Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness [Paperback]

A.G. Mohan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 2004

Most people think of yoga as a solitary activity that is inherently therapeutic. While that is generally true, yoga poses and breathing practices can also be prescribed for specific health problems—often in combination with dietary advice taken from Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine. Yoga Therapy is an essential guide for yoga teachers, advanced practitioners, and anyone who wants to make therapeutic use of yoga. A. G. and Indra Mohan prescribe postures, breathing techniques, and basic Ayurvedic principles for a variety of common health problems, including asthma, back pain, constipation, hip pain, knee pain, menstrual problems, and scoliosis.

Yoga Therapy is one of the few books that shows yoga teachers how to put together appropriate yoga sequences and breathing techniques for their students. Mohan details how to correctly move into, hold, and move out of poses, how to breathe during practice to achieve specific results, and how to customize a yoga practice by creating sequences of yoga poses for a particular person.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a must-have volume for any serious yoga student, whether a yoga therapist or just an everyday practitioner. The mix of both theoretical and practical information allows readers to learn not only about the daily work of yoga, but its essential theoretical underpinnings as well. The book reminds us that yoga is the original holistic health care system."—Richard Rosen, author of The Yoga of Breath

"A. G. Mohan, a long time disciple of Krishnamacharya, and his wife Indra, herself a talented yoga therapist, are among the world's foremost transmitters of the master's mature teachings. In this book, they take you inside their process of yoga therapy from evaluating the students to planning and implementing a therapeutic regimen. I highly recommend it for teachers and serious students of this lineage."—Timothy McCall, M.D., medical editor of Yoga Journal and author of Yoga as Medicine

About the Author

A. G. Mohan studied with Sri T. Krishnamacharya for eighteen years until the master’s death in 1989. He is the author of numerous books. He lives in Chennai, India, with his wife, Indra, and son, Ganesh. The Mohans also teach workshops in the United States, India, and Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (December 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301315
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301319
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.6 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A. G. Mohan is a renowned yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and co-founder of Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda. He was a personal student of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya for 18 years, between 1971 and 1989. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), best known as the "father of modern yoga," was a legendary yoga master, ayurvedic healer, and scholar of the last century who modernized the practice of yoga and whose students dramatically popularized yoga in the West. For more information, visit: www.svastha.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yoga therapy, October 30, 2007

By 

Camella Nair (california.usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness (Paperback)

The more I teach,the more I am interested in the therapeutic aspects of asana and how it links to our lifestyle that can be understood through the knowledge of Ayurveda. Nice explaination in the principles of movement and breathing section on gravity and strength. The section on observation and assessment is useful because it can help the teacher empower the student with greater self-awareness. The asanas illustrated from a chair aswell as from the floor makes the pranayama section meaningful for the student who may well have a bias in the body or be confined to a wheelchair. If you already have a basic understanding of prakruti and vikruti, the ayurvedic/yoga therapy section can be useful. The favorable vs unfavorable choice of asanas can help one understand the groups of asanas that may prove effective in a therapeutic scenario. Whilst I have yet to find a completely effective way to erradicate painful menses periodically, at least I feel more inspiration to continue
trying to find the route cause of the imbalance within me. Camella Nair - author of "Aqua Kriya Yoga"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Depth, April 27, 2009

By 

Julie "realsimple" (LAKEVILLE, Mongolia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness (Paperback)

I found the Yoga Therapy book to be a great reference tool to building specific sequences tailored to an individuals needs. For the person who needs to concentrate more on low back strength, for example, it is well written and illustrated. I'm glad I purchased it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Yoga Therapy, October 4, 2011

By 

Tess - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness (Paperback)

A. G. Mohan and his wife Indra give both theoretical and practical explanation of Yoga application as taught by Shri T. Krishnamacharya. This easy to follow comprehensive book is a must for both teachers and practitioners of yoga. Mohan and his wife are amongst the best teachers in the world with a special ability to simplify the intricacies of Yoga practice for the individual with precision and user friendly manner.