Yoga for Dummies: Miniature edition [Hardcover]

Georg Ph.d" Feuerstein (Author), Larry Ph.d" Payne (Author), Ph.D. Larry Payne (Author), Ph.D. Georg Feuerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Here's all the reference material necessary to practice simple yoga maneuvers on your own! This Running Press Miniature Edition™ includes descriptions of postures and drawings to illustrate them. It's a great pocket guide for anyone interested in relieving stress and clearing the mind while increasing energy and making the body fit. More For Dummies Miniature Editions™

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Yoga for Dummies proves that this 5,000-year-old Indian discipline can be all things to all people--the athlete striving for more-limber limbs, the stressed-out professional needing mental calm, peace, and clarity; the pregnant mom-to-be looking to keep herself toned and her emotions balanced, the spiritual seeker wanting to access the higher planes of consciousness.

Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., and Larry Payne, Ph.D., are internationally recognized yoga experts. After explaining how to prepare your body and mind for yoga--including warnings about how to practice safely--they jump straight into the postures (asanas), instructions for which make up the meat of book (relaxation, breathing, movement, sequencing, compensation, sitting). Feuerstein and Payne carefully and in great detail lead the reader through every step, although they do advise first-timers to supplement the book with actual classes until they have the basics down. Throughout the book, clear explanations accompany black-and-white photos and drawings. (Unfortunately, following the written instructions is hard enough when your feet are in the air or your head's down by your ankles, and the book would have been improved if the pictures always appeared on the same page as their instructions.)

Readers then learn about tailoring a yoga program to their needs; using props; practicing "Yoga Throughout the Day"; incorporating yoga into sex, meditation, menopause, and pregnancy; using yoga to treat back problems and PMS; and practicing yoga with kids. The book also covers yogic ethics, philosophy, and resources. It's not all asanas and pranas, though--Yoga for Dummies is sprinkled with the humor characteristic of the For Dummies series (a section explaining that the ego is the ultimate source of stress is titled "Wherever ego, I go") and practical advice (the Forgiving Limbs maneuver allows you to bend your legs and arms a bit rather than try to fully extend them, so that you can perform postures you're not yet quite limber enough for). This is both an excellent beginner's guide and a good reference for more advanced yoginis who want a brush-up course. --Stefanie Durbin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Yoga For Dummies, 2nd Edition breaks down the concepts and poses, making yoga easy-to-understand and easy-to-apply for everyone.' (MoneySavingExpert.com, August 2010). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Running Press Miniature Editions; Min edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076240986X
• ISBN-13: 978-0762409860
• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 2.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,137,728 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

135 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the "...For Dummies" series I've seen., May 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yoga For Dummies (Paperback)

This is a wonderful reference book for introducing people to the discipline of Yoga. As head of the reference department in a busy public library and user of many of the "...For Dummies" series subject guides, I highly recommend this title for all public library collections, and anyone looking for a practical, thorough introduction to the study of Yoga. A very good table of contents and index makes it easy to go right to the chapter you are most interested in. The Appendix is terrific-it gives all sorts of additional Yoga resources such as organizations, teacher training and academic programs, reference books, information on Yoga props, lists of periodicals, videotapes and audiotapes, and Yoga web sites to visit. The appendix adds to making this a truly encyclopedic reference source. The style in which the book is written makes it the kind of book you want to come back to over and over again.

I had the privilege of being a guest in one of author Larry Payne's Malibu Yoga classes (only the second time I ever attended a Yoga class) and after reading Yoga for Dummies I was inspired to sign up for a class locally. Being a user of Larry's book "Healthy Back: Exercises for high stress professionals," (I have a bad case of sciatica), I was pleased to see one of the chapters focus on Yoga for special situations. This has a section on Yoga for people with back problems. The other chapter I like is the one on designing your own Yoga program based on the amount of time you have each day to invest in doing the routines. The photographs, illustrations and posture directions are all very clear and of high quality. Both authors did a tremendous job of presenting their knowledge and years of experience with Yoga to the reader.

103 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Simple, Instructional and Inspirational, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Yoga For Dummies (Paperback)

I have never used any of the ___For Dummies series and felt silly buying this one, but lost all regret once I cracked it open. The most approachable and useful book on yoga yet. I drag it with me on all my travels and am secure it merits the additional weight in the carry on. Most definitely worth the investment in money and time, an instructional book that actually instructs!

84 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, a Yoga book I really like!, April 4, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yoga For Dummies (Paperback)

I've done yoga off and on my whole life. It does keep you flexible. But I don't want to read about yoga philosophy or metaphysics. I just want to do yoga to keep flexible and fit. And I don't want to get hurt doing it. This book really helps.

Yoga for Dummies lists all kinds of yoga postures, has helpful information on protecting your back (really important.) It also has a lot of clear photos and even a section in the back with many yoga resources such as websites, magazines, teachers, videos and more.

This is by far my favorite yoga book!