The Spirit of Yoga [Hardcover]

Kathy Phillips (Author), Christy Turlington (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2002

Yoga is thousands of years old, but because of its current popularity, some people wrongly dismiss it as just another exercise fad made fashionable by celebrities. In fact, as author Kathy Phillips demonstrates in this large, beautifully illustrated book, yoga is a gentle but powerful means of achieving strength, flexibility, serenity, and a healthy balance between body and mind. Originating on the Indian subcontinent at the dawn of civilization, yoga is now accepted worldwide as an effective way to deal with physical and emotional stress. The Spirit of Yoga is a sensible introduction for beginners, and a source of inspiration for current practitioners who would like to learn more. It explains differences among the various yoga disciplines, enabling readers to make a considered choice that best fits their needs. The author uses her experience as a yoga teacher to describe exercises and postures—also shown in color photos—that can promote physical health and body flexibility while inducing emotional tranquility. Yoga positions are suggested as effective remedies for physical ailments and for discomforts produced by everyday stress. The author's witty approach to her subject demystifies today's yoga hype while offering readers sound guidance and emphasizing the entirely real benefits they can derive from this honorable discipline. The book's foreword is by the international fashion model Christy Turlington. Hundreds of color photos and illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This colorful coffee-table-style book by a 25-year yoga practitioner offers an inspiring look at the ancient art. Even if you're not a yoģini yourself, if you've ever wondered how yoga originated, or how the different styles, such as kundalini and hatha, differ, this book is definitely worth a read (and makes a worthy gift) for its stunning photos, insightful quotes and fascinating yoga history lesson."


—Valerie Latona,SHAPE, April 2003

From the Back Cover

What is this thing called yoga? Is it just another celebrity exercise system? Another New Age fad? A religion? A kind of diet? What are the differences between yoga's various disciplines? What motivates people to practice it in this so-called secular age? These are some of the questions addressed in The Spirit of Yoga.
Yoga is as old as civilization and has been practiced for thousands of years as a gentle but powerful means of achieving strength, flexibility, stillness, and balance in body and mind. Though it originated on the subcontinent of India thousands of years ago, more and more people in the West are turning to yoga as a way of dealing with the stresses and strains of modern living.
The Spirit of Yoga is a beautiful, thorough, and distinctive introduction to yoga for interested readers who don't know much about it. This book will also inspire those who have already made yoga a part of their lives and would like to know more. Author Kathy Phillips explains the differences between Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga. You can then go on to choose among the various disciplines and find the one that best fits your lifestyle.
Kathy Phillips is a recognized authority on yoga. She also serves as a witty commentator, examining and demystifying today's yoga culture, and exploring ways in which yoga can be applied appropriately to life as we live it in the West. Combining her experiences as a trained yoga teacher and as Health and Beauty Director of British Vogue, she will guide you through the complete contemporary discipline—and industry—that yoga has become. Stylish and beautiful photography illustrates the principles of asana practice, pranayama, and meditation. The Spirit of Yoga then traces the roots of yoga, citing ancient scriptures and featuring extraordinary photographs of temple carvings and mandalas. In summary, The Spirit of Yoga disentangles the substance of yoga from the hype.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (September 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764155121
• ISBN-13: 978-0764155123
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful exploration of the Yoga tradition, October 29, 2002

By 

Andrew Olivo Parodi (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Yoga (Hardcover)

THE SPIRIT OF YOGA is truly a beautiful book. Part educational text, part testimonial by master practitioners, part collection of stunning and inspirational photography, this book has it all. I am a Yoga newcomer, and I found THE SPIRIT OF YOGA to be very helpful. It makes me wonder why I didn't find Yoga sooner.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great insight of Yoga history and its meaning., November 12, 2002

By 

Allyson (Post Falls, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Yoga (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book to look at, but the author uses lots of celebrity names and past gurus, which pronouncing their 15 letter names I found to be quite distracting. However, if you are looking for a book that gives the meaning and origin of the poses that are used in everyday yoga class this is for you. Overall, I found the book to be filled with answers when it comes to sorting out all the different types of yoga and helping me to decide which practice is for me.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As inspirational as it is beautiful..., January 28, 2003

By 

S. L. Thornton "AnthroTeacher" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Yoga (Hardcover)

I'm always a little suspicious when I see a book like this one, which, by all appearances, appears to be cashing in on the yoga-as-fitness-trend phenomenon. So I was when I received this book as a birthday gift. But Kathy Phillips has given us a thing of beauty in "The Spirit of Yoga." A long-time practitioner and teacher, Phillips questions this trend, while acknowledging her own contribution to it. After reading this qualification, I devoured every page. Phillips gives a rich, if brief, history and description of the various paths of yoga practice, as well as gorgeous visuals and instructions on the poses basic to many yoga styles. Chapters on breathing and meditation help to complete what are for many practitioners the fundmental physical aspects of yoga. I've only been practicing for two years, and I try to maintain a balanced approach to what I see as blatant attempts at unnecessary or useless materialism that doesn't seem true to the aims of yoga. This book is definitely indulgent eye-candy, but in the best way - clean, beautiful layout and design, excellent photography and visuals that are respectful of the tradition. I would recommend "The Spirit of Yoga" both to anyone curious about beginning a yoga practice, as well as to any seasoned practioner who can take the time to read past its obvious coffee-table function!