The Woman's Yoga Book: Asana and Pranayama for All Phases of the Menstrual Cycle [Paperback]

Bobby Clennell (Author), Geeta S. Iyengar (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2007

In The Woman's Yoga Book, senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Bobby Clennell offers a comprehensive program of asana (yoga poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques) designed to support menstrual health from menarche to menopause, along with nutritional and lifestyle information for those times off the yoga mat. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she encourages women to draw on the strength that comes from practicing women’s yoga. A former professional animator, Bobby Clennell has used her skill in rendering 735 illustrations that teach right along with her text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rodmell Press (April 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930485182
• ISBN-13: 978-1930485181
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Relief for your cycle April 26, 2007

By Theresa Reed

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Woman's Yoga Book: Asana and Pranayama for All Phases of the Menstrual Cycle is a book that every woman will want to own. With detailed illustrations, excellent guidelines and practices for any type of reproductive issue, author Bobby Clennell has written THE book that works directly with your cycle. Clennell is a senior Iyengar instructor who has studied directly with the Iyengars, most notably, Geeta Iyengar, who writes the forward to this book. Iyengar has written her own book for women, Yoga - A Gem For Women, and although that is a very useful book, I have found Clennell's book to be more user friendly.

There is an intro with discussion on how menstruation has been viewed over the years by each culture as well as the physical dynamics. The illustrations are really nice - there are variations of poses and in some cases, she shows how to come in and out of each pose. Every picture is clear and easy to understand. Instructions are concise - Clennell makes even the most complicated poses simple to comprehend. Any possible discomfort that you may have during your cycle is covered along with a suggested routine. There are practices for mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue, migraines and more. And best of all, these routines do work!

Sadly, there is not a lot of information on perimenopause or menopause - but I guess since this is a book about menstruation, I shouldn't expect it. Perhaps Clennell could address these issues in a future book? After using The Woman's Yoga Book with great success, one can only hope!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Practicing With On the Full Moon--and Rest of the Month! June 18, 2008

By Suza Francina VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

My daughter and I both love The Woman's Yoga Book! Since today is the full moon, and women's cycles are influenced by the phases of the moon, I feel inspired to write a review of this lovely book.

Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Bobby Clennell brings decades of yoga study and teaching experience to The Woman's Yoga Book. As other reviewers have noted, her writing style is clear, friendly, deep and nurturing. This book reflects her personal practice and many trips to India to study directly with the Iyengars. She is a core faculty member of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York and teaches yoga workshops and retreats throughout the United States and abroad.

The beginning of the book presents an overview of the history of menstrual beliefs and practices, examining how modern concepts developed and how ancient traditions from pro-feminine cultures can help us regain a healthy perspective of our body rhythms.

Clennell points out that because today's woman starts her period earlier and has fewer babies (or none at all) she can have between 350 and 400 menstrual periods throughout her lifetime, as opposed to the 100 periods that most women experienced two hundred years ago.

I was delighted with Clennell's emphasis on honoring the menstrual cycle. In an era where women are encouraged to medicate themselves and suppress the cycle, a book like this is sorely needed.

Clennell rightly emphasizes that we are living in a culture that encourages women to ignore the very thing that makes us different from men: cyclical hormonal rhythms. For all our advances in social equality, attitudes toward menstruation are only slightly more enlightened than in the past.... The media encourages us to suppress symptoms with drugs, keep up outer appearances and get over it as quickly as possible.

Yoga teachers need to be aware that the young women students in their classes may already be taking one of the new experimental pills that promises a "lifestyle revolution" by eliminating periods and putting an end to premenstrual syndrome.

Bobby Clennell gives sequences for each phase of the menstrual cycle, from the premenstrual phase (supported bridge pose stabilizes mood swings), menstruation (restorative poses allow the body to rest), and the post-menstrual phase (inversions allow the body to cleanse and recover). By ovulation, when a woman is at her peak, her yoga practice has built back up to its full strength and variety. In addition, The Woman's Yoga Book offers solutions for a variety of menstrual and premenstrual problems, including amenorrhea (failure to menstruate), menorrahgia (excessively heavy periods) and dysmenorrhea (painful periods).

A former professional animator, Bobby Clennell has used her skill in creating over 735 illustrations. Two photographers took hundreds of photographs of the author on which she based the illustrations. The illustrations show variations of poses and, when necessary, how to come in and out of each pose. Clennell makes even the most complicated poses simple to comprehend.

This book is useful to a wide range of practitioners. Women new to yoga can practice with this book, and teachers will have a vast storehouse of information at their fingertips. I urge any teacher offering workshops on yoga and the menstrual cycle to recommend this book to their students.

This is a book for any women's health practitioner who is curious about how yoga works. It is a book that could lead doctors and other health professionals to refer more women to yoga classes.

The publishers, Linda Cogozzo and Donald Moyer are themselves longtime Iyengar Yoga practitioners and the clarity of writing I have found in all their books is unsurpassed!

--Suza Francina is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher and author of Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause, and other books for people at midlife and older. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for women November 12, 2007

By SinkyR.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This has become my 'go to' yoga book. After using this book for only a month, I was cramp free for the first time in years. The illustrations are so detailed, it is easier to use than practicing with a DVD. Can't recommend it enough!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent June 8, 2007

By Sophie Anne

Format:Paperback

Clearly written, concise yet with lots of depth, and helpful illustrations. A must have!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The woman's yoga book December 26, 2007

By Ms. Nicola Stephens

Format:Paperback

I find this book very easy to follow, written in language I understand from taking classes in Iyenga yoga. The illustrations are clear and accurate. Each pose includes information on its benefits, and also information on when to avoid the pose. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their understanding of yoga poses and wishes to start or expand their yoga practice at home.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Women's Yoga for Health November 14, 2010

By Lynn

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I suffered from severe menstrual cramps, and this book is definitely helpful as an adjunct therapy. The first half describes how to do each pose, the benefits of the pose, pictures of the pose and modifications, as well as English and Sanskrit names. The second half of the book has a section on breathing (pranayama) and the different types of techniques. However, Breath of Fire isn't included here, as this isn't Kundalini Yoga. The following sections focus on yoga sequences to do prior to menstruation, during menstruation, and after. The Restorative poses such as Supta Baddha Konasana are really effective. I like how she gives complete sequences with arrows showing the exact order of the poses for each issue, such as nervous tension. The author provides a lot of text explaining the benefits of the poses in relation to women's health. She also explains how each sequence aids women in each particular phase. Chapters are set up very well, and the book is well organized. Chapter 2 is quite interesting, as it
focuses on Menarche to Menopause in terms of history, culture, health, and biology. Really cool information here. This is Iyengar yoga organized into sequences for each phase of the menstrual cycle and its attendant symptoms. A lot of good information is here. There isn't a chapter of poses for menopause, but these are still good poses for a general yoga practice. I have tried everything for my cramps, but birth control pills just have too many side effects. I changed my diet and cut out junk meats, beef, and pork. I have increased my magnesium, calcium, vitamin D3,vitamin E, and B vitamins. When my period is approaching I cut the sugar, caffeine, beef, and poultry to reduce prostaglandins, which cause pain.... Per Ayurveda medicine, I do as little as possible on the first day of bleeding. I use this book to guide my yoga practice, and my pain has decreased A LOT. Western women need to slow down, rest, modify their diet, and stop acting like menstruation that you ignore. For someone who couldn't even walk aross a room, the
fact that you can manage cramps without drugs is amazing. I use this book a lot! Read more ›