Shambhala Guide to Yoga [Paperback]

Georg Feuerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 1996

This overview of the essentials of Yoga—understood not merely as a system of exercises but as a full-fledged spiritual tradition—is meant to both broaden and deepen the understanding of beginning students. It covers all the basic elements of this ancient discipline and philosophy of India and includes newly translated excerpts from the scriptures. Special attention is given to branches of Yoga, such as Tantra, that are of great interest to Western students but frequently misunderstood. The topics covered include:

   •  The principal branches of Yoga
   •  Moral principles
   •  Meditation and concentration
   •  Control of the breath
   •  The physical exercises of Hatha Yoga
   •  Diet
   •  Mantras: sacred sounds of power
   •  The powerful psychospiritual energy known as Kundalini
   •  The transmutation of sexual energy
   •  The teacher-student relationship
   •  Suggestions for further reading and other resources

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For many Americans, Yoga has become just another kind of aerobics, an exercise system disconnected from any religious framework. As a spiritual corrective to that distortion, Feuerstein's guide is an important pointer in the right direction that should also help readers understand the astonishingly sophisticated system that has emerged from a 5000-year-old Indian spiritual tradition. Employing a very accessible vocabulary, Feuerstein's work offers real utility in its overview, its list of what to read next and its identification of useful resources from both Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Most importantly, Feuerstein includes significant discussions of meditation, mantra, Kundalini and Tantra, which are themselves tantalizing recognitions of the transcendent paths within Yoga. As a starting point for the seeker, Feuerstein's book is excellent. The book is also refreshing in its own unpretentious recognition that it is only that.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Feuerstein, author of more than 20 books about yoga and other facets of Indian spirituality, is adept at presenting accurate and accessible interpretations of these traditions to Western readers. In this welcoming primer of yogic thought and practice, he places yoga within a historical context, clears up common misconceptions, defines terms, and provides concise descriptions of the main branches, or schools, of yoga. At each stage of this fluid exposition, Feuerstein emphasizes how the practice of yoga benefits all aspects of life, including the physical, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual. The aim of all yogic practices, from following moral precepts to refined techniques of breath control, is for the practitioner to live in harmony with the world through transcendence of the ego-personality. Feuerstein uses this goal as a touchstone as he describes the importance of the teacher-student relationship, the significance of asanas and meditation, and yogic "dietary wisdom." As he moves on to increasingly complex and challenging yogic disciplines, Feuerstein retains his lucidity, but, naturally, can only scratch the surface of these profoundly demanding and esoteric realms. Donna Seaman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (March 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157062142X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570621420
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #421,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Georg Feuerstein (born 1947) is a German-Canadian Indologist. Feuerstein has authored over 45 books on mysticism, Yoga, Tantra, and Hinduism and Buddhism.

Dr. Feuerstein offers distance-learning courses on Yoga philosophy and history through Traditional Yoga Studies at http://www.traditionalyogastudies.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like the others said, great introduction to Yoga!, July 6, 2001

By 

Damon Navas-Howard (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shambhala Guide to Yoga (Paperback)

When looking for books on Yoga, I had no idea where to start and I didn't want to read some...American trying to cash in book. I saw this book and it seemed real. Wow, I'm glad this is the first book I read on Yoga. Georg Feurstein fully knows and understands the essence of Yoga. The book touches on everything from the history of Yoga to a Yogi's diet. I like how Feurstein always refers back to the old Sanskrit texts of Yogi practices. However, if you are looking for a book where you actually do the postures then look for another book because this book doesn't satisfy that. You should read all you can about Yoga before attempting it, I know my presumptions on Yoga have been changed from reading this book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Yoga., August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shambhala Guide to Yoga (Paperback)

This book gave me a clearer understanding of Yoga. My greatest compliment is that it sustained my interest enough to read the book to the end. I enjoyed the humanistic tone of the book, and the simple ordering and structure of topics which brought clarity to a potentially overwhelming subject. I look forward very much to reading more of Georg Feuerstein's books.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting history and tools for Yoga teachers in training, February 6, 2007

By 

E. Maya - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shambhala Guide to Yoga (Paperback)

I'm in training to become a Yoga teacher. This is a book I will come back over and over again to share information with my students when I start teaching.