ctr.) are both pioneers in the field of holistic health, having mixed Western medicine with natural Eastern hearing traditions. They lucidly explain the complexities of Vedic science and discuss how to apply its spiritual aspects to a yoga routine. Their overriding message is that if practitioners combine the components of a good yoga practice - breathing, meditation, postures (illustrated with photographs), bandhas (means of breath control), and Chopra's seven spiritual laws, they are promised physical, emotional, and spiritual rewards. Good for both beginners and advances students, this is an excellent choice for most yoga collections. ("Library Journal, July 2004)

"Just as no one would argue that gravity applies only to England because Sir Isaac Newton was British or that Einstein's theory of relativity was relevant only in Germany...the principles of yoga are not limited by time or space," say Chopra, author of "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and Simon, medical director for the Chopra Center. Their guide is written in such a clear, sensible way that those new to yoga will wonder why they've not tried it before. Seasoned practitioners will find themselves reinvigorated and may learn a new breathing technique or meditation. Starting with descriptions of the two most popular frameworks, Shankara and Patanjali, the authors then list the seven laws of spirituality that neatly correspond to the seven days of the week. Extensive explanations of several types ofmeditation-- chakra, so hum breath technique, awareness, attention/intention-- are followed by the most common breathing exercises and thorough instructions for a variety of asanas (poses). Photographs complete the instructional portion of the book, making it especially useful for beginners. The final pages bring the program together with a suggested routine that combines all of the above into a perfect blend of theory and practice. ("Publishers Weekly, June 28, 2004)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (August 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471736279
• ISBN-13: 978-0471736271
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Yogis and Yoginis and the rest of us!, June 22, 2004

By	Lissa Coffey, Host of coffeytalk.com "DoshaDiva" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit (Hardcover)

I enjoy yoga, and have been practicing since before it was popular! So far, pretty much all of the books I have read on the subject have been the "same old, same old." But this book is different. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga is really special. It has helped me take my yoga practice to another level, where I can experience much more of the spiritual aspect of yoga. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success has always been my favorite book in the whole world - so to have these laws applied to yoga is simply the ultimate! This book is definitely a winner - it belongs on every mat in every yoga studio, and on every bedside table for all of us "at home" practitioners.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!, June 25, 2004

By	Lissa Coffey, Host of coffeytalk.com "DoshaDiva" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit (Hardcover)

If you love yoga then you'll love this book! There's so much more to yoga than the physical postures that we have come to know. Yoga is a beautiful study, one that can really help deepen any spiritual practice. This book explains so much. I really enjoyed it, and will read it over and over again!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book of Many Insights, January 19, 2007

By	T. J. Hudak "S. Hudak" (Madison, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit (Hardcover)

I chose this book because I was looking for help in returning to my practice of yoga. Deepak Chopra books always provided words of guidance. He did not fail in this attempt. He begins the book with insightful questions to help you find the real "you" and then progresses to explain the different types of yoga practices. But the real value in the book is the section discussing the Seven Spirtual Laws. For me, that alone was worth buying the book.

After many years of practicing yoga I now understand the importance of not forcing the body to obey moves but it is in allowing the inner Self to assist in all of the movements. There is a wonderful section on yoga positions with excellent photos and descriptions of how to attain the pose. Chopra also discusses meditation, how to practice it and methods for success.

This is a book I keep in my workout area and read each day before I begin my sessions. It is not only physically helpful, it is a spiritual inspiration.