A Woman's Book of Yoga: Embracing Our Natural Life Cycles [Paperback]

Machelle M. Seibel (Author), Hari Kaur Khalsa (Author), Yogi Bhajan (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: November 11, 2002

Interest in yoga is at an all-time high, especially among women. Whether readers wish to begin the practice or are already involved in yoga, this innovative book will help them understand the unique benefits yoga provides for a woman's health and mental well-being.

The authors lead women of all ages through the health and life cycles specific to females by illustrating the spiritual and physical advantages of Kundalini yoga, as taught by yoga master Yogi Bhajan. Hari Khalsa applies ancient wisdom to explain how to determine and enhance one's own special relationship with the mind, body, and soul. Using his expertise on women's health issues, Dr. Siebel reveals the scientific basis for yoga's positive effects on the brain. Together, Dr. Siebel and Hari Khalsa create a dialogue of spiritualism and science, elucidating how every woman can reap the rewards of yoga for a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Simple practices to help you stay healthy, calm, and strong, and to carry you forward in a natural progression toward wisdom, real beauty, and the strength of realized grace that belongs to all women," promise Machelle M. Seibel, M.D., and Hari Kaur Khalsa, authors of A Woman's Book of Yoga.

The authors, a gynecologist and a yoga instructor, offer prescriptions for the transitions in women's lives. They teach the health and stress-reduction benefits of breathing, postural, and meditation exercises, including particular activities for menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause, sexuality, and digestion. Spiritual as well as physical health benefits are stressed: "The goal of yoga is to reveal the connection between the human being and the Divine Self."

This is not a simple self-help book, but a serious, mindful guide for a beginning study of kundalini yoga: philosophy, spirituality, postures (illustrated), meditations, and health advantages are addressed. "The yoga itself is not the goal, but it is the key to opening the door to health, self-love, and self-realization," write the authors. --Joan Price

From Booklist

A Woman's Book of Yoga is a collaboration between kundalini yoga teacher Shakta Kaur Khalsa and medical doctor Machelle M. Seibel, who explain the basics of kundalini yoga and how to use it during various phases of a woman's life. Their instructions cover menstruation, PMS, sexuality, pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and menopause. In addition to kundalini techniques, ayurvedic nutritional advice and recipes are also provided. Jane Tuma
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Avery Trade (November 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583331379
• ISBN-13: 978-1583331378
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Chose Me March 31, 2003

By Stephanie Franzione

Format:Paperback

Every time I walked to and from work, this book's cover would catch my eye from the store window. Curiousity finally won out and I picked up a copy. I am so glad I did. It's amazing! I've tried so many other forms of Yoga, I can't believe it took me this long to get to Kundalini. This book is written from two perspectives; one from a Western doctors' and one from an Eastern Yoga teachers'. It is a really great combination. Together,they do an excellent job of specifically explaining Kundalini Yoga's many benefits to Women. It is detailed, but easy to understand. The energy and exercise sets are extremely rejuvenating and there is a spiritual component that I have reached a stage to be able to really appreciate. There is a ton of useful information here and I have just scratched the surface. I couldn't reccommend it more enthusiastically.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just a Yoga Book!! December 4, 2002

By Sally

Format:Paperback

A Woman's Book of Yoga isn't just another yoga book. It's an amazing, insighful, meaningful guide to health, well-being and happiness for women in all phases of life. As a yoga student I found the photos and instructions easy to understand and follow. (I loved the photos of women of different ages and body types that were used to illustrate the yoga postures.) This book simply and elegantly offers methods of dealing with life issues such as diet, stress management, sexual relations, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Also whatever philosophical, religious or spiritual path the reader is on, this book has something for everyone.
A Woman's Book of Yoga isn't just a guide for women either. Men should read it to get a better insight into women. Much of the content is applicable to men as well. Which brings me to a question for the authors, Seibel and Khalsa, where is the companion volume for men? I hope it's in the works!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SPEAKS TO A WOMAN'S HEART February 16, 2004

By sapphirewind

Format:Paperback

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL LIFE CHANGER FOR ME. I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT TO HELP WITH MY INFERTILITY ISSUES. WHILE IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY FOCUS ON THAT, IT DEALS IMMENSELY WITH A WOMAN'S SPIRITUALITY- IN ACCEPTING AND LOVING ONESELF. THE WONDERFUL EXERCISES BRING A DEEP SENSE OF CALM- IF DONE CONSISTANTLY AND CORRECTLY. IT INCLUDES MILD TEACHINGS OF THE KUNDALINI AND CHAKRAS, SEXUAL ISSUES, PMS, SELF ESTEEM, MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS, MENOPAUSE, ETC... AND DOES IT ALL IN A LOVELY WAY, MAKING YOU WANT TO ENJOY EVERY EXPERIENCE. I FEEL ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND ALIVE WITH THIS BOOK.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a book about yoga January 25, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is not your average book about yoga for women, but one that celebrates all aspects of a woman's life cycle. The strength of the book is the collaboration with Dr. Seibel, showing the relationship between the yogic concepts and what we know about the body through modern science. The book is beautiful, with clear instructions and photographs. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in coming to a better understanding of their femininity and celebrating their womanhood.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive yoga book to date! January 12, 2003

By C. A. Martin

Format:Paperback

The combination of yogic wisdom and western medicine provides a little something for everyone in this well written and easy to understand guide to starting a practice. Particularly valuable are the chapters on pregnancy and sexuality...a topic often not covered in such a thorough manner in other books. The addition to the beautiful photographs and RECIPES (!!) make this one of my favorite resources in my own practice as well as for my students!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a great book for any yoga student January 13, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a gift. The writing is clear and inspired. Whether you have an established practice or are just coming to yoga, this book offers countless insights. The practice routines are well explained and easy to follow. The benefits they offer, profound. This book is able to take subtle and sophisticated concepts and bring them to the real world. It has changed my practice . . . and more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a great book for any yoga student January 13, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a gift. The writing is clear and inspired. Whether you have an established practice or are just coming to yoga, this book offers countless insights. The practice routines are well explained and easy to follow. The benefits they offer, profound. This book is able to take subtle and sophisticated concepts and bring them to the real world. It has changed my practice . . . and more.

4.0 out of 5 stars like the book, but beware of kindle edition some information cannot be accessed April 14, 2013

By boekenworm

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I very much like this book, the only major drawback for the kindle edition is that you cannot read most of the appendixes as the fond size is way too small, even when you put it in a larger scale, the boxes do not get any bigger. So in the kindle edition the information
there is unreadable which I do not like, as it is quite an expensive book. Otherwise I really like the book, holistic approach to women's health; good clear information and written in a gentle tone.