Customer Reviews

The Yoga Bible

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Yoga Bible: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Postures by Christina Brown is a nice little yoga book that fits snuggly into your bag and can be a source of inspiration for all yoga students but some of the poses would challenge the most advance yogi's.

Physically, this book has a small foot print but has over 400 pages of information and covers 170 Yoga Positions. The construction seems average at best. I doubt if this book would stand up to much wear and tear since the binding looks brittle. It is tough to keep open on the mat with out the pages closing quickly on you. It should be bigger!

The content of the books starts with Part One: Introductions (8 Yoga Limbs, Breathing, and Practice Suggestions), Part Two: The Practice (Postures, Pranayama, Mudras, Bandhas, and Kriyas), Part Three: Yoga with a Special Focus (Ailments, Meditation), Part Four: Finding Your Yoga (9 Branches of Yoga).

Part One: Introductions - Starts with the History of Yoga, Rewards, The Eight Limbs of Yoga, and Practice Guidelines. This section is clear, short, and concise. The guideline for practicing offers some very good suggestions for approaching your time on the mat.

Part Two: The Practice - The color photos are great and the detailed Information Box is extremely helpful with the following headings: Gaze, Build-Up Poses, Counter Poses, Lighten, and Effect. It would have been even better if they would have included Warnings and included page numbers next to the Build-Up and Counter Poses for quick reference. The models are exceptionally yogis with many years of practice so use some caution when trying these poses. It would have been an added benefit to show modifications with props. The sections on Pranayama, Mudras, Bandhas, and Kriyas are presented and explained very well allowing the student to enrich their practice.

Part Three: Yoga with a Special Focus - Deals with suggestion posture for specific ailments. This chapter would have been better to have included some Yoga Sessions or Practices designed for beginners and then some more advanced students. The Meditation discussion is nice but could have done better by exploring it some more.

Part Four: Finding Your Yoga - Explores the different forms of yoga presenting a brief explanation of each style. This is helpful in understanding the differences between the different schools of yoga.

Bottom line, The Yoga Bible would make a nice addition to your yoga library.

This is an good little book. Many poses are featured in full color photographs. One of the nice things about this book is that they show the pose, step by step. This gives you a clear idea of how to 'get into the pose' as well as the full expression. A few unusual poses are featured that I have not seen in standard yoga books.

I like the handy size - I can toss this right in my bag and take it anywhere. Two complaints - the book is not the sturdiest as the binding cracks easily. Secondly, there is not much in the way of modifications. If you are unable to do some of the poses due to physical limitations, you won't find much here in the way to assist you.

Other than that, it is a pretty good book.

I wish there were more than five stars because this book deserves it. I am a new Yoga instructor and this book has concise, clear, and complete information. My copy has so many sticky notes to mark references that it looks like a paper porcupine ready to explode!

If I had to recommend one Yoga book no matter what the person's level of experience, this would be it. There are suggestions for lightening the poses or for making them more difficult. There are poses listed that will help you accomplish the more difficult poses. There are suggestions for deepening your all around Yoga practice and incorporating the discipline into your life. I haven't touched my other Yoga books since this one arrived!
Namaste'

a very helpful book for beginners
The Author obviously knows what she is involved with and each photo is a careful taken explaination
Great for beginners and experts alike
Really enjoyed it

I'm a beginner yoga student and I found this book to be a GEM. It details different poses, step-by-step guides and provides poses to use for various ailments. I'm able to talk my fiance through different poses by following the directions provided for each pose. (Amazon has a really good price too- I originally bought it at Barnes and Noble for $20.)

Whether expert or novice, this book belongs on your shelf if you want to improve yourself. It shows how to safely improve your balance, flexibility and strength through various postures or stretches. I wish I had a book like this when I was a teenager. I have been practicing yoga for four years through Rodney Yee tapes and DVDs because there was nowhere close by to take classes. I have gotten several books on yoga and thumbed through many more to try to improve my weak back, but they all came up short until the 'Yoga Bible'. This book has answered many questions I have had that the video tapes didn't address.

Don't stop your curiosity. Get this book if you are the least bit interested and you will be glad. It doesn't matter how stiff you are in body or spirit. The book will pleasantly surprise you with its no nonsense approach to practical well being and bettering each breath you take. As Ms. Brown says "the essense of yoga lies in the breath", so if you are breathing you should consider yoga to enhance your life.

I may have to get another copy soon because my first is becoming dog-eared from constant use. If I ever make it to Sydney I will sign up for classes at the Yoga Source.

Wow what a great book! I had already taken an introductory yoga class and, while I liked it, I didn't feel like shelling out cash again (for some reason, yoga is never cheap). This book is great if you're into yoga and have a do-it-yourself personality. It helps you build your own routine, gives you advice regarding duration and frequency of your yoga sessions, and has helpful dos and don'ts. I especially liked how it graded the poses based on difficulty and what they accomplish, not to mention how it specifies what each pose is geared towards (improve knees, digestion, circulation) and which should be avoided based on health problems (bad back, asthma...). If you're the kind of person who prefers practicing yoga in a class, then this book can give you helpful tips and insights to better your experience. If you prefer to practice solo, than this is the best investment you could hope for.
Go forth! Buy this book! Pretzel yourself up with confidence! (unless you have some kind of serious medical condition, in that case go see a doctor first)

I have recently decided to make yoga my only workout. I do not have time to lift and do yoga and was tired of pulling muscles. I have learned from other yoga books that it is possible to get a great workout and even increase strength, using yoga. I really like being able to do a workout every day as well.

I have yoga books with different routines and one of Rodney Yee's books was helpful with prop suggestions. I am incredibly tight in my lower body and until I started doing yoga didn't realize in my upper body as well.

I find the build-up postures in yoga bible to be very helpful and encouraging. You don't need props!

I never thought I would be able to do any balancing pose, because I do not have full control over the left side of my body due to a serious car accident in high school. (Don't toke and drive, kids!)

I tried doing balancing postures leaning against a wall, but still could not maintain balance on my left leg with my right leg curled against my left thigh. When I read the suggestions in yoga bible to put the ball of the foot or the toes of the non-supporting foot on the floor instead of lifting that leg completely off the ground, I tried it and was actually able to stay in a balancing posture for about 30 seconds. It might not seem like much of an accomplishment, but it was for me.

I was getting much benefit from doing the poses I could do without doing the balancing postures, but I would never have tried the balancing postures unless I read the easy, common-sense suggestions in yoga bible because I'm much too much of a dumba$$ to figure things like that out.

Finally, the reviews which complain about the sturdiness of the book and binding may have led to change because the binding on my book seems sturdy.

This book is great. Its shows history, details and pictures that makes the practice easy. I really like the way the simpler poses build up to the harder ones which definiately builds upon the ultimate goal, to become more flexible and in tune with one's self. Love it.

Strongly recommend.
You will love it for the comprehensive information in a clear layout, beautiful photographs along with simple but accurate explainations. The book is just worth its name, but in a cute easy-to-go size.