Yoga of the Heart: Ten Principles of Achieving Limitless Growth, Confidence, and Inner Harmony [Hardcover]

Alice Christensen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

The first book to explain why the philosophy of yoga, not technique, is the key to developing courage, confidence, and well-being.

Christensen's book equips readers with the confidence and courage to persevere even in the face of obstacles-an added bonus to yoga's other benefits of strength, relaxation, and piece of mind. Table of Contents: Introduction - A Journey to Your Powerful Inner World Chapter 1The Spiritual Body: Your Inner Power Source Chapter 2Many Roads All Ending in One Place Chapter Introduction to the Ten Ethical Principles of Yoga Chapter 4 Ethic #1-Nonviolence: Don't Harm Yourself Chapter 5 Ethic #2-Truthfulness: Don't Lie to Yourself Chapter 6 Ethic #3-Nonstealing: Don't Steal from Yourself or Others Chapter 7 Ethic #4-Celibacy: Be Respectful and Aware of Sexual Desire in Yourself Chapter 8 Ethic #5-Nonhoarding: Simplify the Things You Want and the Things You Need Chapter 9 Ethic #6-Purity: Make Yourself Clear and Powerful Chapter 10 Ethic #7-Contentment: Practice Being Happy In the Moment Chapter 11 Ethic #8-Tolerance: Encourage Heroic Capability in Yourself Chapter 12 Ethic #9-Study: Nourish Your Spiritual Body Chapter 13 Ethic #10-Remembrance: Recognize the Support of Your Spiritual Body Chapter 14 The Passion of Unity

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The postures, or asanas, of yoga are only the half of it, according to Alice Christensen, founder of the American Yoga Association. "Many practitioners begin to realize after some time there is 'something else' to be discovered in Yoga that speaks to our universal desire for meaning," she says. While the daily exercises are tuning the physical body into shape, mystical awareness begins to emerge."

This awareness can be focused and honed by abiding by ethical tenets, explained in this book, that are intended to help the yoga practitioner attain personal growth, confidence, and a sense of well-being. In fact, Christensen writes, the movements of yoga were developed after the guidelines, in order to maintain the body's health while the practitioner worked toward a higher state of spiritual awareness. Christensen illustrates these tenets, including nonviolence, truthfulness, purity, tolerance, and remembrance, with colorful anecdotes. For example, she once spoke about yoga at a heavy-equipment manufacturing company in southern Ohio. She brought up the celibacy tenet, how it differs from abstinence, and how it's best to start to incorporate it into your life slowly. She advised those in the audience to try not to think about sex for five minutes at a time. One intrigued audience member said, "Geez, can you imagine how restful that would be--five minutes of not thinking about broads?"

Even if you start out by making subtle changes, the guidelines for living suggested in this book are bound to bring about dramatic change. It's a sort of Power Yoga for the mind, crossed with a simple-living guide, and written by a true sage. For anyone looking to reach a state of self-actualization and empowerment, Christensen's forged a fine path. --Erica Jorgensen

From the Back Cover

"Most people associate Yoga with the physical postures and movements that are taught in classes or learned from books. The physical aspect of Yoga, however, is only a small part of the great body of thought and technique that is the tradition of Yoga. In fact, the physical exercises and breathing techniques were originally designed simply to keep the body strong and healthy so that the practitioner could more easily reach for some deeper aspects of Yoga.

Many practitioners begin to realize after some time that there is "something else" to be discovered in Yoga that speaks to our universal desire for meaning. While the daily exercises are tuning the physical body into shape, mystical awareness begins to emerge. This happens most often when the ethical practices of Yoga, which are detailed in this book, are combined with the physical routines. Often, feelings of inner strength, self-confidence, and inner peace begin to emerge as this other aspect of Yoga starts to reveal itself."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Press (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087596429X
• ISBN-13: 978-0875964294
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Water in the dessert for thirsty souls, October 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Yoga of the Heart: Ten Principles of Achieving Limitless Growth, Confidence, and Inner Harmony (Hardcover)

This is a rare yogabook. Very few teachers have dealt with the ethic principles of yoga with such clarity and practicalilty as this author. The Yama and Niyama, the ten ethic principles of Patanjali yoga is the very foundation of this most practised form of yoga, but most eastern and western teachers skip this all together in fear of presenting yoga as religious and moralistic. With so many yogabooks around, this is an outstanding exception. There are no postures and meditation instructions, but it is about the yogapractise for the rest of the day, dealing with your relationship to yourself and how you live your life. This book goes way beyond the yoga interested, and is a profound self-help book lightyears ahead of the most trendy ones.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vital Yoga Book, April 7, 2008

By 

Jennifer A. Aitken "Jen" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga of the Heart: Ten Principles of Achieving Limitless Growth, Confidence, and Inner Harmony (Hardcover)

I love this book. When I first encountered it years ago I thought the woman was a little kooky with all the talk about the "spiritual body" but over the years I keep returning to this book. In fact, it is one of the few books I insisted on replacing after losing my house in Katrina. There is no flowery language here, despite the spiritual talk. The author is so straightforward you only have to read a few sentences before you have to stop and let the truth sink in. Very few yoga writers are this direct. This book is definitely worth buying.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars find your heart and live a truly consonant life, July 25, 2003

By 

Jennifer (Lenah Valley, Tasmania Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yoga of the Heart: Ten Principles of Achieving Limitless Growth, Confidence, and Inner Harmony (Hardcover)

this small book holds a synthesis of the yoga school of Kashmir shaivism -- read it and you will add immesurably to your life. there is such wisdom here, expressed concisely and accessibly.
read it and love!!